9 Star Trek: The Animated Series Aliens That Should Appear In Live Action
4. Aquan
The Star Trek: The Animated Series episode The Ambergris Element introduced the green-skinned, water-breathing, humanoid residents of the planet Argo, the Aquans.
According to Aquan legends, Argo became a water world when severe seismic activity sank much of the planet's land. Similar to the Illyrians using genetic engineering to adapt to new planets, the once air-breathing Aquans, adapted to underwater life with chemically induced mutation. These mutations became genetic over time.
The Aquans were depicted as possessing advanced technology, architecture, medical knowledge, and the ability to erase memories. Aquan legends about highly aggressive air-breathers, made them wary of visitors. They would attack visitors and use their mutation technique on them.
An episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds involving Dr. M'Benga seeking a medical treatment from the xenophobic Aquans seems the ideal way to bring this species into live action Star Trek. Such an episode would provide an opportunity to explore questions of medical ethics and prejudice.
For example, would the Federation's prohibition against treatments derived from genetic engineering apply to the Aquans' mutation technique? Could a Federation doctor convince a xenophobic species to let him use their technology? Finally, would the Prime Directive even allow M'Benga to access the Aquans' medical technology?