Summary
- DS9's "Trials and Tribble-ations" episode pokes fun at Klingon differences in a lighthearted and humorous manner.
- Worf's comical explanation of the Klingon-Tribble War adds levity to tackling Star Trek lore within the crossover.
- Deep Space Nine skillfully addresses Klingon oddities through witty dialogue, honoring TOS history with a comedic touch.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's crossover episode with Star Trek: The Original Series pointed out 2 weird things about Klingons. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5, episode 6, "Trials and Tribble-ations", the Bajoran Orb of Time unexpectedly sends Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) and the USS Defiant crew back to 105 years earlier in the Star Trek timeline. Against the backdrop of Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 15, "The Trouble With Tribbles", Sisko's crew must prevent Klingon spy Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) from assassinating Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), while dealing with the USS Enterprise's historical Tribble infestation.
"Trials and Tribble-ations" is a lighter entry among the weighty episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5. Winking at the audience, characters make humorous references to Star Trek history as if it's a precursor to Star Trek: Lower Decks. Of note are Captain Kirk's 17 temporal violations, the swap between gold and red for Starfleet uniform division colors, and the way that DS9's characters revere the crew of the original USS Enterprise as historical heroes. Deep Space Nine preserves TOS' visual style, with brightly colored 23rd-century Starfleet uniforms, uncomplicated fight choreography, and basic makeup for aliens — especially the Klingons.
DS9’s Star Trek: TOS Crossover Made 2 Different Kinds Of Klingons A Joke
"We Do Not Discuss It With Outsiders!"
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's crossover with Star Trek: The Original Series makes a joke out of the different kinds of Klingons in Star Trek. While Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell) keep an eye on Captain Kirk, Constable Odo (Rene Auberjonois) and Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn) monitor the Klingons, who are also taking leave at Space Station K-7. Their waitress (Leslie Ackerman) confirms that the swarthy, smooth-headed visitors carousing across the room are Klingons, and all 24th-century eyes turn to Worf, demanding an explanation. Bristling, a visibly uncomfortable Worf only says, "We do not discuss it with outsiders!"
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 19, "Blood Oath", Klingons Kor (John Colicos), Kang (Michael Ansara), and Koloth (William Campbell) appear with cranial ridges, despite having smooth heads when they were introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series .
At the time of Star Trek: The Original Series, the Klingon makeup was minimal, consisting of little more than face paint and distinctive facial hair. By the time of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, prosthetic makeup technology had advanced enough to give the Klingons a more alien look. According to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Klingons were always meant to have ridged foreheads, and viewers should imagine the new look when watching TOS reruns. Since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine preserves TOS' visual style, however, it falls on Worf to dodge explaining the difference, which he does in the most amusingly Klingon way possible.
Klingons Went To War With Tribbles According To Worf
"Tell Me, Do They Still Sing Songs Of The Great Tribble Hunt?"
According to Worf, the Klingon Empire went to war with their arch enemies, the Tribbles, after Scotty (James Doohan) beamed the remaining Tribbles aboard the Klingon cruiser in Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Trouble With Tribbles". Odo finds it hard to believe that the most feared warrior race in the galaxy would vow vengeance upon the cute, cuddly creatures and mocks Worf's claim, but there's a good reason that Klingons hate Tribbles. In Star Trek: The Animated Series' "More Tribbles, More Troubles", Klingon Captain Koloth says Tribbles are responsible for "ecological sabotage", which tracks with the Tribbles' propensity to consume and multiply.
The Klingon-Tribble War is noted again in Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, episode 13, "A Tribble Called Quest", with Klingon scientist Dr. K'ruvang (Jorge Gutiérrez) stranded on a planet ravaged by Tribbles.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine could have ignored the Klingon in the room, as it were, but chose to go a different route with its Star Trek: The Original Series crossover episode. In "Trials and Tribble-ations", the explanations of Klingon lore fall to Worf. Worf's confirmation that Tribbles are an out-of-control invasive species is filled with vitriol, and Worf's embarrassment over the cosmetic differences in old and new Klingons are both memorable moments. Michael Dorn's delivery in each instance only adds to the episode's levity, so Star Trek: Deep Space Nine makes addressing these 2 weird things about Klingons funny instead of heavy-handed.
