Thanks to Star Trek: Prodigy, the Medusans have become one of Star Trek‘s most interesting and unique alien species. Due to the limited nature of make-up and prosthetics (and the lack of CGI) in the 1960s, most of the aliens on Star Trek: The Original Series either resembled humans or could take on a humanoid appearance. If TOS aliens weren’t played by human actors in make-up, then they were often energy beings who presented as floating blobs of light. The Medusans more closely fit into the latter category, but their appearance is so powerful that most humanoids will go mad just looking at a Medusan.

With their powerful telepathic abilities, Medusans could read the minds of those around them and communicate with other telepaths. Medusans had no physical body, and they identified as genderless, often living together in a hive mind. Some telepathic species, like Vulcans, could look upon a Medusan while wearing special protective eyewear, but for most species, even viewing a reflection of a Medusan could cause catatonia. The Medusans had superior navigational abilities and sent out ships to explore the far reaches of the galaxy, traveling as far as the Delta Quadrant.

Medusans Were Introduced On Star Trek: The Original Series

A Medusan named Kollos appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series season 3, episode 5, “Is There In Truth No Beauty?.”

The first Medusan, Ambassador Kollos, appears in Star Trek: The Original Series season 3, episode 5, “Is There In Truth No Beauty?.” When the USS Enterprise transports Kollos back to his homeworld, the Medusan travels in a special container and is accompanied by a human engineer, Larry Marvick (David Frankham), and a human telepath, Dr. Miranda Jones (Diana Muldaur). Jones’ blindness allows her to look at Kollos, and her goal is to attempt a mind link with the Medusan to learn more about their species’ unique abilities. Marvick has developed feelings for Dr. Jones, and he attacks Kollos out of jealousy.

Driven mad by the sight of Kollos, Marvin then takes control of the Starship Enterprise’s engines, taking the ship far outside the known galaxy. To navigate back home, Spock (Leonard Nimoy) mind-melds with Kollos so they can pilot the Enterprise together. Spock inadvertently views Kollos without a protective visor and temporarily goes mad. Dr. Jones is able to telepathically restore Spock’s mind before she departs with Kollos, having achieved a mind link with the mysterious Medusan. Kollos may be at the center of “Is There In Truth No Beauty?,” but the Star Trek episode reveals little about the Medusans or their culture.

Star Trek: Prodigy’s Zero Is A Noncorporal Medusan

Zero has become one of Prodigy’s most compelling characters.

Star Trek: Prodigy puts a Medusan character front and center, making Zero (Angus Imrie) one of the show’s main cast members. While imprisoned by the Diviner (John Noble) in the Tars Lamora prison colony, Zero was used as a means to brainwash prisoners. Eventually, Zero managed to escape and build a makeshift containment suit out of spare parts they found lying around. Now a fugitive, Zero helped fellow prisoner Dal R’El (Brett Gray) escape on the abandoned USS Protostar. Zero then became an integral member of the Protostar crew, eventually revealing themselves to the Diviner and driving him mad.

Zero is the first Medusan with a real personality, and they eventually become close friends with their fellow Protostar crew members. In Star Trek: Prodigy season 2, Zero not only gets a newly upgraded suit, but also gets to temporarily experience life as a corporeal life form thanks to a unique planet. Zero even begins to develop feelings for a young Vulcan named Maj’el (Michaela Dietz), the newest member of the Prodigy crew. Throughout Star Trek: Prodigy’s two seasons, Zero has become one of the show’s most unique and fascinating characters, and they have introduced a whole new side to Star Trek’s Medusans.

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  Star Trek: The Original Series

  Where to Watch

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  Star Trek: The Original Series follows the exploits of the crew of the USS Enterprise. On a five-year mission to explore uncharted space, Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) must trust his crew – Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Forest DeKelley), Montgomery “Scotty” Scott (James Doohan), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Sulu (George Takei) – with his life. Facing previously undiscovered life forms and civilizations and representing humanity among the stars on behalf of Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets, the Enterprise regularly comes up against impossible odds and diplomatic dilemmas.

  Cast

  William Shatner
  , Leonard Nimoy
  , Deforest Kelley
  , Nichelle Nichols
  , James Doohan
  , George Takei
  , Walter Koenig

  Release Date

  
  September 8, 1966
  

  Seasons

  3

  Showrunner

  Gene Roddenberry

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  Star Trek: Prodigy

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  Star Trek: Prodigy is the first TV series in the Star Trek franchise marketed toward children, and one of the few animated series in the franchise. The story follows a group of young aliens who find a stolen Starfleet ship and use it to escape from the Tars Lamora prison colony where they are all held captive. Working together with the help of a holographic Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), the new crew of the USS Protostar must find their way back to the Alpha Quadrant to warn the Federation of the deadly threat that is pursuing them.

  Cast

  Rylee Alazraqui
  , Brett Gray
  , Kate Mulgrew
  , Ella Purnell
  , Dee Bradley Baker
  , Angus Imrie
  , Jason Mantzoukas
  , John Noble

  Release Date

  
  October 28, 2021
  

  Seasons

  1

  Showrunner

  Dan Hageman
  , Kevin Hageman