I am unashamedly a Trekkie. I remember walking around Star Trek conventions before I was in middle school. I love the Original Series, the 80s and 90s Star Trek movies, I grew up analyzing communication styles in The Next Generation. I have seen nearly every episode of every version and series of Star Trek. My love for the worlds, characters and universes first created by Gene Roddenberry runs deep.
That is one of the reasons this movie review has been difficult to write.
Star Trek: Section 31 is a new movie available on Paramount Plus, released on January 24, 2025. It stars Michelle Yeoh, reprising her role as Emperor Philippa Georgiou from Star Trek: Discovery. The film follows Georgiou as she joins Section 31, a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets.
The movie is set in the “lost era” between Star Trek: The Original Series films and Star Trek: The Next Generation series. It explores Georgiou’s journey as she faces the sins of her past while working with Section 31.
Michelle Yeoh’s portrayal of Georgiou in the Star Trek Discovery series was surprising, captivating at times and all in all a solid addition to the lore and history of the “lost era” universe.
However, sometimes Hollywood just can’t help itself. The positive reaction to Yeoh and the character Georgiou led to a temptation that Paramount simply could not resist. Instead of letting a good thing be a good thing, they had to try and make it something more.
What they got was a clunky, awkward, predictable space adventure that barely feels like a Star Trek movie or property. While watching it felt more like a DCU misstep such as Suicide Squad rather than a part of the Star Trek universe.
Besides Georgiou, there is an ultimately underwhelming cast of characters.
A cyborg, a shapeshifter, a super soldier, the “just by the book” military officer, a seeming nod to Anime with a small pilot of a humanoid suit all combine to bring little more than stock sci-fi character energy to the screen.
The story of a reformed villain forced to reconcile with their previous actions feels stale and creates a void in place of a villain. Sci-fi needs excellent villains to feel complete. Ironically a role that Georgiou herself filled in the Discovery series.
Star Wars works because of the Vader and the Empire. Kirk and crew were at their best when facing Kahn, Neo has Mr. Smith. Outside of the lack of an excellent script or seemingly predictable plot twists, where Star Trek: Section 31 really fails is lacking a subtle villain for Georgiou to go up against.
In the end it leaves the audience feeling like something important was missing from this empty and less than enthralling entry into the Star Trek universe.
If it was in the theaters, I’d say wait for it to stream. As a streaming option, I give it a 2 out of 5 and only recommend for dedicated Star Trek completionists.