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.
Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Makes History With Classic Aliens
Discovery adds new dimensions to the Efrosians and the Breen
Star Trek: Discovery's Hy'Rell is indeed the first female Efrosian in the Star Trek franchise and the first Efrosian with a name. Further, Hy'Rell doesn't seem to need additional aid to her vision, unlike Kurtwood Smith's Federation President in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Hy'Rell also has charm and wit; the Efrosian archivist likes to tell jokes, and she is a friendly and enthusiastic conversationalist. Hy'Rell instantly deepens what little Star Trek fans have been exposed to about Efrosians.
Some fans insisting Hy'Rell is a Klingon may be because the 32nd-century Klingons have yet to be seen in Star Trek: Discovery , and no Klingons have appeared in the series since Star Trek: Discovery season 2.
Star Trek: Discovery season 5 is also the deepest dive into the Breen in franchise history. The mysterious enemy aliens from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine have now seen their culture more thoroughly explored by Discovery, with L'ak (Elias Toufexis) making history as the first Breen to remove his helmet. L'ak is also the first Breen to fall in love with and marry a human, Moll (Eve Harlow). Star Trek: Discovery season 5 also wove in Trills, Denobulans, Betazoids, and Terrans, as well as Efrosians, into its treasure hunt storyline, and will leave the franchise richer for it.
