Four Reasons Why Trek Fans Are Looking Forward to Section 31

As CBS All Access becomes the home for all things Star Trek, some Trek fans are eagerly anticipating the new show “Section 31.” To those non-Trek fans out there, Section 31 is the covert intelligence unit that works behind the scenes in the Star Trek world. The organization is willing to do whatever’s necessary, get its hands dirty and do the things the squeaky-clean Federation is not willing to do or can’t do. According to Memory Alpha, the organization is named after Starfleet Charter S, Article 14, Section 31, which allows Starfleet operatives to take “extraordinary measures” to protect security.

The Section 31 show will feature Philippa Georgiou (played by Michelle Yeoh,) who is a controversial character herself. Georgiou crossed over from the mirror universe, where she was a ruthless emperor of the Terran Empire. The Federation decided to put her skills set to use and assigned her to Section 31. (This storyline was explored in Star Trek: Discovery.)

Here’s why the show is eagerly anticipated:

• Section 31 exists in a gray area. The organization was first introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which was a controversial series itself. In DS9, the characters often ventured into gray areas, and did things that were not considered standard heroic behavior. That is why it divided the Trek world. Some fans hated it. Other fans loved it. One of the most popular characters was Garak, an exiled Cardassian ex-spy, who never told the truth. The characters in DS9 are horrified at the existence of Section 31, but Odo says every major power has a covert unit. According to a Screen Rant article, the addition of Section 31, was controversial among fans, because it went against Gene Rodenberry's more optimistic worldview. Craig Elvy wrote: “Ira Steven Behr, the writer who introduced Section 31 to Deep Space Nine, believed that Roddenberry's tranquil future would've come at a price, and that Earth could only enjoy such peace because someone, somewhere in the shadows was performing the necessary actions that no one else wanted to consider.”

• Section 31 fits in with the new mood of the Trek universe. The new show Picard has already ventured into very dark areas. Jean-Luc Picard has rebelled against Starfleet and is embittered with the organization. Seven of Nine now operates as a vigilante after suffering a major loss. Star Trek fans seem to be ready to embrace a more dangerous world, where the good guys have to do some bad things occasionally.

• Star Trek has always mirrored real-world events. The Original Series was born in the early 1960s and contained messages about opportunism and racial diversity. The world of The Next Generation was more complex, the Cold War was winding down, enemies were becoming friends and this was reflected in the show as the Klingons were now seen as not just brutish thugs. If Section 31 is a reflection of the modern world, it has plenty of fodder with concentration camps on the border and fascism rising around the world.

• Very few shows have attempted to tackle sci-fi and espionage. It will be fascinating to see how Section 31 incorporates James Bond-like gadgets into the Trek universe. This allows the show to push the boundaries as the agents might use outlawed tech and techniques which are forbidden by the Federation.

Ultimately, Section 31 is a chance for Star Trek writers to venture into new territory as fans root for Federation characters who are not always the white hats. And anti-heroes, like Batman, Wolverine and Guardians of the Galaxy are in these days.