Spoilers Section 31 General Discussion Thread

[The Lensman]

I liked S31 when DS9 first introduced us to them. But this, or any other iteration of them in the Kurtzman era, bear little resemblance to the original concept.

The purpose of a movie trailer is to persuade me to watch the film. Both trailers have abjectly failed to garner my interest. In fact, they've had the opposite effect. So that's that, I guess.

I've never liked Section 31, especially not when they were introduced. It was Trek guys obviously trying to do "X-Files" conspiracy shit in the Trek universe. I literally rolled my eyes in their first appearance. Also, they were as un-Trek like to us older fans back then as this trailer is to the 24th century fans.

Star Trek Picard S3 was the most satisfying Star Trek since the end of the TNG/DS9/VOY era. I never warmed up to Enterprise.

Picard S3 was "Fanwank: The Series". I knew it was going to be awful fanwank from the moment the screen said "In the 24th Century" aping TWOK. When the Borg Queen screamed "Noooooooooooo!" (in the most phoned in and cliched scream I've ever heard) I almost turned it off because it was that bad. YMMV of course.

S31 looks to be somewhat generic Action SF with Star Trek trappings.

As opposed to just more uninspired and insipid Trek in Trek trappings like VOY and ENT. Honestly, these trailers haven't done anything for me, and it looks like "Star Trek: Suicide Squad". However I welcome a foray into Trek that isn't just another "Starfleet crew on a Starship" crap. We've seen that and it's done to death and frankly, time for Trek to move beyond that. Picard S1 wasn't a favorite of mine, but damn if it wasn't a refreshing change of scenery from the same tired old shit we've seen done to death.

 

[Tosk]

When the Borg Queen screamed "Noooooooooooo!" (in the most phoned in and cliched scream I've ever heard) I almost turned it off because it was that bad.

So you watched all ten episodes and then almost turned it off just before the final episode ended but then you didn't turn it off after all? Damn!

 

[The Lensman]

So you watched all ten episodes and then almost turned it off just before the final episode ended but then you didn't turn it off after all? Damn!

Sunk cost fallacy.

 

[fireproof78]

Sunk cost fallacy.

Fans are nothing if not the masters of that.

 

[Tosk]

Why some of us are here.

 

[fireproof78]

Why some of us are here.

Is a sunk cost fallacy?

Keep coming back here in vain hope something good will happen only to be disappointed time after time?

 

[The Lensman]

Fans are nothing if not the masters of that.

lol, true. Like a lot of fans I was interested in seeing where the TNG crew ended up in life. That was the main hook, and I found Seven's captain to be somewhat interesting. There were some amusing moments, surprisingly I liked the look of whatever ship they were on. Yeah, it was literally "turn the lights on!" dark, but it was a nice change of pace. But too much of it was just fanwank, TWOK riffs, and sketchy writing. It's entirely possible that I turned it off at that Borg Queen moment and came back later to watch the end. I honestly don't recall what I did, I just remember hating that moment immensely.

 

[fireproof78]

lol, true. Like a lot of fans I was interested in seeing where the TNG crew ended up in life. That was the main hook, and I found Seven's captain to be somewhat interesting. There were some amusing moments, surprisingly I liked the look of whatever ship they were on. Yeah, it was literally "turn the lights on!" dark, but it was a nice change of pace. But too much of it was just fanwank, TWOK riffs, and sketchy writing. It's entirely possible that I turned it off at that Borg Queen moment and came back later to watch the end. I honestly don't recall what I did, I just remember hating that moment immensely.

I would be intensely fascinated to see if you could watch through it again, but I would not want to subject you to that again.

But, I get the why of it a little bit better now when it comes to fans. I always considered myself a bit of an odd duck in the fan world because there's nothing that drives me back if my interest isn't there. I could speculate on why that is, but suffice to say I never got the urge to go watch something just because Star Trek.

Only recently have I read a story that Stephen King once told talking about how he would go back to horror movies again and again despite disappointment because he had that hope of that thrill some films have given him.

To me, it hovers very closely to "fool me once" type thinking, but I'm a little bit wiser towards understanding that fan attitude. Slowly.

 

[The Lensman]

I would be intensely fascinated to see if you could watch through it again, but I would not want to subject you to that again.

But, I get the why of it a little bit better now when it comes to fans. I always considered myself a bit of an odd duck in the fan world because there's nothing that drives me back if my interest isn't there. I could speculate on why that is, but suffice to say I never got the urge to go watch something just because Star Trek.

Only recently have I read a story that Stephen King once told talking about how he would go back to horror movies again and again despite disappointment because he had that hope of that thrill some films have given him.

To me, it hovers very closely to "fool me once" type thinking, but I'm a little bit wiser towards understanding that fan attitude. Slowly.

I have wondered how S3 would hold up on a second viewing. There have been films that I initially didn't like, but upon later viewing came to love. "Dumb and Dumber" being one of them. Conversely Star Trek V actually got worse on every re-watch and I don't think I've made the attempt in this century. Most likely never will as that movie just sucks.

And I'm long past the point where I will watch Trek I don't like as I gave up on VOY and ENT several seasons in. I stuck it out with Picard because I wanted to see where our characters ended up, and TNG, while not my favorite Trek (the original for me) has a special place in my heart as being the first Trek show that I got to watch in first run, and it was a good show to boot. So I held out longer for that crew, but would not for any of the crews that followed.

 

[urbandk]

Picard season 3 was a turgid, paint by numbers bore. I expect I'll appreciate S31 in the same way I did some of the short treks, Picard s1, and disco s1, as something completely different. This is also why I hope the Risa sitcom gets off the ground and was relieved that legacy never happened.

While I'm busy with unpopular opinions... it was also the right time to finish lower decks.

 

[Daedalus]

I have a suspicion that the reaction to this will be more positive here than the reaction will be elsewhere.

Not saying there won't be negativity here, but this place has really surprised me in the short time I've been here.

While I'm busy with unpopular opinions... it was also the right time to finish lower decks.

No, I think the 4th season would've been a better time to finish the show. I don't want to shit on anyone's love of the 5th season, but it doesn't seem as strong as the last one.

 

[Nerys Myk]

No, I think the 4th season would've been a better time to finish the show. I don't want to shit on anyone's love of the 5th season, but it doesn't seem as strong as the last one.

The latest episode hit it out of the park. 10+

 

[locborg]

I have a suspicion that the reaction to this will be more positive here than the reaction will be elsewhere.

Yep, mainly because this message board relies on the contribution of 15 - 20 regulars, who seem to collectively speak with one voice when it comes to the reception towards Star Trek Disco.


Over here most people still believe that Disco was some kind of misunderstood hidden gem. That is not the overall consensus regarding this trainwreck…

Chances that Section 31 streaming movie will suck are immensely high…

 

[HotRod]

Yep, mainly because this message board relies on the contribution of 15 - 20 regulars, who seem to collectively speak with one voice when it comes to the reception towards Star Trek Disco.

Huh? Clearly, you haven't been paying attention.

Over here most people still believe that Disco was some kind of misunderstood hidden gem. That is not the overall consensus regarding this trainwreck…

Again, where are you seeing this? While Discovery does have its fans, I certainly wouldn't say that the sentiment around here is that it's a hidden gem.

From what I've seen, most would agree that the series ranged greatly in quality. There were certainly a few high moments, but definitely many very low moments.

Just because we're not a YouTube comments section filled with absolute hate and vitriol, doesn't mean the show is viewed as a misunderstood hidden gem. It just means that we act with a certain level of devency and decorum. Unlike a YouTube comments section.

Chances that Section 31 streaming movie will suck are immensely high…

"NuTrek" has had more successes than they've had failures, at least in terms of quality. Therefore I'd say the film has a higher chance at being a decent enough watch, even it it doesn't blow our collective socks off.

Like everything, I'll give it a shot.

 

[Daedalus]

The latest episode hit it out of the park. 10+

I'll check it out later. But, by jove, I'll be sending you an angry PM if you're wrong.
JK

Yep, mainly because this message board relies on the contribution of 15 - 20 regulars, who seem to collectively speak with one voice when it comes to the reception towards Star Trek Disco.


Over here most people still believe that Disco was some kind of misunderstood hidden gem. That is not the overall consensus regarding this trainwreck…

Chances that Section 31 streaming movie will suck are immensely high…

Well I wouldn't quite put it like that. It just doesn't seem to be a perfect microcosm of the larger Trek community. Just a gut feeling, that's all, but I think that Trek social media will be a bit of a miserable place to be.

(Moreso than usual, of course)

 

[Yistaan]

With TOS establishing that Bele had been alive for over 50,000 Earth years (arguably one of the most absurd if not THE most absurd line in all of Star Trek), can we rule out that the Cheron alien featured in the Section 31 trailer isn't actually outright a recast Bele?

 

[Dukhat]

With TOS establishing that Bele had been alive for over 50,000 Earth years (arguably one of the most absurd if not THE most absurd line in all of Star Trek), can we rule out that the Cheron alien featured in the Section 31 trailer isn't actually outright a recast Bele?

No. We don't need that much small-universe syndrome.

 

[fireproof78]

That is not the overall consensus regarding this trainwreck…

Can I ask who cares besides the number crunchers at CBS/Paramount? Why does popular opinion matter so much?


If that was the case why are people not clamoring for more Abrams movies? With the large groundswell of popularity there in terms of money and viewership those must be the best way forward, correct?

Well I wouldn't quite put it like that. It just doesn't seem to be a perfect microcosm of the larger Trek community. Just a gut feeling, that's all, but I think that Trek social media will be a bit of a miserable place to be.

What I have found on various discussions on various boards and social media is that there is an unspoken bar for Trek to rise to to be considered "true Trek" and that anything that fails that must be regarded as the worst.


Trek social media fandom loves hyperbole

 

[mattman8907]

The only reason I'm going to be watching this is the fact that we're getting more Backstory on Rachel Garrett prior to her taking command of the Enterprise-C.

 

[Yistaan]

No. We don't need that much small-universe syndrome.

Just even showing anyone of that species already is a small-universe syndrome since Bele and Lokai were previously established as the only survivors. Now they have to retcon that someone else survived.