Star Trek: Lower Decks - All the Classic Alien Races in Episode 2, Envoys

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 1, Episode 2, "Envoys," now streaming on CBS All Access.

In its first two episodes, Star Trek: Lower Decks has been packed with references to previous television series and films in the iconic sci-fi franchise. After introducing the new cast of characters in the series premiere, the crew of the U.S.S. Cerritos has boldly gone where many of their counterparts have gone before, with familiar extraterrestrial faces appearing as they handle the most tedious, bureaucratic missions Starfleet has to offer.

With the main cast already featuring an Orion in Ensign D'Vana Tendi, a Bajoran in Chief Security Officer Shaxs and a Caitian in Doctor T'Ana, here are all the other alien species seen in the animated series' sophomore episode, "Envoys."

Klingons

Lower Decks' second episode largely revolves around an escort mission as Ensigns Boimer and Mariner are assigned with transporting Klingon General K'orin to the United Federation of Planet's embassy on Tulgana IV for diplomatic talks. Along the way, hijinks ensue as K'orin proves himself to be the paradigm of Klingon culture, boisterously drinking, engaging in fights and even hijacking the shuttlecraft Boimer is piloting.

The Klingons have been a franchise mainstay since the original series, originally depicted as the most prominent antagonists of the Federation. By the start of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the two civilizations had achieved a tenuous peace, though they briefly descended back into war during Star Trek: Deep Space Nine due to the Dominion's machinations.

Andorians

The Andorians are another of the oldest alien races to appear in Star Trek, joining Earth, Vulcan and Tellar as the founding species of the Federation in 2161. Introduced in the original series, Star Trek: Enterprise revealed how the Andorians helped co-found the Federation, with Captain Jonathan Archer helping defuse tensions between Andor and Vulcan.

Lower Decks has Boimer and Mariner continue their search for a drunken K'orin across Tulgana IV, arriving at a bar packed with Andorians. After breaking up an altercation, Boimer discovers he helped a thieving shapeshifter escape, resulting in a massive bar fight breaking out when the Andorians accost him and Mariner.

Borg

In many ways, the Borg are the definitive antagonists of The Next Generation, kidnapping and assimilating Captain Jean-Luc Picard and using him to decimate an entire Starfleet armada. While Picard was eventually freed, the trauma haunted him for the rest of his life. The Borg later resurfaced in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact, where they nearly subjugated Earth, and served as the primary antagonist in the second half of Star Trek: Voyager.

The Borg's appearance in Lower Decks is much more innocuous so far, only appearing as part of a training exercise. When Ensign Rutherford approaches Shaxs about the possibility of transferring from engineering to security, the Bajoran programs the Holodeck to confront Rutherford with a squad of Borg drones. Using his own cybernetic implants, Rutherford makes quick work of his opponents, visibly impressing Shaxs.

Lurians

One of the most comically taciturn characters in Star Trek is Morn, part of the Lurian race introduced in Deep Space Nine. A constant presence at Quark's bar on the space station, Morn never utters a single word over the course of the series, usually nodding in agreement when he isn't looking for solace at the bottom of a glass.

The Lurians' appearance in Lower Decks is similarly silent and brief so far,. They're seen in the same bar as the Andorians that Boimer accidentally provokes. As the fight escalates, Lurians join in the fracas, still not speaking a single word as punches are thrown between the dive bar's various alien species.

Ferengi

The last classic species in Lower Decks' sophomore episode is a Ferengi who approaches Boimer and Mariner regarding the whereabouts of their missing shuttle. Regarded cautiously by Boimer, the young officer drives the Ferengi away when he pulls a knife on the duo, unaware that Mariner and the Ferengi secretly staged the incident to build up Boimer's flailing sense of self-confidence.

The Ferengi were among the first new antagonistic species encountered in The Next Generation, coveting material goods and wealth above all else, with their entire society built around mercantilism. The Ferengi's antagonistic tendencies were toned down in Deep Space Nine, as the race played a more prominent role through the main character Quark and his associates on the space station.

Star Trek: Lower Decks stars Tawny Newsome as Ensign Beckett Mariner, Eugene Cordero as Ensign Rutherford, Jack Quaid as Ensign Brad Boimer, Noël Wells as Ensign Tendi, Dawnn Lewis as Captain Carol Freeman, Jerry O'Connell as Commander Jack Ransom, Gillian Vigman as Doctor T'Ana and Fred Tatasciore as Lieutenant Shaxs. New episodes premiere Thursdays on CBS All Access.

Source: www.cbr.com