Summary

• Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 introduced 7 new alien species, including the Bynars, Benzites, and Travelers.
• These aliens brought fascinating and important contributions to the Trek universe, with some making major appearances in subsequent series.
• The season also introduced iconic characters like Q and established the Ferengi as comic relief after initial attempts to make them primary antagonists failed.

Star Trek: The Next Generation boldly ushered in a new era of Star Trek, and introduced 7 new aliens to the franchise. TNG season 1 may have had some less-than-stellar episodes, but it also marked the first appearance of many of Star Trek's most beloved characters and important new alien species. Following the adventures of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the USS Enterprise-D, TNG not only introduced Star Trek fans to an entirely new Enterprise crew but also to new alien life and new civilizations.

From Betazoids to Bolians to Bynars, some truly fascinating and important species made their debut in TNG season 1. Aliens have always been a big part of Star Trek, and TNG did a great job of building on the species introduced in TOS, as well as contributing new aliens to the Trek universe. Some of these aliens would only appear once or twice after their introduction, while others became major players in the world of Trek. Either way, without Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1, we never would have been introduced to these 7 alien species.

7 The Bynars

The Bynars first appeared in TNG season 1, episode 15, "11001001," and it remains their only live-action appearance. The Bynars were inextricably linked to a computer on their home planet of Bynaus, and they communicated with one another using a language very close to binary code. Because of their connection to a computer, they could share and process information incredibly quickly. Bynars were genderless, and always lived in pairs. In "11001001," the Bynars were brought onto the USS Enterprise to upgrade the ship's computer. Although the species has been mentioned a few times in other Star Trek projects, they did not make another appearance until Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4, episode 7, "A Few Badgeys More," when a Bynar ship was destroyed by a mysterious new enemy.

6 The Benzites

In TNG season 1, episode 19, "Coming of Age," Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) meets a Bolian named Mordock (John Putch) when the two take the Starfleet Academy Entrance Exam together. After Mordock wins the competition to attend the Academy, he becomes the first Benzite to Starfleet. Because they were unable to breathe oxygen, Benzites required a breathing apparatus on most Federation planets and ships. The Benzites soon began an officer exchange program with the Federation, and more Benzites began entering Starfleet. In addition to two episodes of TNG, of the Benzite species have appeared on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, and Star Trek: Lower Decks.

5 The Traveler

Not much is known about the mysterious species simply referred to as the Travelers, but they can manipulate time and space with thought. In TNG season 1, episode 6, "Where No One Has Gone Before," the Traveler (Eric Menyuk) arrives on the Enterprise as the assistant to a Starfleet propulsion expert. The Traveler then inadvertently propels the Enterprise billions of lightyears from Earth to the very edges of the universe. While aboard the Enterprise, the Traveler perceives something profound in the young Wesley Crusher. Years later, the Traveler returns to Wesley and offers him a chance to journey with the Travelers, which Wes gladly accepts. In Star Trek: Picard season 2, Wesley has the full powers of a Traveler.

4 The Bolians

Typically with blueish skin and a ridge running down their foreheads, the Bolians were introduced in TNG season 1, episode 25, "Conspiracy." Bolians were native to the planet Bolarus IX, and they often served in Starfleet, with several Bolians holding high-ranking positions within Starfleet by the 24th century. One of the most memorable Bolians was a civilian named Mot (Ken Thorley) who served as the barber on the Enterprise-D. He would often offer advice while trimming the hair of Enterprise crew like Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), whether they had asked for that advice or not. Bolians have appeared across several Star Trek series in addition to TNG, including DS9, Voyager, Lower Decks, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Prodigy, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.

3 Q

Since his introduction in TNG's premiere episode, "Encounter at Farpoint," John de Lancie's Q has become one of Star Trek's best recurring guest stars. As a member of the extremely powerful Q Continuum, Q has god-like powers and can manipulate time and space, making him an important figure in several significant Star Trek stories. In his first appearance, Q put Captain Picard and the crew of the Enterprise on trial for crimes against humanity, and he has been periodically checking up on humanity ever since.

Although he developed a certain fondness for Picard, Q also appeared on DS9 and Voyager before returning to visit Jean-Luc again in Star Trek: Picard. In the finale of Picard season 3, Q visits Picard's son, Ensign Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers) to tell him that, while his father's trial may be over, the young Crusher's trial is only just beginning. The proposed Picard spin-off, Star Trek: Legacy will hopefully continue this plot thread if it gets picked up.

2 Ferengi

Introduced in TNG season 1, episode 5, "The Last Outpost," the Ferengi were originally meant to be the primary antagonists for Captain Picard and the Enterprise-D. However, after their first couple of appearances failed to inspire fear, the Ferengi became mostly comic relief. One of the first actors to portray a Ferengi, Armin Shimerman, has personally shouldered some of the blame for the initial failure of the Ferengi, but he more than redeemed himself as Quark in DS9.

Thanks largely to Quark and the other Ferengi in DS9, the species became one of the most important aliens to be introduced in TNG season 1. With their hundreds of Rules of Acquisition, the Ferengi value prophet above all else and are always on the lookout for new ways to make Latinum. Ferengi society is very misogynistic, but this had begun to change by the late 24th century thanks to Grand Nagus Zek (Wallace Shawn) and his successor, Grand Nagus Rom (Max Grodénchik).

1 Betazoids

As one of the main characters on TNG, Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) helped make the Betazoids one of the most important species introduced in TNG. Betazoids are telepathic and indistinguishable from humans aside from their black irises. As she is only half Betazoid, Counselor Troi feels the emotions of those around her, but can only read the thoughts of other telepaths. From her very first appearance in "Encounter at Farpoint," Deanna Troi proved to be an invaluable part of the Enterprise crew, often helping to determine the motives of various aliens the ship encountered.

Because they could read one another's thoughts, Betazoids were extremely honest, sometimes to a fault. When Deanna's mother, Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) visited the Enterprise, for example, she had no qualms about speaking her mind to Captain Picard and anyone else who would listen. Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 introduced the Betazoids and several other alien species who would go on to become important players in the Star Trek universe.