Klingon Foreheads

[ray gower]

There are some tremendously important questions in the Star Trek Universe that nobody at P'Mount has ever seen fit to answer, like: 'How does Voyager carry an infinite number of shuttles?' and 'What is a stembolt?'

However here is one that threatens the sanity of millions.

Why have Klingons changed from 17 stone gorrilas, with lumpy heads (in Enterprise); to nine stone whimps, without lumpy heads and back again over the course of two hundred years?

With Warf not-explaining with the statement "We do not talk about it!", to Bashir and O'Brien's obvious confusion in 'Trials and Tribulations'. Which as a scene, was calculated to make everybody talk about it. There has to be a good reason, ignoring the obvious, budget, which sucks.

My own theory is that there was another cast of Klingons, the whimps, that performed a coup. After very subversively infiltrating the Klingon high command. They were certainly not able to storm it.
They, in turn, were violently overthrown by the lumpy ones. Who systematically exterminated their smaller bretherin, perhaps because of the Tribble Wars that followed.

As a theory there are some glaring holes, which no doubt somebody will point out. But I'm sure we can do better?

 

[Maria8475]

Hmmm maybe they came across an all powerful race like the Q and being Klingons declared war on them. Then lost very badly and as punishment (and a laugh) the victors decided that for a short time they'd all have normal foreheads.

As the Klingons arre proud, they don't like to admit defeat, so don't talk about it.

 

[Dave]

There are a number of theories on this subject that I've heard about:

Theory #1 from Gene Roddenberry himself
That this is the difference between the Northern Klingons and the Southern Klingons.

Theory #2 from Phil Farrand -- The Nitpicker's Guides
Bad TV reception in the 1960's -- the ridges and turtle heads were always there, but you just couldn't see them.

Theory #3 from Robert and Susan Jenkins -- The Biology of Star Trek
A wimpy-looking nerdling Klingon kid got tired of being beaten up in Bat'leth class. So he worked hard on his science-fair project that year and attempted to use some experimental gene-therapy on himself to beef himself up, but the experiment went wrong with disasterous results for his whole species. His little sister sneezed near the culture dish and introduced a bunch of wild viruses into his vector. When he injected himself with the vector carrying the recombinant bigger-stronger gene, it turned out to be wildly contagious.

Theory #4 from the Star Trek RPG -- Klingon expansion set
There are three 'strains' of Klingons -- Imperial Klingons (like Worf and Martok), who were not genetically modified or bred; human-Klingon hybrids, who were bred for interaction with humans (as in TOS); and Romulan-Klingon hybrids ( as seen in TNG 'Birthright'.)

BTW The 'Star Trek Monthly' magazine has asked for readers suggestions on just this topic, so I will keep you informed of any new ideas that they print. There has been none so far, but they only just asked for them!

 

[Dave]

I've managed to find some more theories, this is actually quite a hot topic -- This site has a big discussion. Here the various theories are put into five groups. I think there are far more variations than that:

Theory #4a Shane Johnson's "The Worlds of the Federation"
Also explains it on page 114 as a Klingon-Human fusion: "It is interesting to note that for many years the true appearance of the Klingon race was unknown. The "Klingons" encountered along the Federation border with the Empire were a Klingon-human fusion, genetically created to make infiltration into Federation areas easier. The interception of the Amar transmission during the V'Ger incident revealed the true nature of the Imperial Klingon race and stunned Federation science. Before that time, no one had suspected that the Klingons were capable of such advanced genetic engineering, and a great deal of rethinking was done concerning the level of Klingon technology."

Theory #5 from Dave Lewis
During a round of Dabo with a well know Ferengi I have uncovered the truth behind the Klingon's now seen with a heavily ridged forehead, it would appear that a century or so ago a Ferengi trader acquiring a shipment of 'Cornish Pasties' (an earth meat-based pastry) had the idea of trying to sell them to the Klingon's, upon his meeting with a one of their representatives he tried to explain they were edible but the Klingon getting agitated because no food should remain inactive threw it into the air in anger, the Pastie governed by the rules of gravity firmly landed on his forehead adhering itself in the heat, upon surveying the scene in a mirror the Klingon seemed extremely impressed with the addition and from there on started a fashion craze amongst his race, since then varying ridged version's are now being massed produced by the Ferengi, who are even selling an adhesive for their application.

Then there are multipul theories given here: Sevtrek. Most are variations on the same thing, these are a few of the more original ones:

Theory #6
Klingons only develop the forehead ridges during middle-age.

Theory #7
It is a result of centuries of trying to join the US Marines, and banging Coke cans on their foreheads. Alternatively, it is due to head butting. I prefer Ray Gowers version -- the rolling pin theory.

Theory #8
If Klingons suffer from malnutrition when young, the forehead ridges fail to develop.

Theory #9
As the Star Trek scripts got worse, the Klingons developed the ridges from worrying about the quality of the next episode.

Theory #10
The forehead ridge Klingons come from a parallel universe where special effects budgets were always larger than in ours, and didn't all get spent on Spock's ears.

Theory #11
It is a genetic mutation resulting from the radiation emitted by Cloaking Devices.

Theory #12
It was a brief fashion to have surgically altered, smooth foreheads, that later died out. Alternatively, young Klingon warriors subscribed to the practise of sandpaper forhead bowling, that also later died out.

Theory #13 from Tammy Jarvis
The Klingons are actually descendants of Michael Jackson. Their blood carries a dormant silicone gene which every few hundred years mutates and changes the way they look (even the color of their blood).

Theory #14 from Marvel Comic's STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE #14
They are caused by a virus carried by Tribbles.

Theory #15 Don Cummings
The Klingons shed their armorlike skin every so many years and grow a new one. This explains why Kor and others have also changed - growing a new skin probably takes some time!

Theory #16
Faster evolution. I don't subscribe to this as there would also need to be a faster turnover in Klingon generations, but instead we see their life expectancy to be similar to a Human. Also why did they evolve smooth foreheads, then evolve back to bumps, and what possible advantage could it give them in survival.

Theory #17 already given by Maria8475
Somehow Q caused it to happen. This is the only theory which can be held up to close scrutiny, simply because Q could make anything happen.

 

[Tabitha]

I like Ray's coup explanation. It would explain why current Klingons are too embarrassed to talk about it, I suppose. The 'three strains' of Klingons is an interesting idea too.

Have we ever seen Q interact with Klingon's other than B'elanna or Worf? I can't remember...

 

[Dave]

Q doesn't like Klingons much, he constantly made fun of Worf, calling him 'microbrain' in the early TNG meetings.

I'm still trying to find a better explanation.

Most of those theories were written before 'Enterprise'. Some of them explain the later appearance of forehead-ridge Klingons, some would even explain why an old Kahless appeared in TOS with the old Klingon appearance, but they are all dead-in-the-water since we saw Klang and the Klingon High Council in 'Broken Bow' ENT -- all with the forehead-ridges.

from Section31.com
An Enterprise related topic that has been circulating around the web is the explanation for the Klingon forehead ridges. Apparently the original explanation for this was that there were two different races of Klingons (those seen in TOS without ridges and those seen in TNG and forward with the ridges). However this reason became null when the DS9 episode "Blood Oath" 'aired, featuring three TOS Klingons with the forehead ridges. It is at times like this that the people at Paramount, as Richard Arnold [a self-proclaimed 'Star Trek' 'expert'] put it, "must develop collective amnesia." So bottom line, there is no explanation for the ridges.

Who exactly is Richard Arnold? 'Section31' seems to think he is a 'Star Trek' 'God', but why would his explanation be any better than anyone elses?

 

[Tabitha]

I totally forgot that the Klingons in Enterprise were the same as Worf-style Klingons. It would almost be better if they hadn't made that reference in Trials and Tribbleations - if the difference wasn't officially noticed.
Then we could all happily chalk it down to a little continuity glitch that only happened because of FX limitations.
But no, the DS9 characters pointed it out, driving all us viewers mad trying to figure out what on earth is going on

 

[Dave]

Enterprise is finally going to address this issue in the Season 4 episodes 'Affliction' and 'Divergence'.

The story is here:
http://64.46.119.37/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=478298#post478298

 

[Dave]

I never liked the 'Enterprise' explanation, here is one courtesy of 'The SciFi Theorizer':

Theory #18
The tragic result of the unfortunate popularity of the Klingon childhood game "waffle iron soccer."

 

[athena28]

I haven't seen all the eps. of Enterprise . What was the official explanation, Dave?

 

[Dave]

Official Canon Reason

Theory # 19
from "Affliction" and "Divergence" ENT

In the two Enterprise episodes "Affliction" and "Divergence" we learn what has to be regarded as the ultimate truth about the appearance of the TOS Klingons. In 2154 the Klingon scientist Antaak, supervised by General K'Vagh, devises a program to use the genetic improvements of human Augments to create a new breed of Klingon warriors. Several Klingons, including K'Vagh's son, volunteer to have themselves genetically altered. One of the side effects is that they lose their forehead ridges. But soon a new problem emerges. The Levodian flu, a usually rather harmless infection, mutates because of the human DNA and becomes airborne. The illness now threatens the lives of millions of Klingons. Based on the virus Dr. Phlox, who has been abducted by the Klingons, develops an antivirus. The antivirus takes away the genetic superiority from the Klingon Augments. Any other Klingon who is given the antivirus as a cure against the mutated virus loses his forehead ridges just like the Augments. Dr. Phlox says that the children of the so treated Klingons would inherit their look. Even if the trait were recessive, it would perfectly explain the existence of smooth-headed Klingon still more than a century later.

 

[ray gower]

Problem with this expanation is that it is not very practical.

If we take the current Bird Flu epidemic scare as a guide:
While thousands of people may have died in the Far East, 2 billion others have not even developed a snuffle.
Two years later 2 birds that may carry the disease have found their way to the UK.

The same would hold true for the Kingons also, except it would have to spread over dozens of planets in the face of strict quarantines and other measures.

In addition a Klingon's corrugated nog is an important social feature. So we have created an important and visible stigma.
Even on Earth it can take hundreds of years for such stigmas to be consigned to be consigned to the dustbin and the Kilingons are not portrayed as being such an easy going lot as us!

A massive immunisation plan might get to every Klingon, but would take decades and when the anti-virus is so effective as a treatment why carry out an immunisation, when we have to overcome the public revulsion caused by the handicap of a baby smooth head?

 

[athena28]

I'm not sure I buy this explanation either.

 

[rolav drol]

This is the same as Dave said in different words.

"In the late 20th century, a group of scientists created a "master race" of genetically altered humans, among them Kahn Noonien Singh. This led to the Eugenics Wars on Earth in the 1990s.
In the 22nd century, scientific genius Arik Soong (played by Brent Spiner) incubated and birthed a number of embryos from this time. These embryos, because of their augmented DNA, were known as "augments." They had the increased intelligence and aggression of the key players in the Eugenics Wars.
When Arik Soong unleashed several augments in the 22nd century, the Klingons perceived it as a threat.
Subseuquently, when several augmented embryos fell into their hands, they exploited their DNA to create Klingon augments to compete with human augments.
One Klingon augment had a virus that combined with the human augment DNA.
This virus spread to other Klingons, making them not only have augmented abilities but also to appear more human.
By the 23rd century (the time of Star Trek: The Original Series), this virus had spread throughout the Klingon race.
By the 24th century (the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation), this virus had been cured, making Klingons of that era profoundly uncomfortable in discussing why their appearance had temporarily temporarily lurched human-ward a over hundred years before."-- Jimmy Akin

In response to what you said Ray, about this taking a long time to take effect and being very unlikly to reach so many planets you have to remember this is "sci fi." It is fake, fantasy, a story and is not meant to be taken so seriously and into so much detail. It is simply a story meant to amuse us.

We also can't deny the fact that this is the reason Paramount gave us. Wheather we like this explanation or not, wheather it is that realistic or not, this is the explantion that was given and we should except it. Whether you accept it or not that is your decision. I personally am going to go play soccer with a waffle iron tomorrow and see what happens.

Maybe it would be best if we just didn't know. It keeps us wondering, imaging, thinking what if or how.