Star Trek: Discovery (3×06) Scavengers Review

For our review of the last episode of Star Trek: Discovery, click here.

Synopsis: After receiving a message from Book, Burnham and Georgiou embark on a rogue mission to find him, leaving Saru to pick up the pieces with Admiral Vance. Meanwhile, Stamets forms an unexpected bond with Adira. (IMDb)

The series jumps only three weeks forward this time around to give Discovery some time to adjust to their new surroundings. While they may be the go-to ship for Admiral Vance’s emergency response, that doesn’t stop them from going on their own missions! This time it’s Burnham (no surprise) deviating from the orders of her captain when Book’s ship appears with only his cat onboard. Apparently Book is on one of the Emerald Chain planets having found a clue about The Burn, but seemingly disappeared.

Burnham travels onto a salvage yard planet with Georgiou to rescue her new friend, despite Saru’s requests. This leads to a prison break scenario as they rescue Book with Georgiou dealing with her own PTSD from the Mirror Universe. They of course learn more about what Book was after, including a mysterious “black box” and a new companion in Andorian Ryn, but they are promptly captured. Again cue some more PTSD flashbacks, another escape attempt and finally they are free and head back to the Discovery.

Meanwhile on the Discovery, Stamets is having some quality time with Adira as they bond over technology and her dead hype ghost boyfriend. It’s a heartfelt moment of course and some needed character development for the newest addition to the crew. Tilly is also continuing her training with Saru helping to mold her into quite the evolved character. She has changed so much since the pilot so it’s great to see development like this for her. Tilly has even changed so much as to suggest that Saru report Burnham to the Admiral for disobeying orders.

With Burnham back on the ship, Saru and Admiral Vance confront her about the mission. While it was reckless, the intel proved valuable and so the Admiral lets her decision slide. Saru isn’t as kind and in a true Captain’s moment gives her some much needed guidance before demoting her from First Officer. Didn’t she hold that role for one episode?

The episode unfortunately suffers from mid-season fatigue being the victim of a serialized show using its second act all for the set up of the season’s finale. It has fun character moments and action sequences, but the characters’ decisions feel more like their original behaviours rather than where their development has gone. Sure the poignant moments work and the plot was progressed, but at what cost? It feels like Burnham is consistently an inadequate officer who defies orders no matter how many chances she gets which feels extremely anti-Trek compared to the dynamics on the bridge of the past. All-in-all this episode makes the universe feel small with its lack of exploration both into its plot or lore.

Captain’s Log

• What did Kovich say to Georgiou?
• What other species will Discovery manage to bring into their New Federation?
• What is the significant of the musical piece heard throughout?
• Is the Federation setting up Discovery for failure as a science vessel out of its depth?
• What happened during The Burn?

What did you think of “Scavengers”? Let me know in the comments below!

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Dylan Phillips