What are your controversial Star Trek opinions?

[fireproof78]

First of all, I don't think we're supposed to like Section 31 from an operational standpoint. They clearly operate in a black operations/plausible deniability realm that many real world agencies have, except they usually have both official and classified operations under one roof. Star Trek, like it is want to do, places all the skullduggery under one umbrella term, in which Section 31 is neither confirmed, nor denied, and utilizes its assets as needed.

Now, I do appreciate having Section 31 because it fixes a rather annoying problem in Star Trek that many admirals and leaders are either evil, or prone to conspiracy. That is such an odd look for an organization that allows people remain in a posting as long as they like so long as it works, but as soon as you become upper leadership you grow evil? That is not encouraging as an organization.

This isn't me saying all bad things done by Starfleet is a Section 31 conspiracy but only that it is nice to have some influence that causes the high rate of bad admirals than just the obsession with being a captain.

 

[Paul755]

I didn’t mind Section 31 in DS9 or even Enterprise. But making it a well known, out in the open organization in Disco was a big mistake.

 

[cooleddie74]

A mistake, and a stupid, narratively clumsy one.

 

[137th Gebirg]

I suspect that, as a concept, it might have done better if they got consultants who were actually familiar with the intelligence community to help them write the stories. They had a rare opportunity to do that for the S31 show. They clearly dropped the ball and it probably never even occurred to them to hire someone who knows that world.

 

[Tosk]

I don't think that intelligently written espionage was ever even on the whiteboard for the Section 31 movie.

Or if it was, they erased it to make room for potential "Yo mama" jokes.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

If they wanted a proper espionage show they'd make Starfleet Intelligence. They just wanted to make Suicide Squad.

 

[Farscape One]

The current era of writers for the franchise just don't understand Section 31, which is why they have failed so badly using them. Section 31 should not be used in the current era again.

 

[knightgrace]

Consider the 'original' concept of 'James Bond'...

He isn't a "spy", he is a continuation of the British Special Operations Executive idea that preceeded WW II. The purpose was trouble shooting, before things got out of hand.
If you know that a bad actor exists, then before things go South, it is better to take care of the problem, soonest.

If that fails, then the next step up, is larger operation, using maybe about a dozen people. The problem with this is that their actions are more likely to become public knowledge.

Then there is actual open warfare. It goes deep South from there.

Ian Fleming posited that the number of double oughts, was purposely small. Not unlimited. Because that IS actual warfare.

The United Federation of Planets, has at any one time multiple problems to deal with. Some are easily delt with, by a limited actual action. Most probably can be delt with by something like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police...

But if continuous failures occur, then more aggressive action may be required.

Why did I bring up the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Canada didn't make the same mistake that the US did. After all, we have tales of the wild, wild west...

Where there was little to no law enforcement...

How many people died unnecessary deaths because of this?

And the Galaxy is the wild, wild west.

 

[at Quark's]

I agree about Section 31. It's contrary to the concept of the Federation as a place where's truth and rule of law. And it always strained belief that Section 31 could have remained secret, especially now that Every Single Star Trek Show has to have some Section 31 agents.

"Moonlight" has grown on me, though.

I'm torn about Section 31.

That is, I don't like the agency itself, and how contrary it is to the entire utopian idea of the UFP. Also agree they couldn't have both fully autonomous and secret over 3 centuries.

But the existence of Section 31 did acknowledge the idea that in some situations, someone will have to do the dirty work, if your state is to survive. As is one of the central ideas of In the Pale Moonlight.

Granted, Section 31 did way more than that - far too much, if you asked me. (Certainly if you look at the way more modern series have exploited the concept. )

 

[Rahul]

The big problem with S31 is that is the first, and so far only "named" spy agency on Star Trek. Double points for the spys wearing cool, dark leather outfits.

Apart from that we only ever received "mission briefs from Starfleet intelligence".
That didn't sound cool.

As a result, that makes S31 the "default Star Trek spy agency" on any cool new spy stories for writer's who don't care. Despite it really don't fitting with the original premise.

Had we had a "black ops Starfleet division" before, that one would have been used, and S31 being left alone since DS9.

But alas, the current crop of writers is allergic to inventing anything on their own, be it alien races, characters or divisions. Better to slap a familiar name on it, even if it doesn't fit.

 

[Shawnster]

Their intelligence agency is Starfleet Intelligence

Who are they? Starfleet? Yes, Starfleet Intelligence is Starfleet's intelligence division (taken from the department of redundancy department).

But that's like dismissing the FBI, CIA, and NSA because US military branches have intelligence departments such as INSCOM or Oni.

If they wanted a proper espionage show they'd make Starfleet Intelligence. They just wanted to make Suicide Squad.

Then make Suicide Squad. The Dirty Dozen wasn't an operation directed by a secret intelligence division.

They could have made Section 31 a rogue (or not so) rogue part of Starfleet Intelligence, but they did not. Instead, they created a new entity.