Section 31 Review: An Open Window on a Side of the Galaxy Not Seen Before
https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-section-31-review/
The Star Trek universe is in its sixth decade, and one reason it enjoys such longevity is because storytellers never stop pushing the limits on what sort of tales they can tell. Star Trek: Section 31 is the first movie in eight years, and it has been in development for nearly as long. The film reunited former Terran Emperor Phillipa Georgiou with Section 31 on an unorthodox adventure to do nothing less than save the entire galaxy.
Section 31 star Michelle Yeoh helped resurrect this universe with Discovery, appearing in the pilot episode and then staying on for three seasons. The film brings her character, Philippa Georgiou, back to Star Trek for a brand-new story with equally new characters. There are many ways in which the movie is unique for the universe, but perhaps the most significant is that it's the first story not centered on traditional Starfleet officers. Section 31 is a clandestine intelligence operation that often takes steps that don't align with Starfleet values in defense of the Federation. Such is the central problem in Section 31. Facing a threat that could destroy not just the Federation, but the entire galaxy, Georgiou and a band of galactic misfits are called upon to be "heroes."
By its nature, the Section 31 group is not dedicated to exploration, diplomacy and discovering new life on strange new worlds. Rather, they are tasked with doing the dirty work that maintains the utopian society, allowing more traditional Starfleet heroes to advance those higher ideals.
The film, much like Deep Space Nine, takes a dark and gritty approach to the galaxy dreamed up by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s. It's a rare look outside the confines of the Federation, where high-minded values of egalitarianism and compassion aren't so valued. However, throughout the story, it becomes clear the characters still operate in service of those values. They risk their lives to prevent something that threatens a bunch of strangers. And they do this without hope of reward, glory, or, in the case of Section 31, official recognition of their efforts. What makes Section 31 so compelling, beyond its narrative, is what it reveals about the larger galaxy
One of the central locations in the movie, Baraam Station, is a strange and exotic locale. It doesn't "look like Star Trek," but it also doesn't look like anything else. There isn't a Starfleet uniform to be seen, allowing costume designer Gersha Phillips to introduce everything from high galactic fashion to mechanized sci-fi outfits. The characters look like no one fans have seen before.
Even after winning an Oscar, Michelle Yeoh was committed to Section 31. It's clear that she's having a great time playing Georgiou again. In fact, she's much more like the villainous Terran Emperor from Discovery Season 1. At first, fans may feel like her character has regressed, with Section 31 undoing the growth she achieved in that series, but this is not the case. Philippa Georgiou presents herself to others through multiple layers of artifice. By the end of this story, it's all stripped away.
Alok Sahar (to Philippa Georgiou): Emperor Georgiou, I am authorized to arrest you and wipe your mind clean. But, then again, there is a part of me that wants you to live with your memories, especially the genocidal ones.
... her Section 31 teammates. Simply put, they don't trust her. This is something Georgiou encourages, in part because keeping her allies as off-balance as her enemies is how she survived in that brutal reality.
Section 31 also makes it clear why Yeoh has such fun with Georgiou. She is a formidable fighter and leader, equally capable of great depth. She is "a monster with a conscience," which may seem incongruous. Yet, she is the kind of complicated character "the Roddenberry Box" prevented from appearing in Star Trek for years. Georgiou is also the kind of character the universe needs as it continues to evolve.
The Section 31 Team Is a Great Addition to the Star Trek Universe
The Film Is Reminiscent of Deep Space Nine's Radical Departure from the Norm
Along with the future USS Enterprise captain, a number of new characters are introduced. They are led by Alok Sahar, a tough leader with a deep disdain for tyrants. Fuzz is a "nanokin," a new species to Star Trek with a unique perspective (literally) on the galaxy. Quasi is a Chameloid, a shape-changing alien race only seen in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. Melle is a Deltan, introduced in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, with a skill set perfect for spy work. Finally, there's Zeph, a human who wears a mechanized suit that's become like a second skin. Each of them is an interesting, worthy addition to the universe.
As they are all tested by the threat they face, all pretense and posturing are stripped away, revealing who these people truly are. By the end, the team stands at the precipice of being the type of "found family" every good Star Trek crew becomes