Star Trek: Discovery – Season 5 Episode 5 Recap & Review

Mirrors

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 episode 5 begins with the shuttlecraft departing from the Discovery. It approaches the wormhole, and they close in on the entry to it.

The shuttlecraft narrowly avoids debris, and soon after, they discover what’s left of Moll and L’ak’s ship. But after that, they find the ISS Enterprise, which could have Moll and L’ak inside. Book notes the ship is battle-damaged. Burnham points out that crossing to the mirror universe has been impossible for centuries, so the Enterprise must have been there a while.

Book and Burnham arrive on the Enterprise‘s bridge. Burnham suggests using the ship system to track quantum signatures from the prime universe. This will allow them to hunt for Moll and L’ak. Burnham attempts to use her Mirror counterpart’s access codes but finds herself locked out. She concludes Mirror Burnham must have been dead when the Enterprise arrived in this pocket dimension.

Burnham’s scan locates Moll, L’ak and the clue in sick bay. As they move towards Moll and L’ak, Book and Burnham discuss that the scientists who hid the clue chose to beam it aboard this hidden, abandoned ship. 

Moll and L’ak have used holograms to create doubles of themselves and evade attack. The pair enter, and a firefight ensues. Burnham hits the holo-emitter and reveals the real thieves. They attempt to communicate with Moll and L’ak, with Burnham urging them to surrender. Burnham says they have no choice but to cooperate. 

L’ak points out that while Book and Burnham have the shuttle, the thieves have the clue. Moll offers to allow them to replicate the clue, so long as they give Moll and L’ak a ride and set them free. 

Burnham insists they can help. But Moll says they can’t help with a Breen blood bounty. Burnham realizes L’ak is Breen. She further realizes the Breen are pursuing the thieves. 

Back in the Enterprise sick bay, Moll refuses to tell Burnham her story. Soon after, a firefight erupts once again. However, stray phaser fire causes automatic shielding to be engaged. The Mirror Ship’s Computer announces this sick bay lockdown.

Burnham and L’ak are still pointing their weapons at one another. L’ak says he doesn’t care what the progenitor’s tech is; it can eradicate their blood oath. Burnham tells L’ak the Federation is “all about second chances,” citing herself and Book as examples. L’ak asks if they did come in and if they’d be allowed to serve their time together. Burnham says she’d advocate for that. L’ak reveals he’d rather die than be separated from Moll. 

On the bridge, Moll grows frustrated with the Enterprise security systems. Book tells Moll that he loves Burnham, sharing their history as couriers. Book says Burnham was his first real friend.

On the Enterprise, Moll resolves to short out the power. But the ship’s so old that it causes an explosion. L’ak is compelled to reach Moll, which leads him and Burnham to begin fighting. On the bridge, Book reports that they no longer control any ship’s system. This causes the shuttle to be flung away. The ship’s computer warns of impact in eight minutes as they drift towards the pocket dimension aperture.

Book declares that they need to get Burnham and L’ak. Moll reveals he stays on the bridge while she and L’ak figure something out on their own. But Book says he won’t allow anything to happen to Burnham or Moll. 

Book puts down his phaser. Moll seizes it and states she could kill him. In sick bay, Burnham and L’ak continue to battle, and Burnham eventually incapacitates him and seizes the clue when he tries to do so.

Moll and Book arrive. Burnham says it was an accident. L’ak needs to get to Discovery. But Moll is enraged at the sight of his injury. Book informs Burnham that the shuttle is gone, so they must escape with Enterprise. 

L’ak points the weapon at Moll. But he shoots the guards instead. His uncle advances on him. He shoots him too, but can’t kill him

Outside the pocket dimension, Discovery executes its plan to widen and hold the dimension aperture open. Enterprise’s tractor beam contacts Discovery. They’re ready to go. The Enterprise begins to emerge from the aperture. Discovery’s crew identifies it and is perplexed. However, the Enterprise is pulled through before the aperture collapses on itself. Burnham successfully sends a message to Discovery.

But the Enterprise is preparing to fire. Burnham confirms a Terran War Pod with two life signs and sick bay equipment has launched. They jump to warp before they can be stopped. 

In her ready room, Burnham examines the clue and a hologram of the progenitor. They also have the next clue: a vial of blue liquid. Book points out that the solution to each clue is a moral lesson. Burnham reveals that most of the Enterprise crew members made it to the Federation. 

The episode ends with the Enterprise departing outside the viewport. Stamets calls Burnham and asks for the vial. Where will it lead? Book and Burnham are eagerly anticipating finding out.

The Episode Review

Things are getting very interesting at the halfway point of the final season. The serialised storyline continues, and the stakes are higher than ever.

There is a steady pace to this episode, and despite a lot of information to take in, it succeeds in conveying everything to the audience in an entertaining way.