Summary

• The Mirror Universe in Star Trek introduces darker versions of beloved characters, like bearded Spock, and presents a brutal alternative to the utopian ideals of the Federation.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine resurrected the Mirror Universe and explored the story of the Terran Empire's fall, becoming a key element in the franchise.
• Mirror versions of characters like Zefram Cochrane, Jennifer Sisko, and Hikaru Sulu offer unique insights into their counterparts and provide intriguing storylines.

The Mirror Universe in Star Trek is home to the darker and more twisted versions of some of the franchise's best-loved characters. The Mirror Universe was first introduced in a memorable episode of Star Trek: The Original Series that brought the "darkest timeline" and a bearded Spock (Leonard Nimoy) into the pop culture imagination. It established the brutal Terran Empire in Star Trek canon, a darker alternative to the utopian ideals of the Federation, the facistic Empire spread across the galaxy oppressing "lesser" species.

The crew of Star Trek: The Next Generation never ventured into the Mirror Universe, although iral Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) did cross into the Star Trek: Picard season 2. Almost three decades after "Mirror, Mirror" aired in 1967, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine resurrected the Mirror Universe and the story of the Terran Empire. DS9's multiple Mirror Universe episodes established the alternate reality as a key element of the Star Trek franchise, which continues to provide darker versions of beloved characters to this day.

10 Mirror Zefram Cochrane

Star Trek: Enterprise revealed that the Terran Empire was established in a darker take on the Vulcan meeting in Star Trek: First . Having broken the warp barrier and attracting the attention of alien life, Zefram Cochrane (James Cromwell) established the brutality and Humans first mindset of the Mirror Universe by murdering the Vulcans. Earth then used the stolen Vulcan technology to rapidly expand across the galaxy, establishing a brutal reign over the galaxy. It's a tiny scene in the cold open of the Enterprise episode "In a Mirror Darkly" but it perfectly establishes how the Terran Empire was formed.

9 Mirror Jennifer Sisko

Commander Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) was widowed when he lost his wife Jennifer (Felecia M. Bell) at the Battle of Wolf 359. As such, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine viewers only knew her through his recollections. The Mirror Universe gave Sisko a chance to reconnect with Jennifer again in multiple episodes of DS9, and it was interesting that she maintained a peaceful outlook in the less moral universe. It was the closest that Sisko ever got to being reunited with his beloved wife, but he was aware of the problems that would arise should a reunion take place. Tragically, Jennifer was killed while attempting to escape to the Prime Universe with Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton).

8 Mirror Sulu

The Mirror Universe version of Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) was determined to take control of the ISS Enterprise, threatening both Mirror Spock and Prime Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) to achieve his goal. This plot point becomes archly funny in light of the George Takei and William Shatner feud that has been ongoing for decades. George Takei clearly relishes the chance to put Sulu front and center and gets to be a serious antagonist throughout "Mirror, Mirror". His Mirror Universe counterpart's thirst for command could be a hint of what's to come when Sulu takes command of the USS Excelsior.

7 Miles "Smiley" O'Brien

Miles "Smiley" O'Brien (Colm Meaney) was a slave on the Mirror Universe version of Deep Space Nine. After Mirror Sisko's death, "Smiley" became new leader of the Terran Rebellion, but still needed the positive influence of his former boss. So it was that Mirror O'Brien twice ed over into the Prime Star Trek Universe to seek the assistance of Prime Sisko to recruit Jennifer into the Rebellion and to also build them a Defiant to take back Terok Nor from the alliance. "Smiley" O'Brien remained in charge of the Terran Rebels until the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and possibly beyond.

6 Mirror Jonathan Archer

Scott Bakula's Captain Archer is one of the more interesting Mirror Universe variants, given the closeness in time to the establishing of the Terran Empire. It's therefore easier than most to see exactly how Archer was affected by Cochrane's decision to kill the Vulcans rather than shake their hands. Growing up in such a formative period for the Empire it makes perfect sense that Archer would become a ruthless and ambitious officer who set his sights on becoming Emperor. He eventually did achieve his goal, but only for a short time until his assassination at the hands of Mirror Hoshi Sato (Linda Park).

5 Emperor Philippa Georgiou

In Star Trek: The Original Series' "Mirror, Mirror", the crew of the USS Enterprise is horrified to discover the brutality of the Mirror Universe. During Star Trek: Discovery's Klingon War, Starfleet embraced this more pragmatic and brutal outlook by enlisting Terran Emperor, Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) to help them win the war. Georgiou went too far, but was eventually reigned in by Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) who would make a concerted effort to be a positive influence on the formerly cruel Emperor as penance for getting her Prime Universe counterpart killed.

4 Captain Gabriel Lorca

It's hard to judge Star Trek: Discovery's Captain Gabriel Lorca (Jason Isaacs) as a Mirror Universe variant given how little is known about the Prime Universe counterpart. However, Lorca made a much more successful attempt to infiltrate Starfleet than Mirror Kirk ever did in Star Trek: The Original Series. Having failed to depose Emperor Georgiou, Lorca found himself exiled to the Prime Star Trek Universe. Lorca replaced his Prime Universe counterpart aboard the USS Discovery to begin gathering the power he would need to make a second coup attempt. Lorca was defeated by Burnham, Georgiou and the rest of the crew of the USS Discovery. However, he's still the most compelling villain that Discovery ever produced, making him one of the best Mirror Universe characters.

3 Empress Hoshi Sato

Lt. Hoshi Sato is a hero to many, but her Mirror Universe counterpart is a stone-cold villain. Like many of her predecessors, Mirror Hoshi insidiously works against Emperor Archer to have him removed from power. Seducing his personal guard Ensign Travis Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery), she convinced the besotted young man to poison Archer. With Archer dead, Hoshi used the superior technology of the USS Defiant to threaten Earth. Declaring herself Empress Sato, she threatened to start attacking Earth's defenses if her instructions were not met. It's unclear what happened in the century between Hoshi's rise, and the later rise of Emperor Georgiou but perhaps Michelle Yeoh's Star Trek: Section 31 movie could shed new light on this period.

2 The Intendant

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "Crossover" is one of the best Major Kira Nerys episodes as it brings her face to face with her Mirror Universe counterpart. "Mirror, Mirror" had Kirk and his crew swap places so that they never came face to face with their own evil doppelgängers. This is what makes the Intendant character so unique, as she and Kira get to share scenes together. It's a fascinating look at what Kira could have become if the Cardassian Occupation of Bajor had never happened. The Intendant is scheming, sensual, and hell-bent on maintaining control of Terok Nor. While she retains some aspects of Kira's character, the alliance with the Cardassians proves that this is a very different version of the Bajoran.

1 Mirror Spock

The best Mirror Universe Star Trek variant is Mirror Spock because he gives hope in a hopeless universe. In "Mirror, Mirror", Spock is positively inspired by his experiences of meeting the Prime counterparts of his ISS Enterprise crew . The implication at the end of "Mirror, Mirror" is that Spock will lead a revolution that will improve the lives of everyone in the Mirror Universe. Unfortunately, due to the Terran Empire's centuries of oppression this did not go to plan.

Seeing Spock's reforms as a sign of weakness, the Klingon-Cardassian Alliance seized their opportunity and attacked this more peaceful Empire, enslaving Terrans and Vulcans alike. It's a fascinating challenge to Gene Roddenberry's vision by Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, suggesting that positive change isn't always as simple as handing a fascist regime over to a more benevolent leader. However, there's no denying that the bearded Mirror Universe version of Spock is the definitive Star Trek variant given his influence on the fate of the Terran Empire in-universe as well as popular culture at large.