Will we ever see proper Trek races?

[Bry_Sinclair]

Don't get me wrong, one thing that I love about the Nu-Trek movies is their inclusion of some pretty cool looking alien species (many of which I use in my fanfics)--as they help add some much needed diversity to distinctly human-dominated scenes (I'd personally want to see more aliens, but that's beside the point).

But are we ever going to see some of original Trek species in the Nu-Trek films, such as: Andorians, Bolians, Caitians, Edosians, Tellarite, Tiburonians?

 

[BillJ]

If there's a story reason for them to be there, then I'm sure we will. For background filler? I'd rather see aliens I haven't seem before.

 

[Kevman7987]

I hope we get some familiar races in the background. Besides, the familiar alien races are cheapest/easiest to make-up too.

-Andorian background crew people; Paint them blue, give them a white wig, and add some antennae.
-Vulcan background crew people; Give them a bowl cut, shave their eyebrows, and glue some fake ears to 'em.
-Tellarite background crew people. Glue a pig snout on their nose.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Both the Gorn and the Salt Vampire were cut from the '09 film. The two girls in Kirk's apartment in STID were supposed to be Caitians. I'd love to see more classic aliens in these films.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Caitian with a rather severe bikini wax maybe

The 09 Gorn looks pretty good, not sure about the need to include a salt vampire though.

 

[M'Sharak]

But are we ever going to see some of original Trek species in the Nu-Trek films, such as: Andorians, Bolians, Caitians, Edosians, Tellarite, Tiburonians?

Bolians, Caitians and Edosians were original Trek species? As I recall it, the second and third species were introduced in the animated series, and the first not until TNG.

The 09 Gorn looks pretty good, not sure about the need to include a salt vampire though.

Gorn: OK

Salt vampire: not proper Trek race, even though it was the focus of one of the earliest episodes

Got it.

 

[iguana_tonante]

But are we ever going to see some of original Trek species in the Nu-Trek films

We saw Vulcans. That's enough for me.

I hope we get some familiar races in the background. Besides, the familiar alien races are cheapest/easiest to make-up too.

-Andorian background crew people; Paint them blue, give them a white wig, and add some antennae.
-Vulcan background crew people; Give them a bowl cut, shave their eyebrows, and glue some fake ears to 'em.
-Tellarite background crew people. Glue a pig snout on their nose.

That's exactly why they shouldn't use them. What was acceptable in the 60s would look embarrassingly cheap today.

 

[mos6507]

That's exactly why they shouldn't use them. What was acceptable in the 60s would look embarrassingly cheap today.

Then why did they include an orion which is nothing but green skin paint? Does it have to look like a million dollars to be a viable-looking race?

The answer is--because some Trek races are just iconic and it doesn't matter how ornate the makeup is. Orion chicks are fun to have around, and it would be nice to have andorians even if they are little more than blue skin-paint, a white wig, and antennae.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Caitian with a rather severe bikini wax maybe

I suppose they could be the Cornish Rex of their species.

That's exactly why they shouldn't use them. What was acceptable in the 60s would look embarrassingly cheap today.

For both of these films, casting put out for people who already look unusual and gave them minor CG enhancements. For the last film, the girl with anime eyes was oft discussed, and this time out, they used Joseph Gatt to good effect by changing his voice and putting in one brief glimpse of an effect on the back of his head. A good background alien doesn't have to be an all CG fest or fifty pounds of sculpted latex. They have to look cool for a second.

 

[M'Sharak]

^

The answer is--because some Trek races are just iconic and it doesn't matter how ornate the makeup is. Orion chicks are fun to have around, and it would be nice to have andorians even if they are little more than blue skin-paint, a white wig, and antennae.

Why not simply say, then, that "These are Trek races I'd really like to see, because I enjoyed seeing them before"? Why diddle around with a "proper Trek races" appeal to legitimacy which holds no water?

"Because I want to see them" is all the reason one needs for saying one wants to see them.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Which is the reason I was asking, as I'd love to see some of them in the background. ENT did a good job updating the Andorians and Tellarite so they didn't look quite so awful, but there are loads of other Trek races glimpsed at (especially in the TOS films) who could do with modernising.

Granted, I could have posed the question as "previously seen races", but meh, 'proper' fit my mindset at the time I wrote it.

 

[Hober Mallow]

I just hope they keep Berman-Trek alien races out of the films henceforth.

The one problem with having really alien-looking aliens on Star Trek is that it makes Spock look much less alien and much more human by comparison, and takes away much of the mystique he had at the beginning of TOS when he was really alien. If that makes any sense.

 

[I am not Spock]

We saw Vulcans, Romulans, Klingons, and Orions, out of the classic species. And tribbles, I suppose.

I wouldn't mind Andorians, Tellarites, Gorn, Edosians, Caitians, etc. Those things in STID were not Caitians IMO. Not enough body hair!

Andorians and Tellarites you'd expect to be there, being founder members of the UFP and all.

 

[Belz...]

I admit that I would like to see Andorians and Tellarites, specifically.

 

[KittyDuran]

Those things in STID were not Caitians IMO. Not enough body hair!

I think someone mentioned in another thread that the Caitians twins showed might have been half human/half Caitian...

 

[Belz...]

Or retconned...

 

[LobsterAfternoon]

I'd love to see some Andorians. Loved in ENT how they had the antennae undulate with their emotions.

 

[Squiggy]

Aren't Caitians tied up in some legal mumbo-jumbo?

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Aren't Caitians tied up in some legal mumbo-jumbo?

That's the first I've heard of it. Any clue what about?

 

[mos6507]

Aren't Caitians tied up in some legal mumbo-jumbo?

Since they made it into Star Trek Online, I don't think there's a problem with them. I think maybe the Kzinti is what you're talking about, because they crossed over from Niven's Known Space continuity.