This Star Trek: Lower Decks article contains spoilers.
When it comes toStar Trekaliens, inconsistency is consistent.
Klingons, Trills, and Ferengi have all undergone revisions, some very radical.
Heck, Spock is all smiles and happy-go-lucky in the firstStar Trekpilot The Cage.
In their few appearances inThe Original Series, Orions only appeared as seductive, scantily-clad women with green skin.
What the heck is going on here?
The producers had a limited budget and had to make do with the demands of their medium.
The Pirates of Orion marked the last appearance of the Orions for 30 years.
But they also had green skin again, and much less flamboyant costumes.
Moreover, they treat sex slavery as part of their piracy, streamlining depictions inTOSandTAS.
Its those elements that have continued in laterStar Trekseries.
In addition to Tendis pursuits and family squabbles, the Orions appear inDiscoveryas slavers and pirates.
The Orions continue those practices 900 years later.
Even as Starfleet and the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire lose power, the Orion-led Emerald Chain ascends.
Despite this evolution,Star Trekhas largely ignored the blue skin and crazy costumes of theTASOrions.
When asked about the discrepancy, Worf simply growls, We do not discuss it with outsiders.
But, of course,Lower Decksnever forgets any bit ofTreklore and is always happy to discuss it.
And by wearing crazy costumes.
Yet, at the same time, the non-canonicalStar Trekcomics have found a place for at least one Azure.
After all, evolution is part of every race, especially aliens onStar Trek.
New episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks season five stream on Thursdays on Paramount +.
