Director: Anders Lindwall
Writers: Missy Mareau Garcia, Michael Graf, Anders Lindwall
Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Brandon Sklenar, M. Emmet Walsh
Synopsis: A struggling family farmer wagers everything on a high-stakes Championship bet, while his granddaughter’s musical ambitions could be their ticket to a new beginning.
I have never been a big Star Trek fan and have always preferred Star Wars when given the choice. You can love both, but J.J. Abrams’ fresh take on the franchise—one that has been a television and cinematic staple for nearly six decades—changed my perspective. However, the latest entry, Star Trek: Section 31, seems to abandon what made the series unique to its core fan base.
For one, this installment leans heavily into horror, creating an unsettling tone that strays from audience expectations, even jettisoning core values and themes of the franchise. Additionally, it prioritizes shock value over meaningful character development. The franchise’s main characters always had well-rounded depth, making them compelling. Here, both heroes and villains have the same shallow presence as a redshirt.
In short, the plot of Star Trek: Section 31, the new characters, and the story all feel expendable.
In a flashback of Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou origin story in her teenage years (played by Miku Martineau), as she returns to her home, she sits with her family—her mother, father, and sibling—recounting horrific stories of survival and the brutal acts she was forced to commit alongside her friend, San (James Huang), as they fought against other teenagers they were pitted against.
However, it soon becomes clear why she has returned: a contest to determine the next Emperor of the ruthless Terran Empire. Philippa and San are given a choice—whoever kills their immediate family will ascend to become the most powerful leader in the universe. San , guided by his morality, fails to carry out his duty. Georgiou, however, has no such hesitation. She poisons her entire family and enslaves her best friend.
Flash forward to the last time we saw Philippa. After leaving Star Trek: Discovery, she was sent to live out her days in the Prime Universe, running a club in the shadows under the alias Madame du Franc. She is tracked down by a Section 31 agent, Alok (Omari Hardwick), who needs her help recovering an ancient artifact—her ticket back to action and fame.
However, as is often the case, the past haunts Georgiou. She must now help her new team track down a weapon from her old universe—one that could bring about catastrophic consequences. Cue Jack Nicholson’s Colonel Nathan R. Jessup from A Few Good Men, as he says, “Is there another kind?”
You would hope that Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh could elevate the material of Star Trek: Section 31, but she cannot. Yes, it is fun to watch Yeoh revel in the role—probably part of what attracted her to the project was the chance to let loose a bit, given that she often plays restrained, stoic, morally centered characters.
Yet, the final product feels like nothing more than a weak, unaired, and unproduced two- or three-episode Star Trek television arc that strays as far from the franchise’s origins as possible. (Rumor has it that this script was originally conceived as a spinoff pilot for a series based on Yeoh’s Star Trek: Discovery character.) Yes, I was never a big fan of the franchise, but I know who these entertainments are made for.
That’s because Star Trek: Station 31 steals from other (and far better) science fiction films instead of creating something original that aligns with the franchise’s core values. This is a rebranding of recycled material that simply doesn’t work. The film raises questions of morality without offering redemption and examines violence without legitimate consequences.
I’m all for shaking things up with a fresh perspective, but this entry doesn’t align with the original characters or series. Instead, it becomes so uneven that it’s practically stifling, unpleasant, and far from entertaining.
Star Trek: Station 31 is not worth watching for new or hardcore fans. Whether you like Star Trek or not, Olatunde Osunsanmi’s film and Craig Sweeny’s script have the franchise in the middle of an existential crisis.
You can stream Star Trek: Section 31 exclusively on Paramount+!
