​​5 Underrated Star Trek Alien Races That Deserved Way More Screen Time

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Over its nearly sixty-year history, Star Trek has introduced a huge number of alien species – almost 300! In fact, the character Data mentions encountering over 1700 different non-human races during his time in Starfleet. Given this vast diversity, it’s interesting that the show often focuses on a few familiar groups like the Romulans instead of exploring all the new civilizations it’s created.

Recent Star Trek shows like Lower Decks, Discovery, and Strange New Worlds have tried to bring back some lesser-known elements from the show’s history. However, several alien races haven’t been featured much and deserve a chance to shine, allowing their unique cultures to be explored. Of all the underused species in the galaxy, here are five that really need to be brought back into the spotlight.

5) Tholians

The Tholians first appeared in a 1968 episode of Star Trek: The Original Series called “The Tholian Web,” where they trapped the USS Enterprise in an unusual energy web. Known for their unique crystalline bodies and extremely hot habitats, they were a memorable alien race. They returned in a two-part episode of Star Trek: Enterprise set in the Mirror Universe, titled “In a Mirror, Darkly,” which allowed viewers to finally see their insect-like appearance thanks to improved special effects. This version presented them as a species thriving in poisonous environments, communicating through vibrations. Despite this update, some fans still hope to see the Tholians reimagined again using today’s visual effects technology.

In older Star Trek stories, the Tholians were more interesting concepts than fully developed characters, largely due to budget and technological limitations. Now, with modern effects, Star Trek can finally bring them to life. An entire episode set on their planet, where crews need special suits to survive, would be amazing. Their unusual biology also gives writers a chance to explore fascinating ideas like life forms not based on carbon, and entirely new ways of communicating. While fans love their look in Star Trek Online, their unique culture hasn’t been explored enough.

4) Bynars

First appearing in the 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “11001001”, the Bynars were a unique alien race. They were pale, small humanoids who always appeared in pairs and communicated using binary code. The identical twin actresses Alexandra and Ilona Judd played them, emphasizing their close, connected relationship. The Bynars were created to explore the concept of a society completely blending technology and living organisms.

The Bynar present a fresh opportunity for Star Trek stories about digital life and identity, offering a different take than the often-used Borg. While the Borg have been explored a lot, the Bynar allow for stories about AI and data-sharing as a unique form of life, not just forced assimilation. Their recent return in Lower Decks Season 4’s “A Few Badgeys More” was well-received, and fans want to see more. Potential storylines could include a Starfleet Academy arc focusing on Bynar cadets learning to live independently, or a Strange New Worlds episode that delves into the early ethical considerations surrounding AI in the Federation.

3) Sheliak

As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I always found the Sheliak fascinating. They first showed up in Season 3 of The Next Generation, in the episode “The Ensigns of Command.” They’re these incredibly tall, silicon-based aliens who are obsessed with rules and contracts – seriously, they’re the ultimate lawyers of the galaxy! Their treaty with the Federation was super complex, and they wouldn’t budge on a single point. They were truly intimidating, and their strange appearances and behavior made them one of the most memorable alien races from TNG, even though they only appeared in that one episode.

Many fans wish the Sheliak species would reappear in Star Trek, particularly because the show often features legal dramas. They’d be perfect for handling complex issues like Ferengi business disagreements or peace treaties after the Dominion War. The Sheliak, with their strict rules, could easily appear in a cameo on Lower Decks or become regular characters in Strange New Worlds. Some fans even dream of a *Law & Orderstyle spinoff series centered around Sheliak legal proceedings.

2) Tellarites

The Tellarites first appeared in the original Star Trek episode “Journey to Babel,” and despite being one of the Federation’s founding species, they haven’t gotten much attention since. These stocky, somewhat pig-like humanoids were key in establishing the Federation alongside humans, Vulcans, and Andorians. Star Trek: Enterprise showed more of their culture with several appearances, and they played a small but important role in the beginning of Discovery’s story.

As a long-time Trek fan, it’s always bothered me how little we see of the Tellarites. They were crucial in forming the Federation and Starfleet, yet they consistently get short shrift. Prodigy‘s Jankom Pog is a fun character, sure, but he feels like a bit of an exception, and doesn’t really represent the broader Tellarite culture. What fans really want – and what they deserve – is a substantial Tellarite character in live-action Trek, someone beyond a comedic foil or a quick joke about, well, you know. For a founding race, they’ve gotten remarkably little screen time, and it’s time to change that.

1) Andorians

I’ve always been fascinated by the Andorians! With their striking blue skin, white hair, and antennae, they’re instantly recognizable as one of the coolest species in Star Trek, though I wish we saw more of them. They first appeared in The Original Series episode “Journey to Babel,” and I loved how Star Trek: Enterprise really brought them back to life, adding a lot of political intrigue to the time before the Federation was formed. Their proud, warrior-like nature was a great contrast to the Vulcans’ focus on logic. And honestly, Jeffrey Combs as Commander Shran? Legendary! His performance was just incredible and really helped us understand the complex relationship between humans and Andorians.

Despite being one of the original founders of the Federation, Andorians haven’t become as well-known as species like Vulcans or Klingons, which is a shame. While Discovery featured them in several episodes, they weren’t central characters. Strange New Worlds attempted to address this with Hemmer, an Andorian played by Bruce Horak, who made history as Star Trek‘s first legally blind actor. Sadly, Hemmer’s story ended quickly, disappointing many viewers. Lower Decks included Andorian ensign Jen, who had a brief relationship with Mariner, but this wasn’t enough. Andorians deserve a prominent role again – perhaps as a fleet admiral or ship captain. Many fans would love to see a spinoff series focused on Shran, and that’s a great idea.

If you could revive one lesser-known alien race from Star Trek, which one would it be? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-14 03:15