Star Trek: Discovery Star Elias Toufexis Talks Breen Lore, Fan Reception, Hate-Watchers & More! 

Dude, Elias not only is the first Breen to be seen, he creates the ONLY plausible theory as to why nobody has seen a Breen before.

Damn Elias just walks around with that amazing voice 24/7? Dude should be a voice- *goes to check his credits* okay egg on my face turns out I've been hearing this man in my video game worlds for like a decade and a half!! Kudos keep up the great work and here's hoping L'ak rises again!

Elias is so right about internet bashers. It's so stupid. Find something to love and spend your time talking about that. There's enough stuff out there for everybody to find their passion. Elias obviously cares deeply about his work. Sean loves diving deep into geeky lore. And this comes out on screen. As for Lak, one huge thing that brings out what a culture is like is to show somebody who rebels against it. He's shows us more than the Breen's face. He's shown who they are.

What a throughly cool, down to Earth chap with an epic voice. Really enjoyed that chat :)

I want this guy to be the new Jeffrey Combs! I want him in everything! Great video.

Editor has been knocking it out of the park this season. Absolutely HILARIOUS adding in all of the chimes towards the end.

Loved this interview, thanks so much Sean and Elias! I'm really enjoying S5, I have to admit I wasn't a Disco fan at first, but I gave it a chance, binge rewarched it and that made me love it ❤️🖖

Fantastic interview!!! So happy to see a true Star Trek Fan (Elias) on Star Trek !!! I love that he watches his on show !!!

I've loved Elias from seeing him in the Expanse and it's great seeing him crop up in so many other things that I love. I have to admit though that I too hope this isn't how Moll'ak's story ends! If Genesis can resurect Spock, then I am sure that L'ak (and love) can find a way!

just saying hi from the silent majority who loves the show and loves your content. keep treking

This man is incredibly talented actor loved him in the expanse I wish we had got more with his character in that show. He's literally one of those actors you can't stop watching him. When I heard it was a breen I love stuff like that that's right up my.

8:20 - I saw a discussion with Jeffrey Combs, Andy Robinson and Armin Shimerman, all of whom know a little bit about doing TREK roles that require prosthetics, and one of them said (and all of them agreed) that the prosthetics made them "act to the mask," as one of them said. Interesting.

Love Elias' voice. I was really hoping that Moll and L'ak would somehow get to be free and together at the end, even though I kinda knew it wasn't going to end well for them. The most compelling Trek antagonists of late. You want the heroes to win, but at the same time you're also rooting for the villains.

I feel ya Elias... I have the same alert for texts as well, and Ups and Downs catches me every time.

Love this season so far... kinda secretly rooting for Mol and Lak to survive, not necessarily win but... by far my new favorite villians

Me when watching DS9 20+ years: "Man, I don't think I'd ever feel bad about Breen getting killed off." Me after watching Erigah: "I stand corrected."

20:55 Man I feel this and I don't even work in showbiz.

All I can say is have my heart❤ My partner is another race and religion to me, sometimes we can feel like mal and loch running or fighting the world to be left alone You've touched our lives. Thank you

Elias is so cool! Great interview, Sean

Yo Canuck here. Decoys was the bomb Elias. ❤🖖👏

17:17 the enterprise 😮 😂

I think it's a great character and I find myself loving these two together!!! I'm so sad he passed away, but still have hope he can be brought back. My text tone is Voyager's door chime and there have been so many times I was watching in the background and completely forgot and checked my phone myself, so I understand that one!!!

thanks for that insight. this was very interesting. and yes, the two actually don't kill that many people...

The Breen are my favorite Star Trek alien race. I watched Discovery season 1 and didn't really care for it. I came back for season 5 to see the Breen and I'm not disappointed. I would have liked a L'ak and Moll spinoff I think their personal story is really good.

Sean, I’ve been waiting for this particular podcast for a while now. You did tell us you and Elias would speak again. Well worth waiting for. We all know Star Trek has a history of hiring amazing actors. Elias is no different. I love how we felt his reluctant and shy attitude to revealing his true self to Moll. The fact that he was able to give us that amazing performance under all those prosthetics odds nothing short of an amazing testament to his abilities. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say there’s more to Moll then meets the eye. I don’t Jane the luxury of advance screeners that some of y’all get, but I’m gonna say it anyway. I think Moll is gonna use the progenitors tech to bring her man back then turn it over to the federation. Deep in her heart she knows the tech should not go to the Breen. I think our amazing friend La’ak would agree!

L'ak stock and barrel.

Damn, until seeing his real face I didn't connect name with face. He was Kenzo (spy from season 1) in The Expanse, and almost ended up with role of Amos. At the last audition it was him or Wes. They said that those two were only two who really understood the character. It would be interesting to see his take. I even cannot imagine, but I couldn't it for Wes too (before seeing him), because book Amos is much older dude. However, after seeing Elias' take, they decided to create Kenzo for him. That speaks a lot about him.

Awesome interview. I especially appreciate the discussion of the more toxic elements of "fandom". It needs to be called out regularly, because it's such a toxic cancer on the fandom. What really enrages me is when these jerks create and spread complete lies about the creators. Especially when they say that the creators hate Star Trek and are trying to destroy it. it's just obnoxiously and inappropriately personally abusive to people who - as Elias said - work so hard to try to give us entertainment. It's patently unfair and goes against everything that Star Trek stands for. it's literally the opposite of fandom. And almost as bad is when they spread similar lies about other actual fans for no other reason that that they publicly say that they like the show. They're so lacking in empathy and compassion that they can't even comprehend that people could actually like the things that they so desperately hate. The worst is the anti-Semetic "shill" trope they push that that the studios pay off some fans to say that they like the show. It's disgusting. And I feel sad for "fans" who think that fandom is about spreading hatred and rage for the franchises we love. The rest of understand that it's our mutual LOVE for them that brings us together. That's precisely why they're so miserable. And they deserve the misery that they've sowed in their own lives. Thank you for always spreading the JOY that is nerd fandom!

My pre-release guess of season 5's macguffin was the Tox Uthat.

1,000,000 Thumbs up for this incredible interview.

I'll watch any damn thing Elias is in from now to forever. Dude is an amazing add to the ST 'verse.

I agree with your comments on people watching stuff too just hate on it, and the cast/Crew. People liking/subscribing to just hate. I'm pretty sure there's positive/productive things they can be doing.

First of all: Thanks for the interview. Two real nerds talking about their passion, very entertaining. Second, id like to comment on the whole critique/hate thing: I do get what Elias wants to say here, but I also see the other side. Not those who get personal and threaten people, but those who are so passionate that they become loud. At the end of the day, TV-Shows and Games are pieces of art. One great thing about art is that it hits us emoitionaly and emotions are *not fair* . I have to know, science I am a psychologist by trade. They are not fair to the target but also not to the one who has those emotions. If my show invokes strong feelings, then I did something right! I will give you an example (on a much much smaller scale): when i was younger, i did play in the theater/on stage. One of my major roles was an SS-Officer from Ausschwitz. It was before the internet, so we put a book into the lobby for critique and comments. Damn, did people bash me! In the newspapers there was an article about it and the professional critique wrote (i try to translate as true as possible): "Sometimes it was difficult for me not to hate the actor but the role he was playing" about me. He couldnt have made me prouder.

How is this guy so cool? If I found out that I was going to play the first breen seen on screen, I'm not ashamed to say... I'd lose my sh*t! And mabey cry a little. Great job Elias!

Here as the wife of Sam Coe (one of millions) it’s lovely to hear that voice again ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ Not swooning at all hehe

Great episode!!!

Sean! what Elias said 20 minutes in. Don't call any part of Trek overrated. It's our beloved Trek!

Thanks! Well done!

I love it when Trek actors are Trek fans. Overall, I do think the writers, producers, directors, and even actors are better when they're Trek nerds. There's a joy and love that adds to everything. The non Nerds can be great too, but it does improve the show.

Wait... Wait... you got nana visitor for the INTRO... holy balls :D she ahs aged so amazingly.

All of that Starfield DLC and that 5 year long release schedule he can't talk about, but rake him over the coals for anything and everything you can everytime you see him =) I dig that guy, Elias is just so damned likeable and talented. The two of them made a great Trek love story.

Thanks!

"He's not a villain, he's an antagonist." That's wuat makes Mol and L'ok so interesting. They're not villains. They sound like it in the first episode, but the more you see them, the less villain they become.

Please pardon the typos below

Great interview. 😅

This is just a fun interview.

I use the same door chime as my text tone as well so I feel that 😂

oooo my prediction is when Moll finds the progenetor tech, she will bring Lach back to life and then Burnham convinces her to turn it off....Lach will then claim his birthright to beccome the Emperor of the Breen Consortium....he will then bring peace between the Breen and Star Fleet

They remind me of Bonnie & Clyde.

Elias had a great suggestion about Breen when they die. My idea is that if Breen are in jelly phase when they die - they melt into goo. Since they do not take off helmet for outsiders and usually do not use solid face due to cultural shame.

Fucking amazing interview.

Now I want L'ak and Mol as officers on STFC😊

"Thought you were an Iconian.." No, but seeing the facial shifting gives me hope to see a certain type of "Iconian" (STO) since they're partly energy beings... As for a certain death... He's dead...for now. (Go back and listen about the tech they're looking for)

If Elias watches this he is going to kill you Shawn for the bevy of door chimes in the last few minutes lmao

W

ALL THE DOOR CHIMES 😂

Marry me, Elias. 😅

I hope Star Trek writers make it for hardcore fans and add subtle culture stuff - just as TOS era did. Someone said 'sophisticated with nuances'. Creative story lines, redesigns but not over the top. People mentioned change to Breen helmet but progress is good but Klingon design in S1 was too much given it was set before TOS and all the rest. If it was the design for Mirror Universe Klingons then ok.

Mol and Lak have made season 5 - sold me

I do not hate any of the series but I like TOS (dated) and Discovery (over the top changes) - the least. Star Trek writers and producers need to make Trek that fans want - this will keep them subscribed and watching and re-watching and getting they new generation to join. I personally want Star Trek every week for the whole year.