Section 31: Know Why You’re Nervous About the Movie

This week, Star Trek returns to the world of cinema with a very different twist: not just in format, in the first streaming-exclusive film the franchise has ever seen, but in perspective, as Section 31 sheds light on one of the darkest ideas that has ever emerged HikingIt’s a utopian vision. Since its introduction into New deep spaceSection 31 has been seen as an affront, not only by the heroes of these stories, but also by fans who reject its very existence and what it means for Star Trekidealized vision of the future. But that just makes the creators and stars behind the new movie want you to give them the benefit of the doubt even more.

“(Gene) Roddenberry created a universe whose ideals were utopian. “It’s a beautiful idea, that we’ve evolved beyond those kinds of things, but people need to understand that these things don’t happen without sacrifice,” Rob Kazinsky, who plays Zeph in a mechanical suit among Section 31‘s main group of agents recently told io9 over Zoom. “You don’t achieve the levels of equality, kindness, peace and all those beautiful things of the Federation without fighting for it. And to fight for it and obtain it, you must then fight to keep it.

Section 31’s existence as an organization within the Federation – disavowed to the point of almost mythology, willing to break every rule set out in its charter to preserve the peace – has always made it a highly controversial element of world building. The context in which it was first introduced New deep spaceas its climactic tale of the Dominion War (and with its outbreak, an existential threat to the Federation unlike anything envisioned by Hiking before), for stars like Kazinsky, is key to understanding why the idea is so compelling in the first place, even if it remains so hotly contested by Star Trek fans.

“Members of the Federation exist in a bubble of safety and happiness, but there are outsiders in this sphere of the Federation – surrounded by the Dominion, the Founders, the Klingons (of this era), the (Romulan secret police). ) Tal Shiar. , who do not have the same moral relativity as us. They would see (the Federation) destroyed to fit their moral relativism,” Kazinsky argued. “People need to understand why they don’t like the idea (of Article 31), but this hasn’t changed the idea.”

“The Federation, humanity, and all the planets that represent all the other species are fighting for these great ideals of who and what we should be…but it doesn’t happen by magic,” the actor concluded. “Do you want to expand the universe of Star Trekwhere we can tell great stories about how we got to things like the Treaty of Alliance (between Starfleet and the Klingons before The next generation), or how can we counter this kind of maliciousness? Then Section 31 is a crucial part of this story, and I think we’re exploring it.

Kazinsky, imperturbable Hiking fan himself, perhaps the most passionate of his peers Section 31 stars on the film’s subject, but he’s not the only one who sees the dark side of Section 31 as a way to amplify humanity’s highest ideals. Star Trek. “I think Section 31 ” pushes the boundaries of “hey, here’s the reality of a police force that we need because we need to get back to the belief, and not just the belief but the reality, that egalitarianism can exist, that equality can exist. Let’s believe in it again,” Omari Hardwick, who plays Section 31Alok, team leader of , added. “I think we really pushed those boundaries in a way that Star Trek hasn’t done it before. They have other installments, films within the franchise that have pushed this, but I think Section 31 is making a very, very aggressive push of this narrative, and I think that’s a good thing.

“I think one of the great messages of the film is redemption, that even people who have committed heinous acts have within themselves the opportunity to redeem themselves and to heal and make things right,” Kacey Rohl, who plays Starfleet officer Rachel Garrett. —the future captain of Business-C as seen in the TNG episode “Yesterday’s Company” – told io9. “It’s something to think about (right now).”

“Section 31 plays at a really unique moment, from Kacey’s point of view,” Hardwick interjected. “We are at this point, there are conflicts (in the film) that are relevant in terms of Section 31 and to Star Trek in general. We’re (conducting this interview from) the comfort of a hotel, with lots of human beings asking us great questions, we’re previewing a film this week – so good, but there are some kids out there right now who are discovering their own conflicts that they’re going through and actually seeing in the world. Redemption is their key – you have to find a way not to throw stones, because we could all be caught up in what we did wrong. I think this movie pushes that narrative again, in a pretty cool way.

It’s not just what Section 31 must represent for Star Trek from a narrative perspective, but also tonally, something that has long been a matter of debate in the franchise’s cinematic legacy. “I think if you’re a fan of Star Trekyou see the world of the Federation and the world of Starfleet as being a world that draws on Gene Roddenberry’s very specific vision of optimism and plays by very specific rules in Federation space,” Alex Kurtzman , executive producer and Star Trek“, reflects the great architect of Paramount. “The notion of Article 31 as it was originally conceived New deep space suggests that the Federation we know and love cannot exist without the people who live in the shadows, who operate outside of Federation space, protecting what we all cherish. Star Trek. This is a really interesting conversation, because as with all things Star Trekit reflects the conversations we have about our true speech, and for me that is what makes it beautiful: it is a mirror, it stands in front of our world and asks us to reflect on the life we ​​live and on the way we experience them. Section 31 does exactly that.

How is Section 31 do this? For Kurtzman, it is an idea of ​​tone, which breaks down so many preconceived ideas about what Star Trek This is as much as Article 31 itself does as part of a broader fiction. “I think what we can take away (from the film) is a reinforcement of Roddenberry’s essential vision, which for me is the beating heart of Star Trekand tone is so important to that,” Kurtzman continued. “If we did a dark thing, only serious and sinister Star Trek film, I think fans would have every right to say “this is not Star Trekthis is not the Star Trek that I know and love.

“This movie is fun, and it’s funny, and it’s an adventure and it’s moving – and it touches on darkness but I don’t think it’s a dark movie. Our goal was to find a way to address exactly these fan concerns, because we share them. At the beginning of the film you are told that this story does not exist in Federation space, you are traveling outside of Federation space to protect the Federation. I hope the skeptics will understand that we are ultimately trying to do what they want, which is to reinforce this essential vision of Star Trek.”

Star Trek: Section 31 begins streaming on Paramount+ on January 24.

Additional reporting by Cheryl Eddy.

Want more io9 news? Find out when to expect the latest releases from Marvel, Star Wars and Star Trek, what’s next for the DC Universe in film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.