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{{For|adjectives related to the nation of Andorra|Andorran (disambiguation){{!}}Andorran}}
[[Image:Shran.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Shran]], from [[Star Trek: Enterprise|''Enterprise'']]]]
{{short description|Extraterrestrial from Star Trek}}
In the fictional ''[[Star Trek]]'' universe, the '''Andorians''' are a [[species]] of [[humanoid]]s native to the [[moon]] Andoria, which orbits the planet Andor, placed in ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' in the [[Procyon]] System. Their defining traits are their [[blue]] [[skin]], two cranial [[antenna (biology)|antenna]]e, and characteristically [[white]] [[hair]].
{{More citations needed|date=February 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox fictional race
| name = Andorians
| sub_races = [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]]
| image = ProvingGround1.jpg
| caption = Commander Shran and crew from the 2004 ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]'' episode "[[Proving Ground (Star Trek: Enterprise)|Proving Ground]]".
| series = [[Star Trek]]
| creator = [[D.C. Fontana]]
| home_world = Andoria
| affiliation = [[United Federation of Planets]], [[#Empire|Andorian Empire]]
| first_major = [[Star Trek: The Original Series]]
| first_minor =[[Journey to Babel]]
| first_date = 1967
|quadrant= Beta, Alpha
|language=Andorian language
}}


'''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>
==Andorian biology==


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 have several variations, which have been seen on TOS (''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''), the Star Trek Movies, and on the prequel series ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''. As originally portrayed, Andorians were pale blue, thin in stature, usually tall, deceptively soft-spoken (possibly lisping). They sported "[[Prince Valiant]]"-style white hair, and were represented as having no ears, having instead large bony antennae located on the crown of the skull.


== Development ==
This point was [[retcon]]ned in ''Enterprise'': in that series, Andorians possessed visible ears, and their cranial antennae were small, movable, and located on the forehead. Non-canon sources make the case that the "eared" Andorians were in fact a separate species called the [[Threllvians]], supposedly a subservient and conquered race the "antennae-only" Andorians had brought into their sphere of influence centuries ago.
[[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 ==
Despite hailing from an icy world, Andorians are extraordinarily tolerant to warm climates, able to survive in climates approaching the boiling point of water while only losing 10% of their body weight after two days. Andorian cities are built underground, to take maximum advantage of geothermal vents in the planet's crust. Andorian military officers routinely carry with them an ice cutting blade similar to those used by ice miners; soldiers routinely use such blades in combat. (Andorians disdain the use of beam weapons, as they are themselves vulnerable to infections caused by such weapons).
[[File:Ensign Jennifer Sh'reyan from "Star Trek, Lower Decks".jpeg|thumb|right|upright=0.6|Ensign Jennifer Sh'reyan as seen in [[Star Trek: Lower Decks|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 [[gesture|gesturing]] and [[vestibular system|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.<ref name="heavy"/>


== Homeworld ==
There are at least two subspecies of Andorians, the "blue skins" who make up the majority of their population, and the reclusive [[List of Star Trek races#Aenar|Aenar]], who were long considered a myth until contact was first made with the blue skins about [[2104]]. Aenar are blind and have [[telepathy|telepathic]] and [[telemetric]] abilities.
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 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"/>
Andorians have blue [[blood]]. Their antennae are used for [[gesture|gesturing]] as well as for balance. If cut off, an antenna will grow back after several months. Aenar appear to use their antennae also as telepathic receptors.


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]].
Andorian females seem to be taller on average than Andorian males.


==Andorian culture==
== Reception ==
In 2017, ''[[Den of Geek]]'' ranked the Andorians the 9th best aliens of the ''Star Trek'' franchise, behind the [[Ferengi]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-10-12|title=Star Trek: The 50 Best Alien Races|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek-the-50-best-alien-races/|access-date=2021-03-01|website=Den of Geek|language=en-US}}</ref>
Andorians describe themselves as a violent and warlike species; in the 2150s, their hand [[weapon]]s did not have a 'stun' setting. Andorians have a concept of a superior being; one portrayal of which was glimpsed at the planet [[Sha Ka Ree]].


==References==
Aenar culture is basically co-operative. There are no formal rulers and leaders are appointed as the need arises.
{{reflist|30em}}


==External links==
The Andorians have made several cultural contributions to the Alpha Quadrant. The Andorian Academy of Art is considered the best [[school]] of its type. Andorian ale is a potent blue [[alcohol]]ic [[beverage]]. 'Andorian blues' is a style of [[jazz]] [[music]] that was apparently inspired by this [[race (fantasy)|race]].
{{Memory Alpha}}
{{Memory Alpha|Andor}}


{{Star Trek}}
Andorians seen in the background of ''[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]'' wore [[jewelry]] featuring prominent [[geode]] [[Gemstone|stone]]s. Women wore [[kimono]]-like clothing. They carried a ''flabbjellah'', a combination of weapon and musical instrument.

According to [[Commander Data]] in the ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' episode "[[Data's Day]]" "Andorian marriages require four people, unless...". The "unless" is unknown, but may be assumed to apply to Shran's marriage to Jhamel, as seen in the final episode of ''Enterprise''.

==Andorian history==
The first sea-going vessel to successfully circumnavigate [[Andor]] was the ice cutter ''[[Kumari (Star Trek)|Kumari]]''. Centuries later, a starship of the Andorian Imperial Guard would assume the name of the great vessel.

At some point in their past, Andorians waged an [[atomic war]].

In [[1154]], Andorians achieved warp travel. (''[[Star Trek Star Charts]]'')

Their first contact with the [[Vulcan (Star Trek)|Vulcan]]s was promising, but relations soured in time. The threat of mutual annihilation existed as early as the 1950s. In the 2060s, the two species held eight-year-long territorial negotiations.

About [[2104]], blue skins made contact with the [[Aenar]], dispelling their mythological status.

Andorians [[terraform]]ed a planet called [[Weytahn]], only to have it annexed by the Vulcans. In [[2151]], the Andorian Imperial Guard uncovered a Vulcan spying station concealed on the [[monastery]] world [[P'Jem]].

In [[2153]], the Imperial Guard sent a ship into the [[Delphic Expanse]] in an unsuccessful attempt to capture a Xindi weapon for use against the Vulcans. Andorian [[Commander]] [[Shran]] proved instrumental in countering a Xindi threat to Earth in [[2154]].

In [[2161]], Andorians were one of the founding members of the [[United Federation of Planets]].

In the 2260s, Andorians participated in the [[Babel]] Conference, represented in part by [[Ambassador Shras]].

In the 2270s, a number of Andorians joined the crew of the refitted [[starship]] ''[[Starship Enterprise|Enterprise]]''. In [[2291]], a painting of a notable Andorian hung in the conference room of the ''Enterprise-A''.

In [[2371]], Andorian [[gerontology|gerontological]] [[Physician|Doctor]] Chirurgeon Ghee P'Trell was nominated for the Carrington Award.

==Non-canonical information==

The information below comes from licenced, but [[Star Trek canon#non-canon|non-canon]] sources.

A 1970s technical fiction book, ''[[The Starfleet Medical Manual]]'', made the further assertion explaining that the antennae of Andorians indicated that the species were the only known semi-insectoid race in Federation territory. The antennae functioned as both "quadriscopic" vision receptors and for focussed hearing. However, none of these points were ever shown on a Star Trek film or series, although they were repeated in the 1980s book ''[[Worlds of the Federation]]''. Furthermore, the assertion that they were the only semi-insectoid race seems untrue based on the later series ''Enterprise'' as the [[Xindi]] had an insectoid race (although it could be argued these were a wholly-insectoid race, not a semi-insectoid race, and so may have been excluded).

In the ''[[Deep Space Nine relaunch]]'' novels, the idea that Andorians have four-person marriages has been extended to say they have four sexes, two of which are roughly equivalent to "male" and two of which are roughly "female". A significant subplot in the books was that the unlikelihood of compatible foursomes resulted in an extremely low reproduction rate, which combined with genetic weaknesses led to the near extinction of the species.

Similarly, the short-lived [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] comic ''[[Star Trek: Starfleet Academy]]'' mentions "complex" marital structures, but in this case more flexible, where one or more fathers can be involved. Andorians are also described as being passionate and having had a violent history.

==Appearances==
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse"
|+ ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series]]''
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''#''' || '''Episode''' || '''Appearance'''
|-
| 210 || "[[Journey to Babel]]" || Orion spy posing as an Andorian frames Sarek for murder
|-
| 216 || "[[The Gamesters of Triskelion]]" || One of the slaves of Triskelion
|-
| 314 || "[[Whom Gods Destroy]]" || One of the Mental patients was Andorian
|-
| 318 || "[[The Lights of Zetar]]" || An Andorian scholar was present at Memory Alpha at the time of its destruction
|}
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse"
|+ ''[[Star Trek: The Animated Series]]''
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''#''' || '''Episode''' || '''Appearance'''
|-
| 210 || "[[Yesteryear]]" || [[Spock]] replaced by Andorian first officer
|-
| 216 || "[[The Time Trap]]" || Andorian on the Elysian Council
|}
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse"
|+ ''Star Trek: Movies''
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''Episode''' || '''Appearance'''
|-
| "[[Star Trek: The Motion Picture]]" || In crowd at Starfleet Headquarters
|-
| "[[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]" || On the Federation Council
|-
| "[[Star Trek V: The Final Frontier]]" ||
|}
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse"
|+ ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]''
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''#''' || '''Episode''' || '''Appearance'''
|-
| 316 || "[[The Offspring (TNG episode)|The Offspring]]" || A young Andorian female is shown as one possible choice of appearance for Data's new child, Lal.
|-
| 322 || "[[The Most Toys (TNG episode)|The Most Toys]]" || Andorians desire trade with Fajo
|}
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" style="border-collapse: collapse"
|+ ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise]]''
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! '''#''' || '''Episode''' || '''Appearance'''
|-
| 107 || "[[The Andorian Incident (Enterprise episode)|The Andorian Incident]]" ||
|-
| 115 || "[[Shadows of P'Jem (Enterprise episode)|Shadows of P'Jem]]" ||
|-
| 123 || "[[Fallen Hero (Enterprise episode)|Fallen Hero]]" ||
|-
| 215 || "[[Cease Fire (Enterprise episode)|Cease Fire]]" ||
|-
| 313 || "[[Proving Ground (Enterprise episode)|Proving Ground]]" ||
|-
| 409 || "[[Kir'Shara (Enterprise episode)|Kir'Shara]]" ||
|-
| 412 || "[[Babel One (Enterprise episode)|Babel One]]" ||
|-
| 413 || "[[United (Enterprise episode)|United]]" ||
|-
| 414 || "[[The Aenar (Enterprise episode)|The Aenar]]" ||
|-
| 418 || "[[In a Mirror, Darkly (Enterprise episode)|In a Mirror, Darkly]]" ||
|-
| 419 || "[[In a Mirror, Darkly (Enterprise episode)|In a Mirror, Darkly, Part II]]" ||
|-
| 420 || "[[Demons (Enterprise episode)|Demons]]" ||
|-
| 421 || "[[Terra Prime (Enterprise episode)|Terra Prime]]" ||
|-
| 422 || "[[These Are the Voyages... (Enterprise episode)|These Are the Voyages...]]" ||
|}

==External links==
* {{memoryalpha}}
* [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~lindsay96/trek/Rogues.html A Rogues' Gallery of Andorians]


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


[[cs:Rasy ve Star Treku#Andoriané]]
[[cs:Andoriáni]]
[[de:Völker und Gruppierungen im Star-Trek-Universum#Andorianer]]
[[fr:Andorien]]
[[gl:Andoriano]]
[[it:Andoriani]]
[[nl:Andorian]]
[[pl:Andorianie]]
[[pt:Andorianos]]

Latest revision as of 02:17, 13 September 2024

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]