Ever since rumours surfaced about a Star Trek: Discovery spinoff following Philippa Georgiou in the infamous Section 31, I was excited. Michelle Yeoh’s Georgiou was one of the best parts of Discovery, so the idea of a standalone series felt like a surefire win. Unfortunately, during production, the series morphed into a movie and faced multiple delays. Thankfully, it’s finally here, taking viewers on a journey through the clandestine world of Starfleet’s most secretive division. The film offers a fresh perspective on the utopian ideals that have long defined the franchise. While it may not fully live up to expectations, it delivers enough concepts that make it well worth a watch for Trek fans.
Star Trek: Section 31 picks up after the events of Star Trek: Discovery, with Philippa Georgiou now back in her proper timeline. The film gives audiences a brief glimpse into the enigmatic character’s past before diving into the action, with Michelle Yeoh effortlessly returning to the leather outfits and over-the-top style as if she never left. When Starfleet tracks her down, she finds herself recruited—or perhaps blackmailed—back into the fold of Section 31, the covert intelligence branch of the Federation tasked with safeguarding its interests by any means necessary.
The film introduces a ragtag team that works with Georgiou to stop the doomsday device serving as the movie’s MacGuffin. The group consists of all the typical archetypes found in most heist movies, albeit with a science fiction twist. There’s the stoic leader, Alok Sahar (Omari Hardwick); the cyborg muscle, Zeph (Robert Kazinsky); the straight-laced member who wants to play by the rules, Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl); the know-it-all, Fuzz (Sven Ruygrok); the comedic relief, Quasi (Sam Richardson); and the “honey pot,” Melle (Humberly González).
“Star Trek: Section 31 is a bold experiment that pays off just enough to make it worth watching.”
While the characters grew on me, this is one area where the story would have benefitted from a series format. The film doesn’t devote enough time to any one character for the audience to truly care about them, leaving them feeling like placeholders waiting for depth they never receive. It does work to set the tone, giving the sub-two hour experience a much darker feel than much of the rest of Star Trek to this point. These are interesting characters, and I would have loved to spend more time with them. I can understand the shift to a movie format, but it did leave me wanting more.
Indeed, Star Trek: Section 31 represents a significant departure from the optimistic vision of the future that has been Star Trek‘s hallmark since its inception. The film delves into moral ambiguities and ethical dilemmas, pushing the boundaries of what fans might expect from the franchise. Yet, it’s this willingness to explore the darker corners of the Star Trek universe that makes the movie so compelling. This is why I was excited to see more of Philippa Georgiou and how her character is so willing to bend the rules to get what she wants. It’s a twist on the Star Trek formula that works surprisingly well, thanks to Michelle Yeoh’s over-the-top portrayal.
Despite issues with pacing and structure, the film’s strengths lie in its ability to balance high-stakes espionage with the philosophical questions that have always been at the heart of Star Trek. Yeoh’s Georgiou, a character who has already undergone a fascinating arc from fascist dictator to reluctant hero, serves as the perfect vehicle for exploring these themes. Her journey from the Mirror Universe to the Prime Timeline, and now to the shadowy world of Section 31, offers a unique lens through which to examine the ideals of the Federation.
Despite the truncated runtime, the supporting cast brings a surprising level of depth to the world of Section 31. Standout performances come from Omari Hardwick as Alok Sahar, the enigmatic leader of the organization, and Robert Kazinsky as the mechanically enhanced Zeph. Their interactions with Georgiou create a dynamic that is both tense and engaging, highlighting the complex relationships within this secretive group. After watching the movie I had wished there was more of this universe I could experience, with it feeling like an opening act to a series that is sadly not planned yet.
“Star Trek: Section 31 represents a significant departure from the optimistic vision of the future that has been Star Trek‘s hallmark since its inception…”
From the stunning visuals delivered by Star Trek: Discovery and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, my expectations for the film were high. While it looked better than many series on streaming platforms, it still fell short of the high standard set by modern-day Star Trek. Yes, some scenes were visually striking and showcased the unique technology of Section 31, but the overall visual quality lacked consistency and felt like more could be done. Certain shots impressed, but others felt underwhelming, detracting from the film’s tone and overall style.
This is not to say Section 31 looked bad, but with the high watermark we have seen from modern Star Trek, it did not meet all the expectations going in. That said, there is some amazing costume work that I cannot speak more highly of. The costume department was on their A-Game for this movie, especially when it comes to Michelle Yeoh’s Georgiou. This is a version of the future we normally don’t see, the seedy underbelly of the federation, and the looks they brought to life were on point throughout.
As much as I hate to say it—especially considering how excited I was for this endeavour—Star Trek: Section 31 did not deliver on everything I had hoped, but then again, I walked in with very high expectations. There are some fun ideas at play, and I loved when the film explored the moral complexities that exist even within a supposedly utopian society, but it felt a bit inconsistent for me.
Do not get me wrong—there is still plenty to enjoy in this film, beyond the incredibly fun performance of Michelle Yeoh—but there was so much potential with the concept of Section 31 that felt unexplored, leaving me wishing for more time to fully realize what was possible.
Ultimately, Star Trek: Section 31 is a bold experiment that pays off just enough to make it worth watching. It may challenge viewers’ preconceptions of what a Star Trek film should be, but in doing so, it opens new avenues for storytelling within the franchise. While it may not be the Trek everyone wanted, it’s a Trek that represents a step forward for the franchise, particularly in terms of its growth and relevance. As we look to the future of Star Trek, Section 31 stands as a showcase of the franchise’s ability to reinvent itself while staying true to its core values, even if it doesn’t perfectly execute its new concepts on the first try.
