The explanation is actually given in the new enterprise series. A DNA experiment to create better klingons when wrong. It was a viral disease and it spread. Flox was able to contain it, stopping it from killing them, but the ridges remained 'off' :-) I love how they put everything together :-)
I remember when they did this, and pointed it out, the look on Worf's face was priceless, like "oh, crap! busted!" and ever Trek fan had their undivided attention on him for the long overdue explanation (which wasn't given until Enterprise). Priceless moment!
@leggy1977 The smooth-headed Klingons go back a long way...A simple way to understand the "why" behind it all and the differences would be to go to Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki, and look up Klingons. Within the first few paragraphs, you'll understand the storyline that explains the lack of forehead ridges.
@andrewames247 Well, I was referring to production, not to explanation in Star Trek world. You can always explain the differences in production, and clearly, makers of Star Trek franchise wanted to make Klingons a little more terrifying, and later on made up the explanation.
It's worth pointing out that the original Klingon make-up and the later version were both created by the same artist, Fred Phillips. He explained that, in designing the make-up for Star Trek:The Motion Picture (1979) he was simply taking advantage of more time and the bigger budget to create a more alien appearance. It has been said that the original "Genghis Khan" look was actually suggested to Phillips by the first Klingon captain, the great actor John Colicos.
A wizard did it.
ClassicGarth 1 week ago
The explanation is actually given in the new enterprise series. A DNA experiment to create better klingons when wrong. It was a viral disease and it spread. Flox was able to contain it, stopping it from killing them, but the ridges remained 'off' :-) I love how they put everything together :-)
dorienherremans0 1 week ago
I remember when they did this, and pointed it out, the look on Worf's face was priceless, like "oh, crap! busted!" and ever Trek fan had their undivided attention on him for the long overdue explanation (which wasn't given until Enterprise). Priceless moment!
frappermac 2 weeks ago
They looked like Gengis Khan's Mongols to me :)
leggy1977 2 months ago
why are the klingons so different from before?
NickoRules17 2 months ago
@NickoRules17 We don't talk about that :)
The original Star Trek was produced in the 60s, so the effects and make up were much poorer, compered to DS9 and TNG.
leggy1977 2 months ago
@leggy1977 They looked better before.
stevelatinner 2 months ago
@leggy1977 The smooth-headed Klingons go back a long way...A simple way to understand the "why" behind it all and the differences would be to go to Memory Alpha, the Star Trek wiki, and look up Klingons. Within the first few paragraphs, you'll understand the storyline that explains the lack of forehead ridges.
andrewames247 2 months ago
@andrewames247 Well, I was referring to production, not to explanation in Star Trek world. You can always explain the differences in production, and clearly, makers of Star Trek franchise wanted to make Klingons a little more terrifying, and later on made up the explanation.
leggy1977 2 months ago
@leggy1977
It's worth pointing out that the original Klingon make-up and the later version were both created by the same artist, Fred Phillips. He explained that, in designing the make-up for Star Trek:The Motion Picture (1979) he was simply taking advantage of more time and the bigger budget to create a more alien appearance. It has been said that the original "Genghis Khan" look was actually suggested to Phillips by the first Klingon captain, the great actor John Colicos.
nskid 2 weeks ago
Seeing Worf on DS9 reminds me of a kid in a new school with his new friends.
horaciosi 2 months ago
Xenophiles.
TheEstron 3 months ago