Movie Review: ‘Star Trek: Section 31’

Yeoh’s alternate universe dictator Emperor Philippa Georgiou is back for a knockabout adventure that ties into her villainous past (and antiheroic present).

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+.

‘Star Trek: Section 31’ receives 7 out of 10 stars.

Premiering on Paramount+ on January 24th, ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ represents the first ‘Star Trek’ movie produced –– even if it does carry the qualifier of “TV Movie” –– since 2016’s ‘Star Trek: Beyond.’ Which tells you something about the moribund development levels of big screen ‘Trek.’

Instead, it has been left up to the likes of executive producer/overseer Alex Kurtzman to fly the Federation flag on the small screen instead. And ‘Section 31’ marks the first feature-length spin-off from the various series (in this case, ‘Star Trek: Discovery,’ which launched the current televisual incarnation back in 2017 and wrapped up last year). The big question of course is, was it worth taking one of the characters and giving them a showcase?

Will ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ beam your interest aboard?

(L to R) Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou and Joe Pingue as Dada Noe in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+.

‘Section 31’ does go some way to answering the question as to whether the current ‘Trek’ TV galaxy can generate solid enough ideas to work as movies, even if this first one does make its debut on the small screen via Paramount’s streaming service. That’s not a knock on the film, and while it might not have the scope and sheen of, say, a Nicholas Meyer movie or something from J.J. Abrams’ lens flare-inflected productions, it’s a burst of knockabout entertainment with solid character work and a tone that veers more towards ‘Mission: Impossible’ than classic ‘Star Trek.’

Indeed, there are ideas and developments here that might have given series creator Gene Roddenberry a conniption fit, even if his show did introduce the concept of the dark mirror universe for ‘Trek,’ playing with the principle years before Marvel and co.’s big-screen multiverses.

And keeping things mostly outside of Federation space means that there’s plenty of latitude for morally ambiguous types to band together for a higher calling. It also doesn’t hurt that it also allows for Michelle Yeoh, who hasn’t had a showcase like this since ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ to show her stuff not just as a dramatic actor but also someone who –– with support from the stunt team –– has the action chops.

Script and Direction

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in 'Star Trek: Section 31' streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Jan Thijs/Paramount+

Written by Craig Sweeny from a story originated by Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt (all three have experience working on ‘Discovery’), ‘Section 31’ is a darkly humorous chunk of action that also has a few solid ideas at its core, not the least of which is the moral choices of its lead characters.

Not only that, but it lets Yeoh cut loose as Georgiou, fully leaning into the idea of someone who will do anything to achieve her aims (up to and including killing people), but also realizes the weight of her past, particularly when it rudely intrudes on her present gig as an undercover (well, mostly undercover) crime boss.

The script falls into some identifiable traps in places as it has to catch those who didn’t watch much of ‘Discovery’ up on who Georgiou is and how she fits into the mythology, and one or two of the reveals/surprises are signposted in places (if you believe the entire team makes it to the end credits, you’ve clearly never watched anything in this genre). But overall, it works.

Fellow ‘Discovery’ veteran Olatunde Osunsanmi, meanwhile, directs with a light touch, throwing in some visual panache where possible and keeping the tone fun while also delivering on the bigger themes.

‘Star Trek: Section 31’: Performances

With Yeoh the natural focus (and enjoying the spotlight), the movie nevertheless builds some quirky characters around her.

Michelle Yeoh as Phillipa Georgiou

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

It says something that Yeoh, who these days has an Oscar on her mantle (for ‘Everything Everywhere’), opted to return for more from Georgiou, the conniving, crafty and imperious former ruler of the Terran Empire, who these days slums it working for the ethically questionable secret side of Starfleet. Yeoh brings power and spark to the lead role, bouncing well off the others and delivering some lines with just the right level of acid sarcasm.

Omari Hardwick as Alok Sahar

Omari Hardwick as Alok in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

Hardwick is sometimes lumbered with playing more of the straight arrow to Yeoh’s character, but he’s also handed enough of a dark past to keep Sahar from feeling stale.

Sam Richardson as Quasi

Sam Richardson as Quasi in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

A comedic veteran of the likes of ‘Veep,’ ‘Detroiters’ and ‘Ted Lasso,’ Richardson is the shapeshifting Quasi, and part of the bickering team of operatives dispatched to initially track down Georgiou and convince her to help them stop a major problem.

Richardson’s role is tailored towards his particular brand of nervy, empathetic comedy and he does his usual sterling job as a supporting player.

Robert Kazinsky as Zeph

Robert Kazinsky as Zeph in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

A mech-head a little too connected to his own technology, Zeph is the brawn of the team, and ‘Pacific Rim’s Kazinsky was a good choice for the role. He can play blustery but also vulnerable when needed and Zeph is a great blend of the two.

Kacey Rohl as Rachel Garrett

Kacey Rohl as Rachel in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

One of the little elements of fan service (though they never get in the way of the narrative), Rohl’s character is the future Starfleet captain ‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ fans will know from classic episode ‘Yesterday’s Enterprise.’ Here, she’s younger, but her straight-laced energy (until another side is unleashed) compliments the rest of the team’s wilder ways.

Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz

Sven Ruygrok as Fuzz in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2025. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

Perhaps the most fascinating character of the bunch, Fuzz is actually something we won’t spoil here. A Vulcan first glimpsed laughing like he’s a Romulan, he’s one of the cleverer inventions for this new movie, and Ruygrok brings a great energy to him.

Final Thoughts

Michelle Yeoh as Georgiou in 'Star Trek: Section 31', streaming on Paramount+, 2024. Photo Credit: Sophy Holland/Paramount+.

Will ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ prove there is life in the TV side of the galaxy besides the ongoing series (new ones are on the way, but ‘Strange New Worlds’ is the only current ongoing concern)? It certainly has a vitality and an attitude to it, but it remains to be seen if it’s embraced by fans.

If nothing else, we got another chance to see Michelle Yeoh be a snarky badass.

Star Trek: Section 31

"To protect the light, they fight in shadow."

PG-13Jan 24th, 2025

Emperor Philippa Georgiou joins a secret division of Starfleet tasked with protecting the United Federation of Planets and faces the sins of her past. Read the Plot