Arguing which Klingons represent the real Klingons is perhaps the oldest, and silliest, Star Trek pasttime. While bumpy foreheads and a bloodthirsty demeanor are generally considered the mainstays of Klingon culture, everything else is up for debate. Back in 2017, Star Trek: Discovery caused a massive fan uproar over the nature of how Klingons looked and acted in the mid-23rd century, which didn’t seem to jibe with what the franchise canon had previously established.
Right at the center of all of this was actress Mary Chieffo, who played L’Rell, a Klingon warrior who, by Discovery Season 2, became the Chancellor of the Klingon High Command. Now, five years later, she’s again playing a Klingon. But Chieffo’s latest role spans the Trek canon because this time she’s playing Next Generation-era Klingon, which is a little different than Disco-era Klingons. Or are they?
