Top 5 Easter eggs from Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7

In Star Trek: Discovery Season 3 Episode 7, Burnham’s past catches up with her in the future and brings a bunch of Easter eggs with it.

Do you know what I love about this season of Star Trek: Discovery? The Easter eggs. There are so many throwbacks to previous Star Trek properties; it has made this season feel like a seamless part of the universe we love. And Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7 is chock full of them.

In this episode, Michael Burnham’s past helps her decide on her future. As we’ve seen over the course of the season, Burnham has struggled to be back on Discovery and fit in with Starfleet. Her sole driving force has been the revival of the Federation.

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After being demoted to Science Officer, Burnham works with Tilly to pinpoint the origins of the Burn. For over a century, data suggested that the Burn was caused by an experiment created by the Vulcans on Ni’Var (more on that later). The Vulcans believed the Federation forced them to create an experiment that decimated billions. The Federation blamed the Vulcans.

Now Burnham and Tilly have a new hypothesis. This discovery leads to many Easter eggs for the characters and the audience alike on Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7.

5. Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 7 Easter egg: An Ensign Gets a Promotion

As a surprise to absolutely no one, Saru offers the Acting First Officer role to Ensign Tilly. We all knew this would happen, but what I appreciated was the conversation between them about why she’s the best candidate.

We know Tilly has a heart of gold and loves Starfleet ideals. She’s not a stickler for rules, as much as a follower of what’s right. She stood up against Burnham, despite Burnham being the person she loves most on the ship. All this makes her the best choice for the good of Discovery.

To me, this is an Easter egg because I’ve been spotting so many Star Trek: Voyager references that this one seemed to be a dig at how Garrett Wang’s Harry Kim was never given a promotion or a command position on the show.

Tilly remains an Ensign, but at least she’s getting a huge promotion. But the evolution in her career isn’t without its drawbacks.

Tilly actually checks in with Stamets before taking up the position because she will become Stamets’ boss. These two have been butting heads this season, especially with Stamets undermining Tilly’s abilities. Now he’s going to report to her?

You’d think he’d kick up a fuss, but Stamets gathers the rest of the Bridge crew and they all repeat that Tilly should “say yes.” I loved this scene so much. It isn’t Star Trek if a bunch of characters doesn’t band together to help someone make the best decision for themselves.

The entire scene was so joyful and teary. But Burnham stole the scene for me. She arrives after the ‘say yes’ part and even apologizes for missing it. Then Burnham gives her blessing by essentially saying Tilly doesn’t need it, and jokes about not wanting to move her bed in their room (they still share a room, how adorable!).

It’s great to see Tilly getting more of an arc. Now let’s give her something more to do.