Where oh where are the Klingons

[Dryson]

They already have been a part of Discovery. Zero reason to have them now.

Not really, The Klingons and the Federation had been in a temporal war with the Federation starting in 2151. Many of the Temporal Wars had originated in the 32nd century which Klingon operatives would also have been able to track. The Klingon's are very much needed in Discovery and could emerge out of nowhere from 2151 to the Camp Khitomer Accords seeking vengeance.

 

[fireproof78]

Not really, The Klingons and the Federation had been in a temporal war with the Federation starting in 2151. Many of the Temporal Wars had originated in the 32nd century which Klingon operatives would also have been able to track. The Klingon's are very much needed in Discovery and could emerge out of nowhere from 2151 to the Camp Khitomer Accords seeking vengeance.

There is no need. Nor is there any hint that the Klingons were involved in the latest Temporal Wars. Treating this as some sort of story necessity smacks of fan fiction not actual narrative exploration.

 

[Tim Thomason]

There is absolutely a 100% need to have Klingons in this story. They were a major part of Discovery's first two seasons. Season 1 being all about the Klingon War and Season 2 featuring episodes focused entirely on Klingon culture and politics. If we're looking at Discovery in a vacuum, then the Klingons are the biggest loose end of the series. They were dropped for no apparent reason. Is there a plan to bring them back in an interesting or mysterious way? Probably not, because it's been almost two seasons without them.

They were dropped because of idiotic fan backlash, but really it'd be the same effect if they had decided not to show Vulcans ever again, or reference the Enterprise ever again. They are a core part of what makes Discovery Discovery (the series opened on a Klingon face, talking in Klingon). They were the quintessential "Other", and we really needed to see the pin drop when the Disco crew found out what the Evil Empire was up to in the far-flung future.

 

[fireproof78]

Their story doesn't belong in the 32nd century. It can continue on in Strange New World, TOS and onward.

reference the Enterprise ever again.

So, none.

 

[Tim Thomason]

So, none.

*Three times and counting. Oblique references, to be fair. Similar to the two oblique references to the Klingons in the 32nd century.

 

[fireproof78]

*Three times and counting. Oblique references, to be fair. Similar to the two oblique references to the Klingons in the 32nd century.

So, negligible impact upon story, limited impact upon characters, and overall blink if you miss it type of references. So, none in terms of necessity.

 

[Tim Thomason]

So, negligible impact upon story, limited impact upon characters, and overall blink if you miss it type of references. So, none in terms of necessity.

Yep, frustratingly enough, that's all they've given us for two years.

 

[fireproof78]

Yep, frustratingly enough, that's all they've given us for two years.

I applaud their efforts.

 

[Tim Thomason]

I applaud their efforts.

I think we all do. That's why we're here, asking the serious questions.

 

[fireproof78]

I think we all do. That's why we're here, asking the serious questions.

I should be more clear. I applaud their efforts in not going with low hanging fruit like Klingons. Moving away from that is more necessary than having Klingons back.

 

[Yistaan]

They lost their ridges again, shaved their beards, and have been the main race keeping the Federation together since Earth quit. Vance, Willa, Kovich, all of them are Klingons. They just didn't think it was worth mentioning.

Entirely possible considering that Enterprise revealed that the Klingons joined the Federation (although it's unclear if this was erased in the Temporal Wars).

They'll think it's worth mentioning once Culber openly announces he has some scores to settle with all Klingons over something 1 Klingon did to him 900 years ago.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

They already have been a part of Discovery. Zero reason to have them now.

I feel the opposite way. Not having them at all brings up questions like this thread, not to mention that it opens the door for even more over-the-top Klingon stories that the early seasons did to death. If they had them as a background Federation members, akin to the Ferengi, kills the Klingon topic quietly. (One would hope!) Or at least truly moves forward.

(I wouldn't have put the species in the background in themselves – perhaps in my version of Discovery Admiral Vance would have been Klingon – just the Klingon drama itself. But that's beside my point.)

 

[fireproof78]

Not having them at all brings up questions like this thread, not to mention that it

Fan speculation does not equal necessity.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

Fan speculation does not equal necessity.

The thread was only an example. I was overfed with the Klingons the first two seasons, yet I am still wondering where they went now when they are nowhere to be seen. If I suddenly stop having periodic headaches, I'll probably go the doctor to have that checked, too!

 

[fireproof78]

The thread was only an example. I was overfed with the Klingons the first two seasons, yet I am still wondering where they went now when they are nowhere to be seen. If I suddenly stop having periodic headaches, I'll probably go the doctor to have that checked, too!

A Klingon doctor, no less...

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

On the starboard bow

 

[Sci]

I don't think there's any need to see the Klingons in the 32nd Century, but it would be interesting. We know from ENT that Klingons eventually became Federation Members before the Burn -- does that mean the Empire was dismantled and its subject planets granted independence? Or did planets formerly conquered by the Klingons join as separate Federation Member States? Did the rump Klingon Empire join as a single polity, or were its planets admitted as separate Federation Members? Are the Klingons still part of the Federation? Did they separate after the Burn? Did they rejoin?

I think these could all make for interesting stories. But I think that applies to almost any race you could think of from 24th Century Star Trek, and DIS has no obligation to follow up on any one such alien race or other.

 

[seigezunt]

I'm convinced they will be showing up before the season's end.
They have been conspicuous in their absence, and I have a strong feeling they have some connection to the Mystery Box Aliens, if indeed they aren't the Mystery Box Aliens themselves.

 

[fireproof78]

and DIS has no obligation to follow up on any one such alien race or other.

Exactly. People can state their preferences but acting like an alien race needs following up is where I draw the line.

 

[Sci]

I'm convinced they will be showing up before the season's end.
They have been conspicuous in their absence, and I have a strong feeling they have some connection to the Mystery Box Aliens, if indeed they aren't the Mystery Box Aliens themselves.

That would be boring and disappointing.