Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 Photo: Detailed Look At New Klingon Design

[dricia]

Take a look at the new Klingon design of L'Rell in a Star Trek: Discovery season 2 photo. In the first season of Discovery, the Klingon Empire served as primary antagonists but were ultimately thwarted thanks to Michael Burnham, the mirror universe's Philippa Georgiou and a strategically placed explosive that threatened all of Qo'nos. The detonator to the bomb was ultimately placed in the hands of the Klingon L'Rell, who was given the unenviable task of uniting all of the various Klingon houses into an uneasy peace.

Perhaps the biggest criticism of Star Trek: Discovery was that it didn't always seem to adhere to established Trek canon, both in terms of story and visual design. One particular issue raised by fans was the series' Klingon design - a bald and pale look that didn't share much in common with the Klingons seen previously in the franchise. Ahead of season 2 however, Discovery's producers have promised that the show will begin to align itself with Trek's history and, to this end, the Klingons are set for a makeover in the show's second outing.

Discovery fans can now get a good idea of what this updated design will look like thanks to L'Rell actress Mary Chieffo, who posted a picture of her character's new look on Twitter. Now officially Chancellor of the Klingon High Council, L'Rell is dressed in more formal attire than in season 1, but the most notable change is undoubtedly the addition of a long mane of hair.

Certainly, the addition of hair brings Discovery's Klingon look far closer to that seen in previous Star Trek series and movies and is sure to please fans who felt the original design was too much of a departure. However, this isn't simply a case of the show's visual team adding a hairdo and hoping no one asks too many questions. Instead, it has been confirmed that the 'shaved head' look was an appearance that the Klingons of the time adopted in periods of war and, now that peace has been (mostly) restored, they are free to grow out their locks once again.

Discovery's new Klingon design seems to be part of a wider attempt by the show to build stronger ties to the franchise's past and therefore address a problem that many hardcore fans had with season 1. Aside from new visuals, season 2 will also see the introduction of both Spock and Christopher Pike from the original series, a familiar ship design and fans can also expect other continuity inconsistencies to be addressed.

Star Trek: Discovery season 2 premieres January 17, 2019 on CBS All Access.