In the Star Trek episode “The Devil In The Dark” a mining operation on some planet is being attacked by a “monster” that has already killed dozens of people, burning them alive so almost nothing remains. The Enterprise arrives to help and the crew investigate. They discover that the so-called monster is a silicon lifeform and it seems to be intelligent. Further investigation and mind-melds reveals that the lifeform is the Horta, and it is a mother, trying to protect its eggs from being destroyed by the mining. There’s no real enemy here, just a misunderstanding to be overcome.

I consider this to be a sort of ideal episode of Star Trek. They come across new life, they are in conflict at first, but over time they realize that the alien isn’t a monster, it is a person of its own kind, with a different way of life. Different, but no less real. It’s about learning to communicate and deescalating a situation from a horror story to a first contact.

And, of course, the alien is not humanoid in appearance at all. Its a rocky blob that we are still asked to care about because it is a living being. Not every episode of Star Trek can be this, but I appreciate every one that is, and always want more.

I’m always kind of surprised the Horta has not become a more iconic part of the franchise. I have read that there have been attempts to show more of them in cameo roles and that there have been Horta in Starfleet in books and stuff, but it has yet to happen on screen. It’s a shame.