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Who is Vina in Star Trek? Melissa George reveals how she reshaped the classic role for Discovery

Credit: CBS

In the very first Star Trek episode ever, the original pilot titled “The Cage,” Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter) fell in love with a human castaway named Vina (Susan Oliver). Thanks to the illusory powers of the big-brained Talosians, Vina took many forms, and one of them was, famously, a green-skinned dancer. Now, five decades after “The Cage,” Vina is back, minus the green skin but still rocking a killer pair of high heels.

The latest episode of Star Trek: Discovery , "If Memory Serves," dropped a huge surprise for old-school Trek fans as Vina casually strolled up on the surface of the planet Talos IV to meet Spock and Michael Burnham. In Discovery, Vina is played by accomplished actress Melissa George, famous for her work on Alias and The Good Wife .

On the eve of Vina’s big comeback, SYFY WIRE spoke with George about her super-secret role, how she approached playing such a beloved character, and why the set of Star Trek: Discovery is “the real thing."

**SPOILER WARNING: Spoilers ahead for Star Trek: Discovery Season 2, Episode 8, “If Memory Serves.”**

As the start of the new Discovery episode lovingly recaps, “The Cage” originally presented Vina as the sole survivor of the crash of the SS Columbia , a survey ship sent out from Earth a few decades before the USS  Enterprise finds its remnants on Talos IV. Because of this crash, Vina is horribly disfigured, though her outward appearance is stunningly beautiful, a permanent telepathic illusion maintained by the Talosians' mind powers.

“My first costume was Vina deconstructed ,” George says, referencing the scene in the new episode in which Burnham briefly glimpses Vina’s true appearance. “The makeup team told me we would show her badly damaged and then beautiful again.” Part of Vina’s illusion of beauty is connected to her love for Captain Pike, but in the new episode, George says it’s also suggestive of her own personal confidence. You might think Vina is a damsel in distress; George is quick to point out that nothing could be further from the truth.

“When you first see Vina with that perfect blonde hair and that perfect blue eyeshadow, you think, ‘Oh, she’s a bit off with the fairies.’ But she’s actually got such gravitas and is in fact very strong and grounded,” George explains. “So I decided I was going to embrace being a woman, with all her beauty and the hair, and those high heels, and being comfortable in my own skin. And that’s how I am in my own life, too. I think that women often get perceived in a certain way. If you’re ‘too pretty,’ you’re perceived as maybe not being smart enough. So, no, she’s not a victim. She’s everything, this woman. She’s clearly a woman in love, too. So [I] decided to be comfortable and strong with it."

Vina (Melissa George) with Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) on Talos IV (Credit: CBS)

Vina’s love for Captain Pike is central not only to the new episode's storyline but also to the fate of both her and Pike in the future. Back at the start of the new season, Pike actor Anson Mount told SYFY WIRE that he was out to make Pike’s tragic disfigurement in the original series episode “The Menagerie” into “a victory and not a tragedy.” And now, with Vina’s return to the Star Trek mythos, part of that starts to make sense. When Vina appears to Pike midway through the new episode, begging him to come to Talos and rescue Spock and Burnham, it’s very clear Pike is still in love with her and misses her terribly.

Of course, in “The Menagerie,” after Pike’s brain is totally cut off from his body, he and Vina actually get the happy ending they're longing for in Discovery . At the end of "The Menagerie," the Talosians give Pike and Vina the illusion that both are living perpetually in their youthful, undamaged bodies forever. Basically, the future of Vina and Pike’s relationship in Star Trek canon is exactly like Yorkie and Kelly in the Black Mirror episode “San Junipero,” only with telepathy instead of technology.

In preparing for the role of Vina, George says she watched the original performance by Susan Oliver and reveals that she actually re-recorded some of the classic dialogue from “The Cage" for the new Discovery episode. “They did put some of my voice on top of hers to kind of meld the two together,” she says. “I couldn’t recreate her acting because so much has changed the way we act today. There’s a different kind of inflection. But I wanted to watch it and pay homage to her and the way the character felt.”

Vina and Pike's happy ending is in 'Discovery's' future. (Credit: CBS)

Unlike the very public announcements about Ethan Peck , Anson Mount, and Rebecca Romijn returning as iconic Trek characters Spock, Pike, and Number One, respectively, George was unable to tell anyone about her role as Vina in Star Trek: Discovery . Unless, of course, you count French journalists during fashion week. She jokes that she gave “very obvious hints” to bewildered fashion journalists who had no idea what she was talking about, but for the most part had to stay quiet.

“I hated it!” she says, laughing. “But, at the same time, it is a gem of a role. When I had to walk on the shuttlecraft and I saw Spock, I had a little giggle to myself. It was so exciting to play in that world. Everything on these sets is for real. I assumed all the rocks and water for the alien planet would be added in later by special effects. But no! There were 15 trucks bringing in the boulders! And adding the water! To my eyes, this was one of the most glorious sets I’d ever been on. Everything you touched was real.”

At this point in the Trek timeline, Pike and Vina won’t meet for another 10 years, when Spock steals the Enterprise to bring his ailing former Captain back to Talos IV in “The Menagerie.” But thanks to this episode, fans now get another piece of the puzzle: Pike and Vina had been thinking about each other for years and years, and now we have proof.

Because Pike and Vina's storyline is more or less set, Melissa George doesn’t think she will return to Star Trek: Discovery again, but isn’t ruling it out either.

"So far ... this is it,” she says. “Which means nothing! Vina could come back again. But, if not, I think she’s said everything she needs to say."

• Star Trek: Discovery

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Why Star Trek: Discovery's Melissa George Could Return To The Franchise After AppleTV+'s The Mosquito Coast

Actress Melissa George took on a seemingly small role when joining the Star Trek: Discovery universe for Season 2, though within the overall scope of the franchise, her role as Vina could prove to be quite substantial . Vina's story as Pike's future lover on the planet Talos was already well-established in Star Trek: The Original Series , but it sounds like the character's tale could possibly be further expanded upon in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (or elsewhere) if she is ever able to reprise her role.

CinemaBlend recently spoke with Melissa George about her upcoming AppleTV+ drama , The Mosquito Coast , and our discussion about that streaming series inevitably led to her role in Star Trek: Discovery . I asked George whether or not any producers from the Star Trek world had contacted her about reprising her role as Vina for an upcoming series or anything like that, and she confirmed there were indeed discussions at one point. In her words:

There [were] talks earlier on for me to reprise the role, but I think it would probably be like more of a bigger role? And at this point, I’m not sure, which is pretty sad. But we’ll see where that goes.

Melissa George confirmed that further Star Trek conversations were had, and not only about simply returning as Vina but seemingly for a larger presence than what her brief appearance allowed in Star Trek: Discovery . While she could obviously return to that series in some capacity, it's not the most likely eventuality. Given the character's ties with Anson Mount 's Cpt. Christopher Pike, my assumption is Vina's return would be best if it happened in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds , which is currently in production on Season 1. Giving Vina a larger role in that series would make sense, given Pike learned of his eventual fate and future with Vina through wielding a Klingon time crystal. So the canon is already in place, sort of.

Unfortunately, it sounds like the possibility of Melissa George returning to the Star Trek franchise is still very much up in the air, though it's not entirely clear why the initial conversations dissolved. Any number of reasons could be in play, from shifts in the creative team's narrative decisions to scheduling conflicts limited George's availability to jump back into her sci-fi role. As mentioned, the actress was promoting her upcoming Apple TV+ project The Mosquito Coast , which co-stars Justin Theroux and is set to premiere on Friday, April 30.

Though unsure whether or not she'll be able to return to Star Trek in some capacity, Melissa George spoke highly about her brief time working on the Star Trek: Discovery set. One element she specifically marveled over was the quality of the physical sets around her, as she'd assumed before joining the series that much of the Discovery sets and locations were digital creations.

I already was the one that did the remake of the original Vina, which was such an honor and great part to play I would say. I flew in just for 2-3 weeks that’s all I could do because I lived in Europe. It was an iconic experience for me. It was everything you could imagine and the sets just blew my mind. I was touching things thinking it would be fake or not real but the quality, the marble, the columns, and when we were shooting outside, the spaceship, walking on the rubble. I thought it would be special effects, but no! They brought in trucks with the rocks and all of that environment.

Melissa George had a great time on Star Trek: Discovery , and it seems like she'd be just as pumped to get a second chance to appear the franchise again. Whether it would happen in Strange New Worlds or elsewhere, I'm sure fans new and old would be eager to see where Vina's story could go from here. Keep your fngers crossed, or perhaps keep them outstretched into the Vulcan salute , all things considered.

Melissa George will star in The Mosquito Coast , which premieres on AppleTV+ Friday, April 30. Be sure to check that series out when it premieres, since it'll be a while before we see new seasons of Paramount+'s originals like Star Trek: Picard .

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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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Melissa George on taking on the role of Vina in “If Memory Serves”

By d. goodman | mar 13, 2019.

Actress Melissa George recently spoke about taking on the role of Vina in Star Trek: Discovery and how she paid homage to Susan Oliver.

Last week’s episode of Star Trek: Discovery had already promised to be not only a key episode of the second season but to firmly tie Discovery into the larger Trek mythos. And on both counts it wildly succeeded.

“If Memory Serves” not only expanded on Spock’s role in the search for the Red Angel, it also put a spotlight on his relationship with his foster sister Michael Burnham. It also featured the return to the world of Talos IV, which any Star Trek nerd worth his combadge knows was featured in “The Menagerie” which itself used footage from the original Trek pilot “The Cage.”

The episode was filled with Easter eggs and callbacks to “The Cage” which was widely expected. What wasn’t expected was the return of a character no one thought we’d ever see again.

The appearance of Vina, played by Melissa George in “If Memory Serves” came as a complete shock to almost anyone. The character, originally portrayed by Susan Oliver in “The Cage” is the only survivor of the crash of the SS Columbia which leaves her horribly disfigured. However, thanks to the Talosians, Vina will still always be beautiful due to their telepathic abilities.

Eventually Vina and Pike fall in love, and in “The Menagerie” they are reunited on Talos IV, both able to remain young and beautiful for the rest of their lives together.

George, best known for roles in Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Wife , spoke to SyFy about taking on the role and how she approached bringing Vina to life.

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"“When you first see Vina with that perfect blonde hair and that perfect blue eyeshadow, you think, ‘Oh, she’s a bit off with the fairies.’ But she’s actually got such gravitas and is in fact very strong and grounded. So I decided I was going to embrace being a woman, with all her beauty and the hair, and those high heels, and being comfortable in my own skin. And that’s how I am in my own life, too. I think that women often get perceived in a certain way. If you’re ‘too pretty,’ you’re perceived as maybe not being smart enough. So, no, she’s not a victim. She’s everything, this woman. She’s clearly a woman in love, too. So [I] decided to be comfortable and strong with it.”"

George also talked about keeping the return of Vina top secret so that viewers could enjoy the surprise of the character’s return.

"“I hated it! But, at the same time, it is a gem of a role. When I had to walk on the shuttlecraft and I saw Spock, I had a little giggle to myself. It was so exciting to play in that world. Everything on these sets is for real. I assumed all the rocks and water for the alien planet would be added in later by special effects. But no! There were 15 trucks bringing in the boulders! And adding the water! To my eyes, this was one of the most glorious sets I’d ever been on. Everything you touched was real.”"

New Images and trailer for Star Trek: Discovery S2E9. light. Related Story

While it’s doubtful we’ll see Vina again on Discovery , the fact George did such an excellent job bringing the character back to life was a real treat for Trekkers everywhere. And there can be no doubt now that Discovery is indeed a part of Trek canon. And Melissa George played a big part in that.

The second season of Star Trek: Discovery continues every Thursdays on CBS All Access .

Melissa George

Series: Discovery

Character(s): Vina

Melissa George is an Australian-American actress who played Vina in the Star Trek: Discovery second season episode “If Memory Serves”.

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Privacy Overview

• View history

Vina was a female Human civilian in the 23rd century . ( TOS : " The Cage ")

• 1.1 Living on Talos
• 1.2 Reunion with Spock and Pike
• 1.3 Spock's trial
• 2 Appearances of Vina
• 3 Memorable quotes
• 4.1 Appearances
• 4.2.1 Preliminary descriptions
• 4.2.2 Performance
• 4.3 Apocrypha
• 4.4 External link

Biography [ ]

Living on talos [ ].

Vina was listed as a crewman on the SS Columbia in 2236 . Her ship was carrying scientists from the American Continent Institute on an expedition to the Talos star group . The same year, she was the sole survivor when the survey ship crashed on Talos IV . In the aftermath, she was brought back to health by the Talosians .

Vina piqued the Talosians' interest in the Human species, and this prompted them to lure the USS Enterprise to the planet in 2254 , hoping to find a mate for her. They selected Captain Christopher Pike , and through a series of illusions, attempted to induce him to remain on the planet and begin a family with her, in an attempt to learn about Human sexuality and companionship.

Vina as she first appeared to Pike

When the Enterprise crew demonstrated that they would prefer death to life in captivity, the Talosians declared Humans unsuitable for their plans to reclaim the surface of the planet. After the crewmembers beamed up, Vina expressed that she wanted to remain with the Talosians, who then allowed Captain Pike to see that her youthful beauty was an illusion. She explained she had nearly died in the crash and that the Talosians, who had never seen Humans, had had no guide in repairing her smashed body. Hunchbacked, severely scarred , but in good physiological health, she preferred to retain her illusion of beauty on Talos IV rather than live among Humans and die away from the planet. Back aboard the Enterprise , Pike told the crew nothing of what he had just seen, saying only that Vina was remaining with the Talosians and that he agreed with her reasons. ( TOS : " The Cage ")

Reunion with Spock and Pike [ ]

Vina reveals her true appearance to Burnham

Three years later in 2257 , Vina greeted Spock and Michael Burnham after their shuttle landed on the planet. She was able to provide them with a set of transporter coordinates to enter into the computer to beam to the caverns below. There, she assisted the Talosians with restoring Spock's mind, and acted as a liaison between the two and the Talosians. Later, she appeared to Captain Pike aboard the USS Discovery to allow him to communicate with Spock and Burnham below the surface. She followed the two to the surface as Discovery approached the planet, and as Pike and Section 31 operatives were attempting to retrieve the two from the surface with a transporter, she appeared to Pike one final time, and convinced him to break off the attempt, which was a ruse to trick Section 31 into thinking they captured Spock and Burnham. ( DIS : " If Memory Serves ")

Spock's trial [ ]

Footage of her encounter with Pike and the crew of the Enterprise during the original visit to Talos IV, from 13 years prior, was transmitted from that planet during Spock's fictional court martial aboard the same ship in 2267 . Upon the Enterprise 's return to Talos IV, it was determined that she was still alive, a fact that had prompted Spock's return of the crippled Pike. The Talosians utilized the same illusion techniques they used on Vina to restore Pike's own youth and mobility, and he and Vina were last seen beginning a new life on Talos IV. ( TOS : " The Menagerie, Part I ", " The Menagerie, Part II ")

Appearances of Vina [ ]

As a result of the Talosians' mind tricks, Vina appeared in several forms during Pike's illusions.

Memorable quotes [ ]

" You appear to be healthy and intelligent, captain. Prime specimen. "

" But they found it's a trap. Like a narcotic. Because when dreams become more important than reality, you give up travel, building, creating. "

I'm a woman as real and as Human as you are. We're like Adam and Eve. "

" No, please! Don't punish me! "

" A person's strongest dreams are about what he can't do. "

" Vina? H-How…? " " I'm not used to you being afraid of me. " " Used to me? " " It's a lot to digest. There's something I need to say. When you came to Talos, I'd been alone for so many years. I never imagined happiness or love. And when the Talosians decided we were…unsuited for each other…when you left, it was worse. Because I knew what I'd lost. "

" I thought about you-- us -- often, and wished that you would have come with me. " " Chris, I didn't need to. That's what I'm trying to say. They brought you back to me. Not the real you-- it's illusionary, of course-- but the part of you that still lives inside of me. We spent a lifetime together. " " I'm glad...I'm glad you're not alone. " " All this time, you kept me sane. Kept me tethered to what I once felt. Even though I was never the person you thought I was. " " You didn't deceive anyone, Vina. I felt it, too. But you're here now. This is real. " " As real as it needs to be. "

" Let your friends go. It's the only way. Let them go. Let us all go. Trust me. " " Goodbye, Vina. "

Appendices [ ]

Appearances [ ].

• " The Cage "
• " The Menagerie, Part I " (archive footage)
• " The Menagerie, Part II " (archive footage)
• DIS : " If Memory Serves "

Background information [ ]

Vina was played by actress Susan Oliver in " The Cage " and by actress Melissa George in " If Memory Serves ". Archive footage of Oliver's apperance was featured in " The Menagerie, Part I ", " The Menagerie, Part II " and the teaser of "If Memory Serves". George has confirmed in interviews that she overdubbed some of Oliver's original dialogue in the teaser.

Preliminary descriptions [ ]

In the first draft story outline of "The Cage", Vina was initially described as "provocatively lovely, showing […] few effects of the ordeal". In the scripts of "The Cage", Vina was at first characterized thus; " Although her hair is uncombed and awry, her make-shift dress tattered, she is still a remarkably beautiful young woman. Supple, tanned, barefooted, she looks more like a woodland nymph than the survivor of a harrowing ordeal. " The scripts went on to describe her as having "a graceful young animal quality", which was highly seductive, and a "spectacular figure". In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the scripts, Pike (named "April" in the first draft and "Winter" in the final draft) likened Vina, in this form, to a "little animal", considering how wild she seemed.

In regard to when she appears in the simulation of Rigel VII (which was named Rigel 113 in the episode's scripts), the installment's first draft script described Vina thus: " She wears a gown suggesting a medieval era, but torn and stained as if she has been for some time fleeing and hunted. " In the same scripted scene, the frightened Vina's pleas for Pike (named, at that stage, Robert April ) to save her from a Kalar were initially spoken in Rigelian , until the captain persuaded her to speak in English again, as she had when they first met. In the episode's final draft script, Vina was instead scripted to be wearing "a feudal-level dress, [her] hair braided and long". Not only was she no longer referred to as wearing a "torn and stained" garment, but she also spoke English throughout that draft of the script.

The silver-colored costume Vina wears mostly through the episode was described as "a simple garment of the Talosian material" in the scripts for "The Cage". Similarly, the outfit she wears in the parkland near Mojave was described as "casual Earth garb" in the episode's scripts.

Performance [ ]

Preparing to perform Vina's first scene in "The Cage", Susan Oliver has her costume adjusted by William Ware Theiss

Oliver's Orion slave girl make-up is tweaked by Fred Phillips

Initially, Susan Oliver was not of a mind to accept the role of Vina, as the actress, exhausted from a previous filming assignment, was looking forward to a holiday in Hawaii. However, Gene Roddenberry adamantly wanted her for the part of Vina, and to this end, he asked Studio Executive Oscar Katz to put pressure on her. " Although I'm usually not that charming with women, I talked her into taking the part, " said Katz. " Part of the appeal was that it was going to be very easy. She could knock it off 'just like that', " he added, snapping his fingers. Yet, Oliver's part was anything but a snap of the fingers, due to the elaborate makeup sessions she had to undergo in order to show Vina's various manifestations. ( Star Trek Creator: The Authorized Biography of Gene Roddenberry ) "The Cage" Director Robert Butler stated, " I remember Susan's transformation was certainly laid out and discussed and worked out ahead of time, and then it was very time-consuming to do, of course. " ( The Star Trek Interview Book , p. 100)

Vina's scenes from "The Cage" were filmed on Friday 4 December 1964 , and between Tuesday 8 December 1964 and Friday 18 December 1964 at Desilu Culver Stage 15 , Stage 16 , and on location at the "Arab Village" section of the 40 Acres backlot.

Oliver was aware she had to play several incarnations of Vina, including that of the Orion slave girl . " One of the unique things about this job was I wasn't really a dancer, " Oliver recalled. " They had a choreographer work with me a solid week, every day, before I began filming. There were different facets in this role, and the green girl was most challenging. " A bit to her surprise, it was not her lack of dancing skills that gained attention, but rather her appearance, when she, for the first time, appeared on set in her Orion slave girl attire. " The usual 'hi, Suse' banter was gone; the guys stood back and stared or averted their eyes as though it were immoral to look at such a woman. There seemed almost a sense of their whispering, 'Wow, Susan's not such a nice girl after all, she's maybe wild, evil.' Even before the dance began and I was just standing demurely to the side, this feeling was in the air. Gene has touched on something dark in man's subconscious; one could imagine doing things with a green mate that he would never dare with someone his own color. " ( Starlog , issue 135, p. 78)

Still, despite experiencing some challenges with the part, Oliver reveled in portraying Vina. " The show was a very special experience and it was fun to do the wild dance; It also meant hard work. Believe me, it was not easy to be green, " she concluded. ( Starlog , issue 135, p. 78)

Apocrypha [ ]

Vina's story is told in the Pocket TOS novel Burning Dreams .

The TOS comics " Door in the Cage " and Future Tense reveal that she and Pike had a son in 2275 , Phillip Joshua Pike ( β ).

Vina's mirror universe counterpart counterpart ( β ) was mentioned but did not appear in the short story "The Greater Good" contained in the anthology Shards and Shadows . Very similar to in the prime universe, the Talosians had used a distress call to lure the ISS Enterprise to the planet with the intention of having its captain, Christopher Pike , mate with Vina, so as to create a race of Terran slaves. However, Vina was rejected by Pike, as he refused to mate with an "insipid Human female."

External link [ ]

• Vina at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
• 3 USS Antares (32nd century)

How Star Trek: Discovery resurrected a classic character in latest episode

"I wanted to watch it and pay homage to her and the way the character felt."

The actress joined the series as Vina, who was first portrayed by Susan Oliver and actually appeared in the first-ever episode of Star Trek as the human castaway lover of Captain Christopher Pike (Jeffrey Hunter).

She's played in Star Trek: Discovery by George, and the actor recently revealed the cool ways she worked with the production team to resurrect the character, which included Melissa re-recording some of Vina's dialogue from the fist Star Trek episode 'The Cage'.

Related: Star Trek: Discovery has been renewed for season 3 with another behind-the-scenes change

"They did put some of my voice on top of hers to kind of meld the two together,” she told SyFy .

"I couldn’t recreate her acting because so much has changed the way we act today. There’s a different kind of inflection. But I wanted to watch it and pay homage to her and the way the character felt."

The actress also played homage to the original character through her costume choice, but she also pretty much ruled out a possible return as the character further down the line.

Related: Here's why Star Trek: Discovery' s empowering costumes are gender neutral and "open for all"

She added: "So far ... this is it.

"Which means nothing! Vina could come back again. But, if not, I think she’s said everything she needs to say."

Star Trek: Discovery airs on CBS in the US and on Netflix in the UK.

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Star Trek: Discovery Season 2 Episode 8 Easter Eggs & References

Did you catch all of these Star Trek references in Star Trek: Discovery "If Memory Serves"?

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If there are still DISCO -haters out there who believe that Star Trek: Discovery  is somehow not “real”  Star Trek , the latest episode will almost certainly disprove that insane claim. In the eighth episode of Star Trek: Discovery   Season 2 , Burnham and Spock hit up Talos IV, and a bevy of old school Trek references follow them there.

Here are all the Easter eggs and Trekkie shoutouts in the super-retro adventure, “If Memory Serves.”

Intro is a cheeky re-cap of “The Cage”

Though this is fairly obvious reference, the beginning of this episode of Star Trek: Discovery simply starts off with the words “previously on Star Trek,” and establishes the basic story beats of the first Trek pilot episode, “The Cage,” using actual footage from the ’60s.

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In terms of chronology, “The Cage” happens in 2254, and the current season of Discovery  happens in 2257, so, canonically, Pike and Spock last visited Talos IV three years prior to this episode of Discovery . Also, the new Vina — actress Melissa George — recorded some of Vina’s dialogue for this recap, which was subtly merged with the performance of the original Vina actress, the late Susan Oliver.

Tons of Vulcans in Starfleet references one specific original series episode

When Georgiou and Leland talk to Starfleet Command about the whereabouts of Spock and Burnham, one of the admirals is a Vulcan woman. At this point in Trek history, there are actually a ton of Vulcans in Starfleet. In fact, in the original series episode “The Immunity Syndrome,” an entire starship — the USS Intrepid — is crewed only by Vulcans. Maybe this Vulcan admiral made that possible?

Andorian Admiral first appeared in the Mirror Universe

In the same scene, there’s an Andorian admiral played by actor Riley Gilchrist. This characters name is “Shukar,” who actually appeared in Trek canon as a Mirror Universe version of himself before he showed up as his Prime Universe counterpart.

In Season 1 of Discovery , Gilchrist’s first episode was the episode “The Wolf Inside,” where he played Shukar as a member of the rebels (led by Mirror Voq) fighting against the Terran Empire. Then, in the same season, he appeared as his Prime Universe self in the episode “The War Within, The War Without.” In that episode, he beams on the bridge of the Discovery with Admiral Cornwell and Sarek, phaser in hand.

Talosians were warp capable

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When Burnham’s shuttle gets close to Talos IV, the computer casually reads her all sorts of fun facts about the planet. Specifically, that the Talosians were warp-capable at some point, 1,000 years in the past. Though this was never specifically mentioned before, it does make some amount of sense. Still, the idea of the Talosians warping around the galaxy is pretty scary.

Singing plants

When Burnham steps onto the surface of Talos IV, she touches the singing plants almost exactly the same way Spock and Pike do in “The Cage.” The sound effect is also exactly like the one in the original series, which, is an eerie alien planet sound effect used in several other original episodes.

The biggest throwback reference in the episode, is perhaps the most obvious. In a huge surprise, actress Melissa George plays Vina, the sole survivor of the crash of the spaceship S.S. Columbia from “The Cage.” In this episode, Vina mentions that an illusory version of Pike has been living with her on Talos IV. This references the ending of “The Cage,” but it also foreshadows the ending of “The Menagerie.” In that original series episode, Spock takes a crippled Captain Pike to Talos IV where he can live the rest of his life with Vina, both of them safe in the powerful illusion that their bodies are still functioning.

Classic sound effects

In addition to the singing plants, the episode is covered in classic sound effects from the original series. When the Talosians appear and disappear, the sound effect is nearly identical to “The Cage.” And, later, when Burnham and Spock seem to be transported up to the Section 31 ship, the transporter sound effect is briefly augmented by the a version of the transporter effect used during “The Cage.” At that point in time, Star Trek hadn’t settled on which sound effect was the right one for “beaming” sound effect. And, at the very end of this episode,  Discovery layers both sound effects on top of each other.

Vulcan’s Forge

When Spock recounts the memory of Michael Burnham running away, he mentions that fact that she went deep into “Vulcan’s Forge and its many dangers.” This references the episode of The Animated Series called “Yesteryear,” but also the Enterprise episode “The Forge.” In “Yesteryear,” we see young Spock run away from home, and is nearly killed by several predators. And in “The Forge,” Captain Archer traverses the surface of Vulcan with the katra of Surak inside of his mind.

Spock’s beard

When Burnham makes fun of Spock’s beard, it’s easily one of the best moments in what is otherwise a pretty tense episode. Spock’s beard in this episode could have two indirect references. The most obvious is that in the Mirror Universe, episode “Mirror, Mirror,” Spock rocked a goatee, something that Dr. McCoy said he prefered saying, “You know I think I liked him better with a beard.”

But, it’s also possible that Burnham is making subtle reference to Spock’s other half-sibling, the Vulcan zealot, Sybok, from Star Trek V: The Final Frontier . Because Sybok is probably older than Spock, it’s possible Bunrham never met him. Sybok’s father was Sarek, but his mom was not Amanda. Still the important thing here is Sybok had a beard, and maybe Burnham knows that, and this is a secret burn against the other Vulcan brother neither of them want to remember.

Needs of the many

Burnham mentions “the needs of the many,” on Talos, which, of course, references Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan .

Spock’s crazy drawings are reminiscent of Captain Sisko’s alter ego in Deep Space Nine

In one flashback, we see Spock at the Starfleet medical facility, drawing the seven signals all over the floor. This is vaguely like a scene from the Deep Space Nine episode “Shadows and Symbols,” in which Captain Sisko briefly believes he’s in a mental institution, and in the guise of Benny Russell, the science fiction author from “Far Beyond the Stars.” This might seem like as stretch, but consider this: that same DS9 episode also featured Sisko and Ezri Dax wearing desert robes nearly identical to the ones Burnham and Georgiou wore in “The Vulan Hello.”

Reno’s robots cleaning up the mess

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After Tyler and Dr. Culber’s big brawl, the dining room of the Discovery is a total mess. Luckily, we see the three little robots that Reno (Tig Notaro) built in the first episode of this season, “Brother,” helping straighten things out.

Does Detmer knows that Airium isn’t Airium?

In the previous episode, “Light and Shadows,” we clearly saw the future probe download its program into Lt. Airium. But does Detmer know what’s up? For a second, after the Spore Drive has been sabotaged, it seems like Detmer sees Airium acting suspicious.

Burnham’s insult to Spock reference’s a Captain Kirk clone

In the big flashback scene, we finally witness what went on in Spock and Burnham’s childhood. Basically, Burnham insulted Spock, so he would leave her alone forever, with mixed results.

The choice of insult is a huge reference. Tellingly, Burnham calls Spock a “half-breed,” which is exactly what Kirk calls Spock in the original series episode “What are Little Girls Made Of?” In that episode, right before Kirk is about to be cloned against his will, he starts muttering this “Mind your own business Mr. Spock, I’m sick of your half-breed interference!”

Kirk’s plan is simple: he would never call Spock something so offensive, but if he transfers the phrase to the clone, it tip-off Spock that the clone is not the real Captain Kirk. At the end of the episode, Spock says this “Frankly, I was rather dismayed by your use of the term half-breed, Captain. You must admit it is an unsophisticated expression.” Did Kirk know that Bunham called Spock a “half-breed” as a kid? It’s possible!

Ryan Britt  is the author of the book  Luke Skywalker Can’t Read and Other Geeky Truths  (Plume/Penguin Random House). You can find more of his work  here .

Ryan Britt is a longtime contributor to Den of Geek! He is also the author of three non-fiction books: the Star Trek pop history book PHASERS…

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Star Trek: Discovery - Captain Pike Reunites with Vina on Talos IV

“If Memory Serves,” Season 1, Episode 8

“Horribly injured in an accident, Vina was put together by the aliens of Talos IV incorrectly, meaning that her beauty is only as deep as the illusions that flourish on the planet. Captain Pike is her dream man, who the aliens bring to Talos IV hoping he’ll stay. When he doesn’t, they make an illusion of him, which keeps Vina company until he’s injured himself (rescuing children, naturally) and Spock brings him back to stay.” — 13 Of Star Trek's Most Romantic Moments, Ranked

Star Trek: Discovery streams exclusively 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.

Screen Rant

Moll & l’ak: star trek discovery actors eve harlow & elias toufexis explained.

Facing off against Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery, Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis star as Moll and L'ak in Star Trek Discovery season 5.

Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

• Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis play Moll and L'ak, a dangerous duo challenging the crew of the USS Discovery in season 5.
• Moll has unexpected ties to Book's mentor and is determined to achieve her goals.
• Elias Toufexis plays L'ak, Moll's tough and impulsive partner whose origins are a mystery.

Star Trek: Discovery introduces Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis as Moll and L’ak, mysterious and dangerous lovers who challenge the crew of the USS Discovery. Recurring characters in Discovery’ s fifth and final ten-episode season, Moll and L’ak face off against Starfleet on an epic adventure to find the power to create life itself. Discovery 's wicked new adversaries hide secrets of their own and allude to a greater threat. Formidable and dangerous, Moll and L’ak are partners in crime, desperate to claim the prize for themselves and they will stop at nothing to get it.

Eve Harlow and Elias Toufexis join Callum Keith Rennie as the new faces of the Star Trek: Discovery season 5 cast . Rennie stars as Starfleet Captain Rayner of the USS Antares, while Harlow and Toufexis’ Moll and L’ak build on the show's intricate and developing character relationships and multilayered narrative, adding mysterious and unexpected backstories of their own. The dangerous duo offers an unrepentant ambition and deceptively charismatic intrigue to the interstellar adventure, willing to stop at nothing to get what they want. Here’s a look at Discovery season 5’s nefarious bad guys and the actors behind the characters.

The Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

Eve harlow plays moll in star trek: discovery season 5, harlow's moll shares a "bonnie and clyde" relationship with elias toufexis' l'ak.

Malinne "Moll" Ravel is one half of the Star Trek: Discovery season 5 antagonistic duo. Moll is a highly intelligent human with strong strategic skills and a sharp wit who can quickly adapt to any situation. Engaged in a romantic and professional partnership with the mysterious and overprotective L'ak, Moll is a former courier turned outlaw with unexpected familial ties to Book's (David Ajala) mentor - Cleveland Booker IV. Confident, bold, and disruptive, Moll is determined to accomplish her goals and enjoy the process. Dangerous, confident, and dramatic, Moll's partnership with L'ak subtly and darkly mirrors the show's earlier relationship dynamics and poses a significant threat to the Federation and the crew of the USS Discovery.

Eve Harlow's casting as the complex and villainous Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 adds another - and significant - franchise to her list of acting credits.

A talented and accomplished Moscow-born Israeli-Canadian actor, Eve Harlow enjoys a growing and diverse list of roles in television and film across various genres. Best recognized for performances in The 100, Next, and Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Harlow received several awards for minor, supporting roles, also making appearances in Juno, The Tall Man, Heroes Reborn, DC's Titans, The Tomorrow Man, 12 Monkeys, N.C.I.S., Fargo, Rogue, and The Rookie . Eve Harlow's casting as the complex and villainous Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 adds another - and significant - franchise to her list of acting credits and foreshadows even greater future success.

Elias Toufexis Plays L’ak In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

Elias toufexis appeared in season 1 and season 5 of star trek: discovery.

The infamous Clyde to Moll's Bonnie, Elias Toufexis' character, L'ak, is tough, impulsive, driven, and fiercely protective of his partner . A brand new and recurring character in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 , L'ak is of unknown alien origin. A mysterious and villainous former courier turned outlaw, like Moll, L'ak's ambition and disregard for consequences make him a dangerous adversary for Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery. Despite his dedication to Moll's safety, L'ak's unpredictable nature and status as a hired gun mark him as a significant, unexpected, and tense villain and push him to ambitious lengths to accomplish his goals.

Elias Toufexis first appeared in Star Trek: Discovery , season 1, episode 3 - "Context Is For Kings."

A talented and versatile Canadian actor, Elias Toufexis has built a film, television, and voice acting career in various video games. Appearing in popular television shows such as The Expanse, Supernatural, and Smallville, Elias Toufexis demonstrates a distinct creative flair and action-oriented dramatic preference through an exploration of complex and interesting characters. Recognized for his roles in Shadowhunters, Blood of Zeus, and The Expanse , Toufexis has also performed in voice acting roles for Deus Ex, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and Star Trek: Resurgence . A diehard Star Trek fan, Elias Toufexis previously appeared in Star Trek: Discovery season 1 as Cold, a human Federation prisoner. Star Trek: Discovery season 5 streams Thursdays on Paramount+

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Star Trek: Discovery’s Season 5 Premiere Easter Egg Explained: Who Are the [Spoiler]?

Keisha hatchett, staff editor.

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Star Trek: Discovery co-showrunner Alex Kurtzman previously told TVLine that the sci-fi drama’s fifth and final season was dependent on a “very significant” Star Trek Easter egg , and we finally know what he meant by that.

The season’s first two episodes, which are now streaming on Paramount+, sent the Discovery crew on one last adventure to find the missing clues spread throughout the galaxy that will lead them to the ancient device used by an ancient species, known as the Progenitors, to create life as we know it.

That Easter egg came into play in the premiere , as outlaws Moll ( Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s Eve Harlow) and L’ak ( Shadowhunters ’ Elias Toufexis) stole a tan zhekran — a traditional Romulan puzzle box; Narek (Harry Treadaway) used one as a thinking aid in Star Trek: Picard Season 1 — from an 800-year-old Romulan science vessel.

The Federation was also heavily invested in finding this mystery box, and Dr. Kovich and Admiral Vance remained tightlipped while briefing Burnham on a secretive mission to retrieve it. Captain Burnham nearly caught Moll and L’ak aboard the science vessel but they escaped to the Dune -like planet Q’mau.

There, the fugitive duo convinced a Synth dealer named Fred to open the box under the guise of selling it along with other timeless treasures, including a self-sealing stem bolt (frequently mentioned throughout Star Trek: Deep Space Nine , though their specific use is unclear) and an old tricorder (a hand-held sensor issued by Starfleet that can be used for scanning, recording and analyzing data). 

Dr. Vellek found the ancient humanoids’ life-creating device and recorded everything he knew about it in that diary. He then hid the device sometime before disappearing 800 years ago, and the diary contains important clues — such as the drawing of two moons — to find it.

Book and Burnham tracked Moll and L’ak to Q’mau, where they came upon Fred’s lifeless body. As they continued pursuing the outlaws, Culber, Stamets and Saru examined Fred aboard Discover y and realized that he was built from one of Dr. Soong’s designs.

Dr. Noonien Soong (Brent Spiner) created several android prototypes, including Data, Lore and B-4 — all portrayed by Spiner throughout TNG’s seven-season run.

L’ak and Mall again evaded Burnham & Co., but not before starting a catastrophic avalanche that forced the Discovery captain and a frustratingly aggressive Captain Raynor ( The Umbrella Academy’s Callum Keith Rennie) to refocus their efforts on saving a nearby settlement.

When the dust settled, Saru, who’d been thinking over an offer to leave Discovery and become a Federation ambassador, accepted the new position to stay close to President T’Rina. That was met with a surprising proposal from T’Rina, who politely suggested they codify their mutual commitment in a more official capacity.

While the Federation mulled his future, Discovery embarked on a trip to Lyrek in search of another clue. The uninhabited planet was used by the Promellians as a burial ground before the species went extinct. (In the TNG episode “Booby Trap,” we learned that early Federation starships were influenced by their design.)

In their exploration of the forest-heavy planet, Burnham and Saru accidentally tripped a complex security system which launched droids that immediately opened fire. Saru leaped into action, though, drawing the killer bots away and buying Tilly enough time to disarm them. He and Burnham then reached their target location, where they uncovered a Romulan revlav, aka a message in a poem.

While all of that was happening, Book reached out to Moll and L’ak about buying the diary, which he knew would be a hot commodity in the galaxy. But his conversation with the fugitives revealed something else. Studying Moll’s image later on, Book figured out why Moll seemed so familiar. Her real name was Malinne and she was the daughter of his mentor Cleveland Book IV, making her the closest thing to family he has left.

But first, Burnham needed to secure a new Number One. She turned to Raynor, who’d been asked by Vance to retire. In offering him Saru’s old role, she was giving him a second chance — one that had been granted to her back in Season 1.

What did you think of the first two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery’s final season? Grade them below, and share your thoughts about the overarching mystery in the comments.

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I like Discovery, a lot, but this was a deep cut for anyone not a big fan of the entire Trekverse. Thanks for the recap and the thorough explanation, I know I needed it

Dr. Kovich: Red Directive – Criticial – stop L’ak and Moll at all costs, time is of the essence… Cap’n Burnham: We’ll black alert and our spore drive will have us at Q’mau in a blink… Cap’n Raynor: we’ll use our ancient tech and be there in an hour. Don’t start without me. … cut to Burnham and Book on Q’mau standing on the outskirts of the city waiting for Raynor, having not even attempted to find Fred’s shop or in any other way look for Moll and L’ak or their ship until Raynor joins them. D’oh!

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If Memory Serves

• Episode aired Mar 7, 2019

Spock and Burnham head to Talos IV, where the process of healing Spock forces the siblings to confront their troubled past. Stamets desperately tries to reconnect with an increasingly discon... Read all Spock and Burnham head to Talos IV, where the process of healing Spock forces the siblings to confront their troubled past. Stamets desperately tries to reconnect with an increasingly disconnected Hugh, while Tyler struggles to shed the crew's suspicions of him due to his past as... Read all Spock and Burnham head to Talos IV, where the process of healing Spock forces the siblings to confront their troubled past. Stamets desperately tries to reconnect with an increasingly disconnected Hugh, while Tyler struggles to shed the crew's suspicions of him due to his past as Voq.

• Gene Roddenberry
• Bryan Fuller
• Alex Kurtzman
• Sonequa Martin-Green
• Anthony Rapp
• 60 User reviews
• 23 Critic reviews

• Cmdr. Michael Burnham

• Lt. Cmdr. Paul Stamets

• Ensign Sylvia Tilly

• Dr. Hugh Culber

• Specialist Ash Tyler

• Captain Christopher Pike

• Talosian #2

• Starfleet Psychiatrist
• (as Alisen Down)

• Lt. Cmdr. Airiam

• Lt. Keyla Detmer

• Lt. Gen Rhys
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia When Burnham first arrives on the surface and silences the singing plants by holding onto their leaves she mirrors the actions of both Pike and Spock when they first landed on the planet in The Cage (1966) .
• Goofs Information on Talos IV is supposed to be classified to prevent anyone from attempting to exploit the abilities of its population, yet Burnham is able to pull up information on the planet, with explicit reference to the native inhabitants' mental abilities.

Captain Christopher Pike : You allowed the fight to proceed?

Saru : Well, I believe the confrontation was a necessary and unavoidable catharsis for both men.

Captain Christopher Pike : But... hardly an example of by-the-book conflict resolution.

Saru : The Starfleet manual offers no regulatory guidelines for interactions between humans with Klingons grafted to their bones and a ship's doctor returned from the dead.

• Connections Features Star Trek: The Cage (1966)

User reviews 60

• darrencole-73814
• Mar 8, 2019
• March 7, 2019 (United States)
• United States
• Lafarge Quarry, Dundas, Ontario, Canada (Talos IV planet surface)
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 54 minutes
• Dolby Digital

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'Star Trek's' Sonequa Martin-Green says goodbye to 'Discovery' (exclusive interview excerpt)

'Discovery's' courageous captain reflects on her five-season journey in the new issue of 'Star Trek Explorer' magazine.

"Star Trek: Discovery" touches down on Paramount Plus for its fifth and final season on April 4.

The season features an interstellar treasure hunt that follows "Captain Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery uncovering a mystery that will send them on an epic adventure across the galaxy to find an ancient power whose very existence has been deliberately hidden for centuries."

Back in 2017, "Discovery" was at the vanguard in returning the popular space fantasy universe to its proper place in pop culture via the small screen, where the franchise was first hatched back in 1966 on NBC with " Star Trek: The Original Series ." 

For this cosmic swan song, Sonequa Martin-Green reprises her role as the valiant Starfleet commander exploring outer space in the 32nd century in one last 10-episode mission for Paramount Plus' flagship "Star Trek" series.

Related: 'Star Trek:' History & effect on space technology

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Get all the Star Trek content you can possibly handle with this free trial of Paramount Plus. Watch new shows like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and all the classic Trek movies and TV shows too. Plans start from $4.99/month after the trial ends.

Joining Martin-Green in “Star Trek: Discovery's" final season are Doug Jones (Saru), Anthony Rapp (Paul Stamets), Mary Wiseman (Sylvia Tilly), Wilson Cruz (Dr. Hugh Culber), David Ajala (Cleveland "Book" Booker), Blu del Barrio (Adira) and Callum Keith Rennie (Rayner).

In the new issue of " Star Trek Explorer ," Martin-Green fondly reflects on her time with "Star Trek: Discovery," teases elements of the fifth season's "Indiana Jones-type adventure," and admits to getting seasick from the production's dizzying AR Wall.

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Here's our exclusive interview excerpt:

"Star Trek Explorer:" What were your expectations heading into "Star Trek: Discovery," and, as we start to say goodbye, what’s the reality been like?

Martin-Green: I first came into this at the tail end of 2016. We started rehearsals for the pilot, and I believe we reported to Toronto on January 2nd, 2017. I had all kinds of expectations of it being this Goliath of an experience because it is a Goliath of a franchise. I was overwhelmed, excited, shocked and nervous. I was all these things. As we started our journey and started defining ourselves as our iteration of " Star Trek ," I started to expect even more from our show, especially by the time we hit Season 3, because we were finding our identity. We were figuring out exactly who we were, as it relates to the franchise as a whole. Once that happened, my expectations grew from there. "What are the possibilities now? The possibilities are even greater because we really established ourselves at this point." 

Fast-forward and it's so surreal to be finishing up Season 5, though it's year seven. For Season 5 to be the final season, I expect a lot of emotion. A lot of emotions certainly went into it. I expect the response to be full of emotion, and I've experienced that already from people I've had the privilege of talking to. I expect there to be a lot of feelings and possibly debates. It'll be a bit of an emotional roller coaster for a lot of people.

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We don’t want to spoil anything about Season 5, but give us a taste of what fans are in for.

Martin-Green: I’ll piggyback on some things Michelle Paradise, our brilliant showrunner, said, which is that this is a season of adventure. They wanted this to be like an Indiana Jones-type adventure. Though what we're dealing with is big, intense, serious, and impactful, we also try our best to have fun throughout it. There is a sense of leaping forward in Season 5. I wish I could say more, because it was a difficult story to tell for me, if I'm being brutally honest. There are these little keys I was able to latch onto. Even though what we're dealing with is so big, the fact that there is that sense of fun and adventure is helpful. People will be glad that element and tone are there because it's a departure from Season 4, which courageously was meant to mirror what the world was going through during the pandemic.

The AR Wall came into play during the show's run. How did that change the game?

Martin-Green: Oh, my goodness! How did it not change the game? A round of applause to the designers of our AR Wall, because that’s a serious piece of technology. We saw it first on " The Mandalorian " and then had our own in-house AR Wall built in a fraction of the time, with much fewer people and much fewer resources. I applaud them because it's a cinematic wonder. You go in there, you take a look at it, and you're like, "What?!" It’s 10,000 or 11,000 screens all together. It takes six weeks to program for a particular location. You're standing there in real life, in front of it, and the production design that goes along with it — that set design — is so important. All of it comes together to tell the story, but you go to the monitor in the Video Village and it looks like it’s ready to be released on TV right there, without going through post.

Post is so much of it. It's such a feat when you add in visual effects, special effects, and practical effects on the day. All these things are coming together. There were many times where we were perhaps overly ambitious. It’s hard to explain without giving things away, but there are all these sequences in Season 5 where it's easily 10 different elements going on at the same time. I will say the only thing that's sort of funny about the AR Wall is that if there was something moving on it — if it's programmed to have movement in any kind of way and you have to look at that movement, in the scene as an actor — you’re going to get nauseous. I was not expecting it, speaking of expectations. I was not expecting to get seasick from the AR Wall. 

Check out the full interview in "Star Trek Explorer #11" — on sale April 9. Plus, two all-new and exclusive "Star Trek" short stories; "Star Trek" cast and crew reveal the strangest places they've been recognized; the Hageman Brothers on the importance of "Star Trek: Prodigy;" an interview with "Strange New Worlds" director Valerie Weiss, your definitive guide to "Star Trek: Picard" Season Three; and much more!

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Jeff Spry is an award-winning screenwriter and veteran freelance journalist covering TV, movies, video games, books, and comics. His work has appeared at SYFY Wire, Inverse, Collider, Bleeding Cool and elsewhere. Jeff lives in beautiful Bend, Oregon amid the ponderosa pines, classic muscle cars, a crypt of collector horror comics, and two loyal English Setters.

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