Spoilers STAR TREK: SECTION 31 - Grading & Discussion

[Michael]

Whoa, that Trekcore review is harsh, and they usually are cheerleaders for anything Trek. So coming from them that verdict carries some weight.

It more or less sounds like what I’ve been expecting from this movie, though. At this point its saving grace could be a classic situation of “so bad it’s good”, where you at least can have some fun watching how ridiculously bad it is or laugh at the stupid dialog.

One of the most disappointing things, going by the reviews, is that neither the “Lost Era” setting nor the inclusion of legacy character Rachel Garrett seem to be motivated by anything in the story and are entirely random and unnecessary.

 

[NCC-73515]

I had the same thought - when Trekcore says the things they said, it really must be bad

 

[F. King Daniel]

I plan to watch this with the Star Trek Official Beer(TM) I was gifted for Christmas, because I was determined to enjoy it no matter what.

Good thing I got a bottle of vodka for Christmas too. And some gin.

 

[Lord Garth]

Spoiler

That's a stardate between DIS and TOS (not that that means anything).
And those are the only interesting bits, nothing else!

Spoiler

Assuming stardates were reset to 0 in 2323, a 1XXX stardate could mean this takes place in 2324.

 

[Lord Garth]

Whoa, that Trekcore review is harsh, and they usually are cheerleaders for anything Trek. So coming from them that verdict carries some weight.

It more or less sounds like what I’ve been expecting from this movie, though. At this point its saving grace could be a classic situation of “so bad it’s good”, where you at least can have some fun watching how ridiculously bad it is or laugh at the stupid dialog.

One of the most disappointing things, going by the reviews, is that neither the “Lost Era” setting nor the inclusion of legacy character Rachel Garrett seem to be motivated by anything in the story and are entirely random and unnecessary.

I was waiting for an opening to give my theory about why they wanted to go with the Lost Era and I think it's this:

The TOS Era is now SNW's domain, and they don't see the S31 TV Movie as a TOS thing. The TNG Era is PIC's domain, and they don't see this movie as a TNG thing either. So, they split the difference and had it take place in the Lost Era. As simple as that.

If this had been a series, like originally intended, they could've used the Lost Era to set up the sociopolitical status of the Alpha Quadrant in TNG and DS9.

 

[ananta]

Those reviews. Ouch. I’d been hoping this would at least be a big, silly, fun, entertaining piece of fluff. It sounds bad though. What a waste of Michelle Yeoh’s considerable talent. I’ll still watch it though before coming to my own conclusion. Clearly polls shouldn’t be open until after the episode drops because obviously some people are less inclined to reach their own verdict.

 

[Michael]

I was waiting for an opening to give my theory about why they wanted to go with the Lost Era and I think it's this:

The TOS Era is now SNW's domain, and they don't see the S31 TV Movie as a TOS thing. The TNG Era is PIC's domain, and they don't see this movie as a TNG thing either. So, they split the difference and had it take place in the Lost Era. As simple as that.

If this had been a series, like originally intended, they could've used the Lost Era to set up the sociopolitical status of the Alpha Quadrant in TNG and DS9.

I agree. I too suspect the “Lost Era” setting is probably a vestige of this originally being planned as a series as opposed to a one-off movie. Were this a proper series the largely unexplored timeframe would give them the opportunity to be a little more liberal with where they are taking plot developments. And as you say, it would have given them the chance to carve out their own individual point in the larger Trek timeline.

I also think that having Rachel Garrett as one of the characters would have turned out to be less random if this had been given an entire season to explore each character and dive into their backgrounds. We probably would have found out how this whole episode of her career might have informed her becoming the seasoned and ultimately ill-fated captain we saw in “Yesterday’s Enterprise”.

It’s a shame that all signs point to this being a massive misfire, because it would genuinely have been interesting to learn more about Garrett. And looking at the positive fan reactions to the inclusion of the character and the casting choice it would seem people largely agree with this. Right now it seems like the chances of seeing more of her are pretty slim.

 

[Uhura's Song]

Not surprised at all.

From jump, the best I was hoping for was somewhere around ST09, Generations, or Insurrection. But realistically was thinking Nemesis, Final Frontier, or Into Darkness.

 

[HotRod]

It’s a shame that all signs point to this being a massive misfire, because it would genuinely have been interesting to learn more about Garrett. And looking at the positive fan reactions to the inclusion of the character and the casting choice it would seem people largely agree with this. Right now it seems like the chances of seeing more of her are pretty slim.

This is the part that will certainly sting the most with me. If this film does turn into a colossal failure, it will be the wasted potential of Kacey Rohl as Garrett that'll hurt the most.

 

[Tiran O'Saurus]

Our last movie was Beyond, widely considered good. Isn't it part of the old tradition for this one to be bad?

 

[Tuskin38]

One of the original writers/showrunners on the project when it was a TV series posted this. I don't know if it's actually related to S31, but coincidence if it isn't

(Social Media Hiatus) 🔒 (@extspace.bsky.social)

Yes, I *will* be drinking on the 24th, thanks for asking.

bsky.app

 

[Michael]

Our last movie was Beyond, widely considered good. Isn't it part of the old tradition for this one to be bad?

Isn’t the common wisdom usually that the odd numbered Trek movies are bad and the even numbered ones are good? Which would mean this is should have been one of the good ones.

 

[HotRod]

Isn’t the common wisdom usually that the odd numbered Trek movies are bad and the even numbered ones are good? Which would mean this is should have been one of the good ones.

I think that kind of got switched around thanks to Nemesis. From that point on it was the odd numbered ones that were good.

 

[Michael]

Well, as someone who loves The Motion Picture and Generations and really likes The Search for Spock and Star Trek (2009) I never agreed with any of that to begin with.

 

[The Wormhole]

I think that kind of got switched around thanks to Nemesis. From that point on it was the odd numbered ones that were good.

Indeed, once we hit double digits the movie curse seems to have been reversed with the even numbered ones being considered bad and the odd numbered ones being considered good.

 

[HotRod]

Indeed, once we hit double digits the movie curse seems to have been reversed with the even numbered ones being considered bad and the odd numbered ones being considered good.

So hey, Section 31 may be trash, but the next film is guaranteed to be a banger!

 

[TheFlutteringHorde]

Well if there's an upside to all this maybe if it gets dragged hard enough and doesn't get the views, Kurtzman's bizarre obsession with Section 31 will be reined in and we won't have it shoehorned into future productions from here on out.

 

[El Maestro]

The early reviews are confirming my fears that this is just not that well-conceived.

Seems like the franchise has forgotten that S31 are the *bad guys*. It's stupid nihilistic edgelordism to try and turn them into anti-heroes or protagonists, and badly apes other franchises that can do this more organically.

Maybe I'll be surprised, and I hope to be, but as much as I've enjoyed the mixed bag of nuTrek this seems like it's going to be a miss.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

Well if there's an upside to all this maybe if it gets dragged hard enough and doesn't get the views, Kurtzman's bizarre obsession with Section 31 will be reined in and we won't have it shoehorned into future productions from here on out.

Please let this be the case. Please please please.

 

[Dukhat]

One of the original writers/showrunners on the project when it was a TV series posted this. I don't know if it's actually related to S31, but coincidence if it isn't

(Social Media Hiatus) 🔒 (@extspace.bsky.social)

Yes, I *will* be drinking on the 24th, thanks for asking.

bsky.app

I’d be very interested in knowing what the original premise was for the series. I would have thought that it would at least have taken place in the ENT era, seeing as how that’s when Section 31 started, and Carl’s line about sending Georgiou to a point in time when the two universes were more aligned. Of course, that could also have been just a throwaway line that even the series ignored.

Anyway, my enthusiasm for watching this movie once it drops have waned. Besides the actual reviews for it, It looks like there will be no new Starfleet ships or uniforms, and the only neat thing about it is a new phaser design. Sounds like even Rohl was wasted, since there’s zero link between her character and the Enterprise-C.