Getting Ready for Star Trek: Section 31: A Crucial Prep Guide
This week, Star Trek boldens its stride into the streaming realm with the release of "Section 31", a long-awaited film transformation of the former series. The film serves as a platform for Michelle Yeoh's triumphant return to the franchise, having last graced our screens in Discovery during 2020. Despite the film's controversial title, rooted in a clandestine Federation intelligence branch, let's delve into what you should anticipate heading into this cinematic venture.
The Enigmatic Section 31
Introduced in the sixth season of Deep Space Nine, Section 31 is a shadowy intelligence agency separate from Starfleet's public-facing wing. Its remit includes tackling threats that may spell catastrophe for the Federation. Section 31's name derives from a clause in Starfleet's charter, allowing for "extraordinary measures" in the face of dire situations. Operating in secret without official oversight, Section 31 has been a long-standing point of contention for Star Trek fans. Its existence, as a law enforcement branch in this imaginary utopia, challenges the franchise's traditional notions of ideality.
A Brief, Multiverse-Spanning Chronology of Philippa Georgiou
The first time the audience met Michelle Yeoh's character was as the captain of the USS Shenzhou in Discovery. Georgeiou tragically lost her life during the Klingon-Federation war. Surprisingly, Yeoh would reappear in the same season during a plot involving Star Trek's Mirror Universe. Here, Georgiou was not an Emperor, but the ruthless ruler of the Terra Empire. Miraculously, she found a place in the prime universe alongside Burnham, her former protege on the Shenzhou.
Post her coup attempt survival, Section 31 recruited Mirror Georgiou for subterfuge tasks, including maintaining Klingon Empire stability under L'Rell's chancellorship. However, after the crew of the Discovery traveled to the 32nd Century, a new crisis arose. Section 31's rogue AI, Control, posed a threat. Georgiou, now facing molecular instability, used the Guardian of Forever to escape to a timeline before her presence altered her original reality.
The Team Behind "Section 31"
Michelle Yeoh is the central figure, but she's not the only formidable presence in this movie. Meet the rest of Section 31's formidable team:
- Alok, played by Omari Hardwick, heads a secret mission aiming to bring Georgiou to justice for past offenses.
- Zeph, Robert Kazinsky's character, is Alok's right-hand man in a mechanical exoskeleton.
- Sam Richardson portrays Quasi, another team member who is a shapeshifter species called a Chameloid, revealed in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.
- Humberly Gonzalez plays Melle, a Deltan Section 31 agent that differs from past Deltans in the franchise due to her decision not to adhere to the traditional celibacy oath.
- Sven Ruygrok's enigmatic character is known merely as Fuzz - described as light-hearted with anger issues, hinting at his mysterious Vulcan or Romulan origins.
- Finally, Kacey Rohl portrays Rachel Garrett, a young Starfleet lieutenant in the crew for oversight purposes.
The Dawn of "Section 31"
While the precise era for the movie is yet to be disclosed, the presence of Rachel Garrett hints at a backdrop in the early 24th century's "Lost Era" - a period whose secrets are yet to be unearthed by Star Trek.
A New Chapter in the Star Trek Universe
Learn more about the twists and turns of Section 31 as they unfold on January 24th, on Paramount+. Get ready to witness Michelle Yeoh and this talented ensemble take the Star Trek universe by storm.
The anticipated film "Section 31" showcases the potential of technology in shaping the future of movie-making, as it explores the cloaked world of Section 31 through the lens of modern cinematic storytelling. According to io9, this movie promises to challenge the conventions of Star Trek's idealistic universe by delving into the complexities of a covert intelligence agency.
