The Klingons have long been a key part of theStar Trekuniverse. Despite undergoing numerous changes in both physical design and personality, the Klingons remain one of the franchise’s most iconic contributions to the pop culture canon — second only, perhaps,to the Vulcans.
Although these world building inconsistencies might aggravate fans (and have writers tying themselves in knots trying to justify the changes), it is due to them that the Klingons endure. They can be remade to suit the trends of the day, from the quasi-Soviets ofThe Original SeriestoDiscovery’s Middle Earth-style orcs, and to tell a range of great stories.
10Wej Duj (Lower Decks)
It’s fair to say that although Starfleet personnelsometimes make mistakes, most maintain a good track record.Star Trek: Lower Deckspricks that bubble of professionalism by giving fans a peek behind the curtain at the characters who keep the galaxy running — just about, at any rate.
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“Wej Duj” shows the lives of so-called “lower deckers” aboard several ships in theStar Trekuniverse. In part, the episode depicts a Klingon power struggle aboard a Bird-of-Prey, the IKSChe’Ta'. It’s rare for the franchise to consider an alien species through a non-Federation lens. As such, “Wej Duj” provides an unfiltered look at a key aspect of Klingon culture.
9Affliction/Divergence (Enterprise)
Given that it’s not uncommon forStar Trekto rework its own aliens, it’s up for debate whether viewers needed an explanation as to why the original Klingons had smoother heads than in later depictions. Nonetheless, the episodes “Affliction” and “Divergence” chose to untangle this riddle, linking the cause with lore about the Augments, a group of genetically modified humansrelated to Khan.
That the Klingons would be reinvented again forStar Trek: Discoveryrelegates “Affliction” and “Divergence” to footnotes inStar Trek’s history, but the episodes did, at the time, answer a burning question for many in the fandom.
8The Time Trap (The Animated Series)
Despite its tendency to lean towards silliness, there are times whenThe Animated Seriesdelivers. In “The Time Trap,” a skirmish with a Klingon task force near the mysterious Delta Triangle leads to both the Enterprise and a Klingon vessel becoming trapped in a timeless pocket universe. Drifting in a massive starship graveyard, Kirk and his crew are running out of time astheir essential dilithium crystalsdeteriorate.
to cross the time barrier, Kirk and the Klingons must work together. It’s a tried and testedStar Trekformula, although the alliance is undermined by the Klingons' standard treachery. The aliens plan to destroy theEnterpriseafter it helps them escape. So much for honor — “The Time Trap” is the Klingons at their most devious.
7Errand of Mercy (The Original Series)
In their very first appearance, the Klingons cause trouble for the Federation when they occupy Organia, a vital strategic planet. Kirk and Spock attempt to rallythe apparently primitive Organiansto resist the Klingons, but to little effect. Indeed, when the Starfleet duo sabotages a Klingon facility, the Organians sell the heroes out to Klingon governor Kor.
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It is eventually revealed that the Organians hold godlike powers, and they force the Klingons and Federations to end their conflict. The Organians even predict that the Federation and Klingons will one day be friends, foreshadowing the Khitomer Accords.
6Faces (Voyager)
Spock, torn between Vulcan logic and human emotions, is surelyStar Trek’s best known example of the franchise examining mixed heritage characters. Yet it wasVoyagerthat provided the most extended exploration of the theme through half-human, half-Klingon B’Elanna Torres.
In “Faces,” B’Elanna is split into two individuals bya mad scientist: a meek human and an aggressive Klingon. Actress Roxann Dawson may ham it up as the fully Klingon B’Elanna, but she delivers an excellent performance as her vulnerable human persona. The episode features a look at both Klingon and human psychology, as well as some memorably grisly moments.
5A Matter of Honor (The Next Generation)
The Next Generation’s first two seasons are given short shrift by many fans. Yet for every “Justice” there is a “Datalore,” and for every “Shades of Grey” there is a story like “The Measure of a Man.” Season 2’s “A Matter of Honor,” in which Commander Riker takes a postaboard a Klingon vesselas part of an officer exchange program, is one of these highlights.
The episode gives viewers a deep dive into Klingon culture, from their stomach-churning cuisine to their sexual politics and command structure (Klingons earn promotions by murdering their superiors). Riker proves himself by overcoming his initial culture shock, demonstrating that for all of their cultural differences, the Klingon Empire and Federation can find common ground.
4Trials and Tribble-ations (Deep Space 9)
Conceived to help celebrateStar Trek’s 30th anniversary, the ambitious “Trials and Tribble-ations” used cutting edge technology to digitally insert the cast ofDeep Space Nineinto 1967’s “The Trouble With Tribbles.” Sisko and crew must protect Kirk from a time-traveling assassin (witha bomb disguised as a Tribble, naturally) as Kirk deals with marauding Klingons aboard Deep Space Station K-7.
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“Trials and Tribble-ations” may be nostalgic fluff, but it delivers on its promise of honoringStar Trek’s past. It also proves that the warrior Klingons are as much at home in a silly caper as they are in a dense political intrigue.
3Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
There is a somewhat flippant piece of fan wisdom thatStar Trek’s even-numbered movies are the good ones. Although this may not be entirely accurate, it’s true that the sixthTrekmovie,The Undiscovered Country, is a highlight not just in terms of Klingon-focused stories, but of the franchise as a whole.
Following the destruction of Praxis, a vital Klingon moon, the Federation’s former enemies make diplomatic overtures. While Spock sees the potential of a Klingon–Federation alliance, Kirk cannot comprehend it. For all of its assassinations, conspiracies, and daring prison breaks,The Undiscovered Countryis one of the franchise’s more introspective movies, showingStar Trek’s original heroes learning to cope as their world changes beyond recognition.
2The Way of the Warrior (Deep Space 9)
“Growing the beard” refers to the idea thatStar Trekshows start excelling when a character grows facial hair, exemplified by Jonathan Frakes' transformation fromthe baby-faced Will Rikerof earlyTNGto his more iconic bearded appearance. It’s a pattern repeated inDeep Space Nine.Season 4, the first full-beard year for Captain Sisko, opens with the game-changing “The Way of the Warrior.”
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TNGcharacters had crossed over toDS9before, but the addition of Worf to theDS9roster spices up the spin-off. Worf’s arrival on the frontier outpost coincides with a Klingon invasion of Cardassian space that threatens to pull in the Federation. Although a full-scale war is averted, the change in the status quo is clear: the Klingons are back, and they mean business.
1Redemption (The Next Generation)
StraddlingThe Next Generation’s fourth and fifth seasons, the two-part “Redemption” is the archetypal Klingon story. It offers intrigue, honor, scheming — and a meaty plot for Enterprise-D tactical officer Worf, who must decide whether his loyalties lie with the Federation that nurtured him or his fellow Klingons, who smeared his name for political ends.
“Redemption” fires on all cylinders to deliver a story that examines what the Klingons stand for on both a galactic and personal level. It not only features one ofTNG’s best cliffhangers, but also makes time for non-Klingon characters (such as Data’s struggle with prejudice when he commands the Sutherland). Yet the core of “Redemption” lies in how it examinesWorf’s identity crisis, culminating in a satisfying statement of purpose that demonstrates the officer’s growth.
