Nearly four decades after the Borg first appeared in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek has introduced a new villain that could rival them. The Borg are frightening due to their unstoppable pursuit of assimilating other life forms, and few villains introduced since 1989 have had the same impact. While Q is a possible exception, they operate on a different level entirely. The official introduction of another powerful species into Star Trek canon raises an interesting question about future conflicts.
Like the Borg, the Furies originate from the Delta Quadrant and are new to the live-action Star Trek universe, though they’ve appeared in non-official stories before. Their recent appearance in Starfleet Academy significantly raises the stakes and danger of that region of space. While it might seem unlikely they could be as powerful as the Borg, their capabilities are genuinely frightening. Deep Space Nine faced the Dominion, and Voyager encountered Species 8472, but both eventually made peace with the Federation. The Furies, however, would never consider such a compromise.
Who Are The Furies? Star Trek’s “New” Villains Explained
Though recently appearing in live-action, the Furies first appeared in the 1996 book series Star Trek: Invasion! This four-part story spanned all four of the main Star Trek shows at the time, introducing the Furies as an incredibly frightening alien race that had become legendary. The story begins with Kirk’s Enterprise responding to a distress call from the Klingons, immediately highlighting how dangerous the Furies are. In these books, the Furies can control and terrify their victims, and they quickly overwhelm the Enterprise by exploiting their fears.
This powerful alliance of 666 species considered themselves the rightful rulers of the Alpha Quadrant, stemming from an ancient victory over a race they called the “Unclean”—the ancestors of many present-day Alpha Quadrant species. They were universally feared and incredibly powerful. For longtime Star Trek fans, it’s exciting to see them officially recognized in current storylines, even with some alterations to their history, as they previously only appeared in non-official stories.
How Starfleet Academy Changes The Furies
At Starfleet Academy, the origins of the Furies are mysterious – it’s unclear if they’re a single species or a combination of many, despite their varied appearances. Initially believed to be humanoid hybrids, Captain Ake learns from Nus Braka that they have lynar ancestry – a bat-like alien race first seen in the classic Next Generation episode “Chain of Command.” That episode establishes the lynar as harmless cave dwellers, but whatever combination created the Furies has clearly altered their nature. The Furies are confirmed to be cannibals driven by intense hatred, as Paul Giamatti’s Braka explains.
These creatures deeply resent their existence as Furies, constantly experiencing intense pain and distress. Their only way to find even temporary relief is by inflicting suffering on others.
Okay, so forget any notions of these Furies wanting to rule the galaxy. They’re just straight-up galactic bullies, preying on anyone weaker and leaving a trail of destruction. Their leader, N’Duwo Skra – played by Stephen Adekolu under a lot of makeup – is genuinely intimidating, and they even cleverly used Adekolu’s background as a footballer to give him this powerful, physical presence. What’s particularly chilling, as we learn in Starfleet Academy, is their method: they take hostages, make a gruesome example, and still wipe everyone out even after getting the ransom money. And yes, they eat their victims. The Borg are scary, sure, but they’re predictable. The Furies are chaotic, unpredictable, and surprisingly well-equipped. If they come back, and deliver on the promise shown in the Invasion novels, they could become a truly major threat – potentially the next Borg-level bad guys for Star Trek.
Okay, so episode 6 of Starfleet Academy… my biggest issue with it is the Furies. Their weakness felt a little… flat. The idea that their lynar heritage gives them super-hearing, making them susceptible to sonic attacks, just didn’t quite deliver the dramatic punch I was hoping for. It led to a pretty swift defeat, which was a shame. But, fingers crossed, their connection with Nus Braka means we haven’t seen the last of them – I’m hoping for a return appearance!
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2026-02-12 11:10