Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery Season 5, Episode 7 – “Erigah”

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, “Erigah” contained a tribute to the late Kenneth Mitchell. In its fifth and final season, Discovery has sent Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery on an intergalactic treasure hunt in search of the powerful technology of the Progenitors. Early in the search, Burnham and her crew learned that over 800 years before, five scientists left behind five clues that led to the technology’s location. The Discovery’s pursuit of these clues has so far led them to several locations both old and new.

The USS Discovery is not the only ship searching for the Progenitors’ treasure, as renegade couriers Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis) are also determined to find the powerful technology. L’ak is a member of Breen royalty and he and Moll have a Breen blood bounty (or Erigah) on their heads. Written by M. Raven Metzner and directed by Jon Dudkowski, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, “Erigah” brings everything to a head, as Moll and L’ak are apprehended by the Federation only for the Breen to show up at Federation Headquarters. Discovery’s crew then works to decipher the final clue and prepare the ship for a potential battle, while Captain Burnham and Federation officials try to negotiate with the Breen.

Star Trek: Discovery Season 5’s Tribute To Kenneth Mitchell Explained

Discovery named a Federation Starship after the late actor

Star Trek: Discovery’s final season has contained more references to past Star Trek stories and lore than any previous season of the show. “Erigah” contained a particularly heartfelt reference to Star Trek: Discovery actor Kenneth Mitchell, who tragically passed away due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on February 24th, 2024. Mitchell had been battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, since 2019. Several members of the Star Trek family shared their grief over Mitchell’s passing, and Star Trek: Discovery continues to pay tribute to the late actor by naming a Federation Starship the USS Mitchell.

When the Breen arrives at Federation HQ in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 7, Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) wants to return to Federation Headquarters to help her Starfleet Academy cadets. Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) intercepts Tilly, saying that he needs her to help Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) figure out the final clue. Sylvia points out that the Breen “destroyed an entire city” the last time they visited the Federation, and Stamets tells Tilly, “the Mitchell is out there.” If Discovery were to be destroyed by the Breen, the USSMitchell could complete the mission to find the Progenitors’ treasure.

Who Kenneth Mitchell Was In Star Trek: Discovery

Mitchell portrayed four different characters in Star Trek: Discovery.

In Star Trek: Discovery season 1, Kenneth Mitchell portrayed the Klingon Kol of the House of Kor in five episodes. Kol butted heads with the Klingon T’Kuvma (Chris Obi) and his protege, Voq (Shazad Latif). While T’Kuvma sought to unify the Klingon houses against the Federation, Kol wanted his own house to rule over both the Klingons and the Federation. Kol was killed in a final confrontation with Discovery. After Kol’s death, Kenneth Mitchell played Kol’s father, Kol-Sha, in Discovery season 2, episode 3, “Point of Light,” who was later killed by L’Rell (Mary Chieffo).

In Star Trek: Discovery season 2, episode 12, “Through the Valley of Shadows,” Kenneth Mitchell appeared as Tenavik, the adult son of Voq and L’Rell. As a monk at the monastery on Boreth, Tenavik warned Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) that he would see his own inevitable future if he used one of the planet’s time crystals. In the final two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery season 3, Mitchell portrayed Aurellio, a scientist employed by the Emerald Chain. Aurellio, who later began working with the Federation, was written as a hoverchair user so that Mitchell could use his wheelchair. With all of these characters under his belt, Kenneth Mitchell made an indelible impact on Star Trek: Discovery and will always be a part of the Star Trek family.

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