Spoilers STAR TREK: SECTION 31 - Grading & Discussion

[Kamen Rider Blade]

Kurtzman’s pet project, seven years in the making. And the best he could come up with is Suicide Squad/Mission Impossible in space. With a pinch of Hunger Games, a dash of generic sci-fi, and Star Trek in the title.

I'd argue it's more "Suicide Squad / Expendables". There's not much Spy-Craft in this movie and the amount of "Spy-Work" is so minimal that it's just kinda there.

I wasn't expecting "The Hunger Games" to be shoved into Gerogiou's back story of how she ascended to the Emperor's throne.

Kurtzman was one of the writers on Star Trek Into Darkness. Which also featured a Section 31 sub-plot. Section 31 isn’t Star Fleet black ops. They are not the CIA, OSI or MI6.

We saw through ENT, TOS, TNG and DS9. That StarFleet brass has no problem sending their regular officers and officials to do covert missions for them.

Section 31 is reserved for extreme measures. To do things the Feddies/Starfleet can’t be seen doing.

Section 31 is basically SD-6 for the UFP. If you watched the "Alias" TV show, you'd get the reference.

At first Section 31 was sanctioned underneath StarFleet Intelligence back in the Discovery-era.
Now that they've been kicked out, they're on their own.

I REALLY dislike the use of official StarFleet Insignia / Vessels once they've been kicked out.
They should stick to using Section 31 original designs for everything.

Section 31 is literally a organization of folks who are like the "Suicide Squad / Expendables" and organized to operate in Clandestine / Un-Sanctioned missions of their own choosing for the supposed benefit of the UFP so they can keep their idealistic Utopia w/o getting their hands dirty.

Any loss of Section 31 Members has no bearing on the UFP, the way they like it.

It allows plausible deniability .

It's definitely a 6/10 movie.

 

[Snarfies]

Do mis scences/ special effects like this

Please Cranck up you surround sound till 2 Oclock

https://i.imgur.com/99VUVhK.mp4

There are so many plots they could
introduce Section31 in. Like Picard season 2 ending a preqell about "The Guardian at the gate" an what it's really about. Like a Temporal war between Borg species motivated by black ops (Section31) involvement special guest Seven of Nine (who has experience in time recruitment Voyager) colleborating with The Mother of the Fatherland • Overlord of Vulcan • Dominus of Qo'noS • Regina Andor . • Augustus •.Iaponius . • Centarius.

A pure Spectacle. With scences/special effects as above.

 

[David cgc]

You know, come to think of it, everything was Georgiou's fault. If she hadn't betrayed San, and commissioned a useless doomsday weapon, even if she'd put half the effort Lorca did into getting home rather than staying the Prime Universe to amuse herself, there would've been nothing for her to save the Federation from.

Section 31 saving the galaxy from their own legacy of malfeasance probably is the best depiction of them since DS9.

The other thought that's been rolling around in my head is wondering how long it'll be before Garrett calling Georgiou a "bad bitch" will feel as dated as Captain Kirk talking about using dip-pens with inkwells in grade school.

 

[BillJ]

Kacey Rohl was probably the biggest disappointment for me. She was just kind of there for most of the movie.

 

[oktay]

Interview: Alex Kurtzman On The Evolution Of ‘Section 31’ And What He Has Learned Running Star Trek TV

The executive producer talked about how it's "important is to try new things."

trekmovie.com

 

[Lord Garth]

I was unprepared for what I'd think of Section 31. As a huge DSC Fan and with Georgiou being one of my favorite characters, I expected to be pro-S31 TV Movie. Or, at worst, I'd think the movie was "ehhh". So, this felt like I was at a swimming pool, I was jumping off the diving board, and then did a massive belly flop, really bad, and it was super painful. I ignored the reviews because the only time I've agreed with anyone about New Trek (not including TrekBBS) was Picard Season 3. So, I was like, "What do I care? I'll just disagree with them again, just like usual!" But nope, I agreed with them.

It's been a few days, so I figured I'll give it a re-watch, now that I know what it is. I'll watch it for what it is instead of what I wanted it to be. And if I still think it's not good, hopefully it ends up being a case of "so bad, it's good". Then I can still enjoy it, even if it's in a completely different way than what I would've preferred.

 

[TRON JA307020]

No

I think so. In terms of visual continuity star wars has done a far superior job. The new creators have followed the lucas films much better. S31 while in the 24th century looks like STD. Kurtmans team just doesnt understand.

 

[BillJ]

I try to find something redeeming in the various Trek shows/movies that I've watched, even if I am not exactly thrilled with the end product. Here, I'm struggling badly to find something redeeming. Anything. Even Yeoh seemed preoccupied with getting it over with. Plus, I can't really remember another time where a Trek product didn't leave me pondering something about the greater universe and where they could go.

About the only thing they could've done, to salvage the movie in the minds of fans beyond largely being garbage, would've been if Garrett had gotten promoted to captain and we get to see the Enterprise-C before or after the credits. Though that would never happen as they weren't willing or able to upstage Yeoh in her own movie.

 

[Lord Garth]

I think so. In terms of visual continuity star wars has done a far superior job. The new creators have followed the lucas films much better. S31 while in the 24th century looks like STD. Kurtmans team just doesnt understand.

There's nothing to match because outside of Garrett, who's not in a Starfleet Uniform, Starfleet is nowhere to be seen. They can make it look however they want. If we saw the Federation proper, or the Klingons, or the Romulans, or the Cardassians, or anything like that, then you'd have a point.

And yeah, S31 looks kind of like DSC because it's made by the same people. ENT looked too much like TNG, DS9, and VOY for my tastes but, once again, it was made by the same people. It's a television production. That's the way it is.

 

[UssGlenn]

In terms of visual continuity star wars has done a far superior job. The new creators have followed the lucas films much better.

I agree. The last time Star Wars had a debate about visual continuity was when we were getting used to how shiny everything was on Naboo. Once the visual language was established it's been relatively smooth sailing. 10 more years of special effects refinement and a movie budget for their baseline gave Star Wars a leg up that Trek has never been able to catch up to.

 

[Tiran O'Saurus]

Plus, I can't really remember another time where a Trek product didn't leave me pondering something about the greater universe and where they could go.

I dunno, I thought the Eugenics Wars backstory was interesting. I can't believe it took us this long to learn the name of an Augment leader other than Khan.

 

[TRON JA307020]

I agree. The last time Star Wars had a debate about visual continuity was when we were getting used to how shiny everything was on Naboo. Once the visual language was established it's been relatively smooth sailing. 10 more years off special effects refinement and a movie budget for their baseline gave Star Wars a leg up that Trek has never been able to catch up to.

Right. Also by the time of ep IV, V and VI everything under the empires thumb had degraded. The good times were gone.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I think so. In terms of visual continuity star wars has done a far superior job. The new creators have followed the lucas films much better. S31 while in the 24th century looks like STD. Kurtmans team just doesnt understand.

No just a different approach. Star Trek started slipping away with TMP. It’s a feature not a bug.

 

[BillJ]

It’s a feature not a bug.

I'd say it is a feature and a bug.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I'd say it is a feature and a bug.

A bugaboo to be sure.

 

[JLA]

I try to find something redeeming in the various Trek shows/movies that I've watched, even if I am not exactly thrilled with the end product. Here, I'm struggling badly to find something redeeming. Anything. Even Yeoh seemed preoccupied with getting it over with. Plus, I can't really remember another time where a Trek product didn't leave me pondering something about the greater universe and where they could go.
---

Same here. The best I can say about it is that I didn't turn it off before it ended. I cared enough to see how it ended. Unfortunately, the ending wasn't all that good.

 

[Citiprime]

I'd say it is a feature and a bug.

I've always suspected some of the visual changes were not dictated (solely) by creative decisions, but also merchandising. From Paramount's and Secret Hideout's perspective in that first season, if Discovery had taken off as a huge hit, all of those new ship designs and (Klingon) character reinterpretations would have been big hits with kids' toys and Playmates action figures even beyond the Eaglemoss models.

 

[BillJ]

I've always suspected some of the visual changes were not dictated (solely) by creative decisions

Unfortunately, they never are.

 

[Lord Garth]

I've always suspected some of the visual changes were not dictated (solely) by creative decisions, but also merchandising. From Paramount's and Secret Hideout's perspective in that first season, if Discovery had taken off as a huge hit, all of those new ship designs and (Klingon) character reinterpretations would have been big hits with kids' toys and Playmates action figures even beyond the Eaglemoss models.

Ack, I hate when people use this as a measure of success. I'm 45. I don't want to be interested in something that has lots of kids' toys.

 

[BillJ]

I hate when people use this as a measure of success.

It is part of what makes it be seen as a success or failure for bean counters and investors. Though it probably isn't toys, it is the digital world apps and games.