The human race, starting with Antiquity’s atomists and philosophers, has always considered the possibility of extraterrestrial life. As the poet Lucretius stated, “Nothing in the universe is unique and alone, and therefore, in other regions, there must be other earths inhabited by different tribes of men and breeds of beasts.”
Fast-forward to modern times, when both cinema and television have produced a plethora of science-fiction projects boasting many alien species in different sizes, colors, and shapes, whether humanoid, beast-like, parasitic, machines, or non-corporeal, from lobster people, tocybertronians, to reptilians, to semi-humanoid plants.
Since space is “the final frontier” in Gene Roddenberry’sStar Trekfranchise, encounters between humans and aliens, whether friendly or hostile, abound. Trekkies are now very familiar with species like Vulcans, Romulans, Klingons, Andorians, Betazoids, Orions, Bajorans, Cardassians, Species 8472, Changelings, the Gorn, and the Borg, to name a few. They love cosplaying as them in conventions, and there are several apps offering lessons in their fictional languages.
Some of these species have been highlighted more than others in theStar Trekshows and films, so, here is a selection of 15 alien characters who particularly stand out, and who are not Spock, the Borg Queen in her various versions, or fluffy Tribbles.
23Doctor Sevrin - Tiburonian
In the hippie-inspiredStar Trek: The Original Series’ episodeThe Way to Eden, Skip Homeier playsDoctor Sevrin, a charismatic Tiburonian acoustics and communications engineer who gathers followers in the pursuit of Eden, a utopic planet untainted by technology. He favors creativity, the arts, and untouched nature over machines, Federation laws, hierarchy, social and moral restraints, and urban life. Driven to insanity and fixated on his goal, he finally selects a new planet as his movement’s Eden, but it turns out to be toxic to humanoids. Refusing to believe he has failed, he chooses to stay there, consume an unfamiliar fruit, and dies on the spot.
Related:Star Trek: 25 Actors Who Played Multiple Roles
22Morn - Lurian
The most loyal customer at Quark’s, the local bar on the promenade of the Federation starbase Deep Space 9,Morn(Mark Allen Shepherd) is a peaceful Lurian courier with a tendency to observe and chat with other patrons, but the running gag is that he is never actually seen speaking on screen. A notorious womanizer, he is generally peaceful and gentle, at least at the bar, and hides his latinum fortune in his second stomach, as audiences later find out after he fakes his own death.
21Goran’Agar - Jem’Hadar
Played by Scott MacDonald, Goran’Agar is a first-in-command Jem’Hadar, a genetically engineered soldier race loyal only to the Changelings or Founders. The latter keep these submissive fighters in check by hooking them with an addictive substance called ketracel-white. When Goran’Agar becomes the sole survivor of a ship crash on the planet Bopak III, he tries to stretch his white supply, only to realize that he doesn’t really need it after all.
“I have fought against races that believe in mythical beings that guide their destinies and await them after death. They call them gods. The Founders are like gods to the Jem’Hadar. But our gods never talk to us, and they don’t wait for us after death. They only want us to fight for them… and to die for them.”
After his rescue, he gathers a few Jem’Hadar, and they go into hiding on Bopak III, away from the dominance of the Founders and their Vorta diplomats. In doing so, he desperately tries to free them from their ketracel addiction, but he fails miserably, even with the help of DS9’s Doctor Bashir; it turns out he is just a mutated exception, but that his soldiers would all die without their daily dose of ketracel. In the end, he decides to hunt them down and give them an honorable death, instead of seeing them suffer from withdrawal then wither away.
20K’Ehleyr - Half-Klingon
“Not even a bite on the cheek for old time’s sake?”
Born to a Human mother and a Klingon father,K’Ehleyr(Suzie Plakson) appears onStar Trek: The Next Generationas a special Federation emissary, as well as Lieutenant Worf’s on-and-off love interest. She is a feisty mix of Klingon strength and endurance, and human affection, sarcasm, and humor, which makes her one-of-a-kind. Unfortunately, she is killed off way too soon, but not before admitting to Worf that she has given him a son, whom she doesn’t want raised in a strict Klingon environment; a rebel till her very last breath.
19D’Vana Tendi - Orion
The franchise could definitely use morerefreshing shows likeLower Decks, where the focus is on the common underdogs, rather than the higher ranks on the bridge. Noël Wells voicesD’Vana Tendi, an enthusiastic, exuberant, optimistic, and eager Orion junior scientist who wants to break free from her species’ ill reputation for piracy, theft, and sex slavery. She is as endearing as she is talented and is eventually asked to train as a senior officer.
18Vadic - Changeling
Paramount+’sStar Trek: Picardmay have been receivedwith mixed feelings, but most Trekkies agree that a couple of new characters sparked some interest, one of whom is the mutant Changeling villainVadic, wonderfully portrayed byAmanda Plummer. Vadic, Captain of the Shrike and a loyal Founder soldier, is resentful towards humans because she used to be a tortured prisoner in a secret Starfleet facility. She shapeshifted into her torturer right after killing her, to remind herself of her revenge path, and became part of a terrorist Founder-Borg faction. She is a fascinating, emotional villain who is defeated by being blown out into space, and subsequently freezing to death, then shattering into pieces.
17Doctor Phlox - Denobulan
Starship doctors are often memorable, andStar Trek: Enterprise’s Denobulan Chief Medical Officer,Phlox, played by John Billingsley, is no exception. Known for his huge, kind smile, his indulgence toward humans, his love for Chinese food, and his rather unorthodox medical practices, “He goes about with this cheerful curiosity that masks his deep philosophical understanding of the motivations of everyone on board,” per aRedditor.
“As far as I know, there are no species in the galaxy that have mastered the art of mixing romance and vocation. This is the one ailment that is universally untreatable; you’ll have to suffer through it.”
16Ishka - Ferengi
“I predict that one day, a female will enter the Tower of Commerce, climb the forty flights of stairs to the Chamber of Opportunity, and take her rightful place as Grand Nagus of the Ferengi Alliance.”
The Ferengi are a sexist, greedy, profit-oriented species, andStar Trek: Deep Space Nine’sIshka, played by Andrea Martin and Cecily Adams, is the feminist rebel and capable financier who breaks the mold. She not only conducts business in secret, but also dresses in fancy outfits, which is considered an outrage in her society, as Ferengi women are supposed to walk around naked and submit to the male gaze. What is more, she is Quark and Rom’s mother, the two most likable Ferengi on the show.
15Elnor - Romulan
The most endearing newcomer onPicard, the handsome, loyal, and somewhat naive superwarriorElnor(Evan Evagora) is a Romulan orphan who was raised by the Qowat Milat order of warrior nuns on another planet, following the destruction of Romulus. As a child, he looked up to Captain Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart), who gave him fencing lessons and brought him entertaining novels. Now that he is a skilled combatant fiercely devoted to the causes of his choice, he teams up with Picard and his friends to thwart many threats, before eventually joining Starfleet. His famous catchphrase before any close combat is, “Please, my friend, choose to live.”
14Silik - Suliban
The Suliban, notably the genetically engineered kind, are a peculiar nomadic humanoid race capable of camouflage, climbing on walls and ceilings, and changing the texture of their skin.Silik, portrayed by John Fleck, is a recurring villain onEnterprisewho follows the orders of a mysterious being from the future. He is eventually killed in an alternate timeline.
