4 Ups & 4 Downs For Star Trek: Section 31
8. UP — Emperor's Old-New Clothes
Star Trek: Section 31 opens boldly on a different kind of dictator do-over — Georgiou's ascent to the throne. From the first few seconds, we are presented with the young Philippa's — we assume — family home on the other side of that famous looking glass, "The Terran Empire" emblazoned in three dimensions across the landscape. These are terrifyingly striking scenes.
We had been shown the good majority already in the teaser and trailer. The cynic wants to say that is because they are some of the best of the whole piece. Miku Martineau plays the soon-to-be emperor with a chilling calm. This is, no doubt, the story that should have been told, that might have been told in a series.
To see behind the curtain, through the mirror, and beyond the robes of Georgiou's ruthless rule (from start to end) is the far more compelling, far more effective, tale. It also might have avoided the more didactic in the dictatorship. That is to say, it would have allowed viewers to witness the horrors for themselves, to make their own minds up, rather than being narrated a redemption.
Also, what would have happened if Georgiou and San had both murdered their families?