St. Patrick’s Day is all about green, so we’re ranking the best green aliens in Star Trek!
#7 The Mizarians
The Mizarians of Mizar II take being a pacifist to the extreme; their species has survived for hundreds of years by immediately surrendering to whoever comes along. The Mizarians claim to have a superior intellect and practice non-violent resistance, but the truth seems to be that they are cowardly and conniving.
We first met the Mizarians in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 episode 18 “Allegiance”. In “Allegiance” a group of aliens experiments on Captain Picard, a Mizarian, a Starfleet cadet, and a Chalnoth. The aliens were interested in doing experiments involving leadership, and had chosen the commanding Captain Picard, a pacifist Mizarian, and an anarchist Chalnoth quite deliberately. Picard of course discovers what the experiment is about and forces an end to the game.
The Mizarians are certainly green, but they come in last on our list because this was the only time we really got to see them in Star Trek. We also think the ultra pacifist alien charterer is a little played out in science fiction. (Also Kova Tholl was really annoying.)
Next: Xindi
#6 The Xindi Reptilians and Insectoids
The Xindi were a group of related species that Captain Archer and the crew of the Enterprise had to deal with in Star Trek: Enterprise’s third season. The Xindi attacked earth because they believed that earth would attack them in the future. This was all a big misunderstanding, due to the Temporal Cold War and Star Trek: Enterprise going off the rails in its final seasons.
We didn’t love the Xindi story-line on Enterprise because it got bogged down in the time war and the politics of the Xindi. The time war, known as the Temporal Cold War, was a confusing plot to follow for many viewers and pulled you out of the early Starfleet feel of Enterprise completely.
The coolest aspect of Enterprise was that this would be the first time humans ran into all the classic Star Trek aliens like Klingons and Andorians. The Xindi got away from this by putting the Enterprise in a war that takes place thousands of years into the future. Also the fact that much of this story revolved around the internal politics of the Xindi species was a bit boring.
The most interesting part of the Xindi was that they were six different intelligent species all from one planet. The Xindi reptilians and insectoids were sort of a muted olive green, but also had shades of brown. So the Xindi make the list, but get no higher than 6.
Next: Selay
#5 Selay
The Selay are a reptilian snake-like race that first appear in Star Trek: The Next Generation. The Selay asked to join the Federation, but first needed to settle their long standing feud with the Anticans. The Anticans are a dog like race; snakes and dogs don’t usually get along. The Selay and the Anticans board the Enterprise to go to a peace conference to settle their dispute. Unfortunately during their time on the Enterprise it is implied that the Anticans have killed and are trying to eat one of the Selay delegates! Eating people is probably not good for peace.
The Selay and Antican dispute is interesting, but that’s really all we know about these snake-like aliens; so the Selay come in at #5 on our list.
Next: Suliban
#4 The Suliban
The Suliban were a race similar to humans… until they got a hold of genetic advancements from the future from a faction in the Temporal Cold War. The Suliban’s abilities to blend into their surroundings, breath gasses other than oxygen, and squish themselves flat to pass through cracks under doorways were not natural to their species.
The Suliban were a part of Star Trek: Enterprise right from the start and posed a threat not only to Earth, but also to the mighty Klingon Empire. All of this was directed by a shadowy figure from the distant future who bestowed genetic gifts on the Suliban Cabal as a reward. Those darn shadowy time war guys never gave Enterprise a break!
Even though we didn’t love the Temporal Cold War episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise we did enjoy the Suliban quite a bit. The Suliban gave the Enterprise a new alien challenge, and were a well rounded and interesting species with their own unique agenda and outlook on the galaxy.
The yellow green Suliban come in at number 4 on our list of great green Star Trek alien species.
Next: Gorn
#3 The Gorn
The Gorn are an all time classic Star Trek species. Captain Kirk’s battle with a Gorn is one of the most iconic pieces of Star Trek lore…. because Captain Kirk makes a diamond bazooka out of bamboo!
Kirk’s battle with a Gorn occurs in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1 episode 18 “The Arena.” In this episode Kirk is pitted against a Gorn by another species called the Metron. The Metrons strand Kirk and the Gorn on a remote planet where they are forced to do combat. The Gorn is stronger than Kirk, and so Kirk must find another way to defeat him.
This is when Captain Kirk decides to make black powder from scratch and use some bamboo to create a diamond shooting bazooka. Truly MacGyver has nothing on Captain Kirk.
The Gorn battle was so much fun, it’s exactly what we love about Star Trek. Even though we haven’t seen much from the Gorn since “The Arena” (besides one poorly CGI animated appearance on Star Trek: Enterprise) they are an iconic Star Trek species and so come in at #3 on our list.
Next: Nagilum
#2 Nagilum
We don’t know what species Nagilum belonged to, and the form we see him in isn’t his true form, but he is certainly green.
Nagilum was an advanced being that lived somewhere beyond our own universe. The Enterprise D encounters Nagilum in a mysterious void in space. The Enterprise and its crew are then put through a series of trials by Nagilum as he holds them in his interstellar laboratory. Nagilum seems most interested in the fact that humans have a limited lifespan and don’t exist indefinitely. Nagilum says the he will have to kill about a third of the crew, perhaps up to one half, to truly understand death.
Picard decides to initiate the Enterprise self destruct sequence rather than let Nagilum experiment on his crew. William Riker famously says that a twenty minute timer on the self destruct makes a nice round number. In the end Nagilum releases the Enterprise realizing that Picard is not going to let him experiment on the crew.
Even though we don’t know his species Nagilum was a fascinating alien and comes in at #2 on our list.
Next: Orions
#1 The Orions
Was there any doubt that the Orions would be first on our list? The Orions are the most famous green Star Trek species, and for good reason. Whenever someone talks about Captain Kirk seducing alien women you think of Kirk in the embrace of an Orion.
The Orion females give off very strong pheromones that make them irresistible to the males of many species. Other than their green skin and pheromones however the Orion females don’t look much different from humans. The Orion males are similar to humans, but usually much more muscular.
The Orions are often involved in piracy, slavery, and espionage in Star Trek. The Orion female’s ability to use pheromones to manipulate the males of other species plays into these less than reputable lines of work.
When you think green alien you think Orions, and that’s why the Orions sit at the top of our list.
Next: Hilarious 1992 DS9 Promos
What do you think? Did we leave out your favorite green Star Trek alien species? Let us know in the comments below or on social media.