Game The Most Disliked Section 31 Episode/Movie

[Sakonna]

Next up in these themed elimination games: SECTION 31 STORIES.

THE RULES. The basic idea is your standard elimination game. Below are Section 31 episodes from DS9, ENT, and DIS, plus a movie. Eliminate your FAVORITE or the one you deem the 'BEST.' Please provide an EXPLANATION for why you are eliminating your choice and be sure to copy and paste the list with your choice removed.

Leave at least 2 eliminations by other posters before you eliminate another episode.

No tactical voting! You cannot remove an episode just because you feel it would threaten your preferred episode's chance to win.

The 2019 Least Disliked winner of this list was "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2", DIS Season 2.

Enjoy!


DS9 Season 6: "Inquisition"
DS9 Season 7: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
DS9 Season 7: "Extreme Measures"
ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Project Daedalus"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Farscape One]

Kicking things off with "INQUISITION".

It was a good Bashir episode, and Sloan was compelling, brilliantly done by William Sadler.

Plus, it only feels right to start this off with the first.

(Side note: I just realized why I always liked Bashir. And it has nothing to do with DS9.

It was how he treated Data in "Birthright, Part I". He noticed all his human characteristics and didn't look at him as an automaton.)


DS9 Season 7: "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges"
DS9 Season 7: "Extreme Measures"
ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Project Daedalus"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Syn]

It's always bewildering to me to realize there were only three Section 31 episodes in all of DS9. I really felt like it was more prevalent, but in reality it was the following series that really milked it. ENT was alright, for the most part, but it really went off the rails in Discovery. In hindsight, I feel like DS9 had a perfect amount of Section 31 that made it fit its atmosphere without being silly about it. I enjoyed that it was an unspoken force behind the scenes, a subtle pressure on subtle pressure, and less of an opaque force that swings its muscle around.

So, I'll be saving Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges from DS9 season 7. Of the three episodes in the show, Inquisition and this one were tied for best, while I found the third to be a bit silly and less enticing.

In particular, I like here that the Romulan eye for subterfuge and espionage was alive and well, but less ethereal and unknowing. Bashir getting involved in politics within politics was interesting to see, and the implication of what is really just a boxing match between the Tal Shiar and Starfleet Intelligence, the two trading blows and trying to get the upper hand, was something not typically offered in these shows -- and still isn't!

I really appreciated that Bashir could not know who to trust. The revelation of Admiral Ross being a pawn as well was delightful.

DS9 Season 7: "Extreme Measures"
ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Project Daedalus"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Cyfa]

I despise Section 31! As a lightly touched upon organisation in DS9 it was OK, but its use and popularity seems to have been blown out of all proportion since then. S31 seems to crop up everywhere now. I can't even read the last few stories from the Novelverse as they're polluted with it. Bah!
Anyway, despite all that ranting and raving, there are some excellent parts of episodes weaving in and out of the S31 malarkey. My favourite - because it sheds some much needed light on Airiam is "Project Daedalus" - so that's the one I'm saving. Airiam, why did we have to wait so long to find out more about you? Only to have you sacrifice yourself at the end (with a little help from Nhan)? - Airiam and her husband at the end: "But we're coming home."
I hate you Section 31! I hate you!!!

::and breathes::

DS9 Season 7: "Extreme Measures"
ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Farscape One]

Taking "EXTREME MEASURES" to... save it.

It was, at its core, a final O'Brien/Bashir jaunt. They are one of the cornerstones of DS9. And we got to know Sloan more, and some tidbits about their inner workings.


ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Through The Valley Of Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[ananta]

Haven’t rewatched DIS season two yet so I can’t quite match up the episode title to the episode yet, but “Through the Valley of Shadows” jumps out. Not the biggest S31 fan outside of DS9, but I found Disco season 2 solid and very enjoyable. This was the episode with Pike on Boreth, which I loved — the reimagining of the Klingon monastery was superbly done and Pike being forced to face his future was...one of the Trek’s most powerful moments without a shadow of a doubt. So this one is saved.

ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
Kelvin Feature: "Star Trek Into Darkness"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Seven of Five]

So I did half a post saving Star Trek into Darkness, then must have been distracted.

So being as it hasn't been saved yet, I'll save it.

I do like the use of Section 31 in this film, even if it was a shame they decided to go with Khan as a villain.

ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Point Of Light"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Sakonna]

"Point Of Light" is where I think Discovery had the most fun & success with Section 31. It was so effective how it was braided into the Klingon story here.

ENT Season 4: "Affliction"
ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Farscape One]

Saving "AFFLICTION".

Using Section 31 to flesh out more for Reed to do was clever, and he does seem to fit into the mold of someone they'd recruit.


ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"

 

[Seven of Five]

I'll save Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2, for being a such a tense episode. I don't think anything mas making sense regarding Control, but it was executed very well.

ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Saints Of Imperfection"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[Sakonna]

It's not the Section 31 parts that make it so great, but I think "Saints Of Imperfection" is a particularly strong Discovery episode. I love the journey into the mycellial network.

ENT Season 4: "Divergence"
ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[Farscape One]

I saved the first part, now saving "DIVERGENCE". Great conclusion episode.


ENT Season 4: "Demons"
ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[eschaton]

Not a fan of anything that's left really. But I'll save Demons. It was above average for Enterprise at least, even if I didn't find that two parter the most engaging part of the fourth season.

ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "The Red Angel"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[Sakonna]

I'll save "The Red Angel", because I like the way they execute that planet where they set the angel trap.

ENT Season 4: "Terra Prime"
DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[Seven of Five]

The Section 31 storyline in the other episodes of DIS that are left isn't really standing out for me. I'll save Terra Prime instead, as at least the episode performs as a de facto series finale for ENT.

DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
DIS Season 2: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 1"

 

[Vger23]

Pulling "Such Sweet Sorrow, Pt 1" It has some good moments in it, I like the Enterprise showing up to help with the battle.


DIS Season 2: "Light And Shadows"
DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"

 

[eschaton]

Saving Light and Shadows. The episode was bland - I can't even remember what happened aside from Ash and Pike arguing in a shuttlecraft while a robot squid attacked - but Perpetual Infinity was the nadir of the second season, with just one convoluted infodump after another.

DIS Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"

 

[Seven of Five]

Good call,

I definitely liked a lot of the Section 31 story in DIS. By the end of the season it was all falling apart, and Control was a little poorly defined, in my opinion.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Most disliked? All of them. Section 31 was a bad call on DS9's part

 

[Sakonna]

Discovery and DS9 are again tied at 3 wins each! It was feeling wrong when DS9 had more wins than Disco...

Thanks for playing, everyone! Hope to see you on the next one, a new list posting later today:

"The Most Disliked Prime Directive Episode"

And here's the winner board...

MOST DISLIKED "WINNER"LOSERS, 2020
"HEY, THIS PLANET IS JUST LIKE EARTH!": TOS, Season 1: "Miri"
SEASON PREMIERE: TNG, Season 7: "Descent, Part II"
LWAXANA: DS9, Season 1: "The Forsaken"
ROMANCE OF THE WEEK: DS9, Season 3: "Meridian"
FERENGI: DS9, Season 7: "The Emperor's New Cloak"
CARDASSIANS: VOY, Season 2: "Investigations"
HOLIDAY: VOY, Season 4: "Day Of Honor"
HOLODECK: VOY, Season 6: "Fair Haven"
TIME TRAVEL/ANOMALY/LOOP: VOY, Season 6: “Fury”
MAQUIS: VOY, Season 7: "Repression"
BARCLAY: VOY, Season 7: "Inside Man"
Q: VOY, Season 7: "Q2"
2-HOUR/2-PART: ENT, Season 1 & 2: "Shockwave"
VISIT TO EARTH'S "PRESENT": ENT, Season 2: "Shockwave, Part II"
KLINGONS: ENT, Season 2: "Marauders"
HALLUCINATION/ILLUSION: ENT, Season 3: "Extinction"
VISIT TO EARTH'S PAST: ENT, Season 4: "Storm Front, Part I"
THR'S 100 GREATEST TREK EPS: ENT, Season 4: "Home"
CAST CROSSOVER: ENT, Season 4: "These Are The Voyages..."
MIRROR UNIVERSE: DIS, Season 1: "What's Past Is Prologue"
INTRODUCTION OF RECURRING ALIENS: DIS, Season 2: "An Obol For Charon" (the jahSepp)
SECTION 31: DIS, Season 2: "Perpetual Infinity"
ROMULANS: PIC, Season 1: "Et In Arcadia Ego, Part 1"

TOTAL SHOW WINS
TAS, Short Treks, & Movies - 0 wins
TOS, TNG, and PIC - 1 win each
DS9 and DIS - 3 wins each
VOY and ENT - 7 wins each