Warning: SPOILERS For Star Trek: Section 31
The answer to one big problem inStar Trek: Section 31is found in the return of Captain Worf (Michael Dorn) inStar Trek: Picard. As part ofStar Trek: Picardseason 3’sStar Trek: The Next Generationcastreunion, Commander Raffi Musiker’s (Michelle Hurd) mysterious handler is revealed to be none other than Captain Worf. Commander Musiker assumes that Worf is also working for Starfleet Intelligence, but Worf explains that he’s more of an “independent contractor.” GivenWorf’s long historywith both Starfleet and the Klingon Empire, this unites Worf’s loyalties with one job.
Ever since being introduced inStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,Section 31 has been different from Starfleet Intelligence. While Starfleet Intelligence is the Federation’s standard espionage division,Section 31 was a black ops intelligence team that didn’t answer to Starfleet Command, and wasn’t bound by the Federation’s code of ethics. As a refugee from the Mirror Universe,Michelle Yeoh’s Terran Emperor Philippa Georgiouwas a perfect candidate to join Section 31 inStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2. One big problem inStar Trek: Section 31is that Georgiou’s new team doesn’t have that morally gray nuance.
Section 31’s Team Of Misfits Could Have Been Star Trek Independent Contractors (Like Worf)
Once Again, A Star Trek That’s Improved By Worf (Sort Of)
Theteam of misfits inStar Trek: Section 31could have been independent contractors, like Captain Worf is inStar Trek: Picard.It’s unclear why Alok Sahar’s (Omar Hardwick) team inSection 31actually has to be Section 31 at allwhen their mission isn’t as morally gray as Section 31 typically is. Lieutenant Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl) is even there to ensure that they don’t kill anyone. But Worf’s job inPicardseason 3 proves that Starfleet Intelligencedoesuse operatives who don’t work for them directly and aren’t necessarily bound by strict Federation ethics.
Star Trek: Section 31’s Rachel Garrett is the subject of an Easter egg inStar Trek: Picardseason 3, episode 1, “The Next Generation”, when Raffi Musiker discovers a statue of USS Enterprise-C Captain Garrett is the target of an impending terrorist attack.
Making Section 31’s team independent contractors would solve one ofStar Trek: Section 31’s problems: its unexpected tone.Star Trekestablished that Section 31 operates in the shadows of Federation ethics, even when Section 31 is an open secret inStar Trek: Discovery.Instead of being morally gray characters on ethically dubious missions,Star Trek: Section 31’s team are more likeStar Treksuperheroes. If theSection 31team doesn’t actually operate like elite black ops, they should be independent hires for specific missions—then they can be as fun asStar Trek: Section 31made them out to be.
Star Trek’s First Streaming Movie Didn’t Have To Be Titled Section 31
Changing The Title Of Star Trek: Section 31 Would Have Changed Expectations
Star Trek’s first streaming movie didn’t have to be titledStar Trek: Section 31.Star Trekhas traditionally used Section 31 as a branch of Starfleet to tell stories that ask whether the ends justify the means. ButSection 31’s storydoesn’t seem to deal with any genuinely unethical covert operations, or wrestle with the same questions of morality that Section 31 stories did inStar Trek: Deep Space NineorStar Trek: Discovery.They don’t even have to be Section 31 to bring Georgiou in, because Georgiou’s connection to the Godsend is more important than her Section 31 past.
Star Trek: Section 31 Movie Sequel: Everything We Know
Star Trek: Section 31 is Paramount+’s first Star Trek streaming movie, but will Michelle Yeoh headline another movie as Emperor Georgiou?
IfStar Trek: Section 31was renamed when thenewStar TrekTV showwas retooled into a streaming movie, that would have changed what audiences expected from Michelle Yeoh’s return as Emperor Georgiou. Shifting the scope ofSection 31probably removed some big picture themes that would’ve linked the story back to Section 31 in the greaterStar Trekuniverse. With a new title, and changing the team to independent contractors hired to recover Georgiou’s Godsend weapon,Star Trek: Section 31still wouldn’t be the greatestStar Trekmovie, but it might have been received differently.
Star Trek: Section 31
Cast
Star Trek: Section 31 follows Emperor Philippa Georgiou as she joins a clandestine Starfleet division tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets, confronting the consequences of her past actions.
