For those who like to reconcile the different appearances of the Klingons in Star Trek, there are a few problems, and potential explanations. One explanation was that there were different species that made up the Klingon Empire; this was used in old novels prior to DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations". An alternative explanation was that Klingons cross married with other subject species across generations. Another was that the Klingons had undergone change due to genetic engineering, or a state eugenics program, or a genetic disease, and this was the solution made official canon in ENT's "Divergence".
The current idea is that this retroviral vector was not 100% endemic to all Klingons, and the latest novels posit that these Klingons are exiled to patrolling borders, explaining why they came into frequent contact with Kirk. But one problem remains; they don't appear side by side, which is statistically unlikely. Some of the changes between "ridged" Klingons however, could be due to two remaining factors 1). Klingons being cross related with subject peoples (as is common in human history's empires), and 2). Klingon physical body modification (hair depilation, skull binding, etc).
The hair accounts for a lot of the differences between Klingons, as in Star Trek I: The Motion Picture, they were given a Samurai's bald hairstyle, and in later Star Treks, they were given almost Elizabethan hairstyles inspired by Shakespeare, followed by long flowing hair similar to many ancient cultures. It is possible that the more pronounced features of Klingons 5 and 6 represent a more relict population with aboriginal features, where the most frequently seen Klingons of TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT were more cosmopolitan in their heritage. Finally, several ancient peoples of Earth performed head binding to shape skulls into a more conical shape, sometimes to differentiate social rank; the Huns, ancient South American cultures, etc. So it is possible that the Klingons seen in DSC practice this, or that it is a social trend at this time.
The current idea is that this retroviral vector was not 100% endemic to all Klingons, and the latest novels posit that these Klingons are exiled to patrolling borders, explaining why they came into frequent contact with Kirk. But one problem remains; they don't appear side by side, which is statistically unlikely. Some of the changes between "ridged" Klingons however, could be due to two remaining factors 1). Klingons being cross related with subject peoples (as is common in human history's empires), and 2). Klingon physical body modification (hair depilation, skull binding, etc).
- 1). (1966-1969) Star Trek: The Original Series
- 2). (1979) Star Trek I
- 3). (1984-1991) Star Trek III, IV, V and VI
- 4). (1987-2005) Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Deep: Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek Enterprise
- 5). (2011) Star Trek Into Darkness
- 6). (2017-Present) Star Trek: Discovery
The hair accounts for a lot of the differences between Klingons, as in Star Trek I: The Motion Picture, they were given a Samurai's bald hairstyle, and in later Star Treks, they were given almost Elizabethan hairstyles inspired by Shakespeare, followed by long flowing hair similar to many ancient cultures. It is possible that the more pronounced features of Klingons 5 and 6 represent a more relict population with aboriginal features, where the most frequently seen Klingons of TNG, DS9, VOY and ENT were more cosmopolitan in their heritage. Finally, several ancient peoples of Earth performed head binding to shape skulls into a more conical shape, sometimes to differentiate social rank; the Huns, ancient South American cultures, etc. So it is possible that the Klingons seen in DSC practice this, or that it is a social trend at this time.
