The Gorn have been a deadly adversary in Star Trek since the 1960s and have continued to appear in Star Trek projects over the last few decades, and they show no signs of going away any time soon. The Gorn are a cold-blooded, reptilian species resembling a humanoid Earth lizard. From their first appearance in Star Trek: The Original Series to their continued presence in current Star Trek TV shows, the Gorn have always been one of Starfleet's most dangerous foes.

Just like the Klingons, one of Star Trek's original villains, the Gorn eventually became friendly with Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets. However, this peace didn't happen overnight, and the centuries of animosity ended with some of the greatest moments in the Star Trek timeline. The Gorn have appeared numerous times in the Star Trek canon since 1967 and have evolved to become one of the franchise's scariest and deadliest alien enemies. Set to return in Star Trek:Strange New Worlds season 3's premiere, the Gorn will seemingly continue their long list of appearances in Star Trek.

8 The Gorn's First Appearance In Star Trek

Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1, Episode 19 - "Arena"

The first appearance of the Gorn in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1 has become a campy pop culture touchstone. "Arena" finds Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) forced to fight a Gorn captain on Cestus III. This showdown is orchestrated by the god-like Metrons, who plan to kill the loser and his crew and let the victor and his crew members live. The battle between Kirk and the Gorn has since been deemed comical and has been parodied often, but it actually showcases Kirk's resourcefulness and ingenuity - as well as Jim's compassion - as the unarmed Captain of the Enterprise outsmart and defeats his monstrous foe.

7 The Gorn Cameo In Star Trek: The Animated Series

Until Star Trek: Lower Decks premiered in 2020, Star Trek: The Animated Series was the only animated Star Trek series, running for 2 seasons in 1973 and 1974. The TAS episode "The Time Trap" remains one of the series' most iconic stories, thanks in part to the Elysian Council. As the rulers of the alternate universe Elysia, the Elysian Council maintains peace throughout their universe by involving 123 species in their deliberations. This council includes a Gorn who peacefully works with the other species to keep harmony in their universe, foreshadowing the future peace between the Gorn and humans in the canon timeline.

6 The Gorn Appear In Star Trek's Mirror Universe

Star Trek: Enterprise Season 4, Episode 19 - "In a Mirror Darkly, Part II"

The Gorn only appeared once in Star Trek: Enterprise, but their hatred was depicted in a new and frightening way. The NX-01 Enterprise crew encounters the Gorn in the Mirror Universe Star Trek: Enterprise season 4's two-parter. Unlike the previous version of the Gorn in the 1960s and 70s when they were either a costume or animation, Enterprise used new technology, computer-generated imagery (CGI), to depict a Gorn slavemaster named Slar in a brutal fight with Commander Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula). This new version of the Gorn was a reminder that they were formidable and dangerous enemies.

5 Captain Lorca Has A Gorn Skeleton In Star Trek: Discovery

Star Trek Discovery Season 1: "Context Is for Kings," "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry," and "Magic to Make the Sanest Man Go Mad"

The Gorn didn't reappear in Star Trek until 2017 when Star Trek: Discovery premiered and included a sly look at the classic reptilian foe. Star Trek: Discovery season 1 provided a look into Captain Gabriel Lorca's (Jason Isaacs) collection of artifacts aboard the USS Discovery, and among the alien weapons and items in the room is a Gorn skeleton in a display case. How or why Captain Lorca acquired the skeleton is unknown, but its mere presence means that not only did someone kill a Gorn, but that they're humanoid and extremely similar to humans at the structural level.

4 Star Trek: Lower Decks Featured A Gorn Wedding

Star Trek: Lower Decks episodes "Veritas," "An Embarrassment Of Dooplers," and "The Inner Fight"

The fast-paced style of Star Trek: Lower Decks allows the show to include many references and callbacks to classic Star Trek in rapid-fire half-hour bursts. In 6 different episodes, Lower Decks mentions or depicts the Gorn. However, the show is set in the 24th century, and by that time, humans and Gorn had seemingly made some sort of peace with each other. The Gorn are depicted as shop owners and civilians throughout Lower Decks, similar to Star Trek: The Animated Series' Gorn. The only time the Gorn seem violent is when a Gorn wedding is interrupted in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1's "Veritas."

3 The Gorn Become Fearsome Enemies In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 4 - "Memento Mori"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is known for bringing back classic Star Trek by incorporating old characters, themes, and stories and updating them for modern audiences. Notably, Strange New Worlds reintroduced the Gorn to Star Trek canon but did so in a way that built suspense before dealing with the redesigned enemy. Early in Strange New Worlds season 1, the Gorn are established as a looming threat that Starfleet doesn't know how to communicate with or fight. A menacing Gorn ship is depicted in Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 4, "Memento Mori," signaling the Gorn's more significant role in future episodes and seasons.

2 Lt. Hemmer Is Killed By The Gorn In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1, Episode 9 - "All Those Who Wander"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1, episode 9, "All Those Who Wander," depicted the Gorn in live-action for the first time since 2004. Not only that, but the Gorn in Strange New Worlds are unlike any other Gorn in Star Trek history. Instead of being a simple costume, animation, or created with CGI, the new Gorn are hand-made, detailed animatronics, which are puppeted and controlled by actual crew members. While some scenes are enhanced with effects post-production, the Gorn are now terrifyingly real creatures who strike fear into the characters in Strange New Worlds, with Lt. Hemmer (Bruce Horak) sacrificing himself to save his friends when he is infected by Gorn eggs.

1 The Gorn Kidnap USS Enterprise Crew Members In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 10 - "Hegemony"

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 depicted the Gorn as Starfleet's newest and most dangerous enemy and set up their continued presence in future seasons. Strange New Worlds season 2 highlighted how dangerous the Gorn are and hinted at an impending war between the Federation and the Gorn. In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2's finale, "Hegemony," the Gorn destroys the USS Cayuga and invades Parnassus Beta. In a nail-biting cliffhanger, the Gorn capture many of the Enterprise's crew members and several residents of Parnassus Beta, leaving Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) with an impossible decision. Will he defy Starfleet's orders to save the hostages?

From a cheesy, comical fight between a humanoid Gorn and Captain Kirk in Star Trek: The Original Series to causing the chilling and terrifying death of beloved characters on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the Gorn are easily one of Star Trek's most deadly foes. If nothing else, the Gorn are definitely the species with the most development throughout the entire Star Trek canon.

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  Star Trek: The Original Series

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  Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew - Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) - with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

  A spin-off of Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a television series that takes place before the events of the original series and follows Captain Christopher Pike as he mans the helm of the U.S.S. Enterprise. The show focuses on this previous crew of the Enterprise as they explore the galaxy with returning characters from Discovery.

• Star Trek: Lower Decks

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  "Star Trek: Lower Decks" focuses on the support crew serving on one of Starfleet's least important ships, the USS Cerritos, in 2380. Ensigns Mariner, Boimler, Rutherford and Tendi must keep up with their duties and their social lives, often while the ship is being rocked by a multitude of sci-fi anomalies. The ship's bridge crew includes Captain Carol Freeman, Commander Jack Ransom, Lieutenant Shaxs and Doctor T'Ana. This is the second animated spin-off in the franchise after 1973-74's "Star Trek: The Animated Series," but has a decidedly more adult tone and humor.