star trek characters discovery

Full Cast of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 - Every Main Character & Actor Who Appears (Photos)

As Star Trek: Discovery ’s final season commences, the principal actors from the hit series must say goodbye to characters they have played for several years.

When Star Trek: Discovery premiered in 2017, it was met with its fair share of backlash. Trek die-hards criticized the show’s design, cast, and even the time period in which it was set.

Still, Discovery won over a good portion of fans, many of whom were just glad to have a new Star Trek series again, after the franchise’s extended absence from television. Now, the show has launched Season 5, set to be the show’s final voyage.

The Characters & Actors of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Sonequa martin-green - michael burnham.

Sonequa Martin-Green plays Captain Michael Burnham, the adopted sister of Star Trek icon Mr. Spock. Burnham was given command of the series’ eponymous starship, the USS Discovery, at the end of the third season, after the cast wound up in the far-flung future of the 32nd Century.

Apart from her work on Discovery , which is undeniably her most well-known role, Martin-Green has also been a part of shows like The Walking Dead and The Good Wife .

Doug Jones - Saru

Veritable chameleon Doug Jones portrays Saru, Burnham’s first officer. Saru is a Kelpian, a species with a kind of biological early warning system that acts like a sixth sense. Saru has served as a fan-favorite since the series began, with many viewers calling for him to take on Discovery’s captain‘s chair.

Doug Jones has appeared in many major projects, but he is often completely unrecognizable, buried under prosthetics and makeup. He was Abe Sapien in the Hellboy movies and the Amphibian Man in 2017’s The Shape of Water .

Anthony Rapp - Paul Stamets

Anthony Rapp plays the groundbreaking role of Commander Paul Stamets, a science officer and one of the two first openly gay Star Trek characters (The other being Stamets’ husband Dr. Hugh Culber).

Rapp has long been a fixture of stage and screen, having performed as a part of several high-profile Broadway shows, such as Rent , in which he was an original cast member. 

Mary Wiseman - Sylvia Tilly

Sylvia Tilly, brought to life by Mary Wiseman, started the series as a quirky but very driven cadet on board Discovery. Later on in the series, after the crew’s one-way trip to the future, she took a teaching position at Starfleet Academy.

Mary Wiseman is most famous for her part as Tilly but she’s also appeared in Baskets and the Western show Longmire to name a few.

Wilson Cruz - Hugh Culber

Wilson Cruz plays Dr. Hugh Culber, one of the USS Discovery’s physicians. Earlier in the series, Culber was killed by another, out-of-control officer. But eventually, the good doctor was brought back to life through the use of the mycelial network.

Cruz cut his teeth on the classic 1990s teen drama My So-Called Life , playing Rickie. He’s additionally had roles on hits like Grey’s Anatomy , Monk , and The West Wing .

Blu del Barrio - Adira Tal

Adira Tal is portrayed by Blu del Barrio. The character’s backstory involved them becoming the host for a Trill symbiont called Tal, which they inherited from their romantic partner. Currently, Adira is a Starfleet ensign, having been granted commission in Season 3.

Blu del Barrio holds the significant distinction of being Star Trek ’s first openly non-binary actor. They are also a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

Callum Keith Rennie - Rayner

Callum Keith Rennie’s Rayner is a new character for Season 5 of Star Trek: Discovery . Rayner is a Kellerun, which is a species first introduced in the 1994 episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , “Armageddon Game”.

Rennie has a lengthy resume, starring in a vast array of Canadian shows and films. He has also acted in the Battlestar Galactica reboot as well as Showtime’s Californication .

David Ajala - Cleveland “Book” Booker

David Ajala plays Book, a man introduced to the crew upon their arrival in the year 3188. As a Kwejian, Book can empathically connect with plant and animal life, including his pet cat Grudge. He also has a close personal bond with Michael Burnham.

Alaja previously had roles in Nightflyers and CW’s Supergirl , where he played the villainous Manchester Black.

Eve Harlow - Moll

Moll, played by Eve Harlow, is a pirate who is seeking an ancient technology that has ties to the classic Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “The Chase”.

Eve Harlow has acted in favorites such as NCIS: Los Angeles and The Rookie . She also played the recurring character Tess on Agents of SHIELD .

Elias Toufexis - L’ak

L’ak, a green-skinned alien of unknown descent, is played by Elias Toufexis. He serves as Moll’s literal partner in crime.

Toufexis has appeared in another popular sci-fi series The Expanse , as well as several other television series, like Shadowhunters and Criminal Minds .

Oded Fehr - Charles Vance

Oded Fehr plays Admiral Charles Vance, who was introduced to Star Trek: Discovery in Season 3. As commander in chief of Starfleet, Vance wields a considerable amount of influence within the spacefaring organization.

Fehr would be best recognized for his character of Ardeth Bay in 1999’s The Mummy and its 2001 sequel. He’s also guested on shows such as The Blacklist and How to Get Away With Murder .

Chelah Horsdal - Laira Rillak

Laira Rillak, in addition to serving as Federation president, is of multi-species descent, a hybrid of human, Cardassian, and Bajoran genetics. Typically, Starfleet and Federation top brass are portrayed as having lesser quality moral fiber, but Rillak has stood out as an exception.

Chelah Horsdal has appeared in a wide variety of movies and series including Arrow , Hell on Wheels , and Rise of the Planet of the Apes .

Tara Rosling  - T’Rina

T’Rina is a Vulcan woman who first showed up in Discovery in the seventh episode of the third season. Since then, she has become romantically linked with Saru. T’Rina is also president of Ni’Var, the planet formerly known as Vulcan.

In addition to her Star Trek role, Rosling has also cropped up in The Expanse and The Handmaid’s Tale .

David Cronenberg - Kovich

David Cronenberg portrays Dr. Kovich, a Federation agent and galactic historian. Kovich first appeared in Discovery ’s third season and has gone on to become a well-liked recurring character.

As a veteran filmmaker, David Cronenberg is credited with bringing the genre of body horror into popular culture. His newest film, The Shroud , will hit theaters this year.

Tig Notaro - Jett Reno

Comedian Tig Notaro breathes life into Jett Reno, the fast-talking, wise-cracking Discovery engineer with a heart of gold. Reno has more than cemented herself as an audience favorite.

Alongside Notaro’s standup work, she’s had parts in Community , Bob’s Burgers , Suburgatory , and many more.

Star Trek: Discovery can be streamed exclusively on Paramount+ . The next new episode premieres on Thursday, April 11.

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Characters / Star Trek: Discovery

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Characters in Star Trek: Discovery .

Important note: Spoilers are unmarked . Even scrolling down on these pages will reveal some significant twists from all seasons. Browse them at your own risk.

• Michael Burnham
• The Klingon Empire
• The Mirror Universe
• The Emerald Chain

Alien Beings and Entities

• Actual Pacifist : Not violent at all, and they try to bring Starfleet and the Klingons together to prompt a peace treaty.
• Energy Beings : The Pahvans manifest as clouds of blue-white energy with a vaguely humanoid form. Spore-like clouds also suffuse the structure that shelters their visitors.
• Genius Loci : All life on the surface of Pahvo, as well as the planet itself, is an interconnected living being.
• Organic Technology : Their planetary transmitter is the biggest example, being a blend of crystalline structure and organic plant matter.
• Power Crystal : Pahvo includes a titanic crystalline spire that functions as an electromagnetic transmitter. Burnham, Saru and Tyler beam down to the planet to analyze it as a means of finding a way though the Klingons' cloaking devices.
• Suicidal Pacifist : Could easily have turned out as this, since while Starfleet was willing to send someone to answer their call, General Kol fully intended to destroy their planet and move on. Fortunately, the crew of Discovery were able to defend the planet and destroy the Ship of the Dead with Kol on it.

• Absurdly Sharp Claws : Its claws can rend starship hulls with ease.
• Animalistic Abomination : A benevolent example. Reality-warping powers aside, all it really wants is its freedom.

• Batman Can Breathe in Space : Like real tardigrades, it can survive in hard vacuum (although it teleports elsewhere after a moment's hesitation).
• Berserk Button : While normally docile, Ripper quickly becomes homicidal if threatened.
• Nigh-Invulnerable : Its hide can withstand attacks from bat'leths and the kill setting on phasers without a scratch.
• Non-Malicious Monster : Ripper is not naturally predatory and didn't destroy the Glenn out of malice: it's a docile animal that was exploited in painful scientific experiments, responds to threats with deadly force, and reacts in pain when the spore drive is activated. It's genuinely heart-breaking to see it put through the wringer to provide navigation for the spore drive.
• Only Known by Their Nickname : Its real name, if it has one, is unknown. Landry dubs it "Ripper" because that's what it looks like.
• Powered by a Forsaken Child : It is the key to using the spore drive to travel great distances, acting like a living navigational computer through its symbiosis with the spores.
• Put on a Bus : Burnham and Tilly release it into space with Saru's permission at the end of "Choose Your Pain", as the spore drive was slowly killing it.
• Smarter Than You Look : In a very specific way, yes. This giant, armoured ball of a teddy-bug can embarrass a homing pigeon's navigational processing ability and make Starfleet super computers look primitive. Culber's analysis indicates it may be sentient.
• Starfish Alien : A particularly effective one. Ripper was implied to be highly intelligent, but had difficulty communicating with humans and humanoids, who tended to assume that it was a mindless, dangerous creature.
• Super-Persistent Predator : Despite supposedly only attacking in self-defense, it seems hellbent on killing the away team aboard the Glenn , going so far as to methodically tear through the metal bulkheads and crawl through an Airvent Passageway to get them. Of course, being the Sole Survivor of a horrific accident may have messed with its head somewhat.
• Wall Crawl : Despite being as large and heavy as a grizzly, it can crawl along the ceiling with ease. It probably helps that the metals it is clinging to are certainly strong enough to support its weight and claws that can dig into the metal.
• Weaksauce Weakness : Like Lorca, it has an aversion to light.
• What Measure Is a Non-Human? : Even Saru, an alien rescued by Star Fleet officers, seems to assume, like the rest of Discovery's human and humanoid alien crew, that Ripper can't be sentient because it doesn't walk on two legs, speak English, or drink tea. Even when confronted with scientific evidence that the "Tardigrade" has a complex mind and a sensory system that registers pain, and clear emotional responses to pain, Dr. Culber and other Star Fleet officers are dismissive of those advocating for Ripper. Eventually, Saru gets over this, possibly because of his own back story as a member of a "prey species" rescued from mortal danger by Star Fleet, and Michael and Tilly's persistence and scientific credibility wins over Culber and Stamets, and Saru gives them the go-ahead to free Ripper.

Me Hani Ika Hali Ka Po

Played by: Yadira Guevara-Prip

• Bizarre Alien Biology : Xaheans have orange blood , their eyes blink sideways, and they can turn themselves invisible , Jem'hadar style .
• Deadpan Snarker : Affectionately sasses her friends, and will even mouth off to the Terran Emperor. Of course, she made it against the law for anyone to sass her .
• Don't Call Me "Sir" : She's fine with the Discovery crew calling her "Po" instead of "Her Serene Highness".
• Genius Sweet Tooth : An engineering prodigy who loves her ice cream.
• Modest Royalty : She doesn't wear anything showy that would identify her as a queen. She's also very informal with the Discovery crew, especially her BFF Tilly.
• Reluctant Ruler : She ran away from Xahea because she didn't feel ready to be queen. Fortunately, a pep talk from Tilly helped her become more self-confident.
• Royals Who Actually Do Something : Invented a means to recrystallize dilithium. She also flies into battle in a shuttlecraft against Control's forces.

Played by: Hannah Spear

• Took a Level in Badass : After surviving her vahar'ai , she leads a squadron of Kelpiens into battle against Control's forces in "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2".

Played by: Bahia Watson (jahSepp form), Claire Qute (Human form)

• A Form You Are Comfortable With : Takes the form of May to gain Tilly's trust. It backfires when Tilly learns that May died years ago and realizes that something sinister is going on.
• Black-and-White Insanity : Since May doesn't fully understand species outside of the network, she considers anything from our dimension that harms her people to be a deliberate attack deserving of death. Tilly manages to educate her before she goes too far.
• Blue-and-Orange Morality : She doesn't understand how non-fungal species work. She's annoyed that Tilly is upset at May's infecting her and misinterprets Culber's attempts to defend himself from the spores as attempted genocide.
• No Sense of Personal Space : In a mental sense. "She" manifests to Tilly in gradually more and more situations until Tilly starts to have a nervous breakdown over the non-stop intrusions.
• Perpetual Smiler : At first, but "she" steadily becomes more angry and insistent in her efforts to get Tilly to pay attention and take action to preserve her home environment.
• Suddenly Shouting : Does this a lot as "her" efforts to get Tilly to do what "she" wants become more frantic.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist : She came to this universe and infected Tilly to put an end to the spore drive because she thought it was harming her own dimension.
• You Cannot Grasp the True Form : Why "May" takes on the form that it does in order to communicate with Ensign Tilly.

The "Red Angel"

• Anonymous Benefactor : The first signal investigated by Discovery was made so someone could find the crashed U.S.S. Hiawatha . The second had them arrive just in time to save a planet from an extinction level event. The third time they visit the location of the signal, they save the Kelpians from continued oppression by the Ba'ul. In the past, the Red Angel appeared to Spock and led him to Burnham when she was lost on Vulcan, and rescued a church full of people from Earth's Third World War just before they'd have been nuked, transporting them to a new planet.
• Color-Coded for Your Convenience : It certainly seems to have a motif of the colour red.
• Connected All Along : As revealed in "The Red Angel", the being is actually Burnham's mother, wearing a suit developed as part of Project Daedalus. Subverted when it turns out that there are two Red Angels, the other being Michael herself.
• Driving Question : Of the second season. What is it, and what are its intentions?
• Grandfather Paradox : The crew eventually determines that the Angel is Michael, based on genetic data and the fact that it only appears when Michael herself will die without intervention. They decide to lure it out by placing Michael in a lethal situation to force the Angel to come back and save her. It works, but it's not actually her (at first).
• Legacy Character : It is eventually revealed that there are two different Red Angels. Gabrielle Burnham appearing only to save Michael's life, and Michael later/earlier using the same technology to lay the breadcrumbs for Discovery's crew and then to take the Discovery into the future.
• Mama Bear : In spite of claiming she has "let go" of Michael out of necessity, she intervenes whenever Michael's life is at risk, and she immediately chews out Captain Pike for implementing a plan that required Michael to actually die , even if temporarily.
• Outside-Context Problem : For Starfleet, as they cannot figure out what could make seven powerful signals appear at once spanning half the galaxy.
• Powered Armor : The Red Angel is a human in a suit of high-tech armor that grants it amazing powers.
• Red Eyes, Take Warning : Or, more accurately, red signals.
• Sufficiently Advanced Alien : Specifically brought up by Pike while discussing the angel. He recalls that Clarke's Third Law eventually picked up another corollary: "Any sufficiently advanced extraterrestrial is indistinguishable from God". As discovered in "The Sounds of Thunder" and revealed in "If Memory Serves", the Red Angel is indeed a human with advanced technology.
• Walking Spoiler : Or, rather, time-travelling spoiler. See Connected All Along .
• We Are as Mayflies : Because of her repeated jumps and her persistent inability to prevent Control from wiping out all sentient life, Dr. Burnham has become very stoic to the deaths and potential deaths of trillions. Even her daughter's, or so she claims.

"The Sphere"

• Clingy MacGuffin : Played with. Once its data is transferred to Discovery , all attempts to erase or destroy the data are foiled. The data encrypts itself to prevent its deletion, and it hijacks Discovery to prevent itself from being destroyed with the ship. Transferring the data, however, is perfectly fine, which is a serious problem because Control wants the data and will do anything to get it.
• Eldritch Abomination : A benign one, but it still appears as a mass of incandescent magma and ever-shifting coiled black tentacles, nearly six hundred kilometers in diameter. It is able to effortlessly draw Discovery out of warp and hold it still until it can communicate with the ship.
• I'm Dying, Please Take My MacGuffin : Seeks out Discovery to communicate all the knowledge it has accumulated in its travels before it dies.
• Simply downloading its archives on Artificial Intelligence can create a sentient entity, as Discovery seems to develop a sense of self-preservation after doing so. In season 3, the computer starts to develop a personality, implicitly leading to the creation of Zora from the Short Treks episode "Calypso".
• Control believes that downloading the data will allow it to evolve into a Mechanical Abomination that can complete its goal of exterminating all biological life. Keeping it out of Control's hands guides the plot of the back-half of season 2.
• Omniscient Database : The Sphere's knowledge encompasses seemingly everything in the galaxy for hundreds of thousands of years. This knowledge allows Saru to learn the truth of the Kelpians and the Ba'ul, and in the third season gives Discovery's crew information on Trill symbiosis when the Federation didn't learn of the concept until a century later.
• Outside-Context Problem : For the crew of Discovery . Saru eventually figures out that ultraviolet radiation bursts being emitted by it are its form of communication.
• Shout-Out : Would not look out of place next to Ego the Living Planet .
• That's No Moon : Looks like a planetoid; actually a spacefaring organism.
• Time Abyss : It's hundreds of thousands or even millions of years old, but it is still mortal, and is in the process of dying when it encounters Discovery .
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom : The knowledge it grants to Discovery and her crew ends up being used by Control, the AI Big Bad of Season 2, to further its own ends.

Played by: Paul Guilfoyle, Bartell LaRue (voice; archive footage)

• Be as Unhelpful as Possible : When questioned about who or even what he is he dances around and doesn't even explain how his door will help Georgiou, only that her current condition won't affect her on the other side. As he explains after the ordeal, it's not a very good test if you know the answer going in.
• Canon Character All Along : Reveals himself to be the Guardian of Forever after Georgiou passes his Secret Test of Character .
• Cigar Chomper : Is constantly munching on a cigar, as seen on the image.
• A Form You Are Comfortable With : Carl is a manifestation of the Guardian made to interact with and test Georgiou.
• Pungeon Master : Loves to make bad jokes. "What do you call a cute portal? A- door -able. A clown held a door open for me. It was a nice jester ."
• Reality Warper : He can appear out of nowhere, send Georgiou's mind back in time and across universes while also sending a physical object back with her, and is nearly undetectable by sensors. He turns out to be the Guardian of Forever, in hiding after the Temporal Wars.
• Trickster Mentor : As suggested by his penchant for jokes and his apparent inability to give a straight answer to people's questions.

The Dark Matter Anomaly (DMA)

• Beyond the Impossible : Everything about it seemingly defies reason. It's larger than anything the Federation has ever encountered, it changes course seemingly at random with no (obvious) external input, and all their theoretical models of what it could be lack elements that it should have. This is because it isn't natural at all: it's a massive piece of technology that someone built and is controlling.
• The Juggernaut : There's no stopping it; it's simply too large to do anything to. The only option is to run. Even if someone destroys the controller at its heart, a more powerful anomaly will appear shortly thereafter.
• Negative Space Wedgie : An especially dangerous one. Planets are insignificant before it and it extends over an area of five light-years. To put that in perspective, the maximum diameter of Earth's solar system is about two light-years, depending on what you consider as part of it. For additional perspective, the distance between Earth's solar system and the Alpha Centauri system is 4.3 light-years, which is less than the anomaly's diameter, meaning that it could destroy multiple systems at once.
• The sheer scale of the anomaly and the gravitational distortions it emits can rip apart entire solar systems simply as a consequence of it passing through the area.
• Furthermore, following the subspace rift it left behind sends Discovery to (as near as they can tell) literally nowhere , with only a trace amount of galactic-barrier radiation to find their way home.

Unknown Species 10-C

Introduced in Season Five

Malinne Ravel

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Screen Rant

Kenneth mitchell’s 4 star trek: discovery characters explained.

The late Kenneth Mitchell was a beloved member of Star Trek: Discovery's recurring cast, playing three different Klingons and one brilliant scientist.

• Kenneth Mitchell's diverse roles in Star Trek showcased his talent and dedication despite battling ALS.
• Mitchell's impact on Star Trek extended beyond his on-screen roles, inspiring his fellow cast and crew.
• The character of Aurellio in Star Trek: Discovery season 3 was created specifically for Mitchell.

The late Kenneth Mitchell was a beloved member of the Star Trek: Discovery cast, playing four different roles between seasons 1 and 3. As well as playing multiple roles in Discovery, Kenneth Mitchell also voiced several characters in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1, episode 8, "Veritas" . In 2018, Mitchell was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurological disease that causes progressive degeneration of the nerve cells in the spinal cord and brain. When Kenneth Mitchell sadly passed away on February 24th, 2024, a statement on his Instagram highlighted his " commitment to living a full and joyous life in each moment " despite the " awful challenges " presented by ALS.

When Kenneth Mitchell was diagnosed with ALS, he first told Star Trek: Discovery cast member Mary Chieffo, who helped him share the news with the wider cast. In response, the Discovery team created the character of Aurellio, a hoverchair user, so they could keep working with Mitchell in season 3. To further honor Mitchell and his impact on the show, Star Trek: Discovery season 4 also featured the USS Mitchell, named in the actor's honor . Although Kenneth Mitchell was taken far too soon, there is some comfort in the fact that his four characters in Star Trek: Discovery will be enjoyed for decades to come.

"I'm Absolutely Gutted": Star Trek Reacts To Kenneth Mitchell's Death

4 kol in star trek: discovery season 1, episodes 2, 4, 6, 8 & 9, the klingon war's blood-soaked general was kenneth mitchell's first star trek role.

Kenneth Mitchell's first role in Star Trek: Discovery was Klingon military and political leader, Kol . Following the death of T'Kuvma (Chris Obi) in Discovery season 1, episode 2, "The Battle of the Binary Stars", Kol seized the chance to secure power. Kol convinced T'Kuvma's followers to abandon his protege, Voq (Shazad Latif) and then solidified his position within the Klingon High Council. However, he still wasn't able to secure absolute power over the Klingon Houses, and so launched a plan to steal Discovery's spore drive technology . It would be his final act, as the Discovery eventually destroyed his ship and killed all hands, including Kol.

It was originally announced that Shazad Latif would play Kol in Star Trek: Discovery , but the actor was actually cast as Voq/Ash Tyler.

Kenneth Mitchell revealed to Star Trek Magazine Discovery Collector's Edition that he wasn't even aware that he was auditioning for a Klingon character. In the same interview, Mitchell discussed how he would spend his time in the makeup chair learning Klingonese . As the extensive makeup for Kol was applied to Mitchell, the actor repeatedly ran his Klingon lines, a level of commitment that paid dividends on screen.

3 Kol-Sha in Star Trek: Discovery, Season 2, Episode 3, "Point of Light"

Kenneth mitchell played l'rell's fiercest political rival..

Kenneth Mitchell returned to Star Trek: Discovery as Kol's father, Kol-Sha in season 2, episode 3, "Point of Light" . Kol-Sha was the fiercest political rival of L'Rell (Mary Chieffo) following her ascension to High Chancellor, and he sought to depose her in the wake of the Federation-Klingon War. Obtaining intelligence that L'Rell had conceived a child with Voq, Kol-Sha kidnapped the infant and held it to ransom. Kol-Sha hoped that L'Rell would step down from the role of High Chancellor to protect the life of her child. Section 31's Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) intervened, enabling L'Rell to kill Kol-Sha and save her child.

Kenneth Mitchell had previously expressed a desire to return to the role of Kol, despite the character's death in Star Trek: Discovery season 1. Mitchell even joked that Kol could come back as a Changeling (via TrekMovie ), but the role of Kol-Sha was the next best thing. It was a memorable role for Mitchell, whose second Discovery character had an important role to play in the ongoing stories of L'Rell, Georgiou, and Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif).

Every Version Of The Klingons In Star Trek

2 tenavik in star trek: discovery, season 2, episode 12, "through the valley of shadows", kenneth mitchell's keeper of the time crystals had much to teach captain pike.

As well as playing the Klingon that kidnapped L'Rell and Voq's son, Kenneth Mitchell played the adult version of Tenavik in Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 12, "Through the Valley of Shadows". Realizing that the child would always be in danger, Tyler left the baby on the planet Boreth to be raised by the monks who protected the time crystals. Those time crystals aged Tenavik in a matter of months, so that he was a grown man when Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) visited the planet.

In an interview on "The Well" podcast, Kenneth Mitchell told Anson Mount that he was offered the role of Tenavik after Shazad Latif's beard interfered with the makeup required to play Voq/Tyler's son.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 12, "Through the Valley of Shadows", Pike is seeking a time crystal to power the Red Angel suit. Tenavik complies with Pike's request but warns the captain of the Enterprise that he may get a glimpse of his own future. Tenavik is arguably Kenneth Mitchell's most important Star Trek role because it's him that effectively gives Pike foreknowledge of his tragic accident.

1 Aurellio In Star Trek: Discovery Season 3

The greatest scientific mind in the emerald chain.

The character of Aurellio in Star Trek: Discovery season 3 was specifically written for Kenneth Mitchell . As Mitchell had become a regular fixture of the recurring cast of Discovery , there was no reason that his ALS should have prevented him from future appearances. As Kenneth Mitchell was now using a wheelchair, the character of Aurellio was written to be a hoverchair user, who had been living with a genetic condition since childhood. To secure him a future, Aurellio's parents appealed to the Emerald Chain, and he was taken under the wing of Osyraa (Janet Kidder).

It's heartening to know that Kenneth Mitchell's final Star Trek: Discovery character is still out there somewhere, working toward a more positive future for the Federation.

Aurellio was eternally grateful to Osyraa, but began to feel conflicted about his connections to the Emerald Chain in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Aurellio refused to torture Cleveland Booker (David Ajala), a decision which effectively severed his ties with Osyraa and the Emerald Chain. A brilliant scientist, Aurellio was given a second chance by the Federation, and was last heard of working with Ruon Tarka (Shawn Doyle) on the spore drive in season 4. It's heartening to know that Kenneth Mitchell's final Star Trek: Discovery character is still out there somewhere, working toward a more positive future for the Federation.

All episodes of Star Trek: Discovery are streaming now on Paramount+.

Star Trek: Discovery

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Star Trek: Discovery is an entry in the legendary Sci-Fi franchise, set ten years before the original Star Trek series events. The show centers around Commander Michael Burnham, assigned to the USS Discovery, where the crew attempts to prevent a Klingon war while traveling through the vast reaches of space.

Star Trek: All Discovery characters ranked from worst to best

Let's celebrate the diverse and dynamic personalities that make Star Trek: Discovery a thrilling voyage into the depths of space and the human heart.

Star Trek: Discovery , an amazing addition to the iconic Star Trek universe , has taken us on a thrilling interstellar journey ever since its debut in 2017. Set roughly a decade before the original Star Trek series , it has redefined what it means to explore strange new worlds and seek out new life and civilizations. With its cutting-edge special effects, complex storylines, and a focus on character development, Discovery has not just captivated long-time Trekkies but also drawn in a new generation of fans. It's a series that boldly goes where no Star Trek series has gone before, intertwining classic Trek elements with fresh and modern themes.

At the heart of Discovery is its dynamic and diverse cast, each bringing their unique perspectives and backgrounds to the Starfleet table. Characters in Discovery  are not just crew members aboard a starship; they are intricate individuals, each with their own struggles, triumphs, and journeys. From the brilliant but conflicted Michael Burnham to the empathetic and wise Saru, the series delves deep into their personal stories, making their adventures in space resonate on a deeply human level. This focus on character depth adds layers of emotional complexity to the sci-fi spectacle, making every episode a rich tapestry of narrative and character exploration.

What sets Star Trek: Discovery apart is its bold willingness to tackle relevant social and ethical issues through its characters and story arcs. The show doesn't shy away from themes like identity, belonging, and the impact of past decisions on the present. Each character, whether human, Klingon, or from another species, brings a viewpoint that challenges and enriches the narrative. Their interactions and growth provide not just entertainment but also thoughtful commentary on contemporary issues.

Let's take a look at all our favorite characters and where they fall when it comes to their fellow crewmates.

Let's fly .

Airiam, the cybernetically-enhanced officer aboard the USS Discovery, not only captivates us with her unique blend of human and technological elements but also touches our hearts with her ultimate sacrifice.

Her distinctive appearance and the hint of an untold backstory draw us into her world, a world that remains shrouded in mystery as we continue going on adventures with the Discovery crew. Airiam, existing at the crossroads of technology and humanity, embodies a storyline brimming with potential in the Starfleet universe but the series only offers glimpses of her full narrative, leaving us yearning to uncover more of her hidden depths.

Amidst her more subtle role, Airiam's presence adds an important layer to the crew's dynamics. Her final act of selflessness, sacrificing herself for the safety of her crew mates, elevates her from a background character to a memorable and heroic figure. Her serene and mysterious demeanor, paired with this brave act, deepens our intrigue about what we could have found out about her and her past. Airiam's character, with its unexplored potential and noble end, invites us to imagine the possibilities and untold tales within the Star Trek universe.

In Star Trek: Discovery , Airiam stands out as a character whose quiet strength and sacrifice resonate with us, reminding us of the profound stories of bravery and selflessness that lie at the heart of the Star Trek saga.

12. Joann Owosekun

Joann Owosekun, affectionately nicknamed "Owo" by her USS Discovery crewmates, stands out as another beacon of untapped potential in the Star Trek: Discovery universe. As a bridge officer, Owo embodies a blend of quiet strength and steadfast reliability, confidently managing her responsibilities with an ease that underscores her competence.

What makes Owo particularly intriguing is the rich lore behind her background, rooted in a Luddite collective. This facet of her character offers a delightful paradox: a life that began in a technology-refusing environment, now flourishing in an environment full of space-age tech. This contrast between her past and present isn't just a mere character detail but a gateway to a ton of stories waiting to be told, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of tradition and progress.

Envision the captivating episodes that could have delved deeper into Owo's narrative: her personal challenges, her victories, and perhaps the internal tug-of-war between her original values and the principles of Starfleet. While we catch glimpses of her impressive physical prowess and tactical smarts, there's an unmistakable sense that these traits are merely the beginning of what Owo has to offer.

With her subtle yet undeniable resilience, Owosekun had the makings of a standout figure, one who could bring both depth and a fresh viewpoint to Star Trek. Her character is like an uncharted star system in the vast Trek universe: partially explored, with countless mysteries still to unravel, leaving fans eager and yearning for more.

11. Keyla Detmer

Every so often, there are characters on TV that intrigue us with a sense of mystery. We don't know much about them, but we want to get to know them. That's where this next character comes in.

Keyla Detmer, the helmswoman of the USS Discovery, presents an intriguing blend of mystery and mastery in Star Trek: Discovery. Wearing a distinctive cybernetic eye implant, she stands out not just for her unique appearance but for her exceptional piloting skills. Picture Detmer at the helm, her hands effortlessly guiding the ship through the vastness of space, weaving through nebulas and dodging asteroids with the finesse of an astronomical ballet dancer. Her role is crucial, yet it's her quiet, understated presence that leaves fans yearning for more.

Detmer's past, particularly the story behind her cybernetic enhancement, is a canvas waiting to be painted. Viewers see her as calm and competent, but the depth of her experiences, the challenges she's faced, and the journey she's traveled to become the officer we see each episode remain shrouded in secrecy. This aura of mystery makes her fascinating. She's more than just a crew member; she's a vault of untold tales, a character whose every appearance on screen prompts many questions.

10. Jett Reno

Played by one of my all-time favorite comedians, Tig Notaro, Jett Reno is a character who lights up the screen with her quick wit and no-nonsense attitude and she also has a delightful presence in Star Trek: Discovery . Although she may not be at the very heart of the main plot, Reno's role is like a dash of spicy seasoning in a well-prepared dish – it's not the main ingredient, but it sure adds a memorable kick. With her sharp one-liners and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving, she brings a refreshing and relatable touch to the high-stakes world of space exploration.

Reno's interactions with other crew members are a source of both humor and insight. She's the kind of person who says what everyone is thinking but is too polite to voice. This straightforwardness, combined with her undeniable technical expertise, makes her an unsung hero aboard the Discovery.

Whether she's fixing a critical piece of equipment or offering a sarcastically witty comment, Jett Reno is a character that adds a unique and enjoyable flavor to the series. Her presence reminds us that even in the far reaches of the galaxy, a little humor and down-to-earth practicality go a long way.

9. Christopher Pike

Christopher Pike, portrayed by the ever gorgeous Anson Mount with a perfect blend of charisma and authority, truly stands out in Star Trek: Discovery. As the captain of the USS Enterprise, Pike is a beacon of leadership and moral clarity in a universe often lurking with complex ethical dilemmas. His presence on the show brings a refreshing throwback to the classic Star Trek values of honor and exploration, making him a favorite among fans who cherish the series' roots, and propels him and his Enterprise crew into the amazing show that is  Star Trek: Strange New Worlds .

What makes Captain Pike so appealing is not just Anson's looks and expressions his unwavering commitment to doing what's right, even when the path is full of challenges. He navigates through the turbulent waters of space diplomacy and interstellar conflicts with a calm and principled demeanor, embodying the ideal Starfleet officer.

His interactions with the crew of the Discovery, especially in mentoring and guiding them, highlight his exceptional leadership qualities. Pike's ability to balance firm decision-making with genuine care for his crew not only cements his status as a memorable character but also serves as a shining example of what it means to lead with integrity and courage in the face of adversity.

8. Adira/Gray

Adira, played brilliantly by Blu del Barrio, and Gray, portrayed by Ian Alexander, are two characters who brought a whole new dynamic to the Star Trek universe. Adira, as a human joined with a Trill symbiont, Tal, is a walking, talking archive of memories and experiences from previous hosts. They're super smart, a bit quirky, and have a knack for solving complex problems – think of them as a puzzle master. Their storyline is not just about space adventures; it's a heartfelt journey of self-discovery and acceptance.

Then there's Gray, Tal's previous host and Adira's beloved. Gray's presence, initially as a supportive ghost-like figure only visible to Adira, adds a layer of emotional depth to the show. His storyline beautifully explores themes of identity and belonging, resonating with many viewers. When Gray gets a chance to interact with others, his warmth and charm shine through, making him a memorable part of the Discovery crew. Together, Adira and Gray represent love, resilience, and the power of being true to oneself, all set against the backdrop of the final frontier. Their story is not just fun and engaging, but it also breaks new ground in a franchise known for pushing boundaries.

They're also so adorable, I can't help but squeal for a second when they're in a scene together.

7. Cleveland Booker

Book, whose full name is Cleveland Booker, is a character who brings a refreshing twist to the crew of the Discovery. With his absolutely gorgeous smile charming personality and a heart as vast as the galaxies he explores, Book is a true standout. He's not your typical Starfleet member – in fact, he's not one at all! Book is an independent courier with a deep love for all living creatures, which aligns beautifully with his unique ability to communicate with plants and animals. This talent not only adds an intriguing element to his character but also leads to some truly heartwarming and sometimes hilarious moments throughout the series.

But what really makes Book shine is his complex background and the personal growth he undergoes. He starts as a loner, wary of trusting others, but as he journeys with the Discovery crew, we see him open up, forming deep bonds, particularly with Michael Burnham. His evolution from a solitary figure to a key team player, who's not afraid to show his vulnerabilities, adds depth to his character. Book is a perfect blend of mystery, charisma, and heart, making every scene he's in captivating and full of potential.

Whether he's navigating through dangerous space anomalies or having a quiet moment with his beloved cat, Grudge, Book keeps us engaged and rooting for him all the way.

6. Sylvia Tilly

Ah, Tilly, Tilly. My favorite in the series and one of my overall favorite Star Trek characters ever written. Tilly isn't just a character on Star Trek: Discovery ; she's a journey we all get to experience.

Starting as a cadet, Tilly might have seemed like your typical eager-to-please, slightly awkward newbie, but oh, how she grows! She blossoms into a truly competent officer, showing us that with a bit of grit and a lot of heart, anyone can achieve their dreams. Tilly's relatability is off the charts .

She's the friend I personally really wish I had, the one who makes mistakes, learns from them, and always tries again, and is there to support you and not judge you while you make the same path of mistakes. Her journey from a wide-eyed cadet to a confident officer isn't just inspiring – it's a tribute to the very essence of Star Trek. It's about exploration, not just of the galaxies out there, but of the potential within ourselves. Tilly's character is a beautifully written reminder of this, and it's no wonder that she's quickly become one of the best Star Trek characters ever.

Her story isn't just about space adventures; it's about growing up, facing challenges, and becoming the best version of yourself. And that's something we can all aspire to, whether we're traveling among the stars or navigating our daily lives here on Earth.

5. Philippa Georgiou (Mirror Universe version)

It's Michelle Yeoh, 'nuff said.

Philippa Georgiou from the Mirror Universe in Star Trek: Discovery is a character who truly turns the tables on expectations. Imagine going from a feared and ruthless emperor, reigning over the Terran Empire with an iron fist, to someone who begins to question and challenge her own beliefs and change. That's the journey of Georgiou, and it's nothing short of fascinating.

What makes her so captivating is this drastic shift in her character. Initially, she's this daunting figure, someone you'd think twice before crossing paths with. But as the series unfolds, we see layers of her personality being peeled back, revealing complexities and even vulnerabilities. It's like watching a diamond being cut from a rough stone – each episode carves out a new facet of her character, showing us that even the most formidable figures can evolve.

Georgiou's transformation is a rollercoaster ride of intrigue, power plays, and unexpected emotional depth, making her an unforgettable part of the Star Trek: Discovery universe. The fact that she's portrayed by Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh is just a bonus – and Yeoh is brilliant,  truly brilliant at what she does.

4. Hugh Culber

Hugh Culber is a character who embodies resilience and emotional depth, particularly after his remarkable resurrection. This event not only adds a fascinating twist to his storyline but also deepens the emotional landscape of the series. Culber, a skilled Starfleet medical officer, is much more than just his professional title. His relationship with Paul Stamets, another key and incredible character, brings a layer of heartfelt intimacy and relatability to the show. Their dynamic is not just a portrayal of a couple in space: it's a nuanced exploration of love, support, and the challenges they face together in an ever-evolving and often unpredictable universe.

Culber's journey, marked by adversity and triumph, resonates with viewers for its humanity and the strength of his character. His ability to navigate personal and professional challenges with grace and empathy makes him a standout in the diverse list of Star Trek: Discovery 's characters.

3. Paul Stamets

Meet Paul Stamets, a character who brings a fascinating blend of brilliance and emotional depth to Star Trek: Discovery . As a mycologist and Starfleet science officer, Stamets stands out with his groundbreaking work on the mycelial network, a discovery that revolutionizes space travel in the Star Trek universe. But it's not just his scientific acumen that makes him a standout. What truly captivates audiences is Paul's deeply personal journey.

Stamets' story is not just about exploring the final frontier; it's about exploring the frontiers of the heart. His loving relationship with Hugh Culber, filled with both tender and challenging moments, adds a rich layer of human depth to his character. Through ups and downs, triumphs and trials, Paul Stamets offers a compelling portrait of a man who navigates the complexities of space, science, and love with equal passion and determination. His story resonates with viewers because it's not just about the stars; it's about the heart.

Saru, the Kelpien Starfleet officer, is a fascinating character in Star Trek: Discovery  who takes us on an incredible journey. When we first meet Saru, he's a by-the-book officer, always cautious and sticking closely to the rules. This isn't surprising, considering his background as a Kelpien – a species known for their heightened sense of danger. But as the series unfolds, Saru transforms in the most remarkable ways. He grows from this rule-following, somewhat timid officer into a wise and compassionate captain, showing us that bravery isn't about the absence of fear, but about facing it head-on.

What's really exciting about Saru's character is how he challenges his own beliefs and limitations. He learns to balance his natural instincts with the demands of leading a diverse crew in uncharted territories. His journey is not just about taking command, but also about discovering his own strengths and embracing his identity beyond his species' characteristics. Saru becomes a symbol of growth and adaptability, proving that true leadership comes from the heart as much as it does from the mind. His story is a blend of personal evolution, courage, and empathy, making him a standout character in the world of Discovery .

1. Michael Burnham

Michael Burnham, portrayed by the incredible Sonequa Martin-Green with compelling depth and nuance, stands at the heart of Star Trek: Discovery . She's not just a character – she's a journey, a story of resilience, growth, and discovery (no pun intended) that resonates deeply with fans. What makes Michael so captivating is her layered personality, combining the logic of her Vulcan upbringing with the passionate heart of a human explorer. She's the kind of person who makes mistakes, learns from them, and becomes stronger, more relatable with each challenge she faces. From her initial status as a mutineer to her inspiring rise as a leader and a key figure in the Starfleet, her evolution is a rollercoaster of emotions, surprises, and triumphs.

Michael's role goes beyond just being a protagonist; she's a symbol of hope and change in the Star Trek universe. Her storylines often tackle complex themes like identity, loyalty, and what it truly means to be human. She bridges worlds and cultures, often finding herself at the center of cosmic conflicts and groundbreaking discoveries. Her ability to maintain her humanity, even in the most dire situations, combined with her brilliant mind and fearless spirit, makes her a standout character. Michael Burnham isn't just a favorite among Star Trek: Discovery  fans; she's a beacon of inspiration, showing us that even in the far reaches of the galaxy, the human spirit can shine bright.

In the amazing journey that is Star Trek: Discovery, each character plays a vital role in weaving the rich tapestry of this captivating series. From Michael Burnham's compelling leadership to Keyla Detmer's quiet yet intriguing presence, these characters bring to life a universe filled with adventure, mystery, and the unyielding pursuit of knowledge. Whether they're navigating complex personal journeys or steering the ship through the final frontier, their stories resonate with fans across the world.

Which of  Star Trek: Discovery 's rich blend of characters are your favorites? 

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Published Sep 2, 2020

Star Trek: Discovery Introduces First Transgender and Non-Binary Characters

Blu del Barrio and Ian Alexander join the cast for season three.

StarTrek.com

CBS All Access, ViacomCBS’ subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, today announced that season three of Star Trek: Discovery will introduce the Star Trek franchise’s first non-binary and transgender characters, furthering the “Star Trek” universe’s ongoing commitment to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision of celebrating diversity and inclusion.

The Star Trek universe’s first non-binary character is Adira, played by Blu del Barrio. Adira is highly intelligent with a confidence and self-assurance well beyond their years. They will find a new home on the U.S.S. Discovery and form an unexpected bond with Lt. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) and Dr. Hugh Culber (Wilson Cruz). The first transgender character is Gray, portrayed by Ian Alexander. Gray is empathetic, warm and eager to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a Trill host, but he will have to adapt when his life takes an unexpected turn.

“ Star Trek has always made a mission of giving visibility to underrepresented communities because it believes in showing people that a future without division on the basis of race, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation is entirely within our reach,” said Michelle Paradise, co-showrunner and executive producer. “We take pride in working closely with Blu del Barrio, Ian Alexander, and Nick Adams at GLAAD to create the extraordinary characters of Adira and Gray, and bring their stories to life with empathy, understanding, empowerment and joy.”

Blu del Barrio is a non-binary actor who uses they/them pronouns. Del Barrio was in their final year of studies at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art when they auditioned for the role of Adira. Del Barrio has been acting in theater and short films since the age of 7, and they’re incredibly excited to make their television acting debut in season three of Discovery .

Ian Alexander is a 19-year-old actor who uses they/them and he/him pronouns. He is best known for their roles as Buck Vu on the Netflix series “The OA” and Lev in Naughty Dog’s video game “The Last of Us Part II.” They are the first out transgender Asian-American person to act on television. They are also an advocate for transgender equality, racial justice and mental health awareness for LGBTQ+ youth.

The third season of Star Trek: Discovery will premiere on Thursday, Oct. 15. New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery ’s 13-episode third season will be available on demand weekly on Thursdays, exclusively for CBS All Access subscribers in the United States.

The First Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Trailer has Arrived

Star Trek: Discovery streams on Paramount+ in the United States, airs on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel and streams on Crave in Canada, and on Netflix in 190 countries.

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• April 25, 2024 | Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Reflects On Its Choices In “Mirrors”

Recap/Review: ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Reflects On Its Choices In “Mirrors”

| April 25, 2024 | By: Anthony Pascale 110 comments so far

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5 – Debuted Thursday, April 25, 2024 Written by Johanna Lee & Carlos Cisco Directed by Jen McGowan

A solid episode with plenty of lore and character development gets weighed down with a bit too much exposition.

No, I didn’t kiss you in the past last week, what makes you say that?

WARNING: Spoilers below!

“Maybe we’re not so different.”

As the crew regroups following the time bug incident that lost them 6 hours, they try to trace the trail of their main rivals in the search for the Progenitor tech. Book takes this time to reflect on the choices he has made in life and how it isn’t too late for Moll; perhaps he can redeem the daughter of his mentor and namesake Cleveland Booker. Stamets and Tilly figure out the trail didn’t disappear into nowhere: Moll and L’ak went through a wormhole. The aperture isn’t big enough for the Disco, so the captain assigns herself to shuttle duty—over the objections of her new XO, who is still struggling a bit. After a little bonding over old Kellerun poetry, she leaves him with “I know you can lead this crew” and heads off with her ex. Returning to their old banter, including some teasing about what happened during her time tour last episode, Book and Michael head through the wormhole. Things get really choppy as they fly through exotic matter “deaf and blind,” losing comms with the Disco, and dodging debris. Skilled piloting and good ol’ Starfleet engineering saves them, but things aren’t so hot for Moll and L’ak, whose ship is spotted cut in half. Their only hope for survival is another relatively intact ship that looks familiar. A 24 th -century scientist hiding a clue in this pocket dimension on a shipwreck from another universe makes as much sense as anything.  It’s the ISS Enterprise—and that’s no typo. If the “Mirrors” title wasn’t clue enough, the ISS does it: Things are about to get Terran, again.

After docking, Michael and Book make their way through the mess of a ship to the bridge with more playful banter. The warp drive has been bricked and all shuttles and escape pods are gone, very out of character for ruthless Terrans. They track three quantum signatures in sickbay, but start with a trace in the transporter room, which looks more like a makeshift refugee camp. A chronicle reveals the crew mutinied after the Terran High Chancellor (aka Mirror Spock) was killed for making reforms. A certain Kelpien rebel leader (aka Mirror Action Saru) led refugees to the Prime Universe, where they abandoned ship. While Book expositions, Michael puts a piece of her badge (and its important Prime Universe quantum signature) in a locket she finds. Pay attention BTW, or you will be confused later. In sickbay, they find Moll and L’ak, Moll and L’ak, and Moll and L’ak—until they take out the holo-emitters so the four former couriers can face off for real. Book tries the “I knew your father” gambit and is immediately rebuffed by Moll’s serious daddy issues. The baddies figure they have the clue so they have all the leverage, but Michael uses that locket as a bluff, claiming she has the real clue. Still, no deal with the Federation is good enough because they need the Progenitor tech to get rid of an Erigah… a Breen blood bounty. That’s right, L’ak is Breen. Holy refrigeration helmet , Batman.

Mirror McCoy was a bit of an evil pack rat.

“You both still have choices .”

Cut to a series of Burn-era flashbacks when Moll was delivering dilithium to the Breen Imperium. The “bucket heads”  are not amused by the wisecracking courier who gets into a fight with one of them, but she turns the tables, revealing she knows he’s a disgraced member of the royal family—and she even knows his name. It’s L’ak, of course. He is intrigued by her plan to skim more latinum, getting payback for being humiliated for this cargo duty demotion. Soon enough, this unlikely pair is hooking up between cargo containers and he even takes off his helmet to show her his face, as well as his “other face.” It turns out the Breen have two: the one we have been seeing with L’ak and a glowing eyed translucent one.  Later, the star-crossed romance is threatened when Moll is drawn to the lure of even more latinum by delivering to the Emerald Chain. Before they can sort out if he should join her, Uncle A-hole shows up, not happy about his nephew’s little interspecies exchange program. He’s also not cool with L’ak using that old face and not the “evolved” glowy face. L’ak is given one chance at redemption: Kill Moll. He picks door number 2, killing some guards but sparing Primarch Ruhn, who declares the Erigah. L’ak knows this means they will never stop hunting him, but Moll is all-in on being a fugitive, so they escape together. Ah, true love.

Back on Mirror Enterprise, the standoff devolves into another quick firefight as the Breen/Human duo chooses not to take the offered off-ramp before going too far down the bad guy road. Moll and Book end up outside force fields that pop up around sickbay, so she reluctantly agrees to a ceasefire. The current Cleveland Booker tries again to connect, but Moll only has bad memories of a brutal childhood of abandonment after her Cleveland left her on her own at age 14. L’ak is all she has. L’ak feels the same about Moll, telling Michael that he would die before being separated, but seems open to the idea of them sharing a cell in the Federation pen. On the bridge, Book pivots to use his relationship with Michael to connect, but Moll’s need to get back to L’ak means no waiting for computer hacking, so she starts yanking out wires. The resulting short does lower the forcefield, but now the ship is out of control. Their shuttle is flung off with the jolt and there’s only eight minutes until the Big E is squished in the little wormhole. Book takes his final shot, handing over his phaser and telling Moll she is the only family he has left. She finally relents and they head to sickbay, where Michael and L’ak have resumed fighting. The captain gets the upper hand and ends up with the clue L’ak was holding and the Breen is left with a knife in his side, but impressed by the locket bluff. Moll arrives and is super pissed, so the Disco duo makes a quick exit before things escalate into yet another phaser fight. This former courier couple’s double date is over.

Uh, can you go back to the other face now?

“Maybe we can shape our own futures too.”

As Moll tries to patch up her boyfriend, Michael and Book work through the problem on the bridge, deciding that the tractor beam as their only hope. Over on the Disco, they detect an oscillating pattern, 3-4-1-4, which means something to Rayner. He now wants the nerds to figure out how to open the wormhole aperture big enough for a ship, offering kegs of Kellerun booze for the best idea. Adira sparks a team effort and Rayner rallies around the crowdsourced solution involving a hexagon of photon torpedoes. “We are only going to get one shot at this. I trust you will all make it count, red alert.” That’s the stuff. With what may be the last seconds of her life, Michael lets Book know she shared a “happy” moment with his past self during the whole time bug incident. Discovery fires the torpedoes and the crew is surprised to see the ISS Enterprise emerge at the last minute from the permanently collapsing wormhole. Everyone releases their tension as the captain informs her crew they saved her… but why is the Enterprise about to fire? A warp pod is launched! It’s Moll and L’ak. Before you can say “plot armor,” they escape to another episode. The captain returns to the Disco to tell Rayner she’s impressed with how he handled the crew during her time away, and he tells her how impressed he was with her subtle “3-4-1-4” message using the Kellerun “Ballad of Krull.” Alien poetry FTW!

In the background of the episode, Tilly has been noticing that Dr. Culber seems out of sorts. Everyone else leans on him, so she offers to be a friendly ear. As things wrap, Hugh takes her up on her offer over drinks at Red’s, admitting that ever since he was possessed by a Trill a few episodes back, he has been feeling a bit off, and he’s beening having some trouble coming to grips with the quest they are on with questions “so big and impossible to grasp.” He is not sure his matter-of-fact husband will understand what Tilly points out is a sort of spiritual awakening. This thread is left unresolved, unlike Adira’s mini-crisis of confidence: They were losing their science mojo due to guilt over the time bug, but got it back through Rayner’s tough love and being the one to come up with the hexagon of torpedoes solution. Things wrap up with Michael and Book looking over their prize, the latest piece of the map and a mysterious vial of liquid hidden inside, ready to set up the next episode once Stamets unlocks its secret. Burnham is starting to see a pattern with these clues and how the scientists who left them were trying to teach lessons along the way to the successful questers. The clue hidden in the ISS Enterprise came from Dr. Cho, a former Terran junior officer who later became a Starfleet Admiral. This happy ending for her and the others from Saru’s band of Mirror refugees fills them with hope as they can’t wait to find out what they will learn when they put the map together. There are just 2 more map pieces and 5 more episodes to go.

I think I have a thing for being possessed—no judgment.

Love stories

This halfway point episode is a bit of a mixed bag. Strong performances were a highlight, bringing extra life to welcome character development for both heroes and villains. But valiant attempts to expand upon franchise lore got weighed down in overly complicated exposition. And for an episode with a strong (and yes, often repeated) theme about choices, some of the directorial choices just didn’t work, potentially leaving some audience members confused or requiring a second viewing to follow the narrative. On the other hand, the episode carried on the season’s reflection on Discovery’s own lore and the evolution of its characters. David Ajala stands out as the episode MVP as he shows Book’s struggle to navigate the emotional complexities of his own choices and those of Moll while desperately trying to forge a new family connection. While some of the action scenes in this episode felt a bit perfunctory, the show is still getting better (for the most part) in finding moments for those character sidebars to talk about their emotional journeys and relationships. That was especially important in this episode, which took a closer look at how the events of the season are impacting some of the key romantic pairings of Book and Michael, Paul and Hugh, and Moll and L’ak.

Eve Harlow—and especially Elias Toufexis—stepped up to add layers and nuance to Moll and L’ak, with Discovery finally embracing how fleshing out adversaries and their motivations goes a long way towards making your plot hold together. The nicely drawn-out reflection of their love story with the rekindling one between Michael and Book adds another layer to the more obvious meaning behind the episode title “Mirrors.” Moll’s single-minded anger and L’ak’s desire for safety now all make sense, as does their unshakable bond. The episode also did a good job weaving in a handful of substories, including Rayner’s growing connection with the crew, with a nice sprinkling of Kellerun lore-building — adding some color to his character. Callum Keith Rennie continues to be a stand-out addition for the season, although Doug Jones is sorely missed, presumably not appearing in two episodes in a row for some scheduling reasons. Culber’s spiritual journey also gets just enough time, as it and these other substories all feel like they are heading somewhere without distracting or spinning their wheels, something that often weighed down mid-season Discovery episodes in past seasons.

Okay, let’s just agree we both have daddy issues.

Under the mask

The reveal that L’ak is a Breen was a surprise, but also nicely teased through the previous episodes. Fans of Deep Space Nine should relish finally getting some answers about this enigmatic race and finally having a first look under those helmets. “Mirrors” picked up on many elements from DS9, including the Breen language, refrigeration suits, neural truncheons, and the position of Thot , while adding lots to the lore, including some worldbuilding behind this new Breen Imperium and its “faction wars.”

Setting the Breen up as what appears to be the real big bads for the season involved a lot of data dump exposition here, surely keeping the editors of Memory Alpha busy for the next week. The notion that Breen have two forms with their signature suits and helmets allowing them to hold the more “evolved” form and face makes sense. If one were to get nitpicky, the Breen aren’t supposed to bleed, but perhaps that was a function of his suit; fill in your own headcanon. L’ak’s desire to hold the other, less evolved form making him a pariah in Breen society has echoes of allegorical episodes such as TNG’s “The Outcast.” That being said, the nuances are still not entirely clear, and fans who like the lore shouldn’t have to rewatch scenes to pick up the details. It feels like some details were cut, perhaps because this episode was already trying to cram in too much exposition with the Breen, Kelleruns (they boil cakes?), and the Mirror Universe.

Like the previous time travel adventure, this was a mid-season bottle show, this time using the conveniently located Strange New Worlds sets. Bringing back the ISS Enterprise was clever and fun, with the twist of how this time the Mirror Universe came to us. If you follow closely, “Mirrors” did a nice job of filling in some lore gaps and tying together the MU storylines from the first visit in “Mirror, Mirror” to follow-ups in Deep Space Nine , Enterprise , and Discovery . There is now a nice throughline from Emperor Georgiou saving Mirror Saru through to Mirror Spock, killed for the reforms he instituted after being inspired by Kirk. However, the redress of the Enterprise sets was not very inspired, with only a smattering of Terran wall sconces and some repainting, instead of demonstrating the brutality of the Empire with elements like agony booths. But what was even more missed was the promise of any character crossovers. There was a lot of talk about Mirror characters like Spock, Saru, Dr. Cho, and others, but we don’t get to see any, one of the many examples of how this episode broke the golden rule to show not tell. There were plenty of opportunities for a flashback or holo recording. Burnham longingly gazing at her brother’s science station is no substitute for Ethan Peck with a goatee.

We’re back!

Final thoughts

“Mirrors” is a decent episode, but it could have been much better with a few tweaks here and there. While not falling into the pointless plate-spinning trap of past mid-season Disco outings, it still dragged a bit for something so jam-packed with lore and revelations. Still, it provided a nice hour of entertainment, and possibly more with rewatches to catch up on the little details. The episode also continues the season’s welcome trend of weaving in the show’s own past, which makes it work better as a final season, even if they didn’t know that when they crafted it. Season 5 hits the halfway mark, and it’s still the best season yet, and hopefully the second half of the season will nail the landing.

Wait, we’re in this episode too? Anyone remember their lines?

• Like the previous episode, “Mirrors” began with a warning for flashing images.
• The episode is dedicated “to the loving memory of our friend Allan ‘Red’ Marceta ,” the lead set dresser who died in a motorcycle accident in 2022.  Presumably the USS Discovery bar “Red’s” was named in his honor.
• This is the first episode where Book’s personal log starts it off.
• Stardate: 866280.9
• Booker examined wanted notices for Moll from the Federation, Orion/Emerald Chain (who have a new logo), and the Andorian Empire.
• Tilly was able to reveal the wormhole by compensating for the “Lorentzian Coefficient,” referencing the real Lorentz Factor used in special relativity equations.
• A new ensign on the Discovery keeps a Cardassian vole as a pet.
• The ISS Enterprise was built at Tartarus Base, possibly referencing Tartarus Prime , from the TOS novel The Rings of Time .
• Moll refers to Breens as “bucketheads” (just as Reno did to Emerald Chain Regulators last episode). This could be a nod to the use of “ bucketheads ” in Star Wars as a derogatory term for stormtroopers.
• Moll’s mother died on Callor V in a mine for Rubindium , a substance first mentioned in TOS “Patterns of Force.”
• Linus can play the piano.
• Breen Primarchs may be a nod to the genetically engineered Primarchs from Warhammer 40,000 .
• How does Book know that Pike’s catchphrase is “Hit it”?
• This is the third (of five) season 5 episodes in which Oyin Oladejo and Emily Coutts do not appear, but their characters, Detmer and Owosekun, are mentioned when they get the honor of escorting the ISS Enterprise back to Starfleet HQ.
• Even though we didn’t see it warp away, presumably the missing intermix chamber was replaced, otherwise Owo and Detmer’s trip is going to take a very long time.
• Tilly says her long day makes her feel like she has been through a Gormangander’s digestive tract.

Remember when Mudd hid inside a Gormagander? Gross.

More to come

Every Friday, the TrekMovie.com All Access Star Trek Podcast  covers the latest news in the Star Trek Universe and discusses the latest episode. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts ,  Spotify ,  Pocket Casts ,  Stitcher and is part of the TrekMovie Podcast Network.

The fifth and final season of  Discovery debuted with two episodes on Thursday, April 4 exclusively on Paramount+  in the U.S., the UK, Switzerland, South Korea, Latin America, Germany, France, Italy, Australia, and Austria.  Discovery  will also premiere on April 4 on Paramount+ in Canada and will be broadcast on Bell Media’s CTV Sci-Fi Channel in Canada. The rest of the 10-episode final season will be available to stream weekly on Thursdays. Season 5 debuts on SkyShowtime in select European countries on April 5.

Keep up with news about the  Star Trek Universe at TrekMovie.com .

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waste of ISS Enterprise

While I enjoyed the episode overall, the ISS Enterprise was a huge letdown and not even worth being an easter egg with what little they did with it. They should have just made it a generic constitution class ship from the mirror universe.

It felt like it was nothing more than a budget saver. Use existing sets from the other show. Which is weird because one of the arguments in favor of mini seasons is it allows more money to be spent.

That’s exactly what it felt like. Along with the missing, yet again, Detmer and Owosekun.

There must have been some deep budget cuts for the season.

Detmer and Owosekun were replaced by other characters so I don’t think they are missing for budget reasons. It’s more likely that the actresses were unavailable.

I get the budget issues considering what’s going on with the studio. But the end result was it showed that there isn’t much difference at all in the 900 years between the SNW Enterprise and the aesthetic of Star Trek Discovery. They both look as if they were set in the exact same era.

And there really shouldn’t be much. Discovery is from the same era, as the Enterprise. While the ship gets a technological upgrade, why would it get an interior design makeover?

Since it was deemed important (Stamets certainly makes since) that the crew stay on the Discovery, I would certainly think that psychologically having its design aesthetics stay similar to what it was would help give the crew a little bit of their past to hold on to, versus having all physical interactions be with a timeline that they aren’t native to.

Now where we should see it is in native places in this time. And we have seen some differences in design from standard Starfleet settings, versus Starfleet settings on this time (I actually wish we got more).

I did wish for a little more of self reflection from Burnham’s point of view as the ISS Enterprise should of course remind her of Spock (the Enterprise tie in), but also Georgiou (the ISS tie in). We get a small brief nod to Spock, but nothing to Georgiou (and while I still question the use of the character, there is no question that Burnham did have a connection with her, even if its primarily transference from her former Captain, not the mirror Universe Empress.

That’s always been my issue with Discovery.

Agreed. The last two episodes just felt very budgeted and basically bottle episodes. And this just felt like a twofer, a way to use an existing set and add a little fan service but that’s all it was. I thought the Enterprise itself was going to be a viral part of not just the episode but the story overall.

Instead it was just a backdrop. And yeah it’s obvious they cut the budget for this season but all the live action shows have felt this way starting with Picard season 3 and SNW season 2. That all felt pretty bare a lot of the times. I guess this was all during Paramount+ belt tightening and probably not a shock why the show was cancelled.

And maybe the I.S.S. Enterprise should have been the refit or maybe the Phase II Enterprise? That would have been a lot of fun but combine a lack of vision with a reduced budget and this is what you get.

Looking back on “In a Mirror: Darkly”, season 4 of Enterprise was dealing with a reduced budget but managed to recreate sets from TOS, introduced a few new set pieces and did a lot of great effects work.

This was a missed opportunity.

Which was added by stretching that story over two episodes, so that they had the budget to recreate the sets they used. Having half the episode count, doesn’t really help avail yourself to planning out a two parter for a way to save costs.

If Picard could pull off recreating the bridge of the Enterprise D for three days of shooting with barely half the budget of Discovery season 5, they could have done something equally as fun for Discovery on the cheap without actually having to building anything new and using the Enterprise as a crutch. They could have come across Deep Space Station K-7, where the exterior would have been immediately familiar and with interiors served by redressed sets from virtually anything available from Discovery or SNW.

I thought Discovery is basically the PII Enterprise?

The Phase II Enterprise looks like a slickly modified version of the Enterprise from TOS, falling squarely between the Enterprise from TOS and the refit. The “Star Trek: Phase II” fan series did a great job bringing it to screen.

No, Discovery resembles the Enterprise concept for the Planet of the Titans movie.

I don’t get that. I never assumed that the Enterprise (or its mIrror Universe history) was going to feature in significant manner (certainly the producers and promotional department didn’t make a significant deal about it). Perhaps it’s the time difference. But I literally assumed it would be as significant as the Defiant going in and out of phase like TOS “Tholian Web” the time difference. And that was primarily set dressing. That’s not a bad thing. I mean Tholian Web is considered one of the better third season episodes.

And the only reason I assumed it was the Enterprise versus another Connie, is simple to give Burnham a moment to reflect on Spock. Now I do freely admit that I wish this was a slightly larger moment. But I never expected it to be anything but a small moment. Roughly my preconceived notion would be something like Spock’s Mind Meld scene with La’an in SNW where she is able to get a peak into Spock thinking about his sister and the emotion that comes with it. It’s a very brief scene, but I thought SNW did a good job in conveying the emotional aspect, especially from a half Vulcan/ Half Human.

Ok fair enough. This is probably more my hang up and to be fair since they never really promoted the the Enterprise being back then clearly they weren’t trying to make it that big of a deal.

But same time a lot of people do feel there could’ve been more done. The main problem is it just feels like a ridiculous stretch this ship itself is even there. It’s a ship from 900 years ago from a DIFFERENT UNIVERSE that conveniently happens to be the ship that gives them their next clue. I know it’s Star Trek so whatever lol. But when you go through the effort to present it I think it would’ve nice to build a bigger story around it. It could’ve just been any ship.

When you feel like the Mirror Universe has been nothing but a let down after the initial TOS episode, It’s really not a surprise. There’s really nowhere to go with it, but I did find that the fulfilling of the promise that Prime Kirk spoke to Mirror Spock about from the original TOS episode quite satisfying. The ship’s inhabitants embraced the benevolence of the prime universe, and I thought that was great.

I felt the idea that the MU people just easily adapted was pretty ridiculous. But then, they admitted SNW was an alternate timeline. It’s not a stretch that alternate extends to all the Secret Hideout productions.

I’m not sure I would feel the same about Picard given it depicts the Prime events of ST:2009. The others tho yeah I think of it that way too. Although The Chase does make that harder to swallow about DISCO

I liked the MU in DS9. It was fun to revisit and a great reminder of the Prime Directive. But… after that it got tiresome.

It was pretty benign there, but the problem with it, is finding it plausible. It was a fun idea in the 1960’s, and it had a good message. After that, it an indulgence. The notion that that the same people would even exist in the same fundamental places, and that the same ships would exist with virtually the same crew just seems like too much of a stretch even for modern Star Trek.

That’s my only complaint about this episode. Seeing the tantalus field show up would have been really cool. When Michael talked about how she was sure that Mirror Spock was a savage just like the other Terrans, I was sure that we would see a recording or something of Ethan Peck in a goatee to prove her wrong. Or flashbacks with Ethan Peck and Paul Wesley as their mirror counterparts would have also been cool.

All the stuff with the Breen and Mol and Lak was really cool though.

“ waste of ISS Enterprise” should be the official episode description.

waste of series

They ate Mirror Saru in season one…

Was that Saru or another Kelpian? It’s been a while since I watched Season 1, but I recall Mirror Saru saving Burnham from Tyler just as Voq’s personality re-emerged. I know Mirror Georgiou served Burnham some Kelpian, I just didn’t remember it being Mirror Saru.

Mirror Saru saved Michael from Tyler in The Wolf Inside, which was the episode that preceded the one in which they ate the food made from a Kelpien (Vaulting Ambition).

Looking at Memory Alpha now, it says that the chosen Kelpien ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVQSipQlJR8 ) was played by someone other than Doug Jones, but they look so much alike that I thought for sure she had chosen Mirror Saru.

As per Memory Alpha, we never saw him again after The Wolf Inside until season three, but that was in the alternate timeline Carl sent Georgiu to, so it wasn’t the same Mirror Saru.

Nope, that was another Kelpien.

“They ate Mirror Saru in season one…”

They didn’t.

Wasn’t Mirror Saru established as having survived in Season 3 (can’t remember the episode name).

A s per Memory Alpha, we never saw Mirror Saru again after The Wolf Inside until season three, but that was in the alternate timeline Carl sent Georgiu to, so it wasn’t the same Mirror Saru.

Loved this episode. I liked seeing the I.S.S Enterprise though i would of loved to of seen maybe a video log of Mirror Spock.

As a big fan of DS9 I’m glad we finally get to see what a breen looks like and the 32nd century breen outfits look great.

I enjoyed seeing Book/Burnham trying to get through to Moll/L’ak and i hope they can eventually get through to them. With this season about connections and 2nd chances i can see Book and Burnham talking both of them down before they do something that they can’t come back from.

The shot of the I.S.S Enterprise coming out of the ‘wormhole’ is probably one of my favorite CGI scene in all of Trek.

I’m glad they didn’t. I think the conceit of using the I.S.S. Enterprise was not much more than a budgetary decision to be able to use the sets. Could have made it a different constitution class, but then they don’t get to tell the story of the crew’s transformation into our society. Just don’t think about it too much.. because that universe is just pushing out its own doppelgängers into our universe.. which seems problematic. lol.

As a big fan of DS9 I’m glad we finally get to see what a breen looks like and the 32nd century breen outfits look great.

Any kind of big reveal was bound to be disappointing, I suppose. Still, the idea that they were just another latex alien was a letdown. I had always hoped that the Breen were gaseous or plasma creatures.

Ethan Peck with a goatee would have been EPIC

“This is the way.” 😉

But seriously that was a pretty good episode. I’d like to see a 31st century restored Terran empire that never went through “the burn.”

“ The reveal that L’ak is a Breen was a surprise ”

It really wasn’t, though. That was many viewers’ guess since the beginning of the season, and it’s been a common discussion on many websites. The surprise would have been if he HADN’T been a Breen.

I am on a lot of other sites and I haven’t heard anyone thinking he was Breen. And I don’t believe anyone voiced that in Trekmovie either.

LOL. It’s been a common theory.

Obviously not THAT common. LOL

I’ve seen the theory mentioned in the comments here on TrekMovie.

Yes, quite common from what I’ve been reading. I just commented on this very site a couple weeks back that I liked the idea, when somebody else theorized it (forget who it was)!

I guess it’s just where you go for these discussions but yeah the first YouTube review of episode one I saw theorized Lak was a Breen in the first scene he was in when he took off his helmet. And this was obviously before the species was mentioned on the show.

So yeah some people caught on the first episode the way others theorized Tyler was Voq the first time he showed up. Others needed more convincing.

I never saw it but I certainly don’t read the majority of comments. And almost never watch video reviews. Now Voq, was something I remember seeing in many places. Though in fairness, the amount of conjecture done about any Trek series for its Pilot and early couple episodes has been in my experience far more than what you see for most regular episodes. So that shouldn’t;t surprise me.

It was a surprise to me.

The Breen being so ordinary looking was a bit of a surprise.

Well, one of their forms are. It explains the frozen wasteland/tropical paradise. Their “evovled” form needs cryo suits, their “normal form” doesn’t

Was a surprise to me. Then again, I don’t run around the internet and over analyze the show.

This season started out so well. What happened? It’s falling apart.

I hate to a agree. But its once again a long slow burn (pardon the bun) that I fear is going to lead to another whimper of a conclusion. I feel like the season could have been a movie instead. Where is Chapel?!

Wrong show. Chapel is on SNW. The ending was rewritten and new scenes were shot to make it a series finale. They had already started shooting when they got the word that it was ending after season 5.

presumably on Her show, SNW?

“pardon the bun” …🍔⁉️

What’d that poor bun do for it to be in need of a pardon? 😋

This is what happens in every single season of Discovery. Two lovers who want to destroy the galaxy so they can get to paradise was the plot of season four, and now they are recycling the exact same plot for this season.

Did you watch the show. In no seasons has two lovers wanted to destroy the galaxy….Period. L’ak and Moll want to pay off their bounty. Nothing about what they are doing is about wanting to destroy the galaxy.

Outside of the destruction caused by the aliens referred to as 10-C, did any character want to destroy the galaxy let alone a couple. The only couple we had, was one person wanting peaceful means of communication to prevent destruction, while the other wanted to use force to ensure the destruction doesn’t occur. In no case does that equal people wanting to destroy a galaxy.

I can understand not liking the show, but to have such a misconstrued concept of the plot of the seasons shows a shocking lack of basic understanding of what the plot and motivations of the characters are.

I mean the show has plenty that one can find legitimate issues with. Thats not one of them.

They want to pay their bounty by giving a weapon of potential mass destruction to the Breen, thus destroying the galaxy, as seen in the time jumps last episode. They want to do that so they can escape to the Gamma Quadrant while the Breen take apart the Alpha Quadrant.

Last season the scientist wanted to let the 10-C species bulldoze the Alpha Quadrant so he could get across the galactic barrier to meet his lover in paradise, without caring what happened to trillions of other lives.

It is the same basic plot point. Your analysis is incorrect, Wood.

I think you’re overreacting a little. As always.

This episode was disappointing and fell flat. The return of the ISS Enterprise from the mirror universe was of no interest. I had hoped to possibility see a video log from Kirk, Spock, or another familiar character. Why not explore other Constitution Class Starships like the ISS Lexington, Hood, or Potemkin? Enterprise, Enterprise, Enterprise. (Sigh)

Maybe cause the enterprise is the trek ship pretty much everyone knows even if they are a new trek fan or a casual trek fan or not even a trek fan it is so engrained and intertwined with the name Star Trek that is why they chose to make it the iss enterprise instead of one of the others you mentioned

Because exploring a random ship isn’t the plot of the episode. It’s basically set dressing. Having it be the Enterprise versus a different Connie, gives it a tie to the lead character and part of her family she left behind. That it sorry wise. Another ship wouldn’t have any emotion aspect to the characters. Now production wise its to save a ton of money, as creating a random ship with multiple settings to take use of takes money (if your trying to give it the same level of production that you see for the primary ship). Now of course they could have just created a redress of an existing set to be random alien ship of the week. Those usually aren’t done to the same level of using the existing bridge set of another show. So it serves a small story purpose (ie a setting), it serves a small character purpose *reflection for Burnham, and it serves a production purpose (having high quality set pieces without having to build or do a serious redress and thus saving some money).

Seems rather obvious, to me.

I’m annoyed by what they seem to be doing with Owosekun and Detmer this season. I assume that the actors are absent because Paramount wanted to pay them less, and that’s poor treatment for characters who have been around since practically the beginning of the series.

“ I’m annoyed by what they seem to be doing with Owosekun and Detmer this season. ”

…as opposed to the previous four seasons, when all they did was sit in chairs and look meaningfully at each other?

Which is all Sulu and Chekov do in the average TOS episode. So yes, it’s aggravating for them to be replaced by other actors who are doing the same thing.

I doubt they are paid exorbitantly as recurring guests. It could be similar to what happened in season 4 and Bryce Ronnie Rowe Jr’s absences – he had another gig.

I have a theory that before it was decided that Disco would be cancelled, they were going to replace some of the characters. I think Owosekun and Detmer were going to be replaced, and also that Rayner would become captain and Burnham would go away to do something else. But then that didn’t work out, and so to us it just makes no sense why those two main characters are suddenly missing.

You might be right — I hadn’t considered that revamps due to cancellation might be involved.

Well… It is what it is . This was easily the worst episode of the 5. Tropes galore and really bad plot contrivances.

It feels like the reshoots for when they got the cancelation news are getting dropped in throughout the season. A lot of scenes appear grossly out of place. It feels like they just aren’t even trying anymore to be honest. As flawed as the show has been one thing that never came across among the other problems was a lack of trying.

I am loving the addition of Rayner and the professional Starfleet officer energy he is bringing to the ship. I also liked when he told Burnham the mission was too dangerous for the captain to go on. He is turning out to be a nice counterbalance to the unusual way Discovery has been run as a Starfleet ship after season 2.

I hope he doesn’t get killed off.

Sorry but this was another big fat ‘meh’ for me. This was very very disappointing. Nothing of consequence happened. We learn Mol and Lak backstory basically and it is cool we learn that Lak is a Breen which has been the leading theory since he showed up but it just felt sooo bare overall. Like another Discovery infamous spinning wheel episode where they do the bare minimum to move the plot along but just through a lot of action scenes and inconsequential dialogue to feel like we were getting any real development.

And the biggest elephant in the room (or dimensional wormhole) was the ISS Enterprise. Such a let down. It almost felt like a gimmick or just shoehorned fan service. There was no real reason it needed to be there other than HEY THE ENTERPRISE IS BACK!

Again one of the problems with this show, no real development just there for another connection. Think about what they did with In a Mirror Darkly on Enterprise. They brought in the Defiant as obvious fan service from TOS but the ship had a very vital part to the story. It helped changed the dynamics of the MU. It wasn’t there just for show like this was. And Anthony made a great point the redress felt like a joke. It just felt like an excuse to use the set but little else.

Here it was nothing more than just a backdrop and a really forced one at that. And the whole Saru thing just felt very contrived.

I did like all the Breen stuff though and hopefully they will be the big bad the rest of the season. I still think they should’ve used the Breen as the main villain for SNW instead of the Gorn but I digress.

But yeah this is probably the weakest one for me which is disappointing since last week is my favorite so far. I’m getting a little nervous now. It’s usually the second half of the season this show begins to falls apart but still open minded. Still enjoying it overall but please don’t end up a tedious bore like last season felt once it got to its mid season.

You have one last chance Discovery, make it count!

I never considered the Breen in SNW before, but that’s a cool idea. Yeah, I would’ve liked that much more than the Gorn.

For me it was literally the first Gorn episode I thought the Breen would’ve been a better idea. You get the same type of stories and it doesn’t feel like it’s breaking any canon like the Gorn obviously does. I ranted enough about it but nothing about their appearance on SNW feels remotely canon anymore.

But the Breen could’ve been a great substitute if they wanted a known species not named Klingons and zero canon issues.

Agreed. I always enjoyed the mysterious quality of the Breen. Seems ripe for exploration.

This season is largely working for me. Not as good as last week, but the chase is enjoyable. I have a little trouble buying that Mol and L’ak fell in love so fast. I would have liked to have seen that handled better.. but the slow burn of the plot works because of what they do to sustain individual episodes. Only episode I thought was kind of wasteful was the one on Trill.

That is a big part of the problem, yes. The characters have little chemistry.

The flashbacks took [place over an extended period of time, it wasnt THAT fast

They both felt like outcasts in their family/society, fusing them together like lightning. I had no problem with that as it gave me a Bonnie & Clyde-vibe which is historical.

It’s fine, but the romance piece just isn’t clicking for me.

Tarka was a similar situation last season with the reveal of his motivation not really moving me, but I’m also not the biggest fan of waiting several episodes to fill in a lot of backstory in a flashback. It’s not easy to pull off, and Discovery hasn’t really perfected it.

It’s a wonder I stuck with Lost as long as I did, now that I think about it.

“ it’s still the best season yet ”

Well, it was for the first two episodes, but the three since then have been a downward spiral. Seasons one and two were much better than this week’s episode and last week’s.

I’ve enjoyed it all except for the Trill episode. I think it’s been fun with a faster pace.. which has helped with a lot of issues that haven’t gone away. Raynor has been a very welcome addition to the cast.

Overall, very entertaining!

For complaints: any other constitution ship would be cool – but I also feel like we don’t know what happens next – there could be some Prime Mirror Universe people out there. & the “hit it!” joke felt like Dad was in the writer’s room.

Otherwise, I the pairings felt very TOS. Rayner is a little bit Serious Scotty when performing a captain’s role. And he took pride in rescuing her – which is feels good.

For me, this season has been 5/5.

Personal Log. Stardate: Today.

Week 4 of not-watching Discovery continues without incident. Opinions gleaned from critics on the latest episode seem to confirm that ‘mid-season malaise’ has been reached right on schedule.

Based on the collective opinion of commentators, there have been a grand total of one episode out of five that qualifies as “actually good”.

In conclusion, it appears the decision to not-watch until the penultimate episode has been vindicated. The plot points I am privy to following the one episode I watched are:

– There is a chase (or ‘The Chase 2.0’) for the Holy Grail / the technological marvel Salmone Jens left behind.

– The Cylon is now the First Officer.

– The Trill and the Robot are no longer together.

All in all, I remain confident that the recap at the beginning of the penultimate episode should be sufficient to fill in all the key points required.

Again, my thanks go out to the resolute souls who manage to endure what I could not.

these threads are for people to talk about the episodes they have seen. CLOSED.

Am I wrong or did the DS9 episode Through the Looking Glass make a reference to the Mirror Spock being on Romulus? Also given all the DS9 cross overs with the Mirror Universe you would think Burnham would have known something more about her brother’s counterpart.

Spock was not mentioned in Through the Looking Glass. We know between Crossover and the new dedication plaque of the ISS Enterprise that he reformed the Terran Empire and was killed for it. Burnham has clearly boned up on a lot of info since coming to this century, but easy to assume the future history of the mirror universe wasn’t part of that. Also, that info could have been lost or been classified.

Wow! The Breen. From CGI to burn victim.

Does anybody think the Commander Rainer is gonna become the Commandant of Starfleet Academy?

Everything involving Book is incredibly tedious. They brought back the ISS Enterprise as a way to resurrect the OG Enterprise in continuity. Perhaps it ends up as the Enterprise Q or whatever, if Saru is in command then ok. Burnham insisting on going on the away mission is diametrically opposed to how TNG dealt with this – e.g., when Riker as captain insisted on boarding the Borg cube in Best of Both Worlds, and his senior officers reminded him his place was on the bridge. I guess everyone got much dumber in the 32nd century, but “dumber” is Discovery’s whole concept.

This post missed an important Easter egg towards the end: Morn was at the bar “Red’s” just like he did on Quark’s on DS9.

We don’t call out or find every little egg, but when the bar was introduced last season we noted the Lurian (Morn’s species), who has been there ever since. We don’t usually do repeated easter egg bits for each episode

Yay! Good seeing the Breen again and their evolved design in the 32nd Century is great.

Boo! Pretty much everything else except Rayner who is the best character in the show.

Imagine they used the Star Trek: Tour set in Trekonderoga for the ISS Enterprise? What a cool surprise that would have been. But nope, we got the generic canon-breaking Discoprise. Not surprised.

I swear if they make the new Enterprise in the 3190s a refitted Constitution, I will facepalm. Just a stupid idea, when you have far superior tech and designs in the future time period. Please don’t, Disco-writers. Bad enough they did it with the Ent-G (one of my few criticisms of the great PIC S3).

Would it have been too much if Dr. Cho was instead Marlena Moreau? Just saying. Kind of like Dax in Jinaal… I feel like they are making all of these deep cuts, why not make them count a bit more to the overall lore, instead of just throwing the ISS Enterprise in with no good reason. Making these deep cuts actually count towards the overall lore might make the obvious (potential) budget cuts, set reuses, etc. be a bit more forgiving. Giving loved characters some finality that affect the course of this in our face galactic scale quest… might make it hit harder? Maybe I’m wrong, I’m sure someone here will think so lol

Overall the episode was okay. I do understand using the ISS Enterprise since this is supposed to be the final season of Discovery it was a nostalgia play and kind of wrap up the history of that ship in regards to the series. But overall it just seems kind of mashed together. Have to see how it ties in with the rest of the season.

I would say this episode along with the one before it were definitely the weakest of the season. They started out with a bang on the first few, and while I know that they tend to slow down in the middle of the season before ramping up the action for the final few, this episode dragged. There were also a few things with the Breen and the Enterprise that seemed a bit confusing:

– The Breen have 2 faces…great! Awesome twist to the species and fantastic to finally be able to see them after all the mystery around them in DS9. If the second face is supposed to be the more evolved one though, why do they need the masks and the suits? Can the more evolved face not breathe in a standard atmosphere? When L’ak and his uncle opened up their masks, they seemed fine, so there’s still quite a bit we don’t know about why they use that whole setup, especially when they’re around their own people

– Does the more evolved form extend past the face?

ISS Enterprise

– The stardate on the commemorative plaque is 32336.6. Popping that number into a couple of online stardate calculators puts that around mid-2355, which would be a few years before the prime universe Enterprise-D was commissioned in 2363. They mentioned that Dr. Cho came back to the Enterprise to hide the clue, so the assumption is that she also placed the plaque there at the same time. The timing doesn’t quite add up though because The Chase took place in 2369. Nobody would have known about The Progenitors or their technology before that, so they were at least 14 years off with the plaque

– If this Enterprise has been caught in extradimensional space since at least 2355, that means it’s been there for over 800 years by the time it’s discovered. How does it still have power?

– It’s been discussed by the Disco production team that the Discovery-era Enterprise was designed so that it could eventually be refit into the TOS Enterprise. The ISS Enterprise was contemporary with Kirk’s version and was seen on screen in TOS in that configuration. Why is the version in this episode the Discovery one? I know the real-world explanation is that it was easier to just re-use that model to align with the sets, but we saw a TOS-era Constitution class USS New Jersey at the Fleet Museum in Picard, so they had that model available to use. Just a bit sloppy

– How did Stamets immediately know that the ship exiting the wormhole was the ISS Enterprise and not a different prime Constitution class ship?

Photon Torpedo

– The solution to hold the wormhole open for the Enterprise to escape was to remove the payload from the torpedoes and replace them with antimatter. Photon torpedoes are matter/antimatter weapons, so this is a little confusing. Are they taking out the matter and just loading them with more antimatter?

I don’t know that it’s been there for 855 years.. not sure if it’s kind of like the Nexus or the black hole in Trek 09, where time does things differently. My guess is, that’s how the people on board were able to integrate into society. Their doppelgängers were long deceased.

Here’s the other thing… if the idea of revolution started with Mirror Spock, and the crew of the Enterprise more or less went along with him.. this is a way of explaining how they didn’t spread the idea to teh rest of the Empire.. they were lost in space and didn’t have much, if any, influence off of their own ship.

But they did spread the idea enough to weaken the empire to the point where it could be conquered.

Yeah I was wondering that also. It’s possible since it was extradimensional space that it didn’t put them in exactly the same time that they left. Also odd that they said Dr. Cho went BACK to the Enterprise to hide the clue. That’s a pretty risky trip unless the wormhole was more stable back in the 24th century.

It is strongly implied, if not explicitly stated, that the wormhole’s instability was caused by the Burn. So, it had to be more stable in the 24th century.

I feel like I’m seeing the same episode over and over, what a waste this series is became.

Great episode! This season has really been fantastic so far. The writing has been consistent, the acting of the principals is fantastic, and the pacing has been great.

I really loved the scenes with Rayner in command. That worked so well!

Loved getting the backstory about Moll and L’ak – it really did add layers to their characters and their story. And the reveal that L’ak was a Breen! I never saw that coming! Was great to know more about the most underdeveloped and mysterious alien race in Trek history.

Seeing the ISS Entreprise was a treat! I am guessing it was lost quite some time after mirror Spock took over from mirror Kirk. Nice Easter Egg… better than having some unknown ship in there.

Looking forward to the remaining episodes.

Did anyone else see “Morn” (or one of his species) sitting at the bar in Red’s?

Yes, I did catch that. It was a fun detail.

Seriously, an episode doesn’t go by without at least one eye roll over the touchy feely huggy share my feeling vibe that is shoe-horned into worst places. I wonder what this series would be like if Bryan Fuller had stayed on…

It would had been .. a Star Trek show, not this happy sad feeling sharing at all costs every single time somebody speaks.

I have a question because I’m really confused:

So discovery originally was set less than a decade before ToS. (And then they ended up far in the future)

The ISS enterprise is a reference to the ToS episode about the mirror universe. So that means the ISS enterprise is a contemporary with ToS and the USS enterprise, which means Dr Cho (who was expressly stated to be Terran) was about back in Kirk’s day.

However the progenitor technology and science in general was only discovered in TNG under Picard and i think it was expressly stated that the scientists that hid this research were originally asked to research it after the discovery by Picard in the first place.

TNG is set in the 24th century but ToS is set in the 23rd century – theirs about a hundred years between them.

So I’m trying to understand the timeline here because at the moment, from what I understand, it’s a human from the 23rd century somehow became a scientist on a study in the late 24th century and then stole the research and helped hide it with her 4 pals.

I thought for sure the Real Captain Lorca would be found in the transporters.

What a waste of an episode… filler and feelings…. Rinse and repeat

What an empty, disappointing episode. Discovery feels smaller and smaller every season.

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Reveals Moll & L’ak’s Backstory — Plus, What’s Next?

Spoiler Alert

Where No One Has Gone Before

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[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for  Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 5 “Mirrors.”]

It’s far from a meet cute and in no way the start of a rom-com, but  Star Trek: Discovery does offer a look at how Moll ( Eve Harlow ) and L’ak ( Elias Toufexis ) first crossed paths and what led them to become Captain Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and her crew’s foes in the latest episode.

“Mirrors” takes Michael and Book ( David Ajala ), who has realized Moll is the daughter of his mentor, into a pocket of interdimensional space and onto the abandoned  ISS Enterprise , where they try to get through to Moll and L’ak with both pairs after the same thing: the next piece of the puzzle that will unlock the ultimate power everyone’s after this season. Book tries to get through to Moll, and L’ak ends up injured. But rather than turn themselves in, as Michael and Book try to convince them to do, Moll and L’ak set off as soon as they get the chance.

Read on for insight from Ajala, Harlow, and Toufexis about this episode, filming on the  ISS Enterprise set, and more.

When L’ak Met Moll

As flashbacks detail, Moll was a courier who met L’ak on one of her deliveries; he was the primarch’s nephew who’d been demoted to shuttle bay duty and ultimately took her side, leading the two to flee and now there’s a blood bounty on them. Both Harlow and Toufexis had hints about their characters’ backstory, but it wasn’t until the script for this episode that they got the full picture.

“I was bugging them for the script to 505 because they told me [the backstory] was [that episode],” Toufexis tells TV Insider of what he says is his favorite episode he’s in. “They gave me a little bit of background so I could play it in the other episodes, but when I saw the episode, I was so happy because I play a lot of bad guys on TV, and more often than not, you don’t get to find out why they’re bad or why they’re doing what they’re doing—not that these guys are bad inherently. The fact that we get to go back and literally show and play everything, almost everything, at least for the reasoning why they’ve made these decisions and why they are who they are—that combined with the love story was my favorite thing about these characters for sure.”

Playing a love story as an antagonist was different for him, he explains. “They very rarely have a counterpart,” he says. “I was really happy that I have this to play, this reason to go on is Moll for L’ak. And that love story is the most interesting part of it for me, just being in love. Especially in sci-fi, it’s really rare, especially for antagonists. I just want to be in love and free is original, I think.”

'Star Trek: Discovery' Stars Tease How Series Ends for Their Characters

Harlow, too, enjoyed getting to “run around being in love” as what she calls her favorite character she’s played. She recalls that the sides she auditioned with, while fake scripts, are situations like in Episode 5. “Every episode that came out was really exciting because we didn’t know what we were getting and [we were] seeing it unfold in such an interesting way and getting more layers,” she says. “These characters are nuanced.”

Can Book Get Through to Moll?

When the episode begins, Book thinks Moll can turn things around and he might be able to reach her, and he does try to do so when they’re split off from Michael and L’ak. But while her father was his mentor, to Moll, he was just the person who left her and her mom.

“It’s like Moll has now offered a bit of a lifeline, someone who’s known Cleveland Booker, who was this Cleveland Booker’s mentor, to kind of understand more about his character, which Book assumed would have been positive,” says Ajala. “But then to hear Moll speak so negatively about Cleveland Booker gives him pause for thought.”

Book wasn’t able to get through to Moll, and Harlow doesn’t think he stands a chance of ever doing so. “Anyone who has mommy or daddy issues knows, it’s years of therapy. I think that those parent relationships are really difficult and I think that always the knee jerk reaction is, ‘No, I don’t want to face it,’ until you’re forced to face it. It’s her own resistance and the way that Moll has survived is with this hatred and pushing away of her father. It would require a complete 180 [and] years of therapy,” she says with a laugh. “Spinoff of Star Trek: Discovery – Moll in Therapy .”

But even so, is that connection to Book something that L’ak might be worried about? Toufexis admits it’s not something he had to consider. “L’ak is very untrusting of anybody, especially people that show particular interest in Moll,” he shares before teasing, “The trust grows more between Moll and L’ak because of her decisions towards Book.”

John Medland / Paramount+

Still, Book isn’t willing to give up on Moll. “This season is all about second chances,” Ajala points out, adding that his character has received one. “He now wants to afford the same grace to Moll. It does get more challenging as the season progresses and it gets more complicated, but I feel that Book just has to try and see it through to make it worth it.”

For Book, the best-case scenario is this ends with “Moll finding favor amongst Starfleet and not going sown a destructive path,” says Ajala, but just because he wants this to work out doesn’t mean that it necessarily will—or that he doesn’t have a line when it comes to her. “If she makes a decision that she would never be able to come back from, that would be really, really sad.”

What’s Next for Moll & L’ak?

Last we saw the two, they were heading off with medical supplies and L’ak was injured. You’ll have to watch to see exactly what’s next but, “he’s fine,” says Toufexis.

As for the next time Book encounters Moll, “there will be drama,” Ajala teases. “It’s a very nuanced, complicated situation, and I think they’re both in very unfamiliar territory, but it’s going to be very important that they make the right decision or it will have a dramatic effect.”

What he’ll probably have to keep in mind is that there doesn’t seem to be anything that could make Moll or L’ak turn on the other and there isn’t a limit to how far they will go for one another. “This sounds so corny, but we only have each other,” says Harlow. “It’s us against the world.”

But that doesn’t necessarily mean they wouldn’t surrender. At one point, Michael tries to convince L’ak to do just that, and he asks if he and Moll would serve their time together.

“I remember specifically playing that and thinking, ‘Okay, he’s looking for at least a way out, recalls Toufexis, “but the end result has to be they’re free and together, or at least they’re together and safe. There are some rules that they both really need people to accept if they’re going to give in, and I don’t think they are.”

Harlow agrees that it would take “freedom and safety” for them to surrender, “and no one’s giving us that, so we have to get it ourselves in whatever way we can.”

Marni Grossman / Paramount+

Filming on the ISS Enterprise

Most of this episode takes place on the  ISS Enterprise , and as a big Star Trek fan, Toufexis was thrilled. Before getting the script for Episode 5, “I had heard a props guy or maybe a set deck guy talking [about] the Enterprise , and I was like, ‘I’m sorry, what was that? We’re going to the Enterprise ?'” he shares, admitting that he did take photos on the set that he will never publish. “I love being on that ship. I was texting my family, ‘Can you believe this? I’m on the freaking Enterprise . This is crazy.’ There’s footage of me at 15 years old doing a Star Trek TV show in my friend’s basement where we built an Enterprise out of cardboard. So the fact that I’m on the actual Enterprise now, that’s pretty crazy.”

Harlow chimes in to share that Toufexis surprised people on set by knowing what all the props were in the first episode of the season (see photo above).

Ajala chose to wait until he stepped on the set to film to see it. “I was quite intentional about that because I didn’t want to become too familiar and take this wonderful set for granted,” he explains. “I literally laid eyes on it when the camera was rolling. One would say that’s a slightly unorthodox way of working, but I found it really, really informative and it was a super special moment to just be in that space.”

What did you think of Moll and L’ak’s backstory? Let us know in the comments section, below.

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Star Trek: Discovery

David ajala, elias toufexis.

Star Trek Discovery’s L’ak Actor Told Us About Learning His Character's Most Exciting Details At A Point When He Couldn't Immediately Freak Out

I would be losing my mind too.

Warning! The following contains SPOILERS for the Star Trek: Discovery episode "Mirrors." Watch the episode with a Paramount+ subscription before hopping in!

Star Trek: Discovery snuck in a significant reveal in its latest episode, and it answered a question that many fans have wondered for decades. We finally know what the Breen look like, and it turns out we've been looking at one almost the entire season. L'ak has the honor of being the first Breen face for fans to see, and actor Elias Toufexis had a great story of geeking out when he first learned about it.

For those who follow him on X , Toufexis is a massive Star Trek fan, but he didn't find out how significant his role as L'ak in the final season was until he was in a spot where, understandably, wild reactions and jerky movements are discouraged. The actor shared the details of when he first found out he was going to be a Breen and how he felt about it:

When I went to the makeup test I had, I had to go put on the whole plaster where you sit there for 20 minutes and try not to pass out, try not to freak out. But I said, ‘Can I look at what I'm going to look like?’ And they showed me some concept art and I said, ‘What is he?’ And they said, ‘Oh, he's, he's gonna be a Breen.’ And I was like, ‘Breen don't take their helmets off.’ That was the first thing I said, that's a much of a nerd I am. And I'm like, ‘Are you telling me I'm gonna be the first Breen that takes his helmet off?’ …The makeup guys are geeks too. So it's like, ‘Yeah, it's gonna be cool. It's gonna be the first time in Star Trek!’ And so that really got me excited.

I can't express how much I love it when a big fan of Star Trek finds themselves in a role for the franchise. Being the first unmasked Breen may not mean a ton to every actor who would get the honor, but I know Elias Toufexis was as enthusiastic as he stated in the quote above. At the same time, what awful timing to figure it out when you're in the makeup chair and have to contain your excitement physically for a set period of time!

The Breen were first mentioned Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1990, and then six years later, the species would make its debut in the Deep Space Nine episode "Indiscretion" but remained unseen until just recently. According to a quote from showrunner Ira Steven Behr from the Deep Space Nine Companion , Breen were originally fully covered up because he "wasn't in the mood" to design a new alien race.

Fast forward to now, we've seen an unmasked Breen on the run from his species with his lover, Moll (who is nothing like Ahsoka 's Shin Hati ). The couriers are searching for the Progenitors' device in hopes they can exchange it with the Breen for freedom and no longer have to live as fugitives.

I'm getting really excited about this.

Michael Burnham, being the inspiring captain that she is , offered to protect L'ak and Moll from the Breen, but her offer was rejected. The two made their escape, are off to continue to search for more clues and, hopefully, evade the Breen capture.

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It is cool to see Star Trek still surprising fans with reveals decades later, and I wonder if we'll see more unmasked Breen in upcoming Star Trek projects going forward. Perhaps whatever comes out of this conflict with the Breen will play a part in the story of the upcoming Starfleet Academy series , which is also set in the 32nd century. I can imagine we'll see at least one or two members of the Discovery cast there, though Mary Wiseman wouldn't spill the beans when I asked. Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying!

Star Trek: Discovery streams new episodes on Paramount+ on Thursdays. We're officially at the midpoint in the final season, so now would be a good time to remember what we've learned so far and gear up for the final episodes.

Mick Joest is a Content Producer for CinemaBlend with his hand in an eclectic mix of television goodness. Star Trek is his main jam, but he also regularly reports on happenings in the world of Star Trek, WWE, Doctor Who, 90 Day Fiancé, Quantum Leap, and Big Brother. He graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Radio and Television. He's great at hosting panels and appearing on podcasts if given the chance as well.

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'Discovery's Elias Toufexis Could Be 'Star Trek's Next Jeffrey Combs

Toufexis and Eve Harlow breakdown their Breen backstory and call the 'Discovery' set the best they've ever worked on.

The Big Picture

• Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 5, "Mirrors," delves into Moll and L'ak's backstory, revealing their love and the price on their heads.
• Stars Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis discuss fleshing out their romance, joining the sci-fi series for its final season, and L'ak's connection to the Breen.
• The duo also praises the Star Trek: Discovery cast and crew for the warm and welcoming atmosphere, with Sonequa Martin-Green leading the way as a fantastic number one.

A few weeks ago, Star Trek: Discovery kicked off the series' final season with a dazzling new mystery and a pair of wildly compelling antagonists. Seemingly out to cash in on the greatest treasure the galaxy has to offer, lovers Moll ( Eve Harlow ) and L'ak ( Elias Toufexis ) have been neck-and-neck with Michael Burnham ( Sonequa Martin-Green ) and her crew as they hunt for clues . This week's episode "Mirrors," sees Burnham catch up with the two as she and Book ( David Ajala ) corner them on an abandoned ISS Enterprise from the Mirror universe.

As the two couples are made to face each other, we also get a glimpse into Moll and L'ak's backstory. Not only do we learn how they fell in love, but we also come to understand why they're on the run — L'ak is a Breen and in their attempt to run away together the duo killed a pair of guards. Now the warlike race has a price on their heads.

Ahead of the episode, I sat down with Harlow and Toufexis to talk about the big reveals in "Mirrors," the complex relationship between their characters, and what they're taking away from their time on Discovery . During our conversation, we also spoke about their personal experiences with Star Trek , when Toufexis learned he would be playing a Breen, and which episodes of Season 5 are their favorites.

Star Trek: Discovery

Taking place almost a decade before Captain Kirk's Enterprise, the USS Discovery charts a course to uncover new worlds and life forms.

Both Harlow and Toufexis have a fair share of sci-fi credits to their names with Harlow having made waves on shows like The 100 and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. while Toufexis appeared in the smash hit series The Expanse as well as having voiced characters in a truly impressive number of video games. When asked what it was like to go from their sci-fi roots to arguably the biggest sci-fi series of all time, Harlow admitted that she'd actually "never seen Star Trek before." She went on to explain, "to me, I was like, 'Oh, cool, another job. Oh, cool, I get to be in space!'"

Meanwhile, Toufexis was a huge Star Trek fan. "And Elias was like, 'No, you don't understand. This is Star Trek .' Even in the sides for the audition, I remember the word “Klingon” being in there, and I'm like, “Wait, how do I pronounce this? What is this?” And on set it was like, “What's a Tribbler?” Harlow joked. "Then Elias was like, 'Okay, let me send you a YouTube video.' So I think for me it was just like, 'Oh, cool. This is fun. This is nice,' and then being told the importance of it by my co-star," she laughed.

For Toufexis, the role was a dream come true. He explained:

"It was great for me. I love sci-fi, and I was happy to do a lot of sci-fi before Star Trek, but yeah, I'm a giant Star Trek fan. Accepting the role was a no-brainer, and I was very, very happy and geeked out every day on set. I would get mad at people who worked on the show who didn't know the stuff that I knew. Not Eve. I would never get mad at Eve."

As actors, both Harlow and Toufexis know the struggle of auditioning over and over for until something sticks. He said, "as an actor, you audition for everything, and you take what sticks, right? That's the nature of the beast." He went on, calling Discovery a career highlight. "So it just happened to be that I have done a lot of sci-fi stuff in my career, so Star Trek is kind of the peak sci-fi . So, it's all downhill from here," he laughed. However, as any good Star Trek fan knows, playing one character is not always the end of the line for an actor in the series. I joked that Toufexis could return on another series in the future, following in the footsteps of actors like Jeffrey Combs and Suzie Plakson , to which he heartily agreed, "I'll play, like, 10 characters."

'Star Trek: Discovery's Moll and L'ak Are Hopelessly Devoted to Each Other

Shortly after we meet these two in the first episode of Season 5 , it becomes very clear that L'ak would do anything to protect Moll, to the point of taking out excessive violence on anyone who threatens her. When asked if that defensive nature was a result of their nature or inherent in them as individuals Toufexis explained, "I think it's inherent in them, but they bring it out of each other. It's a part of their character."

He went on to explain that L'ak was already looking for a way out of his life as a high-ranking Breen when he fell in love with Moll. He said, "I don't know if he was looking for love, but he found it, and then that brought out the guardian in him." He went on to say that one thing he loved about the fifth episode is that, in learning their history, we see that Moll and L'ak are more equals than it seemed in the first four episodes.

"It looks like he's almost her bodyguard, but when they're alone, you see it's not really the case. They're on absolutely equal footing, and he defers to her a lot. He's just protective of her, but she is of him, and that's their love." He went on to explain, " My favorite thing about these characters is their love for each other. It's rare in sci-fi that you have antagonists that have a genuinely good reason to do what they're doing, that I think people would relate to their love and passion for each other and freedom. That's it. We're not bad guys. We just want you to leave us the hell alone." He points out that in this episode, Moll admits they never would have made an enemy out of the Discovery crew if they'd just been left alone, "But you keep on us, and we’re gonna defend ourselves.”

Meanwhile, Harlow explained that the complete devotion Moll and L'ak have for each other is what makes them relatable. She said:

"I do think it's inherent to their nature, and I think that that's what makes them likable, is that there's the love and loyalty there, and they're the first beings in each other's lives that have been, like, he's proven to me that he's worth the love, he's worth the loyalty. Literally, everybody else has either died or betrayed, left. All that stuff. This one being has shown me that it's like, 'No, this is actually where I can store my loyalty, love in this being, and I'm gonna hold on to this being no matter what.' "

With this episode being called "Mirrors," not only for the time spent on a Mirror Universe ship, but for the relationships within, as Moll and L'ak serve as a foil to Book and Burnham. I asked the pair if they felt like their characters recognized themselves in their counterparts. For Toufexis, Book and Burnham are barely even on his radar. He said, "At least as an actor, I never even considered that. I was just like, 'Nah, I don't care about them.' He's very one-track-minded." He then laid out L'ak's priorities, saying:

"At least for me, the way I played it was, 'I just want Moll, and I want you to leave us alone. And if this tech, whatever it is that we may not understand, or even if they understand its power, whatever this tech is, if it could grant us freedom and to be left alone and to just go live our lives in love together, that's all that matters.' So I don't think they're looking and going, 'Oh, they're a lot like us, those two.'"

Meanwhile, Harlow agreed, comparing their characters to "caged animals." She said: "Everyone else are [our] oppressors, and so I don't care what's happening out there. I don't care how similar it is, because ultimately they have the key to the door to freedom, and they're holding here. It’s like, 'Fuck yeah!'"

Elias Toufexis Learned He Was Playing a Breen While Getting His Prosthetics for 'Star Trek: Discovery'

While the Breen have existed since the 90s, having first appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , we know very little about their species. Most notably, we don't know what they look like under their helmets — at least we didn't until this episode. As a fan of the franchise, I had to ask Toufexis if he knew he would be playing a Breen when he first got the role or if he found out when he read the script. He revealed that he actually found out while getting his prosthetics made. But before telling the full story of how he found out L'ak was a Breen, Toufexis took a brief detour to joke about another vast disparity between his Star Trek experience and Harlow's.

He said: "This is a funny story we haven’t told yet. When I auditioned, I knew I was gonna be in makeup because I had already been on the show in the third episode. I played one of the prisoners that's on the show, on Discovery , so I knew I couldn't play with my own face again. I knew I'd be in prosthetics. And I remember, this is like a side thing, but I remember calling Eve and talking about working together, and I said, 'So what's your makeup process?' She's like, 'I don't have any makeup. I don’t have any prosthetics.' 'What? You mean I have to go through five hours of hair and makeup…?'" Harlow chimed in confirming the call, "You were like, 'No, no, no, like prosthetics.' I’m like, 'Yeah, no. Nothing.' And he's like, 'Wait, are you sure?' [Laughs] I’m like, 'I don’t know how to break it to you, but no.'"

He joked that he was "hoping we were both gonna have 2:30 a.m. calls and all that kind of stuff," before diving into how he learned he'd be playing a Breen. He explained:

"But when I found out that he was a Breen was when I went to do the first step of the prosthetics. Being a giant Star Trek geek, I said, 'Can you show me what I'm gonna look like?' Because they’re doing that thing, the plaster mold, where you have to sit there in 20 minutes and try not to have a panic attack. But at that session, I said, 'Do you have any art of what he's gonna look like?' And they showed me, and I said, 'Do you know what race he is?' Because I think I had heard that he was a new race, or an unseen race, or something like that. And they said, 'Yeah, he's a Breen.' I was like, 'Wait, Breen? They don’t take off their helmets.' My geek mind starts going. Then they're like, 'Yeah, you're gonna be the first time that this race is revealed in Star Trek,' and that really got me going. I was like, 'Oh, okay! Let's plaster me up. Let's do this.' And somehow I got through it. But yeah, I was really excited to find that out. Especially [because] Deep Space Nine to me is, like, I love Deep Space Nine . I know the Breen they talk about in TNG a little bit, but Deep Space Nine to me is, like, one of my favorite shows ever, not just Star Treks shows. So, the fact that I was gonna be involved in that. We kind of delve into Deep Space Nine , so I was super happy."

Moll and L'ak Aren't Villains — They're Just Antagonists

In "Mirrors," Moll and L'ak become much more fleshed-out characters as we get a glimpse into their history with each other. Much like the revelation with the Breen, I had to ask Harlow and Toufexis if they had made up any backstory for their characters prior to learning the roots of their love story when they got the script for this episode. Harlow explained that they really only fleshed out the basics like how long they'd been together. She pointed out that sometimes if you make up a backstory for your character it can get entirely undone by the narrative. She said: "The thing is, you could create a backstory, and then you get the next episode and it’s like, 'Ha, joke’s on you. Totally wrong. Everything that we thought…' So, at least this is the way that I work, it's like, 'Okay, what are the stakes? This person is my everything.' That’s just how I’m gonna play it. "

"In terms of the flashback, I mean, it was fun," she grinned. "This might sound really vain, but looks-wise, what did she look like back then? I’ve just got to shout out to the hair and makeup and costume team. Freaking amazing. Such talented people, and also so collaborative, and talking about all this, and being excited about it as well. I think this is what was really cool about the show. Literally every single person is so excited about what they do. Like the props people, they're like, 'This is so awesome,' and then you're like, 'Yes! This is so awesome.'"

Despite not being a Star Trek fan before joining the franchise, Harlow explained that she couldn't help but fall in love with the whole team. "So even though, again, I did not know Star Trek , you can't help it. It's infectious when you're surrounded by that energy, and so it's like, 'Oh, cool. We get to explore our characters’ backgrounds and be in this Breen world.'" She went on to say, "seeing the sets is insane. That screen, the wall, is incredible. You step into the space and you're like, 'Whoa, people created all of this and I get to be a part of it? Incredible.'"

Toufexis was thrilled to get an episode so heavily dedicated to Moll and L'ak's motivations. Having played his fair share of TV baddies , he noted that this is the first time he's gotten to play out the why of what his character is doing himself. He told me:

"The backstory was the best part for me because, I've said this before, but I play a lot of bad guys on TV, and very often it's other characters that are just explaining why my character is doing what he's doing, or make a line thrown here or there, like this is what happened to me, so this is why I'm doing this. Whereas with L’ak, I got to play it. I got to go back and play how he got to where he is, and the great thing is it's justified. What I hope is that the people who watch Episode 5, when they rewatch, they go, 'Oh, yeah, everything they're doing they have a right to do. They're not bad. They're just the antagonists.' I don't mind if they call us villains for promotional purposes, but I’m kind of like, 'They're not villains.'"

Harlow chimed in saying, "They have hearts of gold, okay?" To which Toufexis doubled down on Moll and L'ak's desire to just be left alone.

Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis Reveal Their Favorite Episodes of 'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 5

Again, as a pair of Trekkies, I had to ask Toufexis about the incredible experience of getting to actually spend time on the bridge of the Enterprise in this episode. Naturally, he was delighted. He told Collider:

"Well, you can imagine. I've already said I'm a super nerd. And also, The Original Series , that's what I watched growing up . I'm not that old, my dad had them all on tape — so I'm old, but I'm not that old. My dad had them all on tape in the ‘90s, so I watched them over and over and over again, and the movies, especially. So, for me, that was my introduction to Star Trek was the Kirk Enterprise, right? Even though I know this is not the Kirk Enterprise, but Kirk's on it. So being on that ship, I know story-wise it was the ISS Enterprise, but I'm still like, 'This is the Enterprise. I don't care what decals they put over this. I'm sitting on the Enterprise.' I went and took secret pictures of me on the bridge and stuff like that. I was just freaking out, man. I was like, 'This is like the coolest thing.' How can you not freak out being a fan of something and then suddenly getting paid to be there? It's pretty cool."

While she didn't have any personal connection to the sets herself, Harlow understood the importance through Toufexis' experience. "I had him explain all this to me," she laughed. "It's like this is my very own Star Trek Wikipedia sitting next to me. I'm like, 'Okay, cool, noted. Thank you.'"

When asked what their favorite episodes of Discovery Season 5 were, Toufexis decidedly chose the one we all just watched. "Five for me, for sure," he said, though he was sure to give some praise to the rest of the season as well. "There's a couple of episodes coming up that are really good, too, but for me, it's five because of that, the background and getting to play the background. It's kind of their big episode that reveals everything about her. So for me, it's five. " Meanwhile, Harlow set her sights on the series finale, saying, "I forget which episode it is, but it's later, it's either Episode 9 or 10, and I don't think I can say anything. I'm not gonna say anything, but yes, there is one I like."

The 'Star Trek: Discovery' Set Is Unlike Any Other Thanks to Sonequa Martin-Green

While this is Harlow and Toufexis' first season of Discovery, it's also the show's last. As I noted in my review, despite the writers not knowing Season 5 was the end, they somehow managed to bring the story to a full circle moment. And Toufexis felt the exact same way, he said, "You know what, I was just thinking about this morning. I was thinking about how it's somehow in this weird… The TV gods… Because the episodes that were already written before they knew it was gonna be the last season have this feeling of closure in this weird way, right?" He went on to explain, " Like Episode 4, where they go back and see themselves in the past. That is something that you would do when you would be ending a show, or Doug [Jones], Saru, going off and having these new chapters. That's something you would do when you would end the show. So, it’s this weird kind of thing that happened where it almost was fate that it was going to be the last season . I don't know if that is a sad note or something, but it just worked so well."

"So what I hope people take out of it is just this great feeling of closure of this amazing five years that these people have done. I mean, I'm a fan of the show and I've watched every episode. You're sad that it's ending but at the same time it's ending so well that you just kind of hope everybody just really enjoys the ride of this last season and then looks at everything as five years of what this show actually accomplished, which if you step back and look at it is a lot."

While Harlow admitted that she hadn't "thought about it that deeply, but ultimately I just want people to like it." She had nothing but high praise for series star Sonequa Martin-Green , saying: "The first thing, I stepped on set and everyone, Sonequa was so kind and so welcoming. Every single person on that set was wonderful , and one of the first things that I was told was, 'Welcome to the family.' I just want people to like it, to deserve that title of being in the family, if that makes sense."

For these two, working on Discovery was unlike any other set they'd ever worked on. "I would like to piggyback off of that," said Toufexis. "Eve has worked a lot, I’ve worked a lot, and this is one of the best sets you could work on. From Sonequa and down to the crew, to Michelle [Paradise] and Tunde [Osunsanmi], and all those guys, Alex Kurtzman. You just end up going like, 'All these people are nice.'"

The vibes on set were amazing from the start, to the point that Harlow could hardly believe it to be true, certain that at some point the magic would wear off. However, the warm, familiar atmosphere never faded. She explained:

"When I started, I was like, 'There is no way that this lasts for six months. There's no way.' Because people get stressed. It's just like being on sets — it's chaotic, there’s so many people. And, oh my god, until the very end people were so kind. I feel like a fangirl when I talk about it, and I feel like I've talked about it so much, but it's just because it's lasted, and it just shows what a set can be like. We had this thing, crew appreciation, which is like every single day, a different crew member would be clapped for, and throughout the day, if you saw this crewmember, you could just start clapping for them. So that means that by the time we finished filming, everybody knows everybody's names and what they do and has an appreciation for everybody's job. I've never seen that on any set. And it didn't get in the way of us finishing days. I know that some people are like, 'Oh, it takes time to do this care and appreciation.' Yes, it takes time. It’s, like, 30 seconds, and it lifts everybody's spirits. Anyway, yeah, it's great."

Toufexis confirmed that the source of those good vibes without a doubt comes back to their fearless leader. "It's Sonequa’s set," he said. "Sonequa was the number one, and she's the best number one I've ever worked with. Hands down. Just [the best] of the whole show. She's amazing. I could never say enough good about Sonequa." And Harlow couldn't help but agree: "Every single time I see her, I’m like, 'Sonequa, I love you so much!' I know I'm gushing again for the 50th time, but yes."

"Mirrors" is available to stream now on Paramount+ . New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery hit the platform every Thursday. Stay tuned at Collider for more.

• View history

Ash Tyler was a male Human Starfleet officer who lived during the mid- 23rd century .

A moving-photo of young Tyler fishing

Tyler was raised by his mother , a third grade teacher at Issaquah Elementary , twenty-four kilometers outside of Seattle , Washington . He never knew his father , but his mother told him that he " didn't miss much there. " ( DIS : " Lethe ")

While Tyler was attending Starfleet Academy , his mother took her first vacation in twelve years . On her way to the moons of Grazer , she was killed by a rogue comet . ( DIS : " Lethe ")

Tyler owned a boat and a lake house near Lake Shasta in California , on Earth , and enjoyed water skiing when out on the water. ( DIS : " Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum ", " Will You Take My Hand? ")

Prior to the Battle of the Binary Stars in 2256 , Tyler served as a lieutenant on the USS Yeager under Captain Steven Maranville . He was captured by the Klingon Empire there and held captive. ( DIS : " Choose Your Pain ")

His memories and personality were used in the genetic transformation of Voq as part of a plan by him and L'Rell to infiltrate the USS Discovery as a sleeper agent . ( DIS : " The Wolf Inside ")

Appendices [ ]

Background information [ ].

In an interview with IGN, actor Shazad Latif explained, " Yeah, I think L'Rell used a captured soldier. She took this guy and then used his body and his brain and his memories, with all the skill she has as a conscious[ness]-transferring scientist. It's amazing. It was an ongoing conversation from very early, because, you know, stuff changes completely in ten months as you write [….] So ideas that were originally there in episode one might have completely changed, I think. So there was always different people's views, or producers – you know, different people going, maybe this or this. And, everyone wants to understand the science of it anyway. But, yeah, that was the basic essence of it, that it was more like how it's done. But originally the idea was the same, that he was laid over the top of this core Voq body, and slight, certain organs were put in. And then the transfer of consciousness and memory. " [1]

External links [ ]

• Ash Tyler at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• Ash Tyler at StarTrek.com
• 3 ISS Enterprise (NCC-1701)