While both the Kaylon and Krill are major threats in the universe of Kaylon, a species of artificial lifeforms seeking to destroy all biological life in the galaxy. But a comic tie-in revealed that before the Krill and Kaylon, the Tzel were the primary enemy to the Planetary Union in a war hundreds of years ago that left many thousands dead.
In the first season of The Orville, the primary enemy of the Union was the Krill, who worshipped a god called Avis and saw all non-Krill species as unworthy, and thus only fit to be destroyed through divine conquest. Their threat was later sured by the Kaylon, whose advanced technology and numbers saw a conflict so threatening to all life, the Union sought to parlay peace with the Krill in hopes the alliance would help in their conflict against the Kaylon. Having played a pivotal role against both enemies, the Orville got a reminder of Union history in Orville: New Beginnings which takes place shortly after the events of The Orville’s Season One finale.
In Orville: New Beginnings #1 by writer David A. Goodman and artist David Cabeza, Captain Ed Mercer takes the opportunity to escape the tension with his First Officer Kelly Grayson, also his ex-wife who rejected his recent proposal to try dating again, with a conference alongside his friend and helmsman, Gordon Malloy. On the way to the conference, they come across a communication buoy from the battleship Burton, a famous ship thought lost a hundred years ago during the Union’s battle with the Tzel. As Ed reminisces, fans witness a race of violent caterpillar-like creatures whose bloody deeds killed thousands.
The Tzel Are Orville's Most Disturbing Species
With The Orville acting as an homage to Stark Trek and Star Trek: Next Generation, the show's villains also find similar inspiration from villains like the Klingons or the Borg while finding their own identity within The Orville's universe. The Tzel follow a similar pattern, although their inspiration brings to mind the Arachnids from 1997’s Starship Troopers. Their vicious insect appearance recalls the Bugs and their battle with the United Citizen Federation, their armed soldiers sharing parallels with the soldiers in that cult classic science-fiction action film. The primary difference between the Tzel and the Union’s other enemies are the Krill and Kaylon are humanoid and clearly sapient, while the Tzel appear more like monsters who physically tore their enemies to pieces, making their threat that much more palpable and intimidating.
The issue only teases the existence of the Tzel, but it's a shocking insight into an underexplored era of the Union. Star Trek itself features plenty of time travel - and The Orville has already introduced this possibility - meaning that Ed's crew will likely find themselves personally facing the Tzel sooner or later - likely in the tie-in comics, given their impressive and ambitious non-human design. Of course, Starship Troopers' Bugs aren't quite the outright monsters they initially appear, meaning there may be a further twist waiting in the story of the Tzel/Union war teased in The Orville so far.
