This Discovery Spinoff Movie Is B-Movie Trash (And That’s Okay)

What is Star Trek in 2025?

That’s the question fans will surely be asking themselves after they finish watching Star Trek: Section 31, the new Paramount+ film that literally takes the iconic sci-fi franchise where it’s never gone before . Set outside the reach of the Federation and devoid of Starfleet characters, this is a corner of the Trek universe rarely explored on screen – seedy, lawless, violent and cheerfully free of pesky “ethics” and “utopian ones.” ideals”. “on which the films and shows in Gene Roddenberry’s milieu so often rely. Star Trek has always acknowledged that the galaxy can be so bad, but it mostly shows it through the eyes and ideals of steadfast leaders, scientists and diplomats. But in “Section 31,” the universe is saved not by brave people who do the right thing, but by violent, nasty idiots who know how to punch, stab, and shoot their way through a bad situation.

So is it “Star Trek” all over again if it takes place in the Star Trek universe but consciously avoids the typical elements that define “Star Trek” for so many? It’s the question that I think “Section 31” will raise eyebrows among fans, and it’s a conversation that’s definitely worth having. But on its own merits, “Section 31” certainly delivers something special: it’s a hugely entertaining piece of B-movie action trash that clearly smacks of “Gerard Butler in January” and is certainly unlike anything else out there we’ve never seen them have the name Trek. It’s silly and silly and at times very ridiculous, but there’s no denying that the whole thing is just plain fun.

Technically a spin-off of the recently completed “Star Trek: Discovery” (and largely shot by “Disco” veterans including writer Craig Sweeny and director Olatunde Osunsanmi), “Section 31” puts one of the nastiest and most unpredictable characters in Trek history at the center of the action. Michelle Yeoh’s Philippa Georgiou, the bloodthirsty tyrant and warlord from the infamous “Mirror Universe” now stranded in the main Trek universe, is once again recruited by Section 31 (aka Starfleet’s CIA-like intelligence division) to take on to embark on a serious mission meaning. Along with a ragtag team of crazy, dangerous lunatics (and a Starfleet Overseer), she must, you know, save the galaxy. But this team doesn’t have to worry about the things that would worry Picard and Spock. Like morals.

It’s clear that “Section 31” is designed to appeal to action fans beyond the core Trek audience, and the initial staging screams “Mission: Impossible” or “Fast & Furious,” but the streaming budget and overall feel the dirtiness is omnipresent the whole thing is remembered better B-movie junk food like “Den of Thieves.” And honestly, that’s okay. Star Trek is at its purest when it’s smaller, edgier and weirder, and while Section 31 seems to be trying to be the coolest thing in the room, it’s actually pretty dope and relies as heavily on nerdy franchise details as it does sword fights, phaser fights, and Michelle Yeoh kicking guys in the face. And that’s how it should be: “Star Trek”, which is not stupid, is not “Star Trek” at all.

And honestly, “nerdy B-movie sleaze” is a twist on “Trek” we’ve never seen before, and one that I found myself enjoying more and more as the film’s frantic pace took me through scene after scene pulled.

As intended, Section 31 is Michelle Yeoh’s show, and she’s wearing Georgiou like a spiky, vampiric, blood-soaked glove at this point. You either enjoy watching Yeoh strut, kick, and grin through action scenes, or you have no taste. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of “Section 31” is that it is surrounded by a cast of new characters who equally demand attention. Omari Hardwick provides a solid foundation as the “normal guy” on the team, although his backstory is unusual enough to raise some eyebrows if you’re familiar with Trek lore. Kacey Rohl is a delight as loyal Starfleet representative Rachel Garrett (Fans may know this name), whose “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” descent to the level of her peers provides some of the film’s biggest laughs. And no one understands the brief like Sam Richardson, whose shape-shifting, amoral scientist stars in almost every scene. The best thing I can say about this team of scumbags is that I would love to see them in another adventure, and the film isn’t afraid to leave room for a sequel.

Still, the whole endeavor has the distinct flavor of a “backdoor pilot,” which makes sense since “Section 31” was originally intended to be a streaming series before transitioning to the modern equivalent of a direct-to-video film. You often see the action scenes pushing the limits of the smaller budget, although Osunsanmi does his best to make the crazy action as intense as possible, even if the visual effects budget can’t quite keep up. In this case, I knew that the film would rather look cheap than polished if it meant that some of the edgier action beats could somehow come to fruition. Trek fans are used to the polish of “Strange New Worlds” may be baffling, but the spontaneous cheapness of “Section 31” is truly a badge of honor – like the original series in the ’60s, “Section 31” consistently pushes its goals beyond budget.

This brings us back to the question that opened this review. What is “Star Trek” in 2025 and does something as different as “Section 31” count as “Star Trek”? While it’s certainly not my ideal version of Trek and I’d hate to see it become the default tone, this is a franchise based on a variety. If The Next Generation can combine complex stories about ethics and scientific thinking with silly hours in which the crew is kidnapped by a god-like alien with a bad sense of humor in the story of Robin Hood, Trek can certainly go into the action trash- Switch mode for a TV movie. Every iteration of the original series reminds us that Star Trek, for all its high-minded ideals, is built on a happy, shaky foundation of outrageous junk. The beauty of Star Trek is that it is somehow, somehow everythingand we will argue about the nature of it all until the sun burns out.

So here I am, giving Star Trek: Section 31 my recommendation, knowing full well that it will turn off many Trek fans who want this franchise to be exclusive, classic sci-fi, and also knowing that it’s inherently stupid And relying on deep Trek references might turn off those looking for a good time with goofy action. What is Star Trek in 2025? It is something specific, strange and alienating that is not for everyone. And that is “Section 31.”

/Film rating: 7 out of 10

Star Trek: Section 31 will stream on Paramount+ starting January 24, 2025.