Toss me in with the group who doesn't really want 31 in my Star Trek. That said, partitioning them off into a spin-off series is a brilliant move. You can write all your dark, gritty spy stuff for the Section 31 show, and it won't dilute the stuff seen on Discovery or Picard or the next big Trek show. Additionally, you want Romulans? Ferengi? Gorn? Have Section 31 deal with these classified threats in a completely satisfying way without disrupting canon. I will watch every episode. I'm a complicated man.
I originally thought I would, but so far I haven’t. I like their aesthetic, but not what their story has been
This upcoming episode is do-or-die for Leland. I'm not rooting for him but it's not fun if he's not putting up more of a fight against Georgiou. It should be harder. He has to make a move against her. Any type of move.
I think it adds more depth and color to the Trek tapestry. Put me in the minority who is actually enjoying them so far. This will depend on how this season wraps up. But, I didn't mind them in DS9, or ENT, or ST ID. Morally gray and evil organizations have been a part of Trek since its inception.
You're not a DS9 fan, then? Or ENT? They at least tried being morally ambiguous a bunch of times (ENT even more imho, what with Archer making some pretty tough calls in season 3, but even in seasons 1 and 2). I'm not being facetious, by the way, or criticising the opinion. I'm just curious. I like Section 31. They're annoying and smug and good foils to our heroes and their mainstream Starfleet morals. I don't mind some slippery slope morality as long as it doesn't reach BSG levels of sadism, but that's highly unlikely.
Yeah, he needs a win. Some kind of win. He can't have become a "captain" in Section 31 without some kind of uber-manipulative streak in him. Maybe his style is to lull his potential enemies into a false sense of security, and he's allowed Georgiou to accomplish some things, while making moves to get rid of her. Maybe he let her find out certain details of his past (that could be fabricated anyway), so she can attempt a blackmail. Maybe he truly feels that Spock is better suited on his old friend Pike's ship, so wasn't bothered when Georgiou obviously let Burnham free (but his personal spy cameras have it all on tape). When the time comes, Leland will execute Operation Plan Omicron Pi and get rid of her once and for all. In the meantime, he plays the fool so Georgiou thinks she's winning. Maybe the admirals are in on it to.
I liked the Idea of Section 31 working in episodes like Inter Arma enim Silet Leges because you have political intrigue and conspiracy level stuff. I think in small doses Section 31 is interesting. However, in Discovery, they are right out in the open and everyone knows about them. It's my least favorite aspect about the series this season, and I think overall Discovery is having a pretty good season.
Sorry, I should have said since the TOS movies. But, we see a lot of morally questionable actions in TOS from many different places, including everyone's favorite "Space Nazis" that came about from a Federation official. Plus Kirk and Spock's espionage in "The Enterprise Incident."
We don't know where those orders come from. They could've simply came from Starfleet. Have to save that Section 31 bogey-man for the other shows.
To me, Section 31 is like the Borg. It’s the go-to subject for people who can’t think of anything better to write about. Slimy super-secret underground organizations who have no oversight and answer to no one is a very lazy trope.
Even though I'm disappointed we haven't gotten to see Peter Weller's Admiral Marcus in charge of Section 31, I am enjoying Leland and especially Captain (Emperor) Georgiou's scenery chewing. It is a bit disappointing that pretty much everybody is aware of 31's existence, but I also enjoy the fact that apparently Starfleet captains are supposed to defer to Section 31 agents' orders.