Summary
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s crossover episode withStar Trek: The Original Seriespointed out 2 weird things about Klingons. InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 5, episode 6, “Trials and Tribble-ations”, the Bajoran Orb of Time unexpectedly sends Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the USS Defiant crew back to 105 years earlier in theStar Trektimeline. Against the backdrop ofStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 15, “The Trouble With Tribbles”,Sisko’s crew must prevent Klingon spy Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) from assassinating Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), while dealing with the USS Enterprise’s historical Tribble infestation.
“Trials and Tribble-ations” is a lighter entry among the weighty episodes ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 5.Winking at the audience, characters make humorous references toStar Trekhistoryas if it’s a precursor toStar Trek: Lower Decks. Of note are Captain Kirk’s 17 temporal violations, the swap between gold and red for Starfleet uniform division colors, and the way thatDS9’s characters revere thecrew of the original USS Enterpriseas historical heroes.Deep Space NinepreservesTOS' visual style, with brightly colored 23rd-century Starfleet uniforms, uncomplicated fight choreography, and basic makeup for aliens — especially the Klingons.
DS9 Brought Back (& Changed) 3 Classic TOS Klingons
Three of the Klingon captains who faced Kirk’s Enterprise were united for a revenge mission in a classic Jadzia Dax episode of Star Trek: DS9.
DS9’s Star Trek: TOS Crossover Made 2 Different Kinds Of Klingons A Joke
“We Do Not Discuss It With Outsiders!”
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s crossover withStar Trek: The Original Seriesmakes a joke out of thedifferent kinds of Klingons inStar Trek. While Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) keep an eye on Captain Kirk, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) monitor the Klingons, who are also taking leave at Space Station K-7. Their waitress (Leslie Ackerman) confirms thatthe swarthy, smooth-headed visitors carousing across the room are Klingons, and all 24th-century eyes turn to Worf, demanding an explanation. Bristling, a visibly uncomfortable Worf only says,“We do not discuss it with outsiders!”
InStar Trek: Deep Space Nineseason 2, episode 19, “Blood Oath”, Klingons Kor (John Colicos), Kang (Michael Ansara), and Koloth (William Campbell) appear with cranial ridges, despite having smooth heads when they were introduced inStar Trek: The Original Series.
At the time ofStar Trek: The Original Series, the Klingon makeup was minimal, consisting of little more than face paint and distinctive facial hair. By the time ofStar Trek: The Motion Picture, prosthetic makeup technology had advanced enough to give the Klingons a more alien look. According toStar Trekcreator Gene Roddenberry,Klingons were always meant to have ridged foreheads,and viewers should imagine the new look when watchingTOSreruns. SinceStar Trek: Deep Space NinepreservesTOS' visual style, however, it falls on Worf to dodge explaining the difference, which he does in the most amusingly Klingon way possible.
Klingons Went To War With Tribbles According To Worf
“Tell Me, Do They Still Sing Songs Of The Great Tribble Hunt?”
According to Worf, the Klingon Empire went to war with their arch enemies, the Tribbles, after Scotty (James Doohan) beamed the remaining Tribbles aboard the Klingon cruiser inStar Trek: The Original Series'“The Trouble With Tribbles”. Odo finds it hard to believe that the most feared warrior race in the galaxy would vow vengeance upon the cute, cuddly creatures and mocks Worf’s claim, but there’s a good reason thatKlingons hate Tribbles. InStar Trek: The Animated Series' “More Tribbles, More Troubles”, Klingon Captain Koloth saysTribbles are responsible for"ecological sabotage",which tracks with the Tribbles' propensity to consume and multiply.
The Klingon-Tribble War is noted again inStar Trek: Prodigyseason 2, episode 13, “A Tribble Called Quest”, with Klingon scientist Dr. K’ruvang (Jorge Gutiérrez) stranded on a planet ravaged by Tribbles.
Star Trek: Deep Space Ninecould have ignored the Klingon in the room, as it were, but chose to go a different route with itsStar Trek: The Original Seriescrossover episode. In “Trials and Tribble-ations”,the explanations of Klingon lore fall to Worf.Worf’s confirmation that Tribbles are an out-of-control invasive species is filled with vitriol, and Worf’s embarrassment over the cosmetic differences in old and new Klingons are both memorable moments. Michael Dorn’s delivery in each instance only adds to the episode’s levity, soStar Trek: Deep Space Ninemakes addressing these 2 weird things about Klingons funny instead of heavy-handed.
