Controversial Character Designs Fans Seriously Hated

The Klingons, a famed warrior race of the «Star Trek» franchise, are no strangers to visual reinvention. They received a notable redesign in «Star Trek: The Motion Picture,» gaining the uneven foreheads, sharp teeth, and receded hairlines that became staples of Klingon designs going forward. «Star Trek Into Darkness» would later alter their noses and ears, as well as add face piercings that may or may not be common to that version of the species.

Though initially appearing to just be aesthetic touch-ups to coincide with advances in makeup and prosthetics, all these changes eventually got some form of explanation. Yet neither cosmetic surgery, alien viruses, nor alternate timelines explain why the Klingons in 2017’s «Star Trek: Discovery» have pronounced differences from most Klingons seen prior. The vast majority of Klingons in the pilot, for instance, are bald, and their skin is colored with hues not seen before in Klingons, like gray. Furthermore, their uniforms and golden, ridged armor bear little resemblance to any previously seen Klingon attire, which is surprising, given that «Star Trek: Discovery» begins a mere decade or so before the original show.

Though the redesigns did win some fans over, many others weren’t having it. Notable fan sites like Ex Astris Scientia have written detailed articles about the perceived continuity complications the designs cause, as well as ways to address them. Lucky for them, the pros were listening, and the Klingons mostly went back to looking more like their post-«Motion Picture» selves.