Summary
- Elias Toufexis as L'ak redefined the Breen species in Star Trek: Discovery with a soulful portrayal and backstory.
- L'ak, the Breen Scion, brought new depth to the Breen culture by revealing their imperial hierarchy in the 32nd century.
- Despite L'ak's tragic death, there are still possibilities for his return in flashbacks or as a hologram in future Star Trek series.
I think Star Trek: Discovery's L'ak, and the actor who portrayed him, Elias Toufexis, belongs on Star Trek's alien Mount Rushmore. There's no shortage of iconic aliens in Star Trek, and certainly, there are more than four actors who have delivered defining portrayals of non-human species in the final frontier. To name a few, Michael Dorn is the most prominent Klingon in Star Trek as Worf. Armin Shimerman is the face of the Ferengi as Quark. Doug Jones introduced Kelpiens as Saru. Of course, all Vulcans follow the mold set by the original, Leonard Nimoy. But Elias Toufexis' Breen antihero, L'ak, belongs on this list of luminaries.
L'ak was introduced as one of the main villains of Star Trek: Discovery season 5. Along with his lover, Moll (Eve Harlow), L'ak sought the clues to the ancient treasure of the Progenitors, a quest Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery ultimately completed successfully. At first, L'ak was a mystery; while Moll was identified as human, L'ak was of an undefined alien species. L'ak could be brutish and violent, but he was also obviously in love with Moll, and would risk everything to protect her. L'ak's true identity in Star Trek: Discovery was one of season 5's best revelations, and revealed him to be a pivotal member of one of Star Trek's most mysterious alien races, the Breen.
Elias Toufexis previously appeared as Cold in Star Trek: Discovery season 1, episode 3, "Context is for Kings."
Elias Toufexis’ L’ak Belongs On Star Trek’s Alien Mount Rushmore
L'ak is Star Trek's most prominent Breen
Elias Toufexis' L'ak turned out to be one of the Breen, but not just any Breen. L'ak was the Breen Scion, the next in line to the Emperor's throne. WIth his soulful portrayal of L'ak, especially in his backstory of how he met Moll in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors," and L'ak's tragic death in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah," Elias Toufexis delivered the definitive performance as the Breen. Whereas the other Breen were maniacal dictators, like L'ak's uncle, Primarch Ruhn (Tony Neppo), or faceless followers, L'ak was a singular Breen with agency, soul, and a loving heart.
L'ak is now the Breen's most prominent member.
Making Elias Toufexis' feat as L'ak even more impressive to me is that he only had 7 Star Trek: Discovery episodes to bring L'ak to life. Compared to Leonard Nimoy's appearances as Spock, Michael Dorn's record-making outings as Worf, and Armin Shimerman's almost 200 times he played Quark, Toufexis had a fraction of the time to make L'ak memorable as a character, and as the literal face of the Breen. But L'ak is now the Breen's most prominent member, even in death, just as Worf is Star Trek's most famous Klingon, Quark is the shining example of Ferengi, Doug Jones made Kelpiens a great new Star Trek species, and Leonard Nimoy will forever be what a Vulcan is to Star Trek fans.
L'ak's corpse appeared in the final two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 5 but doubles played the Breen Scion as Elias Toufexis already completed his filming obligations.
How Star Trek: Discovery’s L’ak Redefined The Breen
The Breen's culture has been revealed
The Breen were originally mentioned in Star Trek: The Next Generation but made their first true impact in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The Breen allied with the Founders of the Gamma Quadrant and helped them nearly conquer the United Federation of Planets during the Dominion War. Clad in their distinctive helmets and refrigeration suits, with garbled voices that needed translating, the Breen were a mysterious race who captured the imaginations of Star Trek fans. Even Star Trek: Lower Decks featured a Breen cameo, acknowledging their status as cult fan favorites.
L'ak was the first Breen to remove his helmet and show his face.
It was a huge surprise that L'ak was not only a Breen, but that Star Trek: Discovery delivered the most thorough examination of Breen culture yet. L'ak was the first Breen to remove his helmet and show his face in Star Trek history, which excited Elias Toufexis when he took the role. Star Trek: Discovery also defined the Breen's imperial hierarchy in the 32nd century, which consisted of faction wars between various Primarchs. Even after L'ak died, Moll used his clout as the Scion to take control of Primarch Ruhn's faction after Lak's power-mad uncle's death. Again, I'm truly impressed with how much detail about the Breen Star Trek: Discovery made canon in just one season.
Can L’ak Return To Star Trek?
There are still possibilities for L'ak
L'ak's death in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, "Erigah," puts an end to his love story with Moll, but this is Star Trek, and there are always possibilities. Moll did preserve L'ak's corpse in a portable pattern buffer when she tried to resurrect her lover with the Progenitors' technology. Moll failed, sadly, and it's unclear what becomes of L'ak's body after Moll was captured by Starfleet. Perhaps Doctor Kovich (David Cronenberg) has a plan for L'ak just as he does for Moll, as he hinted to Captain Burnham at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 5.
L'ak could reappear in flashbacks or as a hologram.
Still, Star Trek has various creative means at its disposal to bring back Elias Toufexis as L'ak, even briefly. Star Trek's next series, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, is set after Star Trek: Discovery in the 32nd century, and this is the most likely way L'ak can be seen again. L'ak could reappear in flashbacks or as a hologram, for example. Eve Harlow returning as Moll in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy could offer more details about her romantic past with L'ak. Starfleet Academy could also follow through on the Breen's political unrest that Star Trek: Discovery introduced.
While some Breen enemies were transported to the Galactic Barrier at the end of Star Trek: Discovery, even more Breen continued to vie for the Emperor's throne.
It's now impossible to not think of L'ak as the face of the Breen, and this is thanks to Elias Toufexis' textured and soulful work, which is all the more impressive since he conveyed it all through L'ak's heavy prosthetics. Thanks to L'ak, the Breen now have flagship character and an established culture, with L'ak as the rebel who rejected his species' ultimate seat of power for the love of Moll. Leonard Nimoy, Michael Dorn, Armin Shimerman, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Combs, and others became the faces of their Star Trek alien races, and as far as I'm concerned, Elias Toufexis' work in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 earned him a place on that Mount Rushmore.
