Don’t Mess With Klingons

Throughout Science Fiction there are a myriad of various alien species of all shapes and sizes. Some are strong, some are tough, but no alien represents the perfect ideal warrior than the Klingons from Star Trek. And why not? Every portrayal of them shows that they love to brawl, love to drink and love to sing. They’re Vikings in space.

Klingons were originally introduced in the original Star Trek series. The original Klingons were not the ridged forehead aliens that we now recognize. They were originally just portrayed as having bad tans. They initially were intended as an allegory for the Soviet Union, being that the show debuted during the height of Cold War tensions. It wasn’t until Star Trek: The Motion Picture that the modern version of Klingons appeared. The studio could afford the make up to truly make the aliens look menacing.

Much of the warrior like behavior of the Klingons is owed to The Next Generation. It was the addition of Lieutenant Worf, a Klingon adopted by humans, to the crew of the ship that allowed us to get a continued view of this warrior culture. While raised by humans, Worf was always struggling to be as Klingon as possible, even adorning his Starfleet uniform with a Klingon sash that displays the markings of his traditional Klingon house.

Feklar

Through Worf we learn all about the Klingon culture. In many ways, Klingons are modeled on the samurai. Although originally modeled after the USSR, Klingons began to evolve into noble warriors who valued honor above all else. Instead of loud and violent enemies they are more alien samurai. The greatest glory a Klingon can achieve is die in battle. They even consider dying in battle to be the pre-requisite to getting into Sto-Vo-Kor (Klingon Heaven). Otherwise you are condemned to Gre’Thor (Klingon Hell) to be tortured by Feklar (Klingon devil) unless their relatives fight a great battle in their honor.

Kahless

The entire Klingon religion is based around violence. Their greatest inspiration is Kahless, a messianic figure, who is the greatest warrior in Klingon society. So much about their rituals are based on stories about him. Klingon weddings are re-enactments of his wedding. Klingon swords are modeled after the sword he carried. Everything about their society is based on this one individual.

Also, Klingons love Shakespeare. As established in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, the only way to truly experience Shakespeare is in the “Original Klingon”. Yes, Klingons love Shakespeare so much that they have not only translated it into Klingon but claim it as part of their own art. That, and Operah. Klingons love Opera and throughout the series (TNG and DS9) Worf and other Klingons are heard belting out loud and epic songs about glorious battle.

The one area where Klingons do not seem to surpass humans is their cuisine. Klingon cooking seems to consist mainly of eating their food raw and freshly killed. And usually the hearts, lungs or livers of the animal first. There are no Klingon vegetarians. Of course there is also gagh. Gagh is a type of worm Klingons eat. Alive. According to a season seven episode of Deep Space Nine there are multiple types and varieties of gagh, each with its own unique flavors and behaviors (some wriggle and some have feet).

The Klingons have had a long complex association with the Star Trek series. They went from being the Federation’s greatest threat to being its greatest ally. And as such they have become an important part of science fiction fandom. At your average Star Trek convention you will see multiple Klingons. There is an English to Klingon dictionary. Fans have performed Shakespearean plays in Klingon. They have surpassed just being characters to being a social phenomenon.