Star Trek: Discovery's Efrosian: Bringing Back A Movie Alien In A Historic Way, Explained By Writer

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Warning: This Article Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 8 - "Labyrinths"

Summary Star Trek: Discovery's "Labyrinths" introduces Hy'Rell, the first Efrosian with a name and female identity in franchise history.

Writers Lauren Wilkinson and Eric J. Robbins discussed the creation of Hy'Rell in detail on The 7th Rule podcast.

Hy'Rell's role in the power struggle for the Progenitors' treasure map adds depth to the intergalactic library storyline in season 5.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths", introduced Hy'Rell (Elena Juatco), and writer Eric J. Robbins explains how Hy'Rell is a history-making member of her alien race, the Efrosians. Hy'Rell is an archivist at the Eternal Gallery and Archive, a fantastic intergalactic library where the final clue to the Progenitors' ancient treasure is hidden. Hy'Rell and the Eternal Gallery are caught in the power struggle between Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery and the Breen for the completed Progenitors' treasure map.

Before Hy'Rell, only two Efrosians have been seen in Star Trek canon: Nick Ramus appeared as the USS Saratoga's helmsman in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and Kurtwood Smith played the Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Writers Lauren Wilkinson and Eric J. Robbins appeared on The 7th Rule podcast to discuss Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 8, "Labyrinths". Hosts Cirroc Lofton and Ryan T. Husk brought up fan debate about Hy'Rell being a Klingon, despite Robbins confirming online that she's an Efrosian. Robbins then explained how and why Star Trek: Discovery created Hy'Rell, who makes history as the first Efrosian with a name and a female gender identity. Read Robbins' quote and watch The 7th Rule video below:

I’ve always loved Star Trek VI… Everybody loves Wrath of Khan, and it is rightfully lauded as probably the pinnacle for Star Trek features, but for me, Star Trek VI is woefully overlooked. I think it’s great… I’ve always thought that [Efrosian] species was interesting… We see two Efrosians in previous movies… I always forget the Saragota helmsman in Star Trek IV is Efrosian (fans, don’t come at me)... and the other is Kurtwood Smith’s President. But what blows my mind is the President of the Federation in [Star Trek VI] doesn’t have a name. And we don’t know anything about the species other than he has those little glasses, which I learned later… it’s supposed to imply that Efrosians have limited eyesight and they need additional viewing aids… I just realized we’ve never seen one with a name. I really like the design [of Efrosians]... [and] we’ve never seen one that has a female gender identity. So, when we were looking for a fun species, I said, ‘Can we do an Efrosian?’ And everyone was like, ‘What’s an Efrosian?’ Because, again, they’ve never had a named character, and they’re only in these two movies. So I was excited just to show one and dig into it. The implication for this… and none of it is canon… But my thought is the [Eternal Gallery and] Archive is not run by the Efrosians. It’s run by its own not-so-secret society. It’s a faction-neutral organization that’s just trying to preserve culture and the history of, specifically our galaxy, but really, the Alpha and Beta Quadrants at the time.

Related Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Source: The 7th Rule

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 stream Thursdays on Paramount+