Why do aliens look and act like humans?

[Jathel_kyt]

The real reason is probably cause they wanted the watchers to relate to the aliens. Species 8472 is probably the most unhuman, but it seems like a lot of the races are just humans with dots on there heads.

It doesnt bother me to much, I still love Star Trek to death, just thought if anybody else though it was wierd that Bajorans will kiss the same way humans do.

[Descent]

Klingons certainly don't look or act like humans. Romulan's don't look human, they do act like certain humans though.

I assume though that your talking more about guest races or aliens of the week.

[Neorapsta]

I think its because the point is the conflict between the cultures or the morality stuff. As its hard to relate when you have your human captain having a heated arguement with a lump of playdo.

Also there was that whole science study that reckons that aliens would have bodies similar to ours due to the evolutionary advantages.

[Cat_the_Alien]

I think Sev Trek answered this question best:



O'Brien: Why do all the aliens look like humans, but with facial bumps?
Sisko: So the teenagers at home have someone to identify with.

(This was originally posted in English on the Sev Trek site, but they no longer allow free access to comics older then 3 months old, and the only copy I was able to find is in German.)

[Trek_Girl42]

I think its because the point is the conflict between the cultures or the morality stuff. As its hard to relate when you have your human captain having a heated arguement with a lump of playdo.

LMAO.....that I'd love to see.....

Nice comic Cat_the_Alien!

[Morbo]

because its television.

[Missster.Freeman]

It doesnt bother me to much, I still love Star Trek to death, just thought if anybody else though it was wierd that Bajorans will kiss the same way humans do.

I wouldn't be too sure about that. Not all aliens have their body parts in the same place as ours. Kirk assumed he had booted that alien in the kneecaps when they were fighting...

When we actually make first contact with aliens, I'd hold off on the welcome kiss; just to be sure that we ARE putting our lips where their mouths are.


lol Of course Morbo. I forget sometimes.

[Arga]

Have you seen the episode "The Chase" of season 6?
They explain why many species look like humans.

just in case you haven't seen it I hide this;

Spoiler:

we find out that an ancient race "seeded" themselves throughout the galaxy. So life evolved on different planets on the basis of this race's genes, but on each planet, with local differences. So all the humanoid races we see have in fact the same ancestor.

[panzor]

There is a great and powerful force in the star trek universe known only the, 'The Budget'. It shapes the universe so to keep the costs down for the it's all knowing master 'Paramount'.

[Morbo]

Have you seen the episode "The Chase" of season 6?
They explain why many species look like humans.

just in case you haven't seen it I hide this;

Spoiler:

we find out that an ancient race "seeded" themselves throughout the galaxy. So life evolved on different planets on the basis of this race's genes, but on each planet, with local differences. So all the humanoid races we see have in fact the same ancestor.

indeed, and its the same lady that played the head boss founder lady of the dominion. almost looks like a changling too in The Chase.
something to think about.

[Neorapsta]

Well Changelings have been masters of genetics for a very long time.

[wolfax]

I think its because the point is the conflict between the cultures or the morality stuff. As its hard to relate when you have your human captain having a heated arguement with a lump of playdo.

Also there was that whole science study that reckons that aliens would have bodies similar to ours due to the evolutionary advantages.

The sheliak (sp) there is your lump of playdo that Captain Picard argued with.

Spoiler:

although the Sheliak kept cutting the transmission untill he learned their laws

[Darkstar]

It minght have something to do with the fact that they are human, wearing makeup, I loved species 8472 from VOY, I loved the Guys in the encounter suits in B5 also, and the shadows who looked like insects and not at all humanoid, some shows have great ideas but the budget incures on the show and well, we all have to use our magination at the end don't we?

[Carl]

The main practical reason is very simple - money. NO TV production can possibly hope to afford elaborate make-up and costumes for guest characters and alien species week after week - let alone have the time to create such designs and impliment them on the schedule. That is why, especially in the TNG/DS9 era, a forehead or nose marking was the most commonly used alien device because it was cheap and simple but distinguished the character enough.

The original series movies probably did the most to try and make aliens look alien. The risk there is that they usually used masks which looked cheap, fake and created the most unrealistic and tacky aliens possible. Although TNG/DS9/VOY aliens look human at least they're realistic and easier to relate to as characters - plus you have the money for the occassional CGI delight or more remarkable looking alien such as Species 8472

[Brigadier General Pants]

I guess the problem also is, on a practical creative level, it's difficult to come up with a different looking alien for every single episode. Especially for ST - Stargate generally have a lot less aliens. Stargate can afford to make each one a little more unique (though I do think making the Ancients 'human', while an interesting plot twist, was a leeeettle bit of a cop-out).