Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 1 revisits the Illyrians, a genetically augmented species that played a role in one of Star Trek: Enterprise's darkest episodes. A technologically advanced humanoid race, the Illyrians had a novel approach to colonization. Rather than altering the makeup of colonized planets, the Illyrians altered themselves so they would be able to adapt to virtually any environment that could support life.

While their intentions were not malevolent, the Illyrians' use of genetic augmentation went against the rules of the United Federation Of Planets in the wake of the Eugenics Wars on Earth that saw the rise of augmented superhuman tyrants like Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). That position by the Federation would prove to be long-lasting and controversial, stretching into the 24th century as experienced by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Dr. Julian Bashir (Alexander Siddig). Star Trek: Strange New Worlds made the Illyrian...