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Top 10 Best Star Trek Female Characters, Ranked From Romulans to Illyrians

It’s not easy coming up with the  best Star Trek female characters , because there are so many to choose from. We wish we could name every one of them since there have been amazing female characters throughout the original Star Trek series, The Next Generation, and the recent Strange New Worlds. But this bodes well for the franchise, providing an excellent balance between male and female characters that’s helped elevate Star Trek beyond the confines of any world. Without further ado, let’s check out the list.

10. Romulan Commander

The first time the Federation’s deadliest enemy was introduced was in the original series episode The Enterprise Incident. Kirk gives in to his daring nature and takes his Enterprise ship into Romulan territory, where he encounters a squadron. What makes this character even more significant is the fact that she remains unnamed to this day and yet is such an important milestone for Star Trek canon and history.

While Kirk attempts to gather intel on the Romulans, the commander is fascinated by Spock and tries to persuade him to join her. It becomes apparent she might have a romantic inclination toward him. After inviting Spock to dinner, she explains how Romulan women are passionate when compared to logical Vulcan women. Spock is put on edge, but resists her offer and maintains his loyalty. All along, Spock was helping Kirk steal the invaluable cloaking device to help advance the Federation’s technology. At the end of the episode, the Romulan commander is captured aboard the Enterprise and held as a prisoner. In a moment of privacy, Spock admits that his romantic interest in her was not pretended.

9. Philippa Georgiou

Georgiou is a Malaysian human who became one of the Starfleet Academy’s most decorated officers and the captain of U.S.S. Shenzou. During a routine activity, her crew encountered the hostile Klingon Empire and things quickly escalated into an event known as the Battle at the Binary Stars before becoming the catalyst to the Klingon-Federation War. Georgiou lost her life to the leader of the Klingons, T’Kuvma, as she tried to capture him on his ship in an attempt to prevent the war. She is a smart and driven commander who will go down in Star Trek history for her sacrifice.

8. Elizabeth Shelby

Commander Elizabeth Shelby has a bit of notoriety to her name, mostly owing to her rivalry with Commander William T. Riker. After confidently believing she would replace him as Captain Picard’s first officer, Riker didn’t take too kindly to her after his promotion to commander of U.S.S. Melbourne. To Shelby’s chagrin, she ended up becoming Riker’s first officer. Elizabeth has a similar personality to Admiral James T. Kirk in that she is a risk-taker when the greater good is involved.

As such, she ended up going over Riker’s head when leading an away team to investigate a Borg attack, and went so far as to lead another team to rescue Picard when the Borg kidnapped him. She eventually moved up the ranks to be a commanding officer herself, and it would be great to find out more about her in future shows.

7. Deanna Troi

Deanna Troi is a standout character not just due to her exoticness, but also because of her half-human, half-Betazoid hybrid race. This mixed-race is what gave her telepathic abilities (though decreased in their effectiveness), and those powers were perfect for the crew’s counselor. She brought prominence to this Starfleet position and proved the most valuable assets to have in space are communication and empathy.

On many occasions, her abilities helped smooth things out during turbulent encounters, and she survived many different scenarios including being surgically altered, impersonating Romulans, and figuring out when others were lying. Deanna eventually married Riker and did more than enough to secure her legacy in Star Trek canon and history.

6. Michael Burnham

Michael has great importance to Star Trek canon, bringing more diversity while also being the main protagonist on the Star Trek: Discovery series despite not acting as the captain. Her story overshadows her captain Gabriel Lorca, and while she served under Captain Phillippa Georgiou, she would commit mutiny and injure Phillippa in order to force the U.S.S. Shenzhou to preemptively attack the Klingons. After being a part of the Klingon-Federation war’s inciting incident, Captain Lorca reduced her sentence since he wanted crew members dedicated to defeating the Klingons.

Her backstory is unique in that she was a human raised by Klingons, and none other than Spock’s father, Sarek, specifically. Not a typical Star Trek character, Michael is a complicated woman, most likely created under modern characterization precepts, and it will be interesting to see how her story develops.

5. Beverly Crusher

Talk about an intimidating name. Beverly Crusher is an all-around amazing female character, and not at all an aggressive one like her last name might suggest. She served as the chief medical officer on both Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E, and was a main crew member on Star Trek: The Next Generation. She was also a loving mother to Wesley Crusher and after her husband’s tragic passing, developed a close bond with Picard that blurred the lines between friendship and romance.

Beverly Crusher is controversial in that many wished she was further developed than what was allowed on screen in the Star Trek the Next Generation shows and movies. Her closeness to Picard also rallied fans to request her to have a main role in the Picard series, and many non-canonical books were written about the pairing, and the life they share together, along with their son.

4. Seven of Nine

Seven of Nine’s name should state the obvious; there’s nothing quite like her. Although human, she was a former Borg drone, meaning she was part of the Borg Collective until she was liberated by Kathryn Janeway and her U.S.S. Voyager crew. As an assimilated Borg, she was taken by them and enhanced with cybernetics. In the case of Seven of Nine, or Annika Hansen, she was abducted at the age of six and dubbed Tertiary Adjunct of Unimatrix Zero One.

After her complex and traumatic upbringing, she becomes nuanced and complicated aboard the U.S.S. Voyager. She brings many deep, dramatic, and thematic elements to Star Trek, portraying a character that demands respect, patience, and understanding. After all, consider the fact that she was kidnapped as a child, forced to become a Borg drone, and then has difficulty assimilating with her human peers (let alone other races), while also having to suppress an urge to rejoin the Borg. For the show, she brought plenty of tense moments, as well as emotional scenes, funny moments, and butt-kicking action.

3. Nyota Uhura

Uhura has seen different incarnations throughout the various Star Trek series and movies, and Strange New Worlds has really taken her to the next level. Her latest on-screen portrayal brings a balanced sense of vulnerability, strengths, weaknesses, and backstory. Although she begins as a communications officer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, she eventually achieves the rank of commander of the U.S.S. Leondegrance for her remaining services to the Starfleet.

She can also be considered the first true standout female character or lead and deserves it completely. Uhura brings a great amount of diversity and unique themes to explore. As the expert linguist on her crew, and with her potential to grow, we’re looking forward to seeing more of her on a regular basis.

2. Number One / Una Chin-Riley

As her designated name states, Number One is the first officer to Pike, and ranks just shy of the number one spot on this list. In the original series, she was only referred to as Number One but was later named Una Chin-Riley in several non-canon Star Trek novels. It’s great how Strange New Worlds finally solidifies her name as canon. Also in the new series, Una is given a more involved role and is attached to a key plot involving Pike’s destiny. Since she’s an Illyrian, she’s genetically modified, which is also why she looks like a human, while her kind normally does not.

From the beginning of the Strange New Worlds series, Starfleet makes it clear that they are anti-genetically modified beings. This puts her in a terrible position, and in direct defiance of Federation law. Regardless, she’s already had spotlight episodes where she’s saved the crew from a deadly virus, and has special empathy when it comes to forming bonds with fellow crew members. The fact that she risks it all to help her crewmates and perform her duties to better mankind makes her all the more compelling and one to root for.

1. Kathryn Janeway

Kathryn Janeway is an iconic female character that hasn’t received as much attention as she should, especially in recent Star Trek lore and media. In Starfleet history, she remains one of the most highly decorated captains and is notoriously known for her obsession with coffee. On a more serious note, one of her most notable accomplishments is how she took command of the U.S.S. Voyager as it made its way through the dangerous Delta Quadrant, which is home to the Borg Collective. Thanks to her leadership, the Voyager was able to bring the crew safely back to earth through a Borg transwarp conduit.

Her time as a commander also gained her another milestone which she achieved during her space exploration. It’s been estimated in various episodes how she’s made first contact with more alien races than James T. Kirk. She eventually gets promoted to the rank of Admiral after helping prevent another technologically advanced species from the Delta Quadrant, the Vau N’Akat, from destroying the Federation. To top it off, she defeated the Borg Queen and has a diverse background full of hobbies, passions, and scientific skills. Most of all, she comes across as being a balanced leader; one who is smart, decisive, and strong, but also kind, caring, and understanding. No other female character has been involved in so many Star Trek critical events and achieved so much, which makes her deserving of this top spot.

That’s our list of the top best Star Trek female characters , but the great thing about this franchise is that it has always been a pioneer for portraying powerful women of diverse races, ages, and cultures. There are way more than 10 great female characters in the Star Trek mythos, and new prominent female characters are being introduced all the time. If you’re a Star Trek fan, you owe it to yourself to check out the video game, Resurgence .

Den of Geek

Star Trek: The 50 Best Alien Races

From Tribble to Andorians, we're ranking the 50 best alien life forms explored in the Star Trek universe...

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The crews of the various iterations of Star Trek boldly went where no one has gone before — and then boldly met a crap ton of alien species.

Star Trek may be the human adventure, but there have been countless non-human beings, critters, menaces, gods, and blobs that have been introduced in the Star Trek  universe. From The Original Series to The Animated Series , to The Next Generation , to Deep Space Nine , the Delta Quadrant and Voyager , to the early adventures of Enterprise , to the modern day films, Star Trek has gifted fans with unforgettable species after species as the five-year mission has turned into five decades of first contact.

There have been vile races bred for combat, omnipotent races that use humankind as puppets, and even a bunch of cute little furry things.  Star Trek just keeps on delivering the cool aliens show after show, film after film. Just imagine the species that will soon be coming to Star Trek: Discovery ! But now is the time to celebrate the past as we present the fifty coolest Star Trek aliens ever to appear in films or TV.

50. Arcturian

First appearance: star trek: the motion picture (1979).

The Arcturian didn’t have a great deal of Star Trek screen time, but this alien race that resembled melted wax (eww) makes our list because it stands as a prime example of the story richness of the Star Trek  galaxy. An Arcturian can briefly be seen in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and the Mego toy company even made two versions of this blink and you’ll miss him creature (one 3 ¾ inch one 12 inch). But what intrigues us the most is this melty guy’s backstory…

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Star Trek costume crafters extraordinaire Fred Phillips and Robert Fletcher came up with a rich history for the Arcturian. According to Philips and Fletcher, the Arcturians were actually a race of clones that made up the bulk of the Federation’s infantry. While never seen on screen, there are legions of these guys running around, just waiting to be sent to some hostile planet to go to war. The Federation has always been portrayed as peaceful and benevolent, but it has the potential to unleash billions of melty looking monsters at a moment’s notice. Yikes.

Arcturians also appeared in the Star Trek daily comic strip and their back story continues to stand as a great example of the vast richness of the Star Trek galaxy, a place where billions of stories exist at all times. Including one about a race of wax soldiers that can be replicated and sent to do the Federation’s will. Eeep.

49. Edosian

First appearance: star trek: the animated series “beyond the farthest star” (1973).

Edosians are a tripedal species and are skilled at using their three arms and three legs in navigation and piloting. Lieutenant Arex, the loyal Enterprise navigator that first appeared in Star Trek: The Animated Series , is a proud member of the Edosian species and was a recurring character during this era of animated Trek. Arex was voiced by Scotty himself James Doohan and was a standout character in the era between The Original Series and The Next Generation .

Arex popped up in comics and novels and took his place of honor among the original crew. Arex also was a character that fully utilized animation as the six limbs and distinct alien features of this character would have been impossible to pull off in live-action back in the day. But thanks to The Animated Series , the distinctive Edosians live on and prosper in Trek lore.

48. Excalbians

First appearance: star trek: the original series “the savage curtain” (1969).

Listen, any species responsible for bringing Abraham Lincoln into the Star Trek  universe has to make this list. The Excalbians are a silicon based life form that possessed the ability to shape shift. These rock beings, who honestly looked like something Steve Ditko would have designed for Doctor Strange, were fascinated by the human notion of good and evil.

So they did what anyone would do in the same situation: they made a recreation of Abraham Lincoln and teamed it with Kirk, Spock, and famous Vulcan goodie-good Surak and sent them up against four representatives of evil — Kahless the Unforgettable of Qo’noS, Genghis Khan, Colonel Green of Earth and Dr. Zora of Tiburon. How’s that for a traditional Survivor Series match?

For this wonderful bit of schlock and for making us believe that Ben Grimm could work in live action in 1969, we salute the ever curious Excalbians.

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47. Caitian

First appearance: star trek: the animated series “the survivor” (1973).

The cat-like Caitians were represented in Enterprise history by M’Ress, a feline female that served both as engineer and a communications officer during The Animated Series . M’Ress spoke in a purring voice and was a skilled operative that stood side by side with the more iconic members of the Enterprise.

Now, I would like to talk about how cool the Caitians were. I would like to talk about how M’Ress was the main character in the Power Records’ Star Trek book and record set Star Trek: Passage to Moauv (1975). I would also like to talk about how a Caitian also appeared in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home …

But I just can’t help but wonder if Captain Kirk did what he does and somehow at some point bed down with this cat woman. This would make Kirk’s TV sci-fi’s first furry and I’m sort of fascinated by this idea. I don’t want to focus on this idea because it kind of reduces M’ress as a character and the Caitian as a race… But then I read that the alien twins that Kirk hooked up with in the first Abramsverse film were confirmed to be Caitian and everything just stirs up again and I fell absolved of all responsibility.

Anyway, M‘Ress and the Caitians might be considered obscure now, but she was a pretty big deal to Trek lore during The Animated Series era. So this race is a purr-fect addition to our list. Did the Enterprise come equipped with a giant litter box? Okay, I need to stop now; this is going to some bad places.

46. Bolians

First appearance: star trek: the next generation (1988).

The Bolians have been a perennial background species since their first Trek appearance in 1988. The first Bolian fans witnesses aboard the Enterprise was an ambassador, but many other Bolians have appeared around the Trek verse since. They have been seen as barbers, manicurists, Federation troops, and high ranking officials.

Bolians are distinctive due to their blue skin and their ridge that bisects their anatomy. They are highly friendly individuals and compassionate. In fact, an episode of Voyager puts forth that Bolians were  supportive of assisted suicide. These deep seated beliefs make the Bolians an intriguing species ripe for future Trek exploration.

45. Lurian

First appearance: star trek: deep space nine “the emissary” (1993).

Lurians were a very rarely encountered species that possessed multiple hearts, lungs, and stomachs. Fans got to know this ellusive species through DS9 regular/bar fly Morn. Yes, Morn is an anagram for Norm, because, like the famed Cheers fat man, in Quark’s Bar, everyone knew Morn’s name.

Morn was a bombastic and talkative fellow who fans never got to actually hear speak. He was a former thief that barely moved away from his bar stool. Morn was also fiercely loyal to Quark and got his little Ferengi pal out of many a jam. But mostly, Morn just sat there and drank stoically.

Although we only ever met one Lurian, we will always remember his name because Morn was such a constant (and inebriated) presence on Deep Space Nine . He also once had a torrid love affair with Jadzia Dax but that is a tale for another time. Raise a glass to the Lurians!

First appearance: Star Trek (2009)

So far, the rebooted Trek films have not really given funs much by way of alien species. The only classic races to get good screen time in the reboots have been Romulans and Vulcans. But the films did give us Keenser the Roylan, Scotty’s diminutive engineering pal.

Keenser first appeared in the first Trek reboot film as Scotty’s ever present companion when Scotty was exiled on the Federation outpost on Delta Vega. When Scotty beamed to the Enterprise, he left Keenser behind which was kinda sad. JJ Abrams and company must have thought so too as Keenser was all of a sudden part of the Enterprise’s crew in Star Trek: Into Darkness .

Keensar is ever loyal to his pal Scotty as the two share one of the best bromances in the galaxy. The fourteenth issue of IDW Publishing’s Star Trek comic gifted fans with Keensar’s origin. It also revealed the name of his species — Roylan — for the first time.

In this issue, fans learned that Keensar was constantly mocked by his peers because he was so tall (heh). It also revealed that Keensar served with distinction aboard the USS Kelvin and was shipmates with none other than George Kirk.

Keensar the Roylan is a constant presence in the new Trek Universe and I’m sure this member of the Roylan species will have many adventures to come.

43. Mugato

First appearance: star trek: the original series “a private little war” (1968).

Because sometimes in space, there are giant, poisonous horned gorillas. What’s not to love about Mugato? He’s kind of cute, very fuzzy, and is as poisonous as the nastiest snake. Poisonous gorillas in space, this is why we love Trek. Sadly, Mugato only appeared briefly, attacking and poisoning Kirk before being disintegrated by Doctor McCoy.

But, remember: as you watch the hard sci-fi and techno jargon of Trek, as you witness the human adventure of Roddenberry’s galaxy, as you watch carbon-based life forms achieve full potential and enlightenment, remember , in this same world there are fuzzy, horned, albino gorillas that will poison the crap out of you.

42. Acamarians

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “the vengeance factor” (1989).

The Acamarians are an advanced race of humanoids that have found a peaceful existence very late in its history. For centuries, the tattooed Acamarians lived in rival clans and their planet was split apart by warfare. One of the clan wars lasted three centuries and wiped one of the combating sides out of existence. When Picard’s Enterprise encountered the Acamarians, the people finally almost found peace.

However, a splinter group known as the Gatherers could not overcome centuries of clan warfare and refused to negotiate, so Picard had to navigate the complex web of Acamarians politics and bitterness as well as the assassination of the Gatherer ambassador to finally forge a peace with the Acamarians.

Despite all these issues, the Acamarians have a rich culture and mirror many contemporary Earth societies that have been splintered by war. Sci-fi works best when it reflects reality, and through the Acamarians, Trek fans got to see some really effective social commentary about tribalism and societal bitterness.

41. Denobulans

First appearance: enterprise “broken bow” (2001).

A Denobulan served aboard the very first Enterprise as the ship’s doctor, thus making the species vital to the origins of the Federation. Our medic in question, Phlox by name, was one of the main protagonists in Enterprise and was a staunch example of the exemplary qualities of the Denobulan race.

Denobulans are loyal but quite hedonistic by human standards. Denobulan males can take up to three wives while the entire race embraces polyamory. As humanity headed off into space aboard the first Enterprise, Phlox served as a constant reminder of the varied belief systems and practices the people of Earth would encounter as space exploration began.

Phlox and the Denobulan held ethics in high regard as Phlox would never allow a sentient being to suffer. Even though the ridge faced Denobulans had fierce tempers, they also were gentle and kind, and valued knowledge and pleasure over confrontation and violence.

Denobulans also have the propensity to puff out their faces when they were threatened — so, yeah, there’s that. Plus, Denobulans have really long tongues. What was it that I said about hedonism and Denobulans? Anyway, these cunning linguists were great doctors as seen through Enterprise ’s first mayor of the sickbay: Doctor Phlox.

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40. Orions

First appearance: star trek: the original series “the cage” (1966).

The green Orion slave dancer that shimmied into the dreams of Trek fans has been an iconic bit of Star Trek lore since her Shakiraesque debut, but the history of the Orions did not stop there…

Although a cosplay staple, the slave girl was just one Orion. Others have appeared in The Animated Series , Enterprise , novels, comics, toys, and one even prominently appeared in the J.J. Abrams Star Trek timeline as Uhura’s roommate and an early romantic partner of one James T. Kirk.

Orions are a species with close ties to the Federation — ties that are explored in some of the better episodes of Enterprise . Although the Orions will long be remembered because of the grinding of the hips of a slave dancer, there is so much more to this green-skinned humanoid species that has been part of Star Trek lore since almost day one.

39. Ocampans

First appearance star trek: voyager “caretaker part ii” (1995).

The Ocampans carry an importance to the Star Trek  universe because Kes, a noted member of the Ocampan species, was a member of the lost Voyager crew for three years. Ocampans are a race with powerful telekinetic powers but, sadly, this race of elf-like humanoids only have a life span of nine years. (So… combine Jean Grey with a mayfly and you get the idea.) 

Ocampans are very accepting of their short life span and a rather enlightened species. Through Kes, the crew of Voyager learned a lust for life as the wide eyed Ocampan enjoyed every minute of her existance even though she was trapped with the Voyager crew. When Kes’ power grew out of control, she left Voyager and her friends, including her constant companion Neelix, and used her abilities to push the lost Voyager out of Borg space and a year closer to home. This sacrifice taught the crew of the Voyager and fans of the show the innate nobility of the Ocampan race.

38. Vidiians

First appearance star trek voyager “the phage” (1995).

While the Ocampans were a nice, little, Tinkerbell-like species that fluttered about Voyager , there were also these Wes Craven nightmares… The Vidiians suffered a disease known as the Phage. The Phage is kind of like a hardcore space Ebola that utterly destroys the infected’s body and organs. So, yeah, Bones McCoy was sort of right about space being a petri dish of death and pain.

The ravaged Phage would wander the galaxy and rob sentients of their organs and body parts. So there you are, doing warp three with caution around the Delta Quadrant, and, all of a sudden, a few Vidiians beam unto your ship and rip out your liver and intestines. Then, they use said liver and intestines to replace their own — whether you filled out your Federation organ donor cards or not.

The Vidiians were eventually cured by the crew of the Voyager, but you have to assume that in a galaxy so big there are still some Vidiians cruising around out there taking hearts and lungs from innocent travelers. Yeesh.

37. Breen

First appearance: star trek deep space nine “indiscretion” (1995).

First off, cool points for the Breen because the helmet that this species wears looks kind of like the helmet Princess Leia used to disguise herself as a bounty hunter in Return of the Jedi . But the space awesomeness of the Breen doesn’t end there…

The Breen’s fighting prowess and technology are so advanced that even the Romulons and Klingon talk about this mysterious species in hushed whispers. And, indeed, when the Breen made themselves known to the Federation during the Dominion War, things got intense. These mighty warriors allied themselves with the Cardassians and the Dominion to take on the combined might of the Federation, the Klingons, and the Romulons.

During this conflict, the Breen destroyed the USS Defiant, the flagship of the Deep Space Nine space station, and managed to attack the Earth city of San Francisco. The Federation managed to develop counter weaponry to defeat the Breen, but many will remember these armored badassess as race of military specialists to be reckoned with.

The alliance with the Dominion cost the Breen, though, and — after the War — it wasn’t easy being Breen.

36. Hunters

First appearance star trek deep space nine : “captive pursuit” (1993).

Imagine a Trek alien that is pretty much Boba Fett mixed with Kraven the Hunter and you have these big game-tracking motherfuckers. The Hunters popped out of the Bajoran Wormhole and had their first contact with the Federation in the DS9 episode “Captive Pursuit.” In this stirring installment of this reporter’s favorite Trek show, fans were introduced to the Hunters and their chosen prey: the genetically enhanced Tosk.

The Hunters (whether this was the species name is unknown) would alter their Tosk prey in order to make the hunt more difficult. The pursuing of the Tosk was an obsession with the Hunters that rubbed members of the freedom loving Federation the wrong way.

The Hunters even gave the Federation a run for its money as the race of killers had advanced tech to assist them in their eternal hunt for Tosk. Sadly, the Hunters only appeared in one episode of Deep Space Nine , but their fighting skills and bloodthirsty rituals will be burned into the minds of Trek fans for a long time.

35. The Salt Vampire

First appearance: star trek: the original series “the man trap” (1966).

Old Salty here, or creature M-113, is a reminder that space can be a really, really dangerous place because there are things out there called Salt Vampires. And, no, this thing doesn’t just hang around a Pringles factory, it freakin’ shape shifts and then kills innocent people and drains them of their salt. Kirk and his crew first encountered this thing as it took the form of a number of the Enterprise’s crew. It almost killed Sulu, Yeoman Rand, Spock, and Kirk before being shot and killed by Dr. McCoy who had no time for such foolishness.

I suppose Kirk could have kept the Salt Vampire alive and just fed it Wetzel’s Pretzels (those things are like licking the ocean), but I guess Kirk felt that a shape shifting thing that looks like it was spat out of the ninth plane of hell that brutally kills people and drains them of sodium probably needed to be deleted from the universe. One has to wonder what special M-114 might be: Cinnamon Vampire?

34. Cheron

First appearance star trek: the original series “let that be your last battlefield” (1969).

When we first met the Cheron, there was only two members of this species left: Bele (played by the Riddler himself, the great Frank Gorshin) and Lokai. Bele was hunting Lokai whom Bele deemed a traitor after the planet Cheron was wiped out due to centuries of racial wars.

Apparently, some Cheron were black on the left and white on the right while other members of this advanced species possessed the opposite skin alignment. Due to this difference, the entire population — save Lokai and Bele — were eradicated. Bele hijacked the Enterprise and used his vast array of mental capabilities to hunt for Lokai.

The whole opposite was a thinly veiled, but powerful allusion to the destructive potential and sheer idiocy of racism — a message as powerful today as it was in the ’60s. Of course, you know I’m going to say that Mego made a Cheron doll, a toy I treasured in my childhood and called Oreo Man.

We should all have an Oreo Man during our most innocent years. But who knew my beloved Oreo Man was actually a genocidal racist madman that used his vast power to almost destroy the Enterprise? Oh, Oreo Man…

33. Nausicaans

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “tapestry” (1993).

One of the surlier races in the galaxy, Nausicaans are big hairy warriors that hire themselves out as mercenaries throughout the galaxy. A Nausicaan had quite the impact on the life of Jean-Luc Picard. When the future captain of the Enterprise was an ensign, he played a stirring game of domjot with some Nausicaan thugs (as one does). Picard and his pals accused the Nausicaans of cheating and the bad-tempered badasses stabbed Picard through the heart. This required Picard to get an artificial heart. (The more you know!)

The Nausicaans gave the crew of Deep Space Nine a hard time as well. This hairy race of pirates even encountered Captain Archer and the original crew of the Enterprise back in the day, proving that big hairy thugs that cheat at domjot remain big hairy thugs that cheat at domjot.

All that aside, Nausicaan fighting prowess is equal to the fighting prowess of Klingons and the only thing that keeps the Nausicaans from being more of a threat is their mistrust and their inability to come together as a species. Instead of being intergalactic conquerors, the Nausicaans have remained bullies, raider, and cheaters. But they do have killer 80s rocker hair, don’t they?

32. Kazon

First appearance: star trek: voyager “caretaker” (1995).

The Kazon were the first race that the crew of the Voyager encountered when they arrived in the Delta Quadrant, and — as far as d-bag, aggressive alien species go — the Kazon take the space cake (because when you put the word space in front of something, it sounds like you are in the future).

The Kazon race was separated into rival sects, which made negotiating with them as a whole almost impossible. They were once a slave race that served the Trabe, but the Kazon were a fractured species before and during its enslavement. Despite their disloyalty to each other, the Kazon were fierce combatants who were unwilling to negotiate a peace treaty with the Trabe or Voyager.

The Kazon had advanced technology and a back-stabbing blood thirst that introduced the crew of the Voyager to the Delta Quadrant and caused Voyager to be trapped in what was going to be a very hostile place, if the battle-hardened Kazon were any indication.

31. Metrons

First appearance: star trek: the original series “arena” (1967).

We do so love the Gorn. And what alien species was responsible for Kirk’s immortal battle with the Gorn? Why that would be the shiny and nigh omnipotent Metrons.

The Metrons possess tremendous mental powers and can control matter and energy. These human like aliens fiercely guard their sector of space and regard even the most minor intrusion as a great trespass punishable by death. When the Enterprise and a Gorn vessel find themselves in Metron space, the Metrons mentally teleport both Captains to a remote planet and force them to fight.

The Metrons are intensely xenophobic and regard other races as barbaric, so when Kirk spares the Gorn, the aloof Metrons are impressed and free both vessels. You see, a simple act of kindness was all it took to free the Enterprise from the Metrons’ wrath and impress a race of people that do not impress easily. Also, the Metrons wear sparkly evening gowns so they have that going for them…

30. Horta

First appearance: star trek: the original series “devil in the dark” (1967).

The Horta may look like a pile of bile soaked dog puke, but, hey, it was featured in William Shatner’s favorite Star Trek episode, so we have to give this blob of silicon its props.

The Horta was first encountered by a group of miners. After a miner was killed, Kirk and company were called to see what was up. They encounter the Horta, an extremely alien-looking beastie. After the creature is injured, Spock attempts a mind meld but the creature is in too much pain for Spock to connect with it. Soon, the crew of the Enterprise learns that the creature is the lone survivor of its race charged with protecting the eggs of the next generation of Horta. So Kirk and his pals dedicate themselves to protecting the thing’s little vomit eggs from the angry miners.

All jokes aside, the Horta was classic Trek alien: a semi-cheesy-looking beastie that stars in an episode with a powerful theme. The Horta was a prime example that all life has merit and even something that looks like a half-digested taco only wants to survive and thrive. By saving the Horta, the crew of the Enterprise shows that their most important mission is to contact and understand all life, no matter what it looks like. Thank you for that valuable lesson, Mr. Horta.

29. Greek Gods

First appearance: star trek: the original series “who mourns for adonis” (1967).

Wait, what? Oh, by the bristling beard of Zeus, the Greek Gods exists in the Star Trek  universe. 

The legendary deities of ancient Greece were actually super-powered aliens that lived on Pollox IV. They would visit Earth back in ancient times and bask in the worship of primitive humans. Well, the humans of the Enterprise were no primitives, and — when the Pollox IV alien that called itself Apollo trapped Kirk and his crew on the planet and refused to allow them to leave — Kirk and Spock fought back, kicking a god’s ass in the process.

Sadly, we never saw the other Greek gods. (Because could you just imagine Kirk versus Zeus?) But, it was established the other gods existed — and that they wore togas and laurel leaves like they were going to a frat party. The fact that this all exists in the same galaxy as Klingons and Borg just makes me very happy.

28. Hirogen

First appearance: star trek: voyager “message in a bottle” (1998).

The Hirogen are a nasty Delta Quadrant species of reptilian hunters that view any other sentient beings as prey. When the Hirogen chose a victim, the religious ritual of the Hunt began and all aspect of Hirogen culture centered on this blood sport. After the Hirogen tracked and captured its prey, they would remove the victim’s skeletal system, muscles, internal organs, ligaments, and tendons and keep these parts as trophies.

The Hirogen ran afoul of the Starship Voyager a number of times and Captain Janeway and her elite crew always found ways to defeat these hunters. In one of the Hirogen’s more bone headed moves, they created advanced holograms that could feel fear and pain. These thinking holograms quickly became more advanced than the Hirogen and turned the hunters into the hunted.

Despite this addlepated move, the Hirogen were always a feared species for those that traveled through the Delta Quadrant because they were essentially Predators dropped into the middle of the Star Trek universe.

27. El-Aurians

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “the child” (1988).

El-Aurian were a race of wise and peaceful people that transverse the galaxy to listen to the stories of others. When the Borg wiped out the El-Aurian’s home world, the galaxy lost a race of wise listeners… Or it almost did, because the surviving members of this race spread out across the galaxy.

Fans met the El-Aurians when The Next Generation introduced Guinan, the proprietor of Ten Forward, the bar of choice for the crew of the Enterprise. When Guinan came aboard, the members of the Enterprise had a kind and quick-witted being to bounce their problems off of, and Guinan listened. It was a shame that so many people like Guinan were lost to the Borg as the El-Aurians long lived goodness was a boon to the galaxy.

But not all El-Aurians were benevolent. Tollan Soran was an El-Aurian survivor that was aboard a ship of refugees with Guinan when the ships ferrying the El-Aurians refugees was lost to the fiery Nexus ribbon. It seemed that the legendary Captain Kirk was killed in this rescue attempt, but it turns out Kirk was trapped within the Nexus.

Soran became obsessed with returning to the Nexus and his Ahab like need for knowledge led to the first and only meeting between James T. Kirk and Jean Luc Picard. Soran was an anomaly to the El-Aurians species as most of the race used their centuries of wisdom to spread enlightenment wherever they went.

26. Tellarites

First appearance: star trek: the original series “journey to babel” (1967).

Along with Andorians and Vulcans, Tellarites were one of the first species to join the United Federation of Planets. A Tellarite first appeared in The Original Series episode “Journey to Babel,” where Sarek, Spock’s father, was framed for the murder of a Tellarite ambassador.

Sarek was able to solve the crime, freeing his name and forging a long-lasting peace with the Tellarities. Early contact with the Tellarites was recounted in Enterprise , but members of the specials also popped up in The Next Generation and even in a couple of films. Tellarites, with their distinctive beards, hooves, and stubbornness, have long been one of the backbone species of the Federation.

25. Tamarians

First appearance star trek: the next generation “darmok” (1991).

“Temba, his arms wide. Shaka, when the walks fell.” Who can forget these poetic, yet somewhat ominous phrases spoken by Dathon the Tamarian to Captain Picard when the two were trapped on a hostile world together?

Trek lore has it that the Federation and the Tamarians only had seven encounters over the years because the Tamarian language was so hard to comprehend. Well, if he was to survive, Picard would have to understand it (and fast) because Dathon beamed Picard down to the planet in order to teach the human captain a language that was as complex as it was beautiful.

It turns out Tamarians only communicate in metaphors (I’ve had grad school professors like that), and in order for the Federation and the Tamarians to build an accord, Picard would need to understand those metaphors. “Shaka when the walls fell,” has become quite a famous little moment of Trek myth as the Tamarians stand as a metaphor themselves — for cultural understanding and empathy.

24. Species 8472

First appearance: “star trek: voyager” part 1 (1997).

Species 8472 are so deadly that they even make the Borg poop their cybernetic underroos. (Hey, do you think when the Borg poops they all go at once? Or does one go make while the rest of the Collective just snickers? This is now the most ever written about Borg poop on the internet. Or is it? I’m not googling that.)

Anyway, Species 8472 existed in an extra-dimensional bit of hell known as fluidic space. When the Borg discovered the fluidic dimension, the ever deadly race of cybernetic killers busted through the dimensions and attempted to assimilate Species 8472. 8472 was having none of that and fought back, creating weapons that could slay the Borg with ease. In fact, 8472 was able to destroy the Borg Cubes in seconds. (Man, that’s like taking down the Death Star with a single bullet.) Sadly, Species 8472 also took out many innocent Delta Quadrant planets, which forced the crew of Voyager to get involved.

The Borg and Voyager had to form an unlikely alliance to drive Species 8472 back to fluidic space. 8472 was one of the closet things Trek fans ever got to Lovecraft-like cosmic horrors, as even the Borg could not stand up to these waling nightmares. This species appeared a few more times on Voyager until Captain Janeway was able to broker a peace with these terrors that exist behind the fabric of time and space.

23. The Gorn

Oh, the Gorn. Who doesn’t love Gorn? Of course, this rubbery looking and cold blooded reptilian monstrosity first appeared in the classic TOS episode “Arena,” where Kirk had to go mano-e-lizardo with the captain of a captured Gorn vessel. What followed was one of the most classic fights in Trek history as Kirk had to fashion a makeshift cannon to defeat this alien monster.

Despite its primitive appearance, future novels established the Gorn as a technologically-advanced race and, you just have to admit, Trek lore has not even scratched the surface of the Gorn. Imagine the spin offs. The Gorn Identity. Gorn to be Wild. Gorn on the Fourth of July. Fans were able to witness the Gorn home world for the first time in DC Comics’ Star Trek the Next Generation: The Gorn Crisis .

The Gorn were also one of the aliens made by Mego in its second set of Trek dolls. Fun fact: Mego’s Gorn looks nothing like the TV Gorn, as Mego just reused Marvel’s Lizard mold, painted it brown and decked old Gorny in the outfit used for the Klingon doll. Despite this lack of toy respect, and despite one of the cheapest prosthetic heads ever seen on TV, the Gorn’s battle with Kirk is still forever burned into Trek lore.

22. Tholians

First appearance: star trek: the original series “the tholian web” (1968).

Get a load of these psychedelic xenophobes. Yeah, the Tholians might look like a funky black light album cover come to life, but, really, they are brutal, territorial, hateful, and will do anything to keep other species out of Tholian territory. But, hey, they are known for the punctuality, so take heart in the fact that, when they kill you, it’ll be done in a timely fashion.

The Tholians cruise around their sector of space in geometric rainbow ships, making the aesthetic of the race more Yes album cover and less cool space despots. The Tholians first encountered the crew of the Enterprise when the USS Defiant flew too close to Tholian space.

Always protective of their borders, the Tholians phased the Defiant out of real space and into an interspace dimension. Kirk himself was phased out of time and space (for Shatner, it wouldn’t be the first or last time this happened), but Spock and the Enterprise were able to get their captain back and pimp-slap the Tholians.

The Enterprise under Jonathan Archer also ran afoul of these crystalline killers. The Tholians are a great example that in space, threats can come in any shape and even rainbows can kill you.

21. Talaxians

First appearance: star trek: voyager “caretaker” (1995).

One of the friendlier species of the Delta Quadrant, the Talaxians — or more accurately, an individual member of the Talaxian species — was pivotal to Voyager’s survival during the years it spent trapped in the Delta Quadrant.

Talaxians became dispersed throughout the Delta Quadrant after a devastating war with the Haakonian Order. Talaxians had no real home world, but that did not break their spirits. Talaxians are a very spiritual, upbeat, and whimsical race that — when confronted with two unpleasant paths to take in life — will find a third, happier path to traverse. This spiritual ability to find light and hope in any circumstance made the Talaxian Neelix indispensable to the crew of the Voyager.

Neelix was the cook and morale officer aboard Voyager and helped his friends out of many spiritual and literal crises. Throughout its wanderings in the Delta Quadrant, Voyager encountered many Talaxians that were always willing to lend a hand. Sadly, many aggressive species like the Borg also targeted the peaceful Talaxians — but, like Neelix, the Talaxians always found that third path.

Keep going, because we’ve got more aliens for you!

20. Organians

First appearance: star trek: the original series “errand of mercy” (1967).

When Kirk, Spock, and the crew of the Enterprise first encounter the Organians, a non-distinct humanoid species, this new race appeared to be akin to an 18th century agrarian Earth society. Spock commented that his tricoder has more technology than the entirety of the Organians planet.

Sadly, the Organians home world became caught up in a war between the Federation and the Klingons. Kirk warned the Organians leaders that war was coming but the Organians were completely unconcerned… When the Klingons arrived and began to take Organians hostages, the Organians remained unconcerned — because, apparently, the Organians are millions of years more advanced than either Klingons or humans. The Organians mentally disabled the Klingon and Federation ships in orbit around their planet and calmly disarmed Kirk, Spock, and the Klingons.

The Organians have an advanced form of ESP and can predict future events. They also can possess the bodies of others. An Organian told Kirk that, one day, Klingons and humans would be friends — something ‘ol James T. couldn’t wrap his head around, but something Next Gen fans would know to be true. So here’s to the Organians, the Amish space gods of the galaxy.

19. The Traveler

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “where no one has gone before” (1987).

Now, let’s all be honest. Yeah, we love Wil Wheaton as he is truly nerd royalty and has done a great deal over the last few years as a sort of geek ambassador. But, real talk: no one really liked Wesley Crusher. We love Wesley’s mom, Dr. Beverly Crusher, but Wes was kind of the Jar Jar Binks of Star Trek . The Traveler freed us of all of that.

The Traveler is a member of a mysterious race of immensely powerful beings. The Traveler could transverse time, space, and heavenly bodies at will and could use his thoughts to manipulate nature and reality. The Traveler seemed to be second only to Q in terms of power and omnipotence.

When the Traveler first met ‘lil Wesley Crusher, he compared the lad to Mozart. This caused Captain Picard to promote Crusher to ensign. Later in his Starfleet career, Crusher began to have doubts about his lot in Starfleet. The Traveler convinced Crusher to leave Starfleet after Crusher began to develop powers similar to the Traveler.

As Crusher’s powers grew, the Traveler took him on as protégé, teaching the former ensign how to best use his vast powers to help the galaxy. Wesley left the Enterprise with the Traveler as his very own Yoda and, for this, Trek fans hold a great debt to the Traveler as he freed us from the oft times insipid Crusher.

You know, looking back, I wouldn’t mind a novel or two explaining what happened to Crusher later in life. So, I guess we can give the Traveler credit for not only freeing us from Wesley, but also for making Bev’s boy into an interesting part of the Star Trek universe.

18. Crystalline Entity

First appearance: star trek: the next generation: “datalore” (1988).

The Crystalline Entity is basically the Galactus of the Star Trek  universe. The Entity is a giant, electromagnetic engine of cosmic death that lives to consume organic matter. It goes from planet to planet, absorbing all organic matter and leaving dry husks of death behind. A Crystalline Entity destroyed the outpost where Commander Data was created, essentially making Data an intergalactic android orphan.

Despite its destructive power, the Crystalline Entity is a beautiful sight: huge and multi-faceted, colorful and shimmering — frankly, an artist’s dream. But, behind the beauty, lies a bite that can lay waste to entire species.

This giant snowflake of death was pivotal in the origins of Data and is one of the most feared species in the entire galaxy. There are other Crystalline Entities out there in the void of space, but, thankfully, encounters with them are very rare. As of yet, no Crystalline Entity has been seen hanging out with a silver guy on a surfboard… but we remain hopeful.

17. Betazoid

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “encounter at farpoint” (1987).

For seven seasons and a handful of films, Star Trek fans got to know a very special Betazoid: Counselor Deanna Troi. Troi was an exemplary member of the Betazoid race — a mostly peaceful people that possess empathic and telepathic powers.

Most Betazoids, including Troi, use their powers for the benefit of others. The Enterprise was saved many times thanks to Troi and her fantastic abilities as she served with honor and distinction about the Federation flagship. Betazoids are indistinguishable for humans except for their all black irises. It’s a very cool thought that there is a race of Charles Xaviers in the Star Trek  universe and, with more Star Trek coming our way soon, let us hope we have the honor to meet more Betazoids.

Fun fact: Gene Roddenberry wanted the Betazoid women to have four breasts. Can you imagine trying to take Troi seriously with four breasts? Thankfully, Roddenberry was talked out of this silliness and the Enterprise’s resident Betazoid counselor became the stuff of Trek legend.

16. Talosians

First appearance: star trek pilot “the cage” (1965).

You know we had to include the first aggressive alien species ever encountered in a Trek episode. And, yes, we’ll get this out of the way quickly: the Talosians’ heads look like asses. We know. ‘Ol fanny foreheads. Butt heads. Get it all out of your system. Okay, done? Good.

The Talosians were the sole survivors of a nuclear holocaust. The remaining Talosians manifested the power to create illusions. These beings grew addicted to the illusions and abandoned technology. Like the Lotus Eaters of old, their existence was now tied to their narcotic-like illusions. Soon, the Talosians grew bored. The buttheads lured alien races to their planet and fed off the psyche of their victims.

Captain Pike of the Enterprise and his science officer Spock were drawn to the Talosian home world. The Talosians tempted the Federation officers with everything they could desire, but — through the minds of both men — the Talosians learned that humans hated captivity. The Talosians showed compassion and let Pike and Spock go. Later, Spock would return to the Talosian planet after Pike was left paralyzed. The Talosians once again showed compassion as they allowed the broken Pike to live his life on the planet.

The Talosian story ends sweetly, but just remember that, somewhere in the galaxy, there are siren-like, androgynous aliens (the male Talosians were actually played by female actors), ready to lore victims into a life of captivity. The Talosians were Trek’s first encountered, named alien species and they are also some of the most memorable as these illusion-casting humanoids set the standard for all Trek species going forward. Not bad for a bunch of ass-heads.

15. Vorta

First appearance: star trek: deep space nine “the jem’hadar” (1994).

The Vorta were genetically bred by the Founders to be the perfect military commanders and strategists of the Dominion. Vorta are sly, cunning, and corrupt. Try to imagine an entire species of Littlefingers and you get the idea.

In addition to the strategic acumen baked into Vorta DNA by the Founders, Vorta are also programmed to believe that the Founders are gods — and the Vorta serve their gods in all things. The Vorta created the Jem’Hadar and could clone themselves so the Dominion would never be without its master strategists for long. Even after death.

But, like the Jem’Hadar, the Vorta were programmed to serve. Upon capture or defeat, a Vorta was programmed to commit suicide, and during the Dominion War, many Vorta pulled the trigger on their own demise. The Vorta was one of the most cunning and immoral races Starfleet ever faced, even if the immorality was inserted into their genetic makeup by another species.

14. Xindi

First appearance: star trek: enterprise “the expanse” (2003).

The Xindi are a collective of six subspecies — avian, arboreal, primate, reptilian, insect, and aquatic — that form a single race. As a whole, the Xindi posed a great threat to the early Federation.

The Xindi worship a race known as the Sphere Builders and, when this mysterious race warns the Xindi that they will be involved in a war with Earth, the Xindi preemptively strike, killing millions of humans. Jonathan Archer and his crew take the fight to the Xindi who provide the first crew of the Enterprise its greatest challenge.

The Xindi was one of the first warnings to humanity that not every race is benevolent as the six races of this advanced culture reined death upon an Earth that was still getting used to the idea of contact with alien life.

13. Trill

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “the host” (1991).

Trills are an advanced species of humanoid that are passionate and kind in most of their dealings. Some Trills are joined with wise Symbiotes that chose different member of the Trill species with which to share a mutual bond. The Symbiotes retain the personalities and memories of each host and pass these aspects on to the new hosts.

The first Trill Trek fans encountered was named Odan. Odan quickly struck up a romance with Dr. Beverly Crusher and, when Odan was tragically killed, the Symbiote was moved into the body of William Riker. Riker had long been friend-zoned by Crusher, so this began one of the most awkward romances in Trek history.

It also gave fans the legacy of the Trill, a legacy that continued into Deep Space Nine with the beloved Jadzia Dax. Through Dax, fans learned about almost every aspect of Trill life. It was a fascinating meditation of duality, sexuality, and identity and the character of Jadzia Dax was almost a dozen disparate characters in one. When Jadzia was lost, the Symbiote moved into Ezri Dax, a wonderful new character that continued the exploration into what it is like being many beings at once.

12. Tribbles

First appearance: star trek: the original series “the trouble with tribbles” (1967).

They’re fuzzy, they squeak, they can be deadly — who doesn’t love Tribbles? Ask any casual fan to name a Trek alien, and there’s a good chance Mr. Joe on the street guy will say Tribbles because these bundles of fur are just that darn famous.

“Trouble with Tribbles” — The Original Series  installment that first introduced these puff balls — allowed Shatner, Nimoy, and company to really flex their comedy chops. But, when you break down the threat the Tribbles represented, they actually are pretty terrifying… Imagine a species that reproduces so fast, a ship can be suffocating on the things in a matter of days. That’s a bit more Giger than Pokemon.

Despite the threat, the Tribbles also brought the laughs to generations of fans. Of course, the Tribbles were revisited in the classic DS9 episode “Trials and Tribble-ations” and also played a major role in the recent film Star Trek: Into Darkness . To quote a great man from a rival space franchise: “Not bad for a little fuzzball.”

11. Jem’Hadar

One of the greatest and most efficiently deadly militaries the galaxy have ever seen, the foot soldiers of the Dominion — the Jem’Hadar — are also one of the more tragic species that can be found in the Trekverse.

Jem’Hadar reach maturity in the span of about three days. They are genetically programmed to be the perfect galactic foot soldier by their masters, the Vorta. To insure control, the Vorta have withheld an essential enzyme from the Jem’Hadar genetic makeup. This enzyme is supplied to the Jem’Hadar in the form of The White, a liquid that the Jem’Hadar has filtered into their systems through a tube in their necks. Essentially, Jem’Hadar are drug-addicted soldiers unleashed upon the galaxy.

The Jem’Hadar were the main Dominion force that laid siege to Deep Space Nine during the Dominion War and were nearly unstoppable. The need for The White was a religion to the Jem’Hadar, who became one of the most feared species in any quadrant.

Jem’Hadar are incredibly resilient and possess keen minds that help them plan for battles. Despite all this, most Jem’Hadar die very young due to the fact that they are essentially cannon fodder for the Dominion. Yet, the Jem’Hadar value duty and loyalty above all else as they embrace their lot as pawns of the Dominion. All for The White.

The Top 10 Star Trek aliens await on the next page!

10. Changeling

First appearance: star trek: deep space nine “the emissary” (1993).

As we all know, life in the Trek universe can take many and varied forms. One of the most profoundly different races of the Trek galaxy are the Changelings, a race of intelligent liquid-based shape shifters that reshaped the political climate of the galaxy with the same ease that they reshape their bodies.

The Changelings were also known as The Founders and were the puppet masters behind the Dominion War. From their wormhole homeworld, the Changelings manipulated the universe. The Founders used entire races like chess pieces showing the Federation and its enemies that there are beings that exist within and behind the galaxy that are willing to go any lengths for power.

But not all Changelings were adversarial. Through Odo, Trek fans saw another side to this fascinating species. Odo was the constable aboard DS9 , a by-the-books cop who went to any lengths (literally) to solve crimes. He was a defender of his Federation friends, particularly Kira Nerys the woman he learned to love. When the Founders merged their liquid forms with Odo, they learned about humanity, and his love and bravery spread even to the hidden spaces of the galaxy.

Plus, The Changelings are an alien species that can easily disguise themselves as furniture. You can’t teach that!

9. Andorians

First appearance: star trek: the original series “journey to babel” (1968).

The Andorians are an aggressive yet advanced race that was one of the first alien races that formed the original Federation of Planets with humanity.

The Andorians have distinctive blue skin, white hair, and two protruding antennae. The blue skinned humanoids have an advanced armada and a long history of conflict with the Vulcans. This conflict was put aside as Andorians entered into the Federation and, with it, decades of peace. But peace wasn’t easy, as seen in Star Trek: Enterprise,  in which Federation Captain Archer and Andorian Captain Thy’lek Shran developed an adversarial relationship that, thankfully, culminated in a friendship based on mutual respect.

The Andorians are more than a bit xenophobic as they refer to humans and Vulcans as “pink skins” and have a long standing mistrust of everything not Andorian. In fact, the Andorians don’t even trust their offshoot race, the very rarely encountered, white-skinned, psychic Aenar.

Enterprise is a bit unfairly-maligned by some Trekkers, but it will always be the show that took the Andorians from background characters to a narratively-explored race with deep contradictions. Of course, I need to mention that the Andorian was also one of the final Trek dolls Mego produced. It is very sparkly.

8. Ferengi

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “the last outpost” (1987).

I would  tell you some facts about the Ferengi, but I’d have to charge you about ten bars of (snarl, drool) gold-pressed latinum first. Because that’s what drives the Ferengi race: cold, hard, glimmering, wonderful cash-money.

By the time fans met the crew of the Kirk’s Enterprise, most races in the galaxy had abandoned cash-based economies to focus on the improvement of science and technology for all beings. But not the Ferengi. These big-eared, fanged critters utilize science and technology to procure cash and heaven help any sentients that stand in their way.

Fans first me the Ferengi in Next Gen as the greedy race of miscreants became the first real adversaries Picard’s crew had to face. The Ferengi in Next Gen were vile and greedy, sort of like spacefaring Daffy Ducks. But, in Deep Space Nine , fans were introduced to Quark, Rom, Nog, and other Ferengi that had a streak of nobility. Oh, they were still as greedy as they come, but this Ferengi family, saved the DS9 space station more than once. Heck, Nog even became the first Ferengi to serve in Starfleet.

In DS9 , fans learned many of the finer points of Ferengi culture. For example, Ferengi women aren’t allowed to wear clothes. In addition to their odd dress codes, the Ferengi live by the Rules of Acquisition, an almost religious text that teaches the Ferengi the best ways to make money. Quark constantly had to choose between loyalty to his friends and his Ferengi impulses for cash and this often humorous double nature led to some fun dramas.

But, if you have a piece of latinum in your pocket, be warned that there are many Ferengi out there who would kill for it because that is the Ferengi way.

7. Romulans

First appearance: star trek: the original series “balance of terror” (1966).

All sentient races in the galaxy have a good, healthy fear of the Romulans — and with good reason. In many ways, the Romulans are like the anti-Vulcans. In fact, Romulans are an offshoot of the Vulcan race. Centuries ago, the Romulans rejected the Vulcan idea of repression of emotions and struck out on their own, finally settling on the twin planets Romulus and Remus and forging an empire.

Where Vulcans are cold, collected, and benevolent, Romulans are fiery, aggressive, and often power hungry. This passionate need to conquer led to the Earth/Romulan war, the first time humanity experienced total war on an intergalactic scale. Earth was eventually victorious and, during the conflict, no human ever actually saw a Romulan. Years later, it was the crew of the Enterprise that actually saw what Romulans looked like and it was Mr. Spock that postulated a common ancestry between Vulcans and Romulans.

The Romulans were based on the aggressiveness and culture of the Roman Empire, which is seen through the race’s military aggression and clothing. Despite years of ill will, the Romulans sided with the Federation in the Dominion War. A Romulan also changed reality, as fans of the new Trek films know…

A Romulan named Nero used a Red Matter device to destroy Romulus and punch a hole in time and space. Nero then went back in time and destroyed the USS Kelvin, causing a new reality to splinter off from the original Trek timeline — a reality Trek fans are currently enjoying in films.

Romulans have touched every part of Trek history and have even created a huge amount of it. They continue to serve as a counterpoint to the Vulcans and their name brings fear and respect throughout the Trek galaxy.

If you can imagine God in the Star Trek   universe, you understand Q. Q isn’t a kind god or an emotionally-distant god, hungry for worship. Q is a curious god that wants to test the intelligent races of the galaxy — particularly Jean-Luc Picard, captain of the Enterprise.

Q is a member of The Q, a race of omnipotent beings that observe the universe from afar and interfere in the lives of mortals when it suits their whims. The Q are a force of nature, appearing when and where they want to bring gifts or utter destruction to lesser beings. It all depends on a Q’s whims. Q became a sometimes-ally, sometimes-antagonist to the crew of the Enterprise and even popped up on DS9 and Voyager . (And, really, how awesome would it be to see Q pop into J.J. Abrams’ Kelvin Universe?)

Q is everywhere and everything. Wherever Q went, great storytelling followed — mostly because of the deeply complex and often comedic relationship between Q and Picard. Whether it was TV, comics, or novels (most notably the eminently readable Q Continuum trilogy by Greg Cox), The Q’s force of nature omnipotence have made them one of the most feared and gloriously divine species in the Trek universe. Yes, in Trek, Q definitely stood for quality.

5. Bajorans

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “ensign ro” (1991).

It is apropos that the Bajorans and Cardassians are so close on this list because the two races are forever linked in the mind of Trek fans. Trekkers first met the Bajoran through Enterprise Ensign Ro Laren, a fiery and ultra-capable young Starfleet cadet.

Ro had everything it took to get ahead in Starfleet. She was loyal, dedicated, brilliant, and strong willed. Yet, the past of her people, the Bajorans, was filled with so much tragedy. The loyalty to her race led Ro away from Starfleet and into the waiting arms of the Marquis, a group that abandoned Starfleet to form a renegade fleet of rebels dissatisfied with Federation doctrine.

Ro’s discontent was expanded upon by the inclusion of the Bajorans in Deep Space Nine . In DS9 , fans learnt of the suffering that the Bajorans were forced to endure at the hands of the Cardassians. Bajorans were a race of freedom fighters, a highly scientific and artistic race that had to embrace militarism and xenophobia in order to survive.

In DS9 , fans learned almost every aspect of the Bajoran race. What began with Ro continued the Kira Nerys, the second in command of the Deep Space Nine space station and a woman who would do anything to keep her people free and punish her former oppressors.

DS9 introduced many Bajoran notables in its many seasons, and not all of them were benevolent. Of all the races introduced in Star Trek , the Bajorans might be the most tragically human as they had to see their own darkness in order to survive the unthinkable in order to survive the Cardassians.

4. Cardassians

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “the wounded” (1991).

Nowhere in the Trek universe have there been a race more troubling, more complex, and more narratively-interesting race than the Cardassians. Fans first met the lizard like, leathery Cardassians in the Next Gen episode entitled “The Wounded,” in which the martial struggle between the Cardassians and the Bajoran was introduced.

The Cardassians were first seen as Nazi-like war criminals that committed a horrible genocide against the Bajoran people. The anger against the Cardassians, amongst other points of discontent, caused a large segment of Bjorn sympathizers to break off from the Federation and form the Marquis.

Cardassians warred with both the Federation and the Klingon Empire and took both fleets to the absolute limits. When the Cardassian/Bjorn conflict ended with the Bajoran victorious, it was up to the Federation to help the galaxy heal. The Federation set up the Deep Space Nine space station to oversee this transition of power as Cardassians began to be tried for war crimes that were simply unthinkable in such an enlightened galaxy. 

At this time, fans met Gul Dukat and Garak. Garak in particular demonstrated that there was more to the Cardassians than violence. He became a DS9 wildcard who, for the most part, was loyal to peace and harmony.

However, both Garak and former Cardassian military leader Gul Dukat had spilled their fair share of blood and the Cardassians began to stand-in for any race that committed genocide. Parallels were drawn not only to the Nazis but to Imperialistic Europe and to America’s treatment of indigenous peoples as well.

The Cardassians were a difficult mirror to look into because they exposed many societal flaws of the contemporary world. Through rich, powerfully crafted characters like Garak, Trek reminds viewers that in all species, there is the capacity for tremendous good and unthinkable evil.

3. Borg

First appearance: star trek: the next generation “q who” (1989).

Throughout Trek history, the wonderful men and women who have crafted stories for Star Trek have often reminded fans that space can be a cruel and terrible place — but no race has represented the horrors of the Final Frontier more than the Borg.

The Borg is a race of cyborg drones that share a hive mind. Their only aim is to assimilate the universe and make all Borg. Borg are mindless automatons that answer to the Borg Queen and the Collective. They are unstoppable and fiercely efficient. The Borg roam the galaxy in their distinctive Borg Cubes and, when they encounter any organic race, that race is forcibly assimilated into the Borg. All hopes, history, art, passion, and individuality become part of the Collective while the individual becomes a living weapon, a husk dedicated only to the Borg. Famously, Jean-Luc Picard fell to the Borg and was transformed into Locutus. As Locutus, Picard came an eyelash away from assimilating the Enterprise.

Later, through characters like Hugh Borg and Seven of Nine, some humanity was given to the Borg. Hugh was an injured Borg healed by Picard’s crew, while Seven of Nine broke her programming and served on Voyager. Through both characters, more and more history was revealed about the Borg. Fans even got to meet the Borg Queen in the film Star Trek: First Contact  — and what an H.R. Giger nightmare that was.

Throughout the decades, Star Trek has been the most hopeful of sci-fi franchises. Trek is infused with humankind’s potential for greatness and a hope for an enlightened future. The Borg serve as a reminder that technology can lead to paradise, yes, but it can also lead to a cold future of pure horror where individuality is worthless and resistance is futile.

2. Klingons

When we first met the Klingons, they were classically humanoid aliens that mirrored the worst of humanity. In the earliest Klingon appearances, Klingon society was portrayed as brutal and despotic. They were slave masters that would do anything to crush any opposition.

The Klingons were constant threats. At times, the Klingons seemed to be analogous to the Nazi Third Reich. In other instances, they resembled Communist Russia. But whatever real world nightmare the Klingons represented at any given moment, whenever a Klingon Bird of Prey warped into a confrontation with the Enterprise, fans know that intense action would follow.

When the Klingons returned in Star Trek: The Motion Picture , this brutal race’s appearance was altered. Suddenly, Klingons were shown to have deep forehead ridges and a more bestial appearance. The real reason this was done was because Trek now had a budget, but there has never been an in story reason for the Klingon alteration. This just adds to the mystique of the Klingon race.

Klingons take the next step of their story evolution in Star Trek: The Next Generation . Now, a Klingon served on the bridge of the Enterprise, and it could be argued that this Klingon — Mr. Worf — was the very model of what a Starfleet officer should be. Through Worf, Next Gen explored every aspect of Klingon culture and made it more like a race of honorable technologically-advanced Vikings or Mongols than an analogy to fascism. That exploration continued into Deep Space Nine and, through the half Klingon-half human engineer B’Elanna Torres, onto Voyager .

There is an actual a Klingon language that exists in the real world. A whole freakin’ language has been created inspired by these honorable and violent warriors of the cosmos. So, raise a glass of Klingon Warnog, grab your Bat’leth, and salute the Klingons — a race that started out as typical villains, but evolved into one of the most engaging and inspiring races in the galaxy.

1. Vulcans

Is there any race in genre fiction more beloved than the Vulcans? This race of logic-driven, emotionless, pointy-eared people have defined the Star Trek experience since day one.

In the Star Trek pilot, “The Cage,” the world was introduced to science officer Spock, a cold, calculating yet brave and benevolent alien who loyally assisted his captain. Fifty years later, Spock is still the strong right hand of the Enterprise. The Vulcan’s lack of emotion serves as a perfect narrative contrast to human nature, with the interactions and differences between Spock, McCoy, and Kirk as the beating heart of Trek since Roddenberry first put pen to paper.

But the wonder of the Vulcans don’t end with Spock. Over the decades — through countless books, films, TV episodes, and comics — many Vulcans have taken center stage and have, in the words of the most famous Vulcan of them all, fascinated fans for generations…

There has been Sarek, Spock’s father who dared to follow his emotions and take a human wife. There has been Tuvok, the brave and able Vulcan officer who served on Voyager. There has been T’Pol, the sometimes cold but always loyal commander that served as the first officer of the first Enterprise. By being so alien, all these characters and so many more have shown the world what it means to be human.

Trek lore has delved deeply into Vulcan history, creating one of most fully-functioning and detailed fictional worlds in all of sci-fi. Sadly, in the latest set of Trek films, Vulcan has fallen and this magnificent race is endangered. But take heart that Spock, Vulcan and Earth’s favorite son, is endeavoring to rebuild the race that has long made Star Trek so awesome.

Marc Buxton

Marc Buxton is an English teacher/private tutor by day,and a super-hyper-uber geek by night. Marc spent six years on the frontlines as a comic retailer before…

T’Pau and L’Rell: Comparing Representations of Alien Women in Power

Kaja gjelde  •  september 29, 2020.

T’Pau making her first appearance in season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series, played by the talented Celia Lovsky (left), and Chancellor L’Rell portrayed by the incredible Mary Chieffo in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 (right)

Arguably, one of the most important functions of science fiction as a genre is its ability to construct future realities uninhibited by current technological limitations and social inequalities. Madeleine Clark recently published a thought-provoking article on The Mary Sue titled, “ Why Captain Janeway Still Feels so Relevant 25 Years After Going Where no Woman has Gone Before .” Clark poses a simple yet poignant answer to her titular inquiry, “there’s something really exciting about seeing women characters for whom gender is never an obstacle to overcome.” Janeway exists in an imagined future where sexism does not exist as it does today, decades after Voyager premiered. This prompted my own reflection on women in positions of authority in Star Trek and to what extent they embody this gender-equal future.

Women at Warp has discussed this subject in depth, especially in episodes focused on Janeway and other women captains in Starfleet. For this blog post however, I examine the representation of women in power within alien societies that are not portrayed as gender-equal in the future, namely T’Pau and L’Rell.

T’Pau of Vulcan

Originally played by Celia Lovsky (pictured left) in TOS, T’Pau is initially presented as a highly revered leader of a planet that values logic above all, but who also reinforces ancient gender roles that seem outdated, particularly from a feminist perspective. Later in Enterprise, Kara Zediker (pictured right) portrays a younger, more rebellious version of the character

Making her first onscreen appearance in The Original Series (TOS) episode “Amok Time,” T’Pau is presented as a prominent political and respected social figure in Vulcan society. Awestruck by her presence, Captain Kirk admiringly relays her accomplishments to Dr. McCoy and states she is the only one to have turned down a seat on the Federation Council. In the episode, Kirk and McCoy witness Spock’s marriage ceremony officiated by the great T’Pau herself. Emphasizing its importance to Vulcan society, T’Pau explains this Vulcan tradition, “comes down from the time of the beginning without change. This is the Vulcan heart. This is the Vulcan soul. This is our way.” During the ceremony, T’Pring, Spock’s intended, invokes her right to initiate the Kaliffee, or ritual combat to the death. T’Pau asks T’Pring first to choose her “champion” to fight Spock, and then inquires if she is ready to become the “property of the victor.” (Icky!) Overall, T’Pau is initially presented as a wise, mysterious authority figure who not only values Vulcan culture and tradition but also is clearly entrusted with protecting it.

In Enterprise , a prequal series to TOS , a younger version of T’Pau leads a minority of Vulcans called Syrrannites, who follow a particular pacifist interpretation of Surak’s teachings. During a three-part story arc in season 4, T’Pau is instrumental in disbanding the corrupt High Command and remains a prominent figure in the ongoing sociopolitical reform on Vulcan afterwards. Evidently T’Pau plays a significant role in shaping the Vulcan society viewers have come to know and love. The only drawback, at least for the feminist in me, is that T’Pau also uses her authority to uphold ancient Vulcan traditions, such as the institution of marriage where women are regarded as property. After taking down a corrupt, seemingly male-dominated government (at least in-universe), T’Pau stays true to Vulcan tradition later when she officiates Spock’s wedding ceremony to continue a practice that has been conducted in this fashion since time immemorial.

Chancellor L’Rell of the Klingon Empire

Chancellor L’Rell declares herself the Mother of All Klingons.

Another example of a powerful women character breaking some gender norms while upholding others is Chancellor L’Rell from Star Trek: Discovery . Mary Cheiffo’s riveting performance as L’Rell illustrates a woman’s rise to power in a role previously dominated by men. During Virtual Trek Con’s “ The Influence of Strong Women in Star Trek ” panel, Chieffo compares L’Rell to other historical rulers like Queen Elizabeth I and Hatshepsut, who had to navigate a male dominated society. Through insights into Klingon culture provided mainly by The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine , the Klingons clearly have a robust patriarchal society bolstered by values of honor and courage in combat in which primarily men take part. Klingons are arranged into familial units called houses, which the women seemingly run but cannot lead nor can they represent their house on the Klingon High Council. In short, Klingon women have greater social agency in the private sphere while men dominate the public sphere. After viewing a great deal of Star Trek in preparation for her role as L’Rell, Mary Chieffo states that “Their [Klingon women’s] responsibility and their power is in the house, which is a totally respectful thing to be, but that was definitely a key to L’Rell’s character from the get-go she was not that. She was a commander, so she was already an outlier.” From when Discovery viewers first see L’Rell on the bridge of T’Kuvma’s ship, she is already challenging the gender norms of her society. Referring to L’Rell’s self-ascribed role of Mother to the Klingon Empire, Chieffo compares her character’s rise to power to Elizabeth I’s historical ascension to the throne as the Virgin Queen referring to, “the way in which so many women have had to create an archetype for themselves in order for people to listen to them. I find L’Rell’s plot very tragic throughout, but powerful and empowering… but she is so set on upholding her culture.”

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the Virgin Queen, in her coronation robes (left) and statue of Hatshepsut on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (right).

Asserting her authority, Chancellor L’Rell gives herself the title of Mother of all Klingons in “Through the Valley of Shadow’s.” Even L’Rell’s costuming reflects this more traditional maternal archetype. L’Rell goes from wearing formidable full-body armor like all the other warriors in the first season, to a floor-length gown in the second season. Chieffo describes how this was intentionally executed behind the scenes,

I did end up being much more “feminized” in the second season… I felt [it] made sense within the plot, within this patriarchal world that as chancellor she had to subscribe to the norms more and that was part of [what] Gersha Phillips,’ our incredible costume designers,’ conceded was that aside from just wanting to give me fun fabulous outfits, the fact that I did have cleavage and there was the notorious Klingon boob-window. All these things that we have seen in the past for how these women have been sexualized in good or bad ways: how is L’Rell trying to grapple with that as a leader? And ultimately within the Madonna/whore dichotomy leaning more towards actually the mother, which kind of falls in between.

L’Rell as an armor-clad commander in T’Kuvma’s house in Discovery season 1(left), and a “feminized” image of her as chancellor in season 2 (right).

While L’Rell’s invocation of the role of “mother” is powerful, it bears further consideration as to why a woman leader must legitimize her authority by framing it within a traditionally feminine role.

T’Pau and L’Rell’s Legacy

From her first appearance in TOS, T’Pau continues to be a respected leader in Vulcan society as her legacy is brought up in other iterations of Star Trek . However, L’Rell’s legacy is unclear. Although Discovery was written more recently, canonically it is apparent from other iterations of Star Trek that the Klingon patriarchy reasserts itself after L’Rell’s reign. Like how Pharaoh Hatshepsut’s successor tried to destroy all records and images of her after her death, Chieffo posits L’Rell’s name does not come up in Klingon history in-universe because her successor wanted to consolidate his power by erasing and/or delegitimizing L’Rell’s rule. Though L’Rell’s rise to power is unprecedented, L’Rell ultimately upholds her cultural heritage as chancellor and seemingly does not challenge the Klingon patriarchy to, for instance, try to elevate the status of other Klingon women during her reign.

Similarly, T’Pau breaks Vulcan norms by being a woman leader who (as far as we know) is not married, and who promotes a great deal of social and political reform by normalizing previously stigmatized practices, like mind melding. T’Pau values her cultural heritage and uses her position and influence to uphold ancient (some could say sexist) Vulcan traditions. Accordingly, T’Pau’s portrayal as an effective revolutionary and competent political reformer gives viewers a strong example of a woman leader who is also a nuanced character, promoting both diversity as well as upholding tradition in Vulcan society.

In comparing these two women characters, it is worth emphasizing that they are alien and therefore represent an “other” for a human audience. Near the end of the Virtual Trek Con panel, Chieffo cautions against judging alien women characters based on our own contemporary human standards. Just as Captain Janeway’s character allows current viewers to imagine a future where gender does not affect women in positions of authority, these alien cultures effectively hold a mirror up to our past and current realities where sexism persists. On one hand perhaps we shouldn’t hold fictional alien cultures to our own standards, but on the other it would be foolish to not remain critical of the structural inequalities illustrated in fiction and how they represent or fail to faithfully depict real people’s lived experiences. As a truly dynamic genre, science fiction allows for both an exploration of future possibilities as well as an invitation to investigate the world as it is now.

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Friday 8 May 2020

The amazing aliens of star trek beyond.

View this post on Instagram #fbf a short video of the beautiful John Wrightson @wrightstuffdesign sculpture I was lucky enough to paint for Joel Harlow Designs last summer on StarTrek Beyond. #startrek #startrekbeyond #aliens #mask #makeupfx #fxmakeup #sfx #spfx #scifi #film #art A post shared by Kyle Huculak (@kylehuculakmkpfx) on Dec 16, 2016 at 10:00am PST

View this post on Instagram #tbt to painting up some alien arms for Joel Harlow Designs on StarTrek Beyond. These bad boys were sculpted by the Awesome @mikeyrots #startrekbeyond #fxmakeup #makeupfx #aliens #startrek #creature #practicalfx #creaturefx #sfx #spfx #film #art A post shared by Kyle Huculak (@kylehuculakmkpfx) on Jan 19, 2017 at 9:08am PST

View this post on Instagram #FBF to last summer working on the #bridge of the #Starship #Enterprise on #Paramount's #StarTrekBeyond. Felt privileged to work with #AcademyAwardWinner #JoelHarlow who is also #JohnnyDepp's go-to guy, as well as his amazing team #LennieMacDonald #HarlowMcFarlane #ShelaghMcIvor and #CindyHarlow. Wait for the back of the head... A post shared by christiansloan (@christiansloan) on Aug 12, 2016 at 2:23pm PDT

View this post on Instagram Video of the Sheldon Alien mask I painted last summer for Joel Harlow Designs on #startrekbeyond Sculpted by the awesome @mikeyrots #startrek #mask #scifi #film #makeupfx #spfx #sfx #creature #alien #art A post shared by Kyle Huculak (@kylehuculakmkpfx) on Dec 7, 2016 at 1:41am PST

• Joel Harlow: Website , Facebook , Twitter .
• Carlos Huante: Website , Instagram , another Instagram .
• Don Lanning: Facebook , Instagram , DeviantArt .
• John Wrightson: Instagram .
• Norman Cabrera: Website , Instagram .
• Mikey Rotella: Website , Instagram .
• Marc Opdycke: Instagram .
• Kyle Huculak: Instagram .
• Caitlin Groves: Instagram .

I'm going to have to get that book. I do love how much creativity went into a lot of those alien designs, though I can't help wishing they had mixed in more familiar species.

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47 Badass Women of Star Trek

The Beat is celebrating Women’s History Month with some of Trek’s most badass women.

To celebrate Women’s History Month here at Stately Beat Manor, we’ve put together a list of 47 badass women of Star Trek! 

This list is nowhere near exhaustive. Did we miss your favorite? Let us know! The Beat is waiting to hear from you, right here in the comment section or over on social media @comicsbeat .

Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols & Celia Rose Gooding)

When the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series first aired, communications officer Nyota Uhura was there on the bridge! A key player in all three seasons of TOS , Uhura continued to make an impression on the bridge of the Enterprise in the sequel series, Star Trek: The Animated Series . In fact, TAS even allowed Uhura to take command of the Enterprise in one episode!

Uhura also appeared in all 6 of the TOS cast movies. And in Star Trek: Picard season 2, background details revealed she became a Starfleet Captain, commanding the first ship on which Jean-Luc Picard ( Patrick Stewart ) served. On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , Gooding gives us a look of Uhura’s early days on the Enterprise .

Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry)

Originally making her debut on Star Trek: The Next Generation , Lwaxana may have managed to top these memorable appearances when she heavily flirted with the rule-abiding shapeshifter Odo ( René Auberjonois ) on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine . Regrettably, Barrett-Roddenberry died before the debut of Star Trek: Lower Decks , a venue that would have provided an incredible stage for Lwaxana.

“My mother’s joy came from bringing Lwaxana Troi to life because they didn’t write that character for her, but that was her being herself. She wouldn’t let anyone put her in her place. She was over the top, and she was flamboyant. When push came to shove, she would shove back,” said Rod Roddenberry about his mother’s favorite role in the Star Trek franchise in an interview with Geek Girl Authority .

Vice Admiral Janeway (Kate Mulgrew)

On Star Trek: Voyager , Captain Kathryn Janeway gave us our first leading lady commander. Over the course of all seven seasons, Janeway fearlessly guided her wayward crew back to Earth from the Delta Quadrant. Meanwhile, she consumed a lot of coffee and conducted experiments that revolutionized many areas of Starfleet science upon Voy ’s return.

A few years after the conclusion of Voyager , on Star Trek: Prodigy , two different versions of Janeway play key roles. While the Emergency Training Hologram Janeway guides the young crew of the USS Protostar , Vice Admiral Janeway plays a game of cat-and-mouse with the misunderstood crew.

Michael Burnam (Sonequa Martin-Green)

Burnham didn’t start in the center chair on Star Trek: Discovery , and since the start of the series, we’ve seen her under the command of Captains that span the competence spectrum. Fortunately, that’s all behind us now, as a leap to the far-flung future at the outset of season 3 has allowed Captain Burnham to take her rightful place at the top of Disco ’s chain of command.

Time and again, Burnham demonstrates her competent leadership in matters personal and professional. Equally impressive is Martin-Green’s work on the series behind the camera, which earned her a producer credit for the show’s fourth season.

Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan)

After being rescued from the Borg on Voyager , Seven was integrated into the Voy crew under the tutelage and guidance of Captain Janeway. After returning to the Alpha Quadrant with the crew, Seven attempted to join Starfleet, but was rejected. She instead became a defender of the innocent by joining the Fenris Rangers.

On Picard , Seven’s ongoing involvement with Admiral Picard’s adventures led to her successful conscription into Starfleet. As the First Officer aboard the USS Titan-A in Picard season 3, Seven plays an important role during a crucial mission.

D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells)

As one of the first Orion ever to enlist in Starfleet, Tendi is truly going boldly where no one has gone before! Orion slave girls were originally introduced in the original pilot of TOS.   While other Orion women have appeared in Star Trek  shows since then, Tendi represents a major step forward in the depiction of the alien species.

In Lower Decks season 3, Tendi begins to accept her Orion heritage and her career gets fast-tracked due to her ongoing Science Officer training. And thanks to a holodeck movie, she can finally see herself in the role of Captain for the first time. Tendi is both the dreamer and the dream. She deserves all the pesto she can eat!

Hoshi Sato (Linda Park)

On the bridge of the NX-01 Enterprise on Star Trek: Enterprise , Hoshi serves an important role in humanity’s fledging steps into the stars. As linguist, her role is fundamental to the communications abilities of the crew under Captain Jonathan Archer ( Scott Bakula ).

In the Mirror Universe, Hoshi also plays an important role. After murdering Mirror Archer, she becomes the first Terran Emperor. In the opening pages of Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing by John Jackson Miller , Emperor Sato is quoted: “I started as an educator. The lesson I teach today: it takes only one Terran to turn reality upside down, and change the future…” 

Nurse Christine Chapel (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry & Jess Bush)

First appearing in 1966’s TOS episode “The Naked Time,” Gene Roddenberry snuck his wife Majel on to the CBS set in a blonde wig and cast her as the badass essential worker of the Enterprise, Nurse Chapel. Before she spent time pining over Science Officer Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ) and bandaging up a whiney Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ), Chapel earned several advanced degrees to become a bio-researcher. 

Did I mention she’s queer AF? By the time Star Trek: The Motion Picture rolls around, she’s not only queer AF, but she’s also a queer AF doctor.

T’Pol (Jolene Blalock)

As the first Vulcan to serve aboard a starship helmed by humans, T’Pol had to put up with a lot—especially that human odor. Once she got used to the smell, T’Pol’s time with the hoo-mans proved invaluable, and she learned to stand up for herself even when it went against the wishes of the High Command. While falling in love and making babies certainly doesn’t make you great, boldly going to home base with Chief Engineer Trip Tucker is a story for the herstory books! 

Una Chin-Riley (Majel Barrett-Roddenberry & Rebecca Romijin)

Una, or simply “Number One,” first appeared in the original TOS pilot. However, her part was cut from the series. Barrett-Roddenberry was subsequently recast, both as the aforementioned Nurse Chapel and the Enterprise computer. Later, on TAS , she also played the original Caitian, communications officer M’Ress.

Meanwhile, SNW is finally giving Una the chance for further development. Over the course of the first season, we learned that Una is a genetic augment. This means she’s barred from Starfleet service, and has enlisted under false pretenses. Just how this engaging ongoing storyline plays out remains to be seen, and the character’s absence during TOS lends tension to the dangling plot thread.

Captain Carol Freeman (Dawnn Lewis)

As the Captain of a California-class ship, Freeman doesn’t always get the respect that she’s earned. However, that never stops her from fully committing to performing her duties as a Starfleet officer. This includes when she’s facing sarcastic Vulcan salutes from her daughter and dealing with one of those Starfleet Badmirals that seem to show up so often.

Time and again, Freeman proves that the support ships are just as important to the continued operation of the Federation as any flagship could be. And besides, the Cerritos is kind of like the Enterprise of the Cali-class. Cerritos strong!

Philipa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh)

Georgiou Prime was a decorated Starfleet Captain in her own right. However, she dies early on in the series. We get a much better chance to get to know Mirror Georgiou over the course of the character’s multi-season role on Discovery . 

After being dragged into our universe, the sharp-tongued and shockingly intelligent Mirror Georgiou winds up joining the secret Starfleet division Section 31. While the character is currently MIA after stepping through the Guardian of Forever, the Star Trek: Section 31  spinoff starring Mirror Georgiou reportedly remains in development.

Dr. Gillian Taylor (Catherine Hicks)

In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , Dr. Taylor is a whale biologist who works for the Cetacean Institute in Sausalito, California in 1986. She plays an important role in ensuring humpback whales George and Gracie are able to travel back to the future at the climax of the movie.

Once she arrives in the future, it appears as though Taylor makes a splash herself. In Lower Decks , the logo for the Cetacean Ops division aboard the Cerritos borrows heavily from the 1980s logo for the Cetacean Institute. This heavily implies that Taylor’s work plays an important role in the development of this popular field of study.

Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor)

Nerys can go toe-to-toe with anyone: Cardassian prison warden and fascist despot Gul Dukat, fellow rage-fueled Bajoran freedom fighter Lieutenant Shax, and even a pansexual Mirror Universe version of herself.

On Lower Decks , it is revealed that in the wake of Captain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) becoming a wormhole alien god, Nerys took over as commander of Deep Space 9. 

Jadzia Dax & Ezri Dax (Terry Farrell & Nicole de Boer)

Jadzia and Ezri are the two Trill hosts of the Dax symbiote who play an important role in the events of DS9 . In events that took place before the series, a former male host of the symbiote was good friends with Captain Sisko. This adds an extra dimension to the relationship between Jadzia and Sisko, who affectionately refers to her as “old man.”  

Regrettably, Jadzia is murdered by the despicable Gul Dukat in the penultimate season of DS9 . However, this does give the opportunity for us to meet Ezri, who proves to offer a hitherto unseen perspective on the proceedings that take place on the space station.

Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui) 

As the youngest Federation crew member on this list, Rok-Tahk, a refugee from Brikar, is a genius with a pension for all of the scientific disciplines and a heart of gold. Every planet that Rok-Tahk visits proves that she’ll do anything for creatures great and small, even risk her life. 

Read Rebecca Oliver Kaplan’s interview with Alazraqui here . 

Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis)

While Picard may keep his Number One close at hand, he keeps his counselor, Troi, equally close. Over the course of TNG , this proves to be the best possible decision, as Troi’s insight regularly proves invaluable in the conflicts faced by the Enterprise-D .

In spite of serving on a Federation ship, Troi rarely wears a regulation Starfleet uniform. However, this sartorial decision demonstrates that the flagship’s counselor is beyond competent, whether she’s wearing a Starfleet uniform or not!

Gwyndala (Ella Purnell)

A genetic clone created by her father, The Diviner ( John Noble ), Gwyn was literally designed to unite her people, the Vau N’Akat. Over the course of Star Trek: Prodigy ’s first season, Gwyn found her way to her purpose, a complex journey that is still in progress.

Just how Gwyn will play into future seasons remains to be seen. Nevertheless, as an initial antagonist who became part of the core crew of the Protostar, Gwyn carries on and embodies some of the most important themes from Janeway’s former crew aboard Voy.

Doctor T’Ana (Gillian Vigman)

When she was first introduced on Lower Decks , T’Ana could be considered “a cat in a coat,” as Ensign Fletcher unfavorably dubs her. However as the character has revealed more of herself to audiences, she has become a fan favorite.

Part of her undeniable appeal comes from her passionate romance with Bajorian beefcake Shax. Better yet, while T’Ana is an undeniably sexual character, she’s never subjected to the male gaze. When it comes to T’Ana, the gaze subjects you.

B’Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson)

There aren’t very many role models if you’re a women with suicidal ideation , especially in STEM. As a former Federation foe and Maquis Resistance fighter, when the Maquis ship that Torres was stationed on and Voyager get stranded in the Delta Quadrant, she must adapt to Starfleet rules and regulations after she’s named Chief Engineer.

It’s not an easy journey for the Klingon-Human engineer—in fact, she almost commits suicide before the starship finds its way back to Earth—but in the end, she discovers a will to live and the strength within herself to keep fighting against impossible odds.

Oh, and she’ll always have Tom Paris.

Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman)

Who’s hot for teacher? Every single cadet whose had the pleasure of having Professor Tilly. Not only is Professor Tilly a science genius who programmed the food replicator to produce only spumoni ice cream by calculating the exact protein concentration and small particle dispersion of emulsifiers required, but she also knows how to whip out her survival training skills at the drop of a shuttle. In the 32nd century, she saves several cadets when a training mission goes south.

Me Hani Ika Hali Po (Yadira Guevara-Prip)

Thanks to Tilly’s spumoni ice cream, Po, Queen of Xahea, saves galaxies. That may be putting their storyline simply, but Tilly and Po are proof positive of the power of female friendships. With a mother who encouraged her to be extraordinary and brother who taught her science, Po eventually develops a dilithium incubator that enables recrystalization of the mineral, making her world the most politically-relevant planet in the Alpha Quadrant. Luckily, thanks to the Queen’s relationship with Tilly, Po and Xahea remain safe.

Jett Reno (Tig Notaro)

Reno crashed on a planet with the rest of her crew. As the ship’s only surviving crew member, she had to put all of her skills as an engineer to work to survive until the Disco  rescued her. A few seasons later, she saved the day with licorice—yes, licorice—and her finely honed wit.

La’An Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong)

The descendant of Khan Noonien Singh, one of Star Trek ‘s most notorious villains, La’An showed that she’s more than in her genes in the first season of SNW . Hopefully, La’An will be writing a ‘How to Slay the Gorn’ manual sometime in the future.

Read Avery Kaplan’s interview with Chong here .

Doctor Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill)

A cyberneticist at the Daystrom Institute who becomes wrapped up in Picard’s misadventures in the first and second seasons of Picard , Jurati eventually merges with an alternate-timeline Borg Queen ( Annie Wersching ). After performing a show-stealing rendition of “Shadows of the Night,” the mind-merged duo goes on to become the first member of a new kind of Borg: the Jurati Collective.

The Jurati Collective is currently guarding a massive tear in space-time that tore open in the season premiere and finale of Picard ’s second season. While she does not appear in Picard ’s third season, we’ll hopefully hear more from this intriguing new evolution of Jurati soon.

Beckett Mariner (Tawny Newsome)

While she may not be a fan of protocol, Mariner is still Starfleet through and through! As the self-appointed boss of Beta Shift, Mariner sometimes instigates chaos in the name of “building character.” But at the end of the day, nothing’s more important to her than her family, chosen or biological.

Over the course of the third season of Lower Decks, Mariner was in a relationship with Jen the Andorian ( Lauren Lapkus ). However, it’s unclear if this coupling will recur in season 4. Plus, we’re looking forward to seeing how Mariner mixes with new Cerritos arrival T’Lyn ( Gabrielle Ruiz ).

President Laira Rillak (Chelah Horsdal)

Rillak is a politician who was elected president of the Federation of Planets in 3190. While in this position, she faced a sweeping tragedy that challenged her leadership: the advent of the Dark Matter Anomaly. Fortunately, Rillak is a strong and competent leader who helps keep the Federation together during this difficult interval. At the conclusion of the season, she and Captain Burnham welcome Earth back into the Federation.

Doctor Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden)

Originally introduced in the first episode of TNG , Crusher was absent during the second season of the series. This is because she left to become the head of Starfleet Medical! The incredibly gifted M.D. returned to the Enterprise-D in the third season and played a key role in many of the adventures undertaken by that ship and its predecessor, the Enterprise-E .

T’Pring (Arlene Martel, Gia Sandhu & Ethan Peck)

Over the course of the first season of SNW , T’Pring has played an important role in multiple episodes. In one of them, “Spock Amok,” she even temporarily switched bodies with her betrothed and was thus obligated to reluctantly engage in hijinks.

In the TOS episode “Amok Time,” T’Pring executes her right to kal-if-fee in order to break her engagement to Spock, preferring another mate, Stonn. No need to feel bad for Spock, however. He returned to the Enterprise with his boyfriend, Kirk.

Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd)

Happy Birthday, Raffi! It’s not easy to get clean. It’s especially not easy to get clean in the 25th century, in which designer drugs are tailored to be even more addictive using an ophthalmic drug delivery system, a particularly nasty way to get high that has an added risk of addiction. With drugs designed to each junkie’s taste so that repeat customers don’t turn to another dealer, it’s hard for any 21st and 25th century addict to turn over a new leaf. 

Using today’s understanding of substance abuse, rates of addiction are higher in the LGBTQIA+ community because of the political, social, and cultural pressure of being queer in America. This makes Star Trek: Picard’s decision to tell a story of addiction and recovery with a Black bisexual woman extremely relevant to today.

T’Veen (Stephanie Czajkowski)

T’Veen is the science officer aboard the Titan-A in Picard season 3. The character is part Vulcan and one-quarter Deltan. Deltans are a species first introduced in TMP , and they are renowned for their sensuality. This ensures an intriguing character combination when combined with the repressive nature of most Vulcans.

Laris (Orla Brady)

Laris is more than the woman who told Picard that he wasn’t worth her waiting around until he got his shit together. She is also a good cook and housekeeper, great Chateau Picard head of security, and excellent former Tal Shiar intelligence officer. As a member of the Romulan intelligence agency, which is known for its ruthless efficiency, Laris would have been responsible for reporting to the highest levels of government and military. Now, she uses her hard-earned Tal Shiar skills to help Picard and Starfleet. 

Captain Sonya Gomez (Lycia Naff)

When we first met Gomez on TNG , she was an Ensign who spilled a considerable amount of hot chocolate on Captain Picard. But when she reappears on Lower Decks , Gomez has not only ranked all the way up to Captain herself, she’s in command of the impressive USS Archimedes , an Obena-class ship.

But lest you think success has gone to Gomez’s head, never fear. In “First First Contact,” she even allows Freeman to conduct First Contact with the Laaperians. “No ego on that one,” remarks an intoxicated Freeman after the event.

Lily Sloane (Alfre Woodard)

Anyone who can tell Captain Picard to shut up using a Moby Dick reference is a queen. Also, 2064 appears to be as lily-white as 2023, which comes as no surprise as it’s only a couple of decades after Star Trek ‘s Bell Riots. It’s a safe bet to assume that Lily’s indignance towards cis white men is deeply ingrained following years of negative experiences. 

Renée Picard (Penelope Mitchell)

Doctor Picard is the single thread holding together Star Trek ‘s utopian vision of the future. She was already a trauma survivor by age ten, having survived the capsizing of her sailboat of the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. By age 11, this girl genius had taught herself Cantonese, chess, and fluid dynamics. Her passions led her to a career as a test pilot, and from there, she was recruited by NASA to save the Milky Way Galaxy (and our timeline) with a microorganism found on the Europa Mission. 

Saavik (Kristie Alley & Robin Curtis)

Saavik was first introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan . In that movie, she became the first person to be seen taking the infamous “Kobayashi Maru” onscreen. She played an important role in the resurrection of the titular Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock . She later became the Captain of the first Titan , a fact that is commemorated by a shuttlecraft bearing her name aboard the Titan-A in Picard season 3.

Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg & Ito Aghayere) 

Guinan is the long-(long-)time proprietor of the bar Ten Forward, which has been located in various places, including Los Angeles and aboard the Enterprise-D . She tends bar, and she listens. She is a survivor of the Borg’s assimilation of her species.

Guinan is an invaluable advisor to Picard, and friend to Ensign Ro. Part of her will always be present inside the Nexus due to an event that took place in the first scenes of Star Trek: Generations . Also, she used to hang out with Samuel Clemens.

T’Rina (Tara Rosling)

T’Rina serves as the President of Ni’Var in the late thirty-second century. She must advocate for the interests of her people during a complicated time in the history of the galaxy, and ultimately leads her world to reenter the Federation. Furthermore, her mind-melding abilities are an integral step towards the ultimate successful First Contact with Species 10-C.

Demora Sulu (Jacqueline Kim)

Demora first appeared in Generations , where she was an ensign serving as helmsman aboard the maiden voyage of the Enterprise-B . She is the daughter of the legendary helmsman Hikaru Sulu ( George Takei ). According to many prose stories and Star Trek Online canon, Demora would later go on to become Captain of the B .

Chancellor L’Rell (Mary Chieffo)

Klingons, the warrior race, aren’t exactly known for how they treat their women, but that doesn’t mean that several Klingon women haven’t risen to power on Qo’nos. One of the Klingon women who stands out the most in the planet’s rich history is L’Rell, who united the Klingon houses and was responsible for ending the Federation-Klingon War. Although, like many women in power, Mother L’Rell had to subscribe to a certain aesthetic to maintain her control, but she did it in feminine Elizabethian royal attire.

To learn more, watch the epic Klingon anthem from STO , “ Steel and Flame ,” written by Jason Charles Miller and performed by L’Rell (Chieffo), which describes the Chancellor’s return and rise to power within the Klingon empire.

Grilka (Mary Kay Adams)

Grilka lives life full tilt, even bucking Klingon tradition to marry a Ferengi. When Quark claimed that he killed Grilka’s husband Kozak, she forced the barkeep to marry her so that she could retain control of her house. Thus, the House of Kozak became the House of Grilka, and feminists everywhere cheered. 

While L’Rell may have been born centuries before Grilka, Chieffo’s interpretation of the Klingon Chancellor was inspired by Adams’ performance in DS9 . In an interview with GGA , Chieffo said, “My favorite forever will be Grilka. […] It was a moment of, ‘Oh, it’s still a patriarchal society.’ […] L’Rell had to rise to power, ultimately to Chancellor, which is far more than Grilka got to do, but I’m glad I got to reap some of the benefits of the path she paved.”

Leeta (Chase Masterson)

A dabo girl, and the OG sexy nerd. Leeta played ignorant before Paris Hilton made it cool. The Bajoran has led more than one rebellion. Not only did she work with the Terran Resistance Forces on Terok Nor, but she also teamed up with the rest of the Quark’s Bar staff to create a labor union.

Erica Ortegas (Melissa Navia)

Ortegas is the helmsman on the Enterprise under the command of Captain Christopher Pike ( Anson Mount ). In addition to her impressive piloting skills, Ortegas is the only one with the hair and wit to match Pike’s generous allotment of each asset.

In the SNW episode “The Elysian Kingdom,” Ortegas carries on one a proud Enterprise helmsman tradition: swashbuckling. Touché, Ortegas!

Ro Laren (Michelle Forbes)

When Ro first joined the crew of the Enterprise-D on TNG , she didn’t exactly face a warm welcome. Nevertheless, Ro managed to earn the respect of the rest of the crew, thanks in part to her friendship with Guinan. However, Ro was never willing to compromise her beliefs in order to fit in. For one thing, she ensured Picard would allow her to bend Starfleet uniform code so she could wear her traditional Bajoran earring.

Ro empathized with the Maquis, and ultimately defected from Starfleet in order to join their ranks. While Ro had initially been considered for DS9 , when Forbes declined the offer, she made way for the creation of Kira.

Professor Keiko O’Brien (Rosalind Chao)

She turned a meat eater into a plant lover, and that is only the beginning of her list of achievements. Born in Japan, Keiko is a galaxy-class civilian botanist onboard the Enterprise-D and an elementary school teacher on Deep Space 9. In addition, a Pah-Wraith only possessed her once—in your face, Dukat. 

Zora (Sash Striga & Annabelle Wallis)

Zora is the first of her kind, a fully sentient Starfleet vessel. When a Starfleet doctor tells the crew of the Discovery to evaluate Zora to see if her fully integrated sentient programming is against Starfleet regulation, the AI eloquently argues for her right to exist, saying, “I am attached to [my form] as you are to yours.” 

Watch Season 4, Episode 7, “…But to Connect,” to see more Zora (and trans allegory at its finest).

Ensign Kearns (Kari Wahlgren)

An ensign aboard the Cali-class USS Carlsbad , Kearns is so skilled at her duties, she even impresses Ensign Mariner. While Beta Shift initially assumes that she thinks she’s too good for them, they later discover she is actually intimidated by the impressive reputation earned by the Cerritos.

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11 Best Galentine’s Day Decorations for Celebrating Your Closest Girlfriends

The best doja cat needle drops in movies and tv, ranked, we tossed grains, boiled water, and cooked fried rice and beef to find the best woks for any chef, the 5 best (hbo) max shows of 2024, ranked, discover the hidden gems: health & household best sellers of 2024 reveal, reverse 1999: the best balloon party build, 8 best luxury crossbody bags for women worth investing in this year, “””batman could be anybody””: 11 best batmen who aren’t bruce wayne”, espn analyst says dak prescott is best qb in nfl, kalamazoo river valley trail: best hike near kalamazoo michigan, orions are now one of star trek’s best aliens after 57 years.

For over five decades, the Orions have been an integral part of the “Star Trek” universe, infusing the series with their distinct character and culture. They made their first appearance back in the original “Star Trek” series pilot in 1966 and have since then evolved to become one of the most intriguing and multifaceted alien races in the franchise.

Initially portrayed as a mysterious and menacing force, the Orions were known for their pirate activities and slave trade, particularly that involving Orion slave girls whose seductive dances and pheromones were said to be irresistible. This depiction, though striking at the time, fell into stereotypes that have since been nuanced and reexamined as “Star Trek” evolved.

It wasn’t until the later series and movies that Orions began to undergo a significant transformation. The development of their society’s intricacies became apparent, painting a picture of a complex civilization with its politics, social structures, and shifting power dynamics. As with many of Star Trek’s races, allegories for real-world issues began to surface through the lens of Orion society.

Modern iterations of “Star Trek” have done much to subvert the old tropes associated with Orions. Series like “Star Trek: Enterprise” began this by exploring their culture beyond the scope of simple antagonism. In “Enterprise,” viewers learned more about Orion politics and even met strong female characters who turned out to be more than they seemed.

“Star Trek: Discovery” has taken these developments further by introducing more well-rounded Orion characters, such as Mirror Universe’s Tilly or Osyraa, who challenged preconceived notions about Orion morality and ambition. These characters show that Orions are not bound by their initial portrayal and can be as heroic or villainous as any human counterpart.

In addition to nuanced characters, “Star Trek” has expanded on Orion lore by delving into their homeworld, customs, and a society where not everyone is a pirate or a criminal; some are ambassadors, scientists, and members of Starfleet itself. This broadening narrative allows for a versatility in storytelling that was absent in earlier series.

Moreover, technology has allowed for better visual representation of Orions. Advances in makeup and visual effects bring an authenticity to these characters that past limitations could not achieve. This heightened realism adds depth both to individual characters and their interactions within the broader galactic community.

After 57 years, it is evident that Orions have transcended from being mere exotic ornaments of an episode to significant players in the narrative universe of “Star Trek.” Their evolution mirrors Star Trek’s own journey towards inclusion and complexity in storytelling – moving from monolithic portrayals to intricate representations of diverse peoples. With every new appearance, it becomes increasingly clear that Orions are not just one-dimensional villains or objects of fantasy; they are now one of Star Trek’s best-developed alien races.

This evolution reflects “Star Trek’s” enduring legacy – its capacity for growth and its mission to hold a mirror up to our world through infinite diversity in infinite combinations. The Orion arc is far from over; if history is any indication, there will be plenty more changes ahead as Star Trek continues to explore strange new worlds and civilizations – including those as richly colored as the green-skinned Orions themselves.

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Star Trek: The 15 Fiercest Females Of The Final Frontier

Star Trek's one of the most progressive franchises in history, but that doesn't mean there's no room for some eye candy.

While Star Trek is known for its commitment to progressive ideals, it, like so much of sci-fi, can't resist an opportunity to insert eye-candy here and there. The original series really leaned into female sexuality as set dressing, evidenced by Kirk's numerous "relationships," and the mini-dresses and go-go boots that constitute military uniforms in the 22nd century. It was a huge contradiction in terms, but that was mitigated by the fact that Star Trek was culturally groundbreaking in so many other ways (see: treatment of racism) and eventually evolved to grant women far more respectful treatment in its later spin-offs.

RELATED:  15 Minimalist Superhero Cosplays That Will Blow Your Mind

However, despite the fact that female characters on The Next Generation and beyond were the first ones whose episodes would actually pass a Bechdel Test, producers still couldn't resist sneaking in a certain physical appeal wherever they could. Star Trek's general lack of focus on such visuals post- TOS made for a lot of very appealing scientists or criminals, so that's most of what you're going to see on this list. We've grabbed 15 of the hottest Star Trek babes from the franchise's long and storied history, but the list is based on more than just appearance. Every woman on it is stunning, but for their actions as well as their looks.

15 SEVEN OF NINE

Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine beamed aboard Star Trek: Voyager in the Season 4 premier, "Scorpion Pt. 2." The lost starship had just arrived at the backdoor of Borg space with no realistic way to travel through it without getting assimilated. Fortunately, Voyager and the Borg realized they shared a common enemy in Species 8472, so the two entities formed an uneasy alliance. Seven of Nine served as the Borg envoy, but was stranded aboard Voyager after the destruction of her cube and the end of the alliance.

The official word on the creation of Seven of Nine is that the producers wanted a character who would have a more antagonistic relationship with Captain Janeway than the show had ever featured. Unofficially, the show's key demographic at the time (teenage boys) clearly needed more motivation to watch. Luckily for all the young women watching, Seven of Nine turned out to be a dynamic character that truly enriched the story.

14 UHURA IN THE MIRROR UNIVERSE

Somehow, the Mirror Universe has the same effect on everyone as the Kelvin Universe -- everyone's hotter. Spock has a goatee, Kirk's into cutoff sleeves and Uhura somehow finds less to wear. In the original Star Trek  classic, "Mirror, Mirror," Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura go to a neighboring alternate universe where everyone's the jerk version of themselves. It's amazing, and the episode spawned a delightful subplot that would show up again in longer story arcs on Deep Space Nine and Enterprise .

We're very glad it did. The Mirror Universe is Star Trek camp at its indulgent best, and seeing the dark side of our favorite, goody-two-shoes Federation never fails to entertain. When Uhura impersonates her Mirror-counterpart and tries to seduce Sulu ON THE BRIDGE, we always get goosebumps and the giggles at the same time.

13 JADZIA DAX

The planet Trill is home to two species that share a symbiotic relationship with each other. The humanoids play host to symbionts, sentient, worm-like entities that merge consciousness with the host body. Jadzia was the eighth home for the Dax symbiont, and the young woman gained the memories of all those joined lifetimes when they were merged.

That meant Jadzia Dax was a combination of, among others, a grandmother, a pilot, a gymnast, a murderer and a very popular Federation diplomat named Curzon. Curzon Dax had been good friends with and mentor to a young Benjamin Sisko, so when Jadzia was assigned to Deep Space Nine, Sisko often still referred to her as "Old Man." Somehow, that made this bespotted, brunette bombshell even more attractive. That, and she really knows her way around a bat'leth.

12 MARTIA (IMAN)

Iman snagged one of the meatier cameos in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (Christian Slater has a blink-and-you-missed-it scene in which he plays a fanboy ensign who delivers a message to Kirk's quarters). After Kirk and McCoy are framed for the murder of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon, they're sent to a remote, frozen penal colony on Rura Penthe. As soon as Kirk arrives, he gets into a scuffle with a much larger alien prisoner, and bodacious alien babe, Martia, comes to his rescue.

Think if Tank Girl was a runway model and smoked cigars -- oh, and she's shapeshifter. Unfortunately, she's also morally bankrupt and has already promised the Klingons who framed Kirk and McCoy that she would off the Starfleet officers in return for a suspended sentence. It, uh, doesn't work out well for her.

Picard wasn't exactly the lothario Kirk was, so when he did ever close the deal, it was front page news, especially when the other side of that deal was basically his polar opposite. Vash (Jennifer Hetrick) first appeared in "Captain's Holiday," a.k.a. "Picard's Staff Makes Him Take a Personal Day." Picard goes to Risa to relax, but he's terrible at it, so he winds up getting involved in an archeological caper with Vash, a gorgeous and morally flexible archeologist.

She's searching for an artifact called the Tox Uthat (¯\_(ツ)_/¯), but she's on the run from a jealous Ferengi, so she enlists Jean-Luc to help her beat the little troll to the treasure. Along the way, Picard falls for her ne'er-do-well charms -- so much so that he completely overlooks it when he finds out she's been playing him the entire time.

10 ORION SLAVE WOMEN

Ahh, the Orion Slave Girl -- the semi-offensive plot device beloved by cosplayers the world over. They're one of Star Trek's oldest creations, dating back to the original, unaired pilot, "The Cage," and they're well known for their extreme... prowess . It's literally their only defining characteristic when they're mentioned in every other Star Trek until Enterprise .

In the episode, "Bound," it's discovered that part of the secret to their prowess is the intense quantity of pheromones the women emit. Not only are the girls said to have voracious appetites, they also inspire them in any men who happen by. These qualities made them a hot commodity on the Orion Slave Market, despite the fact that they were Orions themselves. The Orion Syndicate was never known for their scruples, after all.

9 NUMBER ONE

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry is Star Trek royalty for like, 10 different reasons. She voiced the computer, she was Gene Roddenberry's wife, and before she was any of that, she appeared as Number One in the original unaired original series pilot, "The Cage." An example of Roddenberry's progressive ideals, she played Number One, Captain Christopher Pike's notably female first officer.

Unfortunately, one of the (many) things NBC rejected in this first offering was the placement of a women in such a position of power. Transporters they could swallow, but a woman in the chain of command? Preposterous! Luckily for the future Mrs. Roddenberry, that wasn't the end of her Star Trek career, but we do wish we could've seen more of this lady. It would've been nice to see an attractive woman on the show rockin' it in something else besides a mini-dress.

8 MARLENA MOREAU

Remember how we said everyone's hotter in the Mirror Universe? Marelena Moreau is the exception that proves the rule -- she's smokin' in all universes. A perk of being a starship captain in the Terran Empire as opposed to the Federation is that the position comes with a Captain's Woman. It's not a formalized role, but it's an unwritten rule that everything on the ship belongs to the captain, and that includes the women. (The Mirror Universe is genuinely terrible, not just fun terrible.)

Marlena is Mirror Kirk's lady, and she yearns for a better life when she encounters NiceKirk in "Mirror, Mirror." She wants to abandon her universe for his, but despite the fact that he literally just slept with her, he refuses. Kirk looks sad for a minute, but then NiceMarlena gets assigned to the NiceEnterprise and everyone lives happily ever after (except MirrorMarlena, who is probably dead).

7 ROMULAN COMMANDER

"The Enterprise Incident" was the first time we met the Romulans, the Federation's eternally shady adversaries. Kirk suddenly loses his damn mind and takes the Enterprise into Romulan Space (apparently unprovoked). The ship encounters a Romulan squadron commanded by the as yet unnamed female Romulan Commander. Despite the fact that she only appeared in one episode and has remained nameless for the past 50 years, she's still an unforgettable character.

She's disdainful of Kirk and the other humans, but Spock really gets her engines going. She attempts to seduce him into joining her, and it is the only time we ever get to see Spock Prime approach the sex bomb we all knew was hiding under that Vulcan logic. Unfortunately, Kirk isn't insane, but on a secret mission to gather intelligence about the Romulans, so Spock and the Romulan Commander never consummate their forbidden love. DAMMIT.

6 KELVIN UHURA

Zoe Saldana's Uhura is an accomplished, passionate officer aboard Kirk's Enterprise. What was minor flirtation between the Prime Uhura and Spock became a full-fledged relationship in the Abrams movies. It offered audiences a chance to see Spock explore his humanity in a romantic relationship as well as in his friendship with Kirk. Zoe Saldana's vivacious and fierce personality is a phenomenal counterpart to the restrained logic of her partner's.

That said, she can make out with Spock all she wants, she's still hottest when she's standing toe-to-toe with a Klingon three times her size and learning languages in five minutes. Nichelle Nichols' Uhura was groundbreaking and Saldana's reimagined Uhura takes the best parts of the original and beautifully updates her for modern audiences. It makes us wish Prime Uhura yelled at Spock more.

5 MIRROR EZRI

After Jadzia's death at the end of DS9's sixth season, the writers introduced Ezri Dax -- the accidental 9th host of the Dax symbiont. Ezri was on the shuttle transporting the Dax symbiont back to Trill when an equipment malfunction made it necessary to join Dax with a new host immediately. So, when she arrived on DS9 months after Jadzia's death in possession of all the former hosts' memories, it made things awkward.

It also made things awkward that Ezri was pretty uncomfortable with herself -- not only was she green by Starfleet standards, she had also never planned on getting joined to a symbiont. Luckily, we got a seventh season Mirror Universe episode where we got a look at Ezri's more confident, more... into girls side. In this universe she's a mercenary who's become a favorite makeout buddy of Kira's Mirror Counterpart, the Intendant.

Continuing the tradition of catsuited ice queens started by Seven of Nine, T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) was a Vulcan attaché to the Enterprise under Captain Archer. And, like Seven of Nine, despite the fact that her appearance was gratuitously sexual, the conflicted Vulcan is brought to life beautifully by Blalock, and watching her navigate her at-first tenuous relationship with humanity remains compelling. And guess what??! She's got a Mirror Universe counterpart, too!

That T'Pol is a little edgier than NiceT'Pol, but she's still the only person worth rooting for on the "other" Enterprise. When the Defiant travels back in time to the 22nd century, she assists NiceArcher and Co. in making sure her universe doesn't succeed in keeping the technologically advanced ship. She definitely looks like a Vulcan Barbie while she's doing it, but it's kind of a campy, refreshing change from her normal wardrobe.

3 DEANNA TROI

While Deanna's certainly no Orion Slave Girl (perish the thought), she's still TNG's primary sex symbol (well, second to Riker sitting down). Make no mistake, she's a lady, but she's also a Betazoid. That means she's empathic and really, really comfortable with nudity. She's also brainy enough to be a psychologist, make it into Starfleet and get out of wearing a uniform (most of the time).

But given her history with Commander William "John Mayer" Riker and her numerous romantic relationships, Deanna definitely enjoyed her sexuality and that makes her even more of a bombshell. Or maybe it was the fact that she was one of the few people on the senior staff that wasn't constantly repressing urges. We're raising our eyebrows at you Picard, Crusher, Worf and Geordi.

2 THE INTENDANT

Like we said, EVERYONE is hotter in the Mirror Universe. The same is obviously true of the Intendant, Kira Nerys' Mirror Counterpart on DS9 . At this point in the Mirror Universe Timeline, the Terran Empire featured on TOS and Enterprise had finally been defeated by an ironic alliance between the Klingons and the Cardassians. The Terrans were enslaved and DS9 (Terok Nor once more) served as an Alliance outpost under Kira's command.

She's actively the polar opposite of NiceKira, fond of both torture and deception. She's a blast, though -- she runs around in a catsuit, wears a crown and is usually half-seducing anyone she shares a screen with (including NiceKira -- that was weird). While she's an undeniable villain and we'd never (EVER) want to meet her IRL, we can't help but admire how she's unapologetically living her best life.

1 CAROL MARCUS

Carol Marcus has a pivotal role to play in the Prime Star Trek  universe, so it was fitting when she showed up in Star Trek: Into Darkness . In Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan , she's an accomplished scientist who's revealed to be Kirk's ex-lover and the mother of his only son, David. In Into Darkness , Alice Eve took over the role as a much younger scientist who fakes her way onto Kirk's ship in order to investigate 72 very mysterious photon torpedoes.

As of now, it doesn't look like the character will reappear any time soon, so Kelvin Kirk is childless for the time being. You'll probably have noticed that everyone's hotter in the Kelvin Universe, and that fact got hammered home in Marcus' famous Starfleet-issue undies shot. Some fans grumbled at the scene's gratuitous nature, but compared to  TOS , the Abrams movies are still pretty tame.

Which ladies of Star Trek make you want to boldly go? Let us know in the comments!

• Cast & crew
• User reviews
• Episode aired Dec 6, 1968

Trapped in an alien laboratory, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet an empath and are involved in a series of experiments. Trapped in an alien laboratory, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet an empath and are involved in a series of experiments. Trapped in an alien laboratory, Kirk, Spock and McCoy meet an empath and are involved in a series of experiments.

• Gene Roddenberry
• Joyce Muskat
• Arthur H. Singer
• William Shatner
• Leonard Nimoy
• DeForest Kelley
• 42 User reviews
• 11 Critic reviews

• Captain James Tiberius 'Jim' Kirk

• Mister Spock

• Lieutenant Hadley
• (uncredited)
• Security Guard
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia This was DeForest Kelley 's favourite episode.
• Goofs McCoy and Kirk's evaluation of Gem makes unwarranted inferences: that being an empath, being able to feel what others feel, somehow means having the ability to physically heal others, and that being mute also means being unable to understand speech.

Dr. McCoy : Well, we can't keep referring to her as 'she' as if she weren't here.

Captain James T. Kirk : D'you have any ideas?

Dr. McCoy : Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going to call her Gem.

Dr. McCoy : Gem, Doctor?

Dr. McCoy : Well, that's better than 'Hey, you'.

• Alternate versions Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
• Connections Featured in Mr. Plinkett's Star Trek 2009 Review (2010)
• Soundtracks Theme Music credited to Alexander Courage Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews 42

• May 7, 2014
• December 6, 1968 (United States)
• United States
• Official Facebook
• Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Paramount Television
• Norway Corporation
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 51 minutes

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Salome Jens

• View history

Jens was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is the sister-in-law of Star Trek: Insurrection actor Anthony Zerbe as he has been married to her sister, Arnette Jens, since October 7, 1962.

Jens began acting in stage productions in the 1950s. She made her Broadway debut in a play called Sixth Finger in a Five Finger Glove , which only ran for two appearances in October 1956 and co-starred Bill Zuckert . She followed this with performances in such plays as The Disenchanted , A Far Country , After the Fall , Tartuffe (co-starring with Graham Jarvis and Laurence Luckinbill ), and A Patriot for Me . She made her feature film debut in Terror from the Year 5000 (1958, co-starring with Ward Costello ). The following year, she appeared in a made-for-television adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard , also featuring Star Trek: The Original Series guest actor John Abbott .

Salome Jens in the 1960s

She would go on to play the titular character of the 1961 film Angel Baby . She also starred The Fool Killer (1965, with Original Series guest star Arnold Moss ). Possibly her most famous film role came in 1966, when she starred opposite Rock Hudson in Seconds , featuring Original Series guest actors Jeff Corey and William Wintersole . In 1972, she starred in Savages , in which a race of tiny mud-people follow a croquet ball through a forest.

On television, Jens and Barry Atwater co-starred The Outer Limits episode "Corpus Earthling" in 1963, in which Robert C. Johnson dubbed the voices of the alien rocks.

From 1976 through 1977, she had a recurring role in the television series Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman , starring Louise Lasser in the title role. Next Generation guest star Graham Jarvis was a regular cast member on that show. Jens and Jarvis later co-starred together in the 1981 TV movie The Two Lives of Carol Letner .

Jens also had a role in the 1977 television movie In the Glitter Palace , as did Anthony Zerbe. In 1979, she starred in the mini-series From Here to Eternity , along with her fellow Deep Space Nine regular guest star Andrew Robinson and Next Generation guest star David Spielberg . Jens and Robinson had previously co-starred together in the 1974 television movie House of Evil .

In 1981, she co-starred with Deep Space Nine guest actress Gail Strickland in the television movie A Matter of Life and Death . That same year, she played the lead in the feature film Harry's War with Elisha Cook , Noble Willingham , and David Ogden Stiers . The following year, she appeared in the television movies Tomorrow's Child with Bruce Davison and Susan Oliver , Uncommon Valor with Nicholas Guest , and Grace Kelly with William Schallert . In 1986, Jens had a role in the film Just Between Friends , which also featured one-time Next Generation guest George D. Wallace . In the same year, she was also the narrator in Clan of the Cavebear .

In 1988, Jens joined the cast of a new series based on Superman. Superboy showcased the "Man of Steel" in his teenage years. Jens played his adoptive mother, Martha Kent. Next Generation , Deep Space Nine , and Star Trek: Voyager guest star Sherman Howard played Lex Luthor. Many episodes of the series were directed by later Star Trek director Reza Badiyi . The series ran until 1992.

In 1996, she co-starred with W. Morgan Sheppard , Stephen Root , and her Seconds co-star Jeff Corey in the television movie The Lottery . Jens and W. Morgan Sheppard later appeared together in the 2001 thriller Room 101 . In 1998, she appeared in the film I'm Losing You with Ed Begley, Jr. and Frank Langella .

She has also made several guest appearances on the television series L.A. Law , Melrose Place with Malachi Throne , and Falcon Crest . Her other television guest appearances include The Untouchables , The Outer Limits , Gunsmoke , Bonanza , Kojak , Quincy, M.E. , and The Wonder Years (the latter of which featured recurring appearances by Voyager star Robert Picardo ).

Star Trek appearances [ ]

Appearances as the Female Changeling [ ]

• " The Search, Part I " ( Season 3 )
• " The Search, Part II "
• " Heart of Stone "
• " Broken Link " ( Season 4 )
• " Behind the Lines " ( Season 6 )
• " Favor the Bold "
• " Sacrifice of Angels "
• " Treachery, Faith and the Great River " ( Season 7 )
• " Penumbra "
• " 'Til Death Do Us Part "
• " Strange Bedfellows "
• " The Changing Face of Evil "
• " The Dogs of War "
• " What You Leave Behind "

External links [ ]

• Salome Jens at Wikipedia
• Salome Jens at the Internet Movie Database
• Salome Jens at the Internet Broadway Database
• 2 Star Trek: The Next Generation
• 3 USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-G)

Star Trek: Discovery's New Alien Captain Species Revealed

• Captain Rayner from Star Trek: Discovery is revealed to be a Kellerun, not Vulcan or Romulan.
• The Kellerun species was first seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2.
• Trek Central tweeted about Michelle Paradise confirming Callum Keith Rennie as a Kellerun in SFX Magazine.

Star Trek: Discovery showrunner Michelle Paradise has revealed the surprising alien species season 5's new Starfleet character, Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), belongs to. From the early images and Discovery season 5 trailers, it initially appeared that, with his pointed ears, Rayner may be a Vulcan or Romulan . However, the final Star Trek: Discovery season 5 trailer showed Rayner snarling with rage, heavily implying that he wasn't an emotionally repressed Vulcan.

In an interview with SFX Magazine , Michelle Paradise confirmed that Star Trek: Discovery 's Captain Rayner is not a Vulcan, nor is he a Romulan. Instead, Rayner is a member of the Kellerun species , first seen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 13, "Armageddon Game". Trek Central tweeted the news, complete with an image of a Kellerun from DS9 's "Armageddon Game". Read their tweet below:

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Everything We Know

Kellerun species in star trek: ds9 explained.

The Kellerun only appeared in one episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , "Armageddon Game" . A species that hailed from the Gamma Quadrant, the Kellerun were encountered by Chief Miles O'Brien (Colm Meaney) and Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig) at the end of a brutal war with the T'Lani. O'Brien and Bashir were dispatched to help with destroying the final traces of a biological weapon known as the Harvester. Sharat (Peter White), a Kellerun ambassador, sought to secure lasting peace by erasing all knowledge of the weapon by killing everyone involved with it, including Bashir and O'Brien.

Their encounter with the Kellerun was a crucial moment for Chief O'Brien and Dr. Bashir's friendship , establishing the bond between them. Sharat's single-minded desire to erase all knowledge of the Harvester in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could have interesting implications for Captain Rayner. From the clips released from Star Trek: Discovery season 5, Rayner seems similarly single-minded, nearly killing Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and his own crew in pursuit of the villainous Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis). Scorched Earth policies are clearly a Kellerun trait , which could set up a fascinating dynamic between Rayner and Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine are available to stream on Paramount+.

Sources: SFX Magazine, Trek Central

Genres Drama, Sci-Fi, Adventure

Streaming Service(s) Paramount+

Franchise(s) Star Trek

Directors Jonathan Frakes, Olatunde Osunsanmi

Showrunner Alex Kurtzman

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Sonequa Martin-Green Has 'Settled Into' Her 'Worth as a Black Woman in a Way That I Would Not Have Imagined' (Exclusive)

"It has meant a great deal to stand in this position and to have, in a way, grown to fit the position," the actress told PEOPLE of playing Star Trek's first Black female captain

Sonequa Martin-Green is embracing her worth.

The actress portrays Star Trek: Discovery ’s Michael Burnham, the first Black female captain in the long-running franchise, and recently spoke with PEOPLE about how the groundbreaking role has changed her. 

"Since the impact that the show has had on my life has changed over time, it's really hard to answer that question because I feel a certain way about it right now, but I'm going to feel even differently a month from now,” Martin-Green, 38, said at SCAD TVFest in Atlanta on Feb. 8 when asked how being on the series has changed her career. “I'm going to feel even differently five years from now. And it's hard for me to say how it's impacted me when I know that there is still more to come from it.”

Reflecting, Martin-Green shared that playing the protagonist has helped her realize and accept a new level of “worth.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

"I've settled into my worth as a Black woman in a way that I would not have imagined that was facilitated by the story, that was facilitated by playing Michael Burnham and then Captain Michael Burnham,” she continued. “And then, by the connections that I've made with the people that tell this story. Those connections, they're the kind that ripple throughout the rest of your life.”

Still, Martin-Green doesn’t plan on stopping — and said there’s room for even more personal evolution, telling PEOPLE, “It has meant a great deal to stand in this position and to have, in a way, grown to fit the position. And I'm still growing to fit it.”

She explained, “It's like on one hand I understand that I don't need to do that, but then at the same time it's like that position is greater than me, so I'll just always be growing into it.”

The Walking Dead alum became emotional at the idea of being able to show her 9-year-old son, Kenric Justin III, the CBS series one day, giving him a chance to see her star as a Black lead. 

“He hasn't seen it yet,” said Martin-Green, who shares Kenric III and 3-year-old daughter Saraiyah Chaunté with husband Kenric Green, 41. She added that she’s “excited” for the moment Kenric III and Saraiyah — who wasn’t born yet when Martin-Green began playing Captain Burnham — are ready to tune in to the series. 

“I mean, I could really cry talking about what I might be able to lead by example, what I might be able to show them by example and teach them from what I've experienced and how they might benefit from it,” said the mom of two. “That's everything right there.”

Screen Rant

Resident alien season 3 proves which character has grown the most (& it's not even close).

Character development is a vital part of storytelling, and Resident Alien does it very well, but one character has grown more than most.

• Sheriff Mike Thompson has shown the most growth and character development on Resident Alien , and has gone from apathetic to compassionate.
• The reduced episode count in season 3 drives the plot forward while focusing on character interactions and emotional progress.
• Female characters like Liv have played a significant role in Mike's evolution, showcasing his growth beyond just personal relationships.

Resident Alien is full of eccentric characters, but one in particular has come much further as a person than any of their fellow residents of Patience, Colorado since the show started in 2021. The chemistry between the Resident Alien cast has long been one of the show’s best features, with the absurdist comedy relying on the characters' quippy retorts, smart comebacks, and sarcastic comments. However, the jokes are only part of Resident Alien ’s formula , and one character’s emotional progress proves it. While Harry changed his mind in Resident Alien about destroying the Earth, he isn't the figure in question.

While Resident Alien season 3 is shorter than its previous two installments , the show has used the reduced episode count very effectively. Not only is the plot being driven forward, but every member of the main cast is receiving ample screen time. The show is doing a commendable job of focusing on the high-stakes matter of saving the world while not ignoring the rich interactions between its characters. In fact, Resident Alien season 3, episode 6, “Bye Bye Birdie,” brilliantly highlights the journey so far of one specific character.

Resident Alien Season 4: Will It Happen? Everything We Know

Resident alien season 3, episode 6 proves mike has had the most character growth, patience's sheriff has come a long way since the start of resident alien.

Sheriff Mike Thompson began Resident Alien season 1 as a brash, joke-a-minute, inconsiderate character. The only thing Mike seemed to take seriously was his job, and even that he treated with contempt at times. While it was clear he enjoyed the authority of the position, he was either apathetic or ignorant to how he made his colleagues and the residents of Patience feel. Liv Baker, Mike’s long-suffering deputy, was often on the receiving end of her superior’s unfair attitude, but “Bye Bye Birdie” was a shining example of how much Mike has come to value his friend and co-worker.

Mike used to be so wrapped up in his own thoughts that it was inconceivable to believe he could ever notice anyone else in turmoil. However, Mike doesn’t just realize Liv is suffering because of her grandmother’s constant criticisms but also volunteers some very sage advice without being asked. The goodwill doesn’t end there, as Mike even accompanies Liv, so she doesn’t have to confront her grandmother alone . The Mike from Resident Alien season 1 would never have acted this way, and it’s heartwarming to see.

Mike even accompanies Liv, so she doesn’t have to confront her grandmother alone. The Mike from Resident Alien season 1 would never have acted this way, and it’s heartwarming to see.

Mike's awareness only seems to extend to Liv so far , as she is the character he spends with whom he spends the most time. However, this growth goes to show that Mike is capable of opening his heart if he so desires. He may have a tough outer shell, but Mike is soft and sentimental once he lets someone in. That may not be evident at first glance, but now that Resident Alien has spent so much time with the character, his true self is beginning to show through - even if it took a little time.

Mike's Growth Since The Start Of Resident Alien Goes Beyond His Personal Life

The sheriff's work has also benefited from his new attitude.

Although Mike’s strong personal bond with Liv is rewarding, he's also blossomed in his working life. Mike’s attitude at the start of the show meant that he essentially worked alone. He had his deputy with him as he investigated, but he was forever either ignoring her or claiming credit for her efforts. Now, the new Mike is much more open to collaboration , and even praising people when they do a good job. While this may have seemed like an impossibility during the early days of Resident Alien , Mike's newfound passion for teamwork benefits the show while threatening Harry's safety.

Mike has always been one of the most likable characters in Resident Alien , but what’s changed slightly is the reason for which he’s liked. Not only is he one of Resident Alien ’s funniest characters, but now he’s an easy man to respect for how he treats others and goes about his work. He still isn’t perfect, and there have been moments in Resident Alien season 3 that prove he still has room for improvement, but he is definitely on the right track.

Resident Alien's Female Characters Have Played A Huge Role In Mike's Evolution

Liv and other resident alien women have been very important to mike.

During a conversation with Dan Twelvetrees in “Bye Bye Birdie,” Mike realizes that his attitude toward certain aspects of perceived gender roles is partially responsible for some of his shortcomings. This is no more evident than when Mike sabotages his relationship with Lena in Resident Alien season 3, episode 2, “The Upper Hand,” due to his discomfort surrounding her superior financial situation. While the two part ways, Mike's confrontation with Lena's son in “Bye Bye Birdie” seems to have finally reached the reasonable part of the Sheriff’s soul, perhaps opening the door for a reunion with Lena in the coming episodes.

Liv has been endlessly patient with Mike. While her forgiving nature may have started as a professional courtesy, the two have formed a genuine, close friendship that overcomes any friction between them.

As well as Lena’s willingness to walk away from Mike for what he perceives to be his masculine pride caused by his troubled past, Liv’s role in Mike’s progress also can’t be undersold . Liv has been endlessly patient with Mike. While her forgiving nature may have started as a professional courtesy, the two have formed a genuine, close friendship that overcomes any friction between them. This kind of steadfastness is just what Mike needed to get better at his interpersonal relations, and it has paid off.

Why Mike's Redemption Is Resident Alien's Biggest Surprise

Mike has arguably grown more than resident alien's main character.

When he was introduced to Resident Alien , Mike was a one-dimensional character who was always getting in his own way – as well as passively hindering others. He was essentially a side character who’d been included for additional comic relief in a show that already had very prominent comedic undertones. As the show has gone on, Mike has become a vital part of the fabric of Resident Alien due to how the writers have written his character and how Corey Reynolds has portrayed the charismatic sheriff of Patience.

Resident Alien Season 3’s New Character Hints At Erasing 1 Huge Comics Twist For Harry

Although Resident Alien has an ensemble cast, Alan Tudyk’s Harry Vanderspeigle is the show’s central figure. So, it would be reasonable to assume that Harry would experience the most growth . While Tudyk’s character is now different than he was at the start of the show, he’s still very recognizably himself. Harry has ended his planet-killing ways and started to develop meaningful relationships, but on the surface, he still comes across as very similar to season 1. Mike, on the other hand, is a much more refined version of the man he was in Resident Alien season 1.

New episodes of Resident Alien air on Syfy each Wednesday, and they're available to stream on Peacock the following day.

Resident Alien

A television adaptation of the comic book series, Resident Alien is a sci-fi comedy that stars Alan Tudyk as an alien who crashes on Earth with one mission - destroy humanity to save the planet. When Tudyk's character takes the identity of a doctor, he arrives at a small town and begins to act the role preparing his plan. As time passes, he develops human emotions against his will - but his plans are further complicated when he meets the son of the mayor - who can see his actual appearance.