What is Star Trek in 2025?

That's the question fans are sure to ask after they finish watching Star Trek: Episode 31, the new Paramount+ film that literally takes the iconic sci-fi franchise where it's never been before. Set outside the reach of the Federation, and with barely a Starfleet character, this is a corner or the Trek universe rarely explored on screen - harrowing, lawless, violent and joyfully free of pesky "ethics" and "utopian ideals". Which are so often relied upon by movies and shows in the Gene Roddenberry environment. Star Trek has always acknowledged that the galaxy can be so nasty, but it's usually portrayed it through the eyes and ideals of tough leaders, scientists and diplomats. But in "Part 31," the universe is saved not by brave people doing the right thing, but by violent, nasty a-holes who know how to punch, stab, and shoot their way through a bad situation.

So, once again, is it Star Trek if it's set in the Star Trek universe but deliberately avoids the typical elements that define Star Trek for so many? That's the question I imagine Section 31 will ignite among fans, and it's certainly a conversation worth having. But on its own, Section 31 certainly delivers a specific set of goods: it's a hugely entertaining piece of B-movie trash that has a distinct whiff of Gerard Butler in January and is certainly nothing like it. other we've ever seen bearing the Trek name. It's silly and goofy and sometimes very funny, but there's no denying the simple pleasure of the whole thing.

It's technically a spin-off of the recently concluded Star Trek: Discovery (and made largely by Disco veterans including writer Craig Sweeney and director Olatunde Osunsanmi), Section 31 puts one of the nastiest, most unpredictable characters in Trek history at the center of the action. Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Giorgio, the bloodthirsty tyrant and warlord from the infamous Mirror Universe, now stuck in the main Trek universe, is once again recruited by Section 31 (aka the CIA's black ops division with a Starfleet flavor) to go to the grave. importance. Accompanied by a team of loose, dangerous freaks (and one Starfleet Overseer), she must, you know, save the galaxy. But this team doesn't have to worry about the things that would bother Picard and Spock. Like morality.

Section 31 is clearly built to appeal to action fans outside of Trek's core audience, and the initial setup screams Mission: Impossible or Fast & Furious, but the streaming budget and overall feel of bleakness that pervades better recalls the whole thing B-movie junk like Day of the Thieves. And honestly, that's okay. Star Trek is at its purest when it's smaller, sadder, and weirder, and while Episode 31 ostensibly tries to be the coolest thing in the room, it's actually pretty sad, relying just as much on careless details from the franchise. as he does in sword fights, phaser battles, and Michelle Yeoh kicking her friends in the face. And so it should be: A Star Trek that isn't sad isn't Star Trek at all.

And frankly, "stupid B-movie sleaze" is a flavor of Trek we haven't seen before, and one that I found myself enjoying more and more as the film's whirlwind dragged me through set piece after set piece.

As intended, Part 31 is Michelle Yeoh's show, and she's wearing Georgiou like a spiky, vampy, blood-soaked glove at this point. You either enjoy watching Yeoh lean, kick and smile through action scenes, or you have no taste. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of "Section 31" is that she is surrounded by a group of new characters who demand equal attention. Omari Hardwick provides a solid foundation as the team's resident "normal guy," though his history is abnormal enough to raise a few eyebrows if you know your Journey story. Casey Rolle is a delight as Starfleet representative Rachel Garrett (fans may recognize that name), whose "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" take on bringing down her colleagues provides some of the film's biggest laughs. And no one understands the task better than Sam Richardson, whose amoral shape-shifting scientist is maddened in almost every scene. The best thing I can say about this team of dirtbags is that I'd be happy to see them on another adventure, and the film isn't shy about leaving room open 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 turning to the modern equivalent of a direct-to-video movie. You can often see the action scenes pushing the limits of the smaller budget, though Osunsanmi does his best to let the action go as hard as possible, even if the VFX budget can't quite sustain it. In this case, I found myself appreciating that the film would look cheap rather than polished if it meant some of the more gruesome action beats could achieve any kind of realization. Trek fans are used to the polish of "Strange new worlds“You might be surprised, but the cheapness of 'Part 31' is really a badge of honor - like The Original Series in the '60s, 'Part 31' always lets its goals exceed its budget.

So that brings us back to the question that opened this review. What is Star Trek in 2025 and does something as different as Episode 31 qualify as Star Trek? While it's certainly not my ideal flavor of Trek, and one I'd hate to see as the default tone, this is a franchise built on multitudes. If The Next Generation could sandwich complex stories of ethics and scientific thought around silly classes where the crew is transported into a Robin Hood story by a godlike alien with a wicked sense of humor, surely Trek is allowed to shift into mode of garbage for action. for a TV movie. Every rerun of The Original Series reminds us that Star Trek, for all its high-minded ideals, is built on a gleefully shaky foundation of outrageous garbage. The beauty of Star Trek is that it kind of is everythingand we will argue about the nature of it until the sun burns out.

So here I am giving my recommendation to Star Trek: Section 31 with the knowledge that it will turn off many Trek fans who want this franchise to be exclusive elegant hard science fiction, and also with the knowledge that its inherent secrecy and reliance on deep Trek references may alienate those looking for a good time with some silly action. What is Star Trek in 2025? It's something specific and weird and alienating enough that it won't be for everyone. And that is "Section 31".

/Movie rating: 7 out of 10

Star Trek: Section 31 airs on Paramount+ beginning January 24, 2025.