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Star Trek: Section 31 - settles an age-old argument

Writer's picture: Denise BreenDenise Breen

1 out of 5


Section 31 is one of those Star trek innovations that divided viewers from the outset. A top-secret organisation using deeply unethical means to protect the Federation. Some thought it was a logical parallel to the Romulan Tal Shiar or the Cardassian Obsidian Order, while others saw it as an undermining of the Federation values. Personally, I think Deep Space Nine used the conceit well, though it has proven to be a game of diminishing returns. Enterprise hinted at the early days of the group. JJ Abrams’ film reboots flirted with the idea of Section 31, and by the time of Discovery and Picard, Section 31 and Starfleet Intelligence appear to have become synonymous. In these newer series, the group are no longer as covert, which cuts against the clandestine nature that gave them such an intriguing appeal earlier on in the Star Trek universe.


Star Trek: Section 31 is a stand-alone spin-off film (which was very clearly retooled from being an intended series in painfully obvious ways) for stand out Star Trek: Discovery character Emperor Philippa Georgiou, played wonderfully by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh. Once a ruthless, genocidal despot, Emperor Georgiou worked for a secret branch of Starfleet that acted as investigators and enforcers in areas beyond their jurisdictional borders, but then she split. The film catches up with Georgiou, who’s laying low as a nightclub owner, when she’s visited by a team from the titular division that needs her help retrieving a deadly, stolen biological super-weapon with ties to her sordid past.

So far, so good, I guess. It’s a simple, solid, if unoriginal way to start a stand alone outing. The viewer is quickly caught up to speed if they missed anything, and although this trope of antihero rogues versus supervillains plot is de rigueur at this point, there are worse ways to go. The characters as they are set up are intended to be quirky and amusing but turn out to be annoying and mostly useless - and please don't get me started on the Vulcan with the Irish accent! Michelle Yeoh once again vamps and camps her way across the screen in pleasing ways, and an early, lengthy fight scene between Georgiou and the film’s not-so-secret villain showcases her still impressive physical abilities brilliantly and creatively.


Early on, and even with its sometimes shockingly violent outbursts and very non-Star Trek potty mouthed banter, I wanted to give director Olatunde Osunsanmi and writer Craig Sweeny (both of whom have worked within the franchise before on many occasions) the benefit of the doubt. I can’t say I was bored by the tiresome direction Star Trek: Section 31 was was taking, and even less enthusiastic about its rampant predictability.


As soon as Star Trek: Section 31 moves from the confines of Giorgiou’s nightclub the wheels come off and it’s not long before the whole vehicle catches fire and then falls off a cliff to its doom. The scars of endless post-production are woefully apparent throughout, right down to the fact that Osunsanmi can’t hide where one episode of the originally intended series ends and another was supposed to begin. In terms of editing and construction, Star Trek: Section 31 is a salvage mission all the way; an unfinished piece of work that has been retooled into a brazen attempt to get some of the producers’ investment back.

As it goes on and progresses towards a lacklustre, cut-rate conclusion, Star Trek: Section 31 proves that most of the resources allocated to this project were used up in the first instalment/act. The visual effects grow progressively shoddier, the sets less impressive, the action is less showy, and any hint of greater emotional or character depth gets thrown to the wind in favour of the clearest path towards wrapping this whole thing up in just a shade over ninety minutes. What I can’t forgive about Star Trek: Section 31 is that it’s a project that gives up on itself as well as the viewer’s potential expectations.


As a life-long fan of Star Trek, this is a shocking installment which settles and age-old argument as to which is the worst Star Trek Film ever - Final Frontier or Nemesis


Star Trek: Section 31 is streaning now on Paramount+.

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