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'''Andorians''' are a fictional race of [[humanoid]] [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]] in the American [[science fiction]] franchise ''[[Star Trek]]''. They were created by writer [[D. C. Fontana]]. Within the ''Star Trek'' narrative, they are native to the blue icy Class M moon, Andoria (also called Andor<ref name=ProphetCards>. The moon orbits a gas giant in the Andorian system. The home planet was first referred to as "Andoria" in Act 1 of "[[Prophet Motive]]", and as "Andor" in Act 3 of "[[In the Cards]]".</ref>). Distinctive traits of Andorians include their blue skin, a pair of [[Skull|cranial]] [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e, and white hair.<ref name="com">{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/database_article/andoria |title=Andoria |work=Star Trek Database |publisher=StarTrek.com |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref>
'''Andorians''' are a fictional race of [[humanoid]] [[Extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrials]] in the American [[science fiction]] franchise ''[[Star Trek]]''. They were created by writer [[D. C. Fontana]]. Within the ''Star Trek'' narrative, they are native to the blue icy Class M moon, Andoria (sometimes referred to as Andor<ref name=ProphetCards>. The moon orbits a gas giant in the Andorian system. The home planet was first referred to as "Andoria" in Act 1 of "[[Prophet Motive]]", and as "Andoria" in Act 3 of "[[In the Cards]]".</ref>). Distinctive traits of Andorians include their blue/green skin, a pair of [[Skull|cranial]] [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e, and white hair.<ref name="com">{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/database_article/andoria |title=Andoria |work=Star Trek Database |publisher=StarTrek.com |access-date=23 April 2012}}</ref>


Andorians first appeared in the 1968 ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "[[Journey to Babel]]", and have been seen or mentioned in episodes of subsequent series in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. They were indicated to be a vital, important member of the [[United Federation of Planets]] in the 1997 ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[In the Cards]]", but did not gain considerable exposure until the 2001–2005 series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', on which they were used as recurring characters, most notably in the person of [[List of minor recurring characters in Star Trek: Enterprise#Thy'lek Shran|Thy'lek Shran]], a starship commander who maintained a sometimes adversarial and begrudging friendship with ''Enterprise'' Captain [[Jonathan Archer]]. The series revealed more about Andorian ships, the home world Andoria, and the culture and history of Andorians and their subspecies, the [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]]. The 2004 episode "[[Zero Hour (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Zero Hour]]" established that Andorians were one of the four founding members of the United Federation of Planets.<ref name=ZeroHour>{{cite episode|series=[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]|title=[[Zero Hour (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Zero Hour]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=May 26, 2004|season=3|number=24}}</ref>
Andorians first appeared in the 1968 ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]'' episode "[[Journey to Babel]]", and have been seen or mentioned in episodes of subsequent series in the ''Star Trek'' franchise. They were indicated to be a vital, important member of the [[United Federation of Planets]] in the 1997 ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' episode "[[In the Cards]]", but did not gain considerable exposure until the 2001–2005 series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'', on which they were used as recurring characters, most notably in the person of [[List of minor recurring characters in Star Trek: Enterprise#Thy'lek Shran|Thy'lek Shran]], a starship commander who maintained a sometimes adversarial and begrudging friendship with ''Enterprise'' Captain [[Jonathan Archer]]. The series revealed more about Andorian ships, the home world Andoria, and the culture and history of Andorians and their subspecies, the [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]]. The 2004 episode "[[Zero Hour (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Zero Hour]]" established that Andorians were one of the four founding members of the United Federation of Planets.<ref name=ZeroHour>{{cite episode|series=[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]|title=[[Zero Hour (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Zero Hour]]|network=[[UPN]]|airdate=May 26, 2004|season=3|number=24}}</ref>


== Development ==
== Development ==
[[File:JourneyBabel.jpg|thumb|left|Thelev, an [[Orion (Star Trek)|Orion]] assassin disguised as an Andorian, from the 1967 [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original series]] episode "[[Journey to Babel]]".]]Andorians appeared in four episodes of The Original Series, and were background elements in ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' and ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', but remained largely undeveloped until ''Enterprise''.<ref name="heavy">{{cite web |last1=Zabiegalski |first1=Robin |title=DETAILS: Why the Appearance of the Andorians Changed from ‘TOS’ to ‘Enterprise’ |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/tos-enterprise-andorians-makeup/ |website=heavy.com |access-date=19 October 2021 |date=26 March 2021}}</ref> Showrunner [[Brannon Braga]] originally wanted to limit the number of original series elements on ''Enterprise'', but came to see the challenge of "tak(ing) the goofiest aliens from The Original Series and make them a real culture that’s cool and believable."<ref name="braga">{{cite magazine |last=Saunders |first=Matt |date=August 2002 |title=The Year in Review with BRANNON BRAGA |url=https://archive.org/details/star-trek-communicator-issue-139/page/n23/mode/1up |magazine=Star Trek Communicator |location= |publisher=Decipher Inc. |access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>
[[File:JourneyBabel.jpg|thumb|left|Thelev, an [[Orion (Star Trek)|Orion]] assassin disguised as an Andorian, from the 1967 [[Star Trek: The Original Series|original series]] episode "[[Journey to Babel]]".]]Andorians appeared in four episodes of The Original Series, and were background elements in ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' and ''[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', but remained largely undeveloped until ''Enterprise''.<ref name="heavy">{{cite web |last1=Zabiegalski |first1=Robin |title=DETAILS: Why the Appearance of the Andorians Changed from 'TOS' to 'Enterprise' |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/star-trek/tos-enterprise-andorians-makeup/ |website=heavy.com |access-date=19 October 2021 |date=26 March 2021}}</ref> Showrunner [[Brannon Braga]] originally wanted to limit the number of original series elements on ''Enterprise'', but came to see the challenge of "tak(ing) the goofiest aliens from The Original Series and make them a real culture that’s cool and believable."<ref name="braga">{{cite magazine |last=Saunders |first=Matt |date=August 2002 |title=The Year in Review with BRANNON BRAGA |url=https://archive.org/details/star-trek-communicator-issue-139/page/n23/mode/1up |magazine=Star Trek Communicator |location= |publisher=Decipher Inc. |access-date=19 October 2021}}</ref>


== Appearance ==
== Appearance ==
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== Homeworld ==
== Homeworld ==
Andor, also known as Andoria<ref name=ProphetCards/>, is an icy moon orbiting a ringed [[gas giant]]. In a DVD bonus feature for the 4th season of ''Enterprise'', episode writers [[Judith Reeves-Stevens|Judith]] and [[Garfield Reeves-Stevens]] stated that Andor was the gas giant, Andoria the moon, and that this was a conscious effort to address the discrepancy, but continued varying usage across canon, reference, and licensed sources have not fully resolved the discrepancy.
Andoria (sometimes referred to as Andor),<ref name=ProphetCards/> is an icy moon orbiting a ringed [[gas giant]]. In a DVD bonus feature for the 4th season of ''Enterprise'', episode writers [[Judith Reeves-Stevens|Judith]] and [[Garfield Reeves-Stevens]] stated that Andor was the gas giant, Andoria the moon, and that this was a conscious effort to address the discrepancy, but continued varying usage across canon, reference, and licensed sources have not fully resolved the discrepancy.


Most of Andor's cities are built underground to take advantage of [[Geothermal gradient|geothermal]] warmth. Temperatures have been known to reach −28 °[[Celsius|C]] in the summer. Andoria has at least one moon or neighboring planet. Andorians share their homeworld with an obscure telepathic subspecies, [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]], which have either light blue or white skin.<ref name="heavy"/>
Most of Andoria's cities are built underground to take advantage of [[Geothermal gradient|geothermal]] warmth. Temperatures have been known to reach −28 °[[Celsius|C]] in the summer. Andoria has at least one moon or neighboring planet. Andorians share their homeworld with an obscure telepathic subspecies, [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]], which have either light blue or white skin.<ref name="heavy"/>


The non-canonical ''Star Trek Star Charts'' (2002) cites Andor as the seventh planet in orbit around the star [[Procyon]] (Alpha Canis Minoris) in the [[Galactic quadrant#Alpha Quadrant|Beta quadrant]],<ref>Geoffrey Mandel, ''Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek'' (NY: Pocket Books, 2002), 52.</ref> but previous material has Andor as the eighth planet of the orange dwarf [[Epsilon Indi]] in the [[Galactic quadrant#Alpha Quadrant|Alpha quadrant]].<ref>Eileen Palestine, ed., ''Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual'' (NY: Ballantine Books, 1977), 58.</ref><ref name="Shane Johnson 1989">Shane Johnson, ''The Worlds of the Federation'' (NY: Pocket Books, 1989), 22.</ref> Andor is near [[Betazoid#Betazoid|Betazed]], [[Earth]], [[Tellarite|Tellar]], and [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]].
The non-canonical ''Star Trek Star Charts'' (2002) cites Andoria as the seventh planet in orbit around the star [[Procyon]] (Alpha Canis Minoris) in the [[Galactic quadrant#Alpha Quadrant|Beta quadrant]],<ref>Geoffrey Mandel, ''Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek'' (NY: Pocket Books, 2002), 52.</ref> but previous material has Andoria as the eighth planet of the orange dwarf [[Epsilon Indi]] in the [[Galactic quadrant#Alpha Quadrant|Alpha quadrant]].<ref>Eileen Palestine, ed., ''Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual'' (NY: Ballantine Books, 1977), 58.</ref><ref name="Shane Johnson 1989">Shane Johnson, ''The Worlds of the Federation'' (NY: Pocket Books, 1989), 22.</ref> Andoria is near [[Betazoid#Betazoid|Betazed]], [[Earth]], [[Tellarite|Tellar]], and [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]].

== Noncanonical information ==
{{more citations needed section|date=October 2008}}
A 1970s technical fiction book, ''The Starfleet Medical Reference Manual'', held that Andorians were the only known semi-insectoid race in Federation territory, with a limited [[exoskeleton]] and antennae used for both quadriscopic vision reception and focused hearing.<ref>Eileen Palestine, ed., ''Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual'' (NY: Ballantine Books, 1977).</ref> These points were repeated in the 1980s book ''Worlds of the Federation''.<ref name="Shane Johnson 1989"/> Fully insectoid races depicted or referred to onscreen include the unseen Jarada in the ''Next Generation'' episode "[[The Big Goodbye]]", and the [[Xindi (Star Trek)#Xindi|Xindi]], which were introduced in ''Star Trek: Enterprise''{{'}}s third season.

In the ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine relaunch|Deep Space Nine]]'' relaunch novels, four-person Andorian marriages (briefly mentioned in the ''Next Generation'' episode "[[Data's Day]]") were extrapolated into four sexes (''thaan'', ''chen'', ''shen'', and ''zhen'').<ref>S. D. Perry, ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – Unity'' (NY: Pocket Books, 2003).</ref> A recurring plot point in the post-TV series novels is that the rarity of compatible Andorian foursomes produced extremely low reproduction rates which, in tandem with genetic weaknesses, led to the species' near extinction.

Similarly, the [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comic book ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (comics)|Star Trek: Starfleet Academy]]'' refers to complex yet flexible marital structures, involving one or more fathers, and describes Andorians as passionate, with a violent history.<ref>''Star Trek: Starfleet Academy'', issue #13, ''Parents' Day'' (Marvel/Paramount Comics, 1997).</ref>

In the Pocket Books continuity, specifically the 2010 novel, ''Star Trek: Typhon Pact – Paths of Disharmony'' by [[Dayton Ward]], the Andorian Empire withdraws from the Federation in 2382.<ref>Dayton Ward, ''Star Trek: Typhon Pact – Paths of Disharmony'' (NY: Pocket Books, 2010).</ref> However, the Andorian government still maintains diplomatic relations with the Federation, and Andorian officers are allowed to remain in [[Starfleet]] if they so choose. Despite Andor's withdrawal, a sizable percentage of the population – represented in the Andorian government by the "New Progressive Party", as opposed to the secessionist "Visionist Party" – favored continuing membership in the Federation, opening the possibility of a later reunification. In a subsequent novel, Dayton Ward's ''Star Trek: The Fall – Peaceable Kingdoms'', Andor does rejoin the Federation.<ref>Dayton Ward, ''Star Trek: The Fall – Peaceable Kingdoms'' (NY: Pocket Books, 2013).</ref>

In the [[Free-to-play]] online role-playing game ''[[Star Trek Online]]'', which takes place in 2409, the Andorians are still ordinary members of the Federation.

In the [[Fan film]] episodic series ''[[Starship Exeter]]'', the communications officer on the bridge is an Andorian Lieutenant named B'fuselek. In this series it is explained that Andorians' antennae give the Andorians the ability to detect nearby fluctuations in gravity, and know their position in relation to these gravity differences. Andorians and Vulcans also have a history of feuding over many things.


== Reception ==
== Reception ==
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{{Memory Alpha}}
{{Memory Alpha}}
{{Memory Alpha|Andor}}
{{Memory Alpha|Andor}}
* [http://andorfiles.blogspot.com/2000/01/tos-rogues-gallery.html A Rogues' Gallery of Andorians] – a series of blog postings listing the appearances of Andorian characters across all ''Star Trek'' media


{{Star Trek}}
{{Star Trek}}


[[Category:Star Trek species]]
[[Category:Star Trek species]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial life forms]]
[[Category:Fictional extraterrestrial species and races]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1967]]
[[Category:Television characters introduced in 1967]]


Latest revision as of 02:17, 13 September 2024

For adjectives related to the nation of Andorra, see Andorran.

Andorians
Star Trek race
Commander Shran and crew from the 2004 Star Trek: Enterprise episode "Proving Ground".
First appearance
Created byD.C. Fontana
In-universe information
QuadrantBeta, Alpha
Home worldAndoria
Sub-racesAenar
LanguageAndorian language
AffiliationUnited Federation of Planets, Andorian Empire

Andorians are a fictional race of humanoid extraterrestrials in the American science fiction franchise Star Trek. They were created by writer D. C. Fontana. Within the Star Trek narrative, they are native to the blue icy Class M moon, Andoria (sometimes referred to as Andor[1]). Distinctive traits of Andorians include their blue/green skin, a pair of cranial antennae, and white hair.[2]

Andorians first appeared in the 1968 Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Journey to Babel", and have been seen or mentioned in episodes of subsequent series in the Star Trek franchise. They were indicated to be a vital, important member of the United Federation of Planets in the 1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "In the Cards", but did not gain considerable exposure until the 2001–2005 series Star Trek: Enterprise, on which they were used as recurring characters, most notably in the person of Thy'lek Shran, a starship commander who maintained a sometimes adversarial and begrudging friendship with Enterprise Captain Jonathan Archer. The series revealed more about Andorian ships, the home world Andoria, and the culture and history of Andorians and their subspecies, the Aenar. The 2004 episode "Zero Hour" established that Andorians were one of the four founding members of the United Federation of Planets.[3]

Development

[edit]
Thelev, an Orion assassin disguised as an Andorian, from the 1967 original series episode "Journey to Babel".

Andorians appeared in four episodes of The Original Series, and were background elements in Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, but remained largely undeveloped until Enterprise.[4] Showrunner Brannon Braga originally wanted to limit the number of original series elements on Enterprise, but came to see the challenge of "tak(ing) the goofiest aliens from The Original Series and make them a real culture that’s cool and believable."[5]

Appearance

[edit]
Ensign Jennifer Sh'reyan as seen in Lower Decks.

Andorians have blue blood, blue skin, white hair, and antennae on the crown of the skull. By the time of the 2001 – 2005 TV series Star Trek: Enterprise, the antennae were depicted as protruding from the forehead, and capable of movement, used for gesturing and balancing. The design of Andorians has changed with every new production; including the placement of their antennae, additional makeup appliances, and the blue shade of their skin.[4]

Homeworld

[edit]

Andoria (sometimes referred to as Andor),[1] is an icy moon orbiting a ringed gas giant. In a DVD bonus feature for the 4th season of Enterprise, episode writers Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens stated that Andor was the gas giant, Andoria the moon, and that this was a conscious effort to address the discrepancy, but continued varying usage across canon, reference, and licensed sources have not fully resolved the discrepancy.

Most of Andoria's cities are built underground to take advantage of geothermal warmth. Temperatures have been known to reach −28 °C in the summer. Andoria has at least one moon or neighboring planet. Andorians share their homeworld with an obscure telepathic subspecies, Aenar, which have either light blue or white skin.[4]

The non-canonical Star Trek Star Charts (2002) cites Andoria as the seventh planet in orbit around the star Procyon (Alpha Canis Minoris) in the Beta quadrant,[6] but previous material has Andoria as the eighth planet of the orange dwarf Epsilon Indi in the Alpha quadrant.[7][8] Andoria is near Betazed, Earth, Tellar, and Vulcan.

Reception

[edit]

In 2017, Den of Geek ranked the Andorians the 9th best aliens of the Star Trek franchise, behind the Ferengi.[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b . The moon orbits a gas giant in the Andorian system. The home planet was first referred to as "Andoria" in Act 1 of "Prophet Motive", and as "Andoria" in Act 3 of "In the Cards".
  2. ^ "Andoria". Star Trek Database. StarTrek.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  3. ^ "Zero Hour". Star Trek: Enterprise. Season 3. Episode 24. May 26, 2004. UPN.
  4. ^ a b c Zabiegalski, Robin (March 26, 2021). "DETAILS: Why the Appearance of the Andorians Changed from 'TOS' to 'Enterprise'". heavy.com. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Saunders, Matt (August 2002). "The Year in Review with BRANNON BRAGA". Star Trek Communicator. Decipher Inc. Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Geoffrey Mandel, Star Trek Star Charts: The Complete Atlas of Star Trek (NY: Pocket Books, 2002), 52.
  7. ^ Eileen Palestine, ed., Star Fleet Medical Reference Manual (NY: Ballantine Books, 1977), 58.
  8. ^ Shane Johnson, The Worlds of the Federation (NY: Pocket Books, 1989), 22.
  9. ^ "Star Trek: The 50 Best Alien Races". Den of Geek. October 12, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
[edit]
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