Star Trek: Discovery Episode 3.6 Review: Ups And Downs From Scavengers

In the sixth episode of Star Trek: Discovery's third season, Scavengers, the show has begun to tread on something of a familiar track. While it is not fair to say that it has reached the lows of season one, there are very wearing tropes that raise their heads again here. Most notably, it falls, unfortunately, on Burnham.

However, the decisions that are made with and by this character are not the sole focus of the episode. The ship sees a very cool refit, which comes with its highs and lows, though generally the action that takes place both in and around Discovery this week is positive.

The crew, as much as they feature, are written well here. We see the return of Gray Tal, along with some more character moments between Stamets and Adira and Stamets and Culber. Tilly and Saru share an important moment in their relationship with Burnham, while Georgiou finally gets something more to do than provide the show's supply of snark.

There is a welcome return of Cleveland Book, even if the manner of his return is wedged. The opening also reveals where Discovery stands in the eyes of the fleet.

Here are all of the Ups and Downs for Star Trek: Discovery, season three, episode six - Scavengers.

The episode opens with the Discovery completing a hasty refit. There are dots running about the hull, along with programmable matter detaching the nacelles to, in Saru's log, 'allow them better maneuverability'. Chunks have been carved from the drive section's wings.

Inside the ship, there is less of an aesthetic change. The ship, as mentioned, has been provided with programmable matter. The magic material allows the crew to interact with their consoles in whichever way suits them best - something that is genuinely intriguing. Though there isn't much depiction of it this week, there is a shot of Owosekun learning how to use her console, while Rhys utilizes a different format of interface.

Down by the spore drive, Adira has designed a new interface for Stamets, allowing him the removal of his struts when controlling the ship. It is a big moment for Stamets as, since the early days of the first season, he has been tethered to the room whenever the ship needs to move.

The crew also receive their new multi-devices, in the shape of their combadges. They are communicators, tricorders, holographic projectors and personal transporters - leading to a running gag of Linus turning up at all the wrong moments, in all the wrong places.

The technology does seem suitably futuristic and is very fun to see.