Star Trek: Picard’s end may be the start of Section 31.
Star Trek: Picard is likely coming to an end after both series star Patrick Stewart and series runner Terry Matalas referred to the series coming to an end in different comments, and while that may make some fans sad, it does open up the possibility of Section 31 getting its own show finally.
The going roster for the current crop of Star Trek shows appears to be at five. Short Treks appears to be done, and with Picard about to shuffle off, it appears as Paramount may be readying for a new show to take its replacement.
That show could be the long-gestating series, Section 31, featuring Michelle Yeoh of Discovery fame. The idea was to spin off Yeoh’s character from Discovery into the aforementioned Section 31 show. The idea would be to further explore Yeoh’s character and the clandestine Starfleet outfit, Section 31.
The show has been in limbo for years, and Yeoh is very in demand these days, putting the show’s creation in doubt. While Alex Kurtzman is adamant about making the show, nothing has been truly put forth to make it a reality, just yet.
Star Trek should not make a Section 31 show
Ted Lasso once said, “all people are different people”. Well, if I may, I’d like to piggyback on that sentiment and say “all ideas are not good ideas.” Making a show about Section 31 is very much against the ideas of Starfleet and in turn, against what Gene Roddenberry had in mind for the show.
Section 31 is absolutely the bad guys in just about every form of Star Trek. They’re lying, torturous, monsters that constantly get in the way of the heroes. They are actively the antagonist for nearly every Starfleet captain the fans have ever thrown their support behind.
They are the opposite of everything Starfleet said they stood for.
To create the show that in essence is supposed to be anti-Star Trek just doesn’t make sense. We get that the cool thing is to “subvert expectations” and be a contrarian, but why do Paramount and Kirksman think fans will support something so unbelievable Trek?
If you go to a steakhouse, and they give you falafel instead, are you just supposed to be ok with it? No, brands, even show brands, have a specific thing fans want. If you aren’t giving fans that thing, why are you making it under that brand?
If you want to make a show about space spies that revel in torture and assassinations, make it under a different banner. Star Trek isn’t about that and Kurtzman refuses to get that.