8 Ups & 2 Downs From Star Trek: Discovery 5.7 - Erigah
10. UP — Breens' Gor-lore
"It's the whole faceless-helmet vibe. Truncheons. Jackboots. Where's the nuance?" ~ Commander Reno on the Breen
Well, Reno does have a point. The Breen are about as subtle as a Ferengi mating dance. No offense Nog! Nevertheless, nuance is exactly what we do get for the Breen in Erigah. Some of the finer detail about the species is finally revealed, and it is most definitely an UP! This episode was a veritable cornucopia of Breen — in number and lore.
Long back in the days of the Dominion War (from our 32nd century vantage point), it was a Thot named Gor who led the Breen side of the 'let's conquer the galaxy together' talks with the Female Changeling. Gor then became the face behind the mask of the Breen/Dominion alliance.
Gor and other Breen on Cardassia Prime were also famously the subject of conjecture by one Weyoun (8) and Damar in The Changing Face of Evil. The Breen homeworld wasn't a "frozen wasteland," contrary to popular belief, Weyoun conjectured. So, why did they wear "refrigeration suits"? asked Damar.
Breen biology still remains largely a mystery for Starfleet and the Federation in the 32nd century. What was that vital organ on L'ak's medical scans, for example? In Erigah, however, Doctor Culber did reveal a few fascinating fact from his investigations into the Dominion War era. For one, Culber confirmed that the Breen do indeed use "refrigeration units".
Reason being, as the Doctor went on to explain, was that "some evidence" showed that the Breen were "capable of somatic cell regeneration in extreme cold". Culber's subsequent sub-zero gas treatment for L'ak did, in fact, start to work, all by "[promoting] a strong immune response unique to the Breen".
That was a seriously clever solution to this particular Breen biological mystery. It neatly resolved, and merged, both sides of the decades- (and centuries-) long speculation into one. The Breen don't have to be cold, but the cold is beneficial to them. They're basically the ice bath champions of the galaxy!