Star Trek Discovery — Series 3 Episode 6 — Scavengers — A Review

12th December, 2020.

Inevitably?

It’s just gone nine on a Saturday night: and frankly?

I’m going to go to bed.

Any minute now.

Equally frankly?

I’m going so because it gives me a perfect chance to have a good read: The White People and other weird stories.

But … ?

Before I hit the sack, I wanted to get started on this post.

To remind myself that, yes: I’ve seen another episode of Star Trek Discovery, series three.

Yes: it’s looking good!

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13th December, 2020.

Right …

I’m happily back after having dinner with my family: which, it has to be said, included a philosophical discussion of whether Wonder Woman’s a feminist movie.

One of these days, I’ll be able to follow that conversation!

At any rate … ?

I was quite definitely at home, last night.

Quite happily enjoying another episode of Star Trek Discovery, series three.

Scavengers …

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Episode 6 — Scavengers — opens with the traditional summary … then — in the rest of the pre-title Teaser — sees Captain Saru (Doug Jones) recording the ship’s log telling how the Discovery has been refitted, to bring it up to modern standards.

It shows us a briefing: given by Admiral Vance (Oded Fehr), assigning different ships to parts of the Federation.

The Discovery, however?   As Discovery is the fastest ship in the 32rd Century Starfleet, it’s needed at base.

In case Starfleet needs to flex its muscles at the Emerald Chain crime Syndicate.

Something Commander Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) isn’t happy about.

As the Discovery has received a message from Book (David Ajala).

He’s found a clue that Commander Burnham needs: in order to work out what happened during the Burn.   He’s found a Black Box: a Starfleet flight recorder.   He, and it, are being held in a labour camp by the Emerald Chain … who really don’t like letting their work force go.

Do you get the feeling Commander Michael Burnham is going to commit mutiny … ?

~≈🖖🏼≈~

Now … what did I think of Scavengers?

Frankly, if the show’s producers are reading this post?

Let’s have a few more episodes like this, please!

Scavengers is a superb little episode: with villainous villains (Ian Lake as Orion gangster, Tolor) along side sympathetic prisoners (Davide Ajala as Book and Noah Averbach-Katz as Ryn), and an Emperor Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) who is as merciless as ever … but suffering flashbacks … 

Flashbacks she’s trying desperately to hide.

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What’s more?

Scavengers is a fantastic little action drive piece.

I mentioned Philippa Georgiou is having flashbacks?

There is a very well a very well choreographed fight scene at the end of Scavengers.

One that’s pivotal to the plot … and has an amazing amount of tension added: as Philippa Georgiou starts having flashbacks — of a bloodied hand, and a Terran Imperial badge — right in the middle of things.

It sounds unimportant … until you see it.

It’s a fight that has aftereffects: it’s this that sees Michael asking for Phillippa’s trust … and Phillippa admitting she can’t give it.

Not just yet.

It’s something reflected in the episode’s final moments: moments that see Saru he’s going to be demoting Michael back to science officer.

Partly as punishment for disobedience: but also because Saru has lost trust in her.

Something that’s happened before, when they were both on the Shenzhou.

These are powerful scenes.

~≈🖖🏼≈~

As just a minor point, here … ?

And it something I know I’ve seen mentioned a couple of times on other reviews?

I can remember watching The Prisoner, and the original Star Trek many years ago: they’re utter classics, I should add.

My friends and I developed a running gag or two: that Patrick McGoohan, as №6, would yell ‘Get out,’ once an episode.

More relevantly?   We’d be able to spot Captain Kirk’s latest victi … love interest by the fuzzy camera work.

There’s a couple of things that spring to mind … 

There’s one scene in Scavengers where there isn’t fuzzy camera work … but a lot of lens flare.

I’ll let you try and spot it, shall I … ?

The other … ?

Is quite simple.

It’s the way Sonequa Martin-Green, as Commander Burnham … bursts into tears at some point in the episode … !

It’s only minor, it doesn’t spoil my enjoyment, it shows us that a human brought up as Vulcan is capable of being in touch with her emotions.

But Michael Burnham’s doing it a lot!

I’m not complaining.

I’m looking forward to seeing if it happens again!

We’ll see, next weekend!