Poll Species highlight episodes

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

There are many Trek episodes that highlight and expand on the culture of a main character's non-Human species, rather than leaving an alien race as a "planet of hats". Where is this done well? Badly? How did your perception of a species change as the shows/films developed them? Which species would you like to understand better, beyond their stereotypes and defining prominent features?

 

[Bad Thoughts]

Body Parts, I would argue, is the best Ferengi feature. Certainly, there were many episodes in which Quark was placed in uncomfortable as other Ferengi--his brother, his mother, his nephew--modified their adherence to tradition. Body Parts shows Quark wrestling with many elements of culture and what it means to transgress in the grandest, most overt way. Is being a model Ferengi more important than one's life? I find this a deep episode.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

What are you willing to sacrifice for the sake of your beliefs? What's the disconnect between your words and deeds, and who are you, really?

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I added a poll to the thread.

Edit: @Bad Thoughts are you the one who just voted?

Edit:Have I missed any species?

 

[WarpTenLizard]

To be honest, most attempt to diversify the Planet of Hats don't do much besides offer counter-cultures. The Pagh-Wraith worshipers are to normal Bajorans what Occultists are to Christianity; the Klingons who sought the Ku'va'magh were a new denomination of the main Klingon religion; the Cardassian Dissonance are a reaction to the Cardassian Union; etc.

Not that those examples aren't interesting in their way. But the best, and maybe only, really good example of cultural diversity among a "Star Trek" race is when Worf makes that comment about Grilka's people. ("She is from the Whatsit region. It is a custom among her people to yada yada....")

That said, we did get some interesting insight into some races' biologies and histories. The zainy TNG episode "Genesis" reveals that Klingons evolved from crustaceans, and DS9 had some great episodes about Trill joining. And the Aenar on "Enterprise" were just cool, if only for their appearances.

Some species-specific episodes I enjoyed:

• "Barge of the Dead" (VOY) Great B'Elanna episode, but also one of the only times we get a peak at a "Star Trek" race in a past era. Sure, it's a knockoff of Vikings, but it's better than nothing.
• "The Aenar" (ENT) One of the few things I liked unironically about "Enterprise" was the development of the Andorians, and introduction of the Aenar.
• "Dax," "Equilibrium," "Facets," "Afterimage," and "Field of Fire" from DS9 were all interesting looks at Trill joining. ("Invasive Procedures" on the other hand was an aggravating missed opportunity.") I also love the Trill storylines in "Discovery," though the hyper-serialized format makes it difficult to pick out a specific episode.
• "House of Quark" runs with the Planet of Hats motif to make a hilarious episode, so it gets a pass.
• "Lineage" (VOY) highlights the possible problems of an interspecies marriage (especially if one party is in the extreme for his species in the worst possible way for that match--like a wimpy human marrying an average Klingon)

 

[publiusr]

The Gorn were always impressive, no matter the look.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

They have yet to have an episode which features a main named Gorn character and expands on the species' cultural practices.