Star Trek: Discovery Episode 3.7 Review: Ups And Downs From Unification III

9. USS Yelchin (UP)

While this is an Easter egg, it is one that deserves a pause to appreciate.

Anton Yelchin of course played Pavel Chekov in the Kelvin-timeline films, in 2009, Into Darkness and Beyond. He was tragically killed in an accident at his home in 2016. As Star Trek Beyond is the most recent film in that series, there is yet to be another adventure with that cast, addressing the death of Yelchin.

This throwaway line, spoken by Tilly, is a beautiful little tribute to Anton Yelchin, by naming a ship after him. It may not be a huge moment, but much like the USS Nog was shown in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, it is a memory of a fantastic actor who left their mark on the series.

This episode marks the coming together of several facets of the Star Trek universe. The Kelvin timeline, Star Trek Picard and Discovery, Star Trek The Next Generation - they all appear in this episode in some form or another, making it one of the most franchise-encompassing episodes that there is.

Most importantly, what this episode has done is remember a Star Trek actor who was taken far too soon.