‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Recap – ‘Mirrors’ – Nerds That Geek

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Recap – ‘Mirrors’

4/26/2024

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Elias Toufexis and Eve Harlow as L’ak and Moll in Episode 505 of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ – ‘Mirrors’. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount+)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 505 of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

One particular aspect of the human condition that we ponder upon often in this life, is what motivates people to commit acts that one could consider to be sinister or evil. Because we simply don’t understand how people that live in a mostly decent world, make the decision to impart harm and go routes that embrace darkness. So, we deeply think upon the why and what we’ve learned is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Since some do it because they fear not leaving a mark, fear being nothing… so it is better in their mind to just let loose and make the history books in the worst way possible. While others are slowly transformed into monsters through means that no one could have expected, since fate can be cruel in that manner.

All of which are indeed sorrowful and ugly reasons to harm others, but none are more heartbreaking and devastating than coming to learn that some people turn their backs on the rest, because they feel alone and abandoned. And that hurts because in this vast sea of people, it is quite the ugly accomplishment to not feel that connection and not feel as though one matters. If anything, their story feels preventable and as though their course can be corrected, and that particular reason for why people turn and why it is so devastating and painful to ponder upon, is top of mind today… simply because it was explored in the next episode of Star Trek: Discovery on Paramount+. A feat that ‘Mirrors’ accomplished in the simplest and most impactful way imaginable.

In that, the intrepid crew of the U.S.S. Discovery, came to learn that the next clue was hidden in a strange wormhole that did not appear on standard scans, one that Moll and L’ak found their way into. Which prompted Captain Burnham to take Book with her into that void to find the clue and reason with Moll and L’ak if they were still within its confines, of which the odds were good. And once inside this strange place, they discovered that Moll and L’ak endured some tough times inside the wormhole. For their ship was badly damaged and there was a good chance they used quite the surprise for survival. In that… somehow the I.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, from the Mirror Universe, found its way to this place at this time and since it was intact, it was logical that L’ak and Moll would be hiding within its hull.

Sonequa Martin-Green and David Ajala as Captain Michael Burnham and Cleveland ‘Book’ Booker in Episode 505 of ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ – ‘Mirrors’. (Photo Courtesy of Paramount+)

Which was a theory that proved to be true and that led… to a few big moments. The kind that featured a love and hate relationship between our heroes and our villains. Since they were in this mess together and had to work as one to solve a few surprise problems that the Enterprise sent their way. Plus, we came to learn that this iteration of the NCC-1701 escaped the fallout of High Chancellor Spock’s passing and the fall of the Terran Empire to become a vessel of hope, much like her Prime counterpart. And of course, our heroes won the day and were able to get the clue and eventually bring the Enterprise out of the wormhole and into the potential service of Starfleet in the 32nd Century. So perhaps at long last… we will see a refitted Enterprise in an era that does not seem to have one in service, which is just fine since Starfleet always needs a Big E.

But that aside, it is what happened in the quieter and simpler moments of this story that speaks to the central theme we discussed a moment ago. Because that is where we were able to learn about how L’ak and Moll met, and how they both felt abandoned and unimportant in this life. For Moll’s dad chose the next generation of Book over her and L’ak was Breen Royalty regaled to the lowest rungs of his family’s ladder. Which left them both filled with conflicted and angry emotions, the kind that came to life when they discovered their love for one another. Which spoke to the fact that all that takes to make the abandoned act and do horrible things a la this duo… is a spark. Something where they think they can find and feel agency, and what better way to do that, in this instance, than to give the power of creation to those who they felt wronged them and nearly robbed them of all agency.

Which makes their story as tragic as can be and makes them… that sorrowful lost cause that clearly Captain Burnham hopes can be saved with kindness. As to whether that is the case, time will tell, so in the meantime, we can celebrate one smart tale. One that offered up a very human story, one that we deeply relate to since we’ve either known folks like L’ak and Moll or been them briefly before finding that sense of belonging and the wonder of this story didn’t end there. After all, this is also a story that finally informed us that L’ak is Breen, confirming at last what they look like, and of course, you can never go wrong with an Enterprise on screen and well, now that the clue is in hand, it’s onto the next one and another opportunity to try and repair two badly broken souls. Until next time.

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