Chapter 31 Find Out Why Movies Get You Upset

this week, Star Trek returns to the world of cinema with a very different turn: not only in format, the first streaming exclusive the franchise has ever seen, but also in perspective Section 31 focuses on one of the darkest ideas to emerge Trackis a utopian view. From the time of submission in Deep Space NineChapter 31 has been considered an insult not only by the heroes of these stories, but by fans who deny its existence and what it means for Star Trekidealized vision of the future. But that just makes the creators and stars of the new movie want you to give them the benefit of the doubt.

“(Gene) Roddenberry created a universe that was utopian in its ideals. It’s a great idea that we’ve gotten through these things, but people need to understand that these things don’t happen without sacrifice,” Rob Kazinski Section 31‘s core agent team recently told io9 over Zoom. “You can’t reach the Federation’s levels of equality, kindness, peace, and all that beauty without fighting for it. And you have to fight for it, and to get it, you have to fight to keep it.”

Section 31’s existence as an organization within the Federation—denied almost to the point of mythology, ready and willing to break every rule laid down in its charter to keep the peace—has always made it a highly controversial piece of world-building. The context in which it was first introduced Deep Space NineAs its culminating story about the Dominion War (and the existential threat unlike anything that its outbreak poses to the Federation) Track ago), is vital to understanding why the idea is so appealing to stars like Kazinski, though Star Trek fans.

“The people of the Federation live in a bubble of safety and happiness, but there are outsiders coming into this area of ​​the Federation – the Dominion, the Founders, the Klingons (of this era), surrounded by the (Romulan secret police) Tal Shiar. , there is no moral relativism as we do. They will see (the Federation) destroyed according to their moral relativism,” Kazinski argued. “People have to understand why people don’t like the idea (Section 31), but it hasn’t changed the idea.”

“The Federation, humanity, and all the planets representing all the other species are working toward great ideals of who and what we should be… but they don’t just happen by magic,” the actor concluded. “You want to expand your universe Star TrekA place where we can tell big stories about how we got things like the Alliance Treaty (formerly between Starfleet and the Klingons). The Next Generation), or how do we counter such malice? And then chapter 31 is a crucial part of this story, and I think we’re exploring that.

Kazinsky, shameless Track the fan himself can be the most passionate of his companion Section 31 stars about the film’s subject matter, but he’s not the only one who sees the dark side of Section 31 as a way to reinforce the highest ideals. Star Trek. “I think so Section 31 “hey, this is the reality of a police team that we need, because we need to return not only to faith, but also to actuality, to the belief that equality can exist, that equality can exist.” Let’s believe it again,” said Omari Hardwick Section 31‘s team leader Alok, added. “I believe we really pushed the envelope that way Star Trek never happened before. They have other episodes, movies within the franchise that push this, but I think Section 31 it pushes the story forward very, very aggressively, and I think that’s a good thing.

Kacey Rohl, who plays Starfleet officer Rachel Garrett, said, “I think one of the biggest messages of the movie is redemption, that even people who have done heinous things have the ability to redeem themselves, to heal, to make things right,” future Capt. Enterprise-As seen in C TNG “Yesterday’s Enterprise” episode – told io9. “It’s something to think about (right now).”

“Section 31 It’s playing at a really unique time, from Kacey’s point of view,” Hardwick interjected. “We’re in that moment,[the film]has conflicts that are relevant. Section 31 and for Star Trek in general. We’re (doing this interview from here) in the comfort of a hotel, a lot of people are asking us great questions, we’re premiering a movie this week—we’re fine, but right now there are kids there who are actually going through their own conflicts that they’re seeing in the world. Salvation is their key – you need to understand how not to throw stones, because we can all overcome what we do wrong. I think this film really retells that narrative very well.”

It’s not just what Section 31 should represent for Star Trek narratively, but tonally as well, something that has long been debated in the franchise’s cinematic legacy. “I guess if you’re a fan Star Trekyou see the world of the Federation and the world of Starfleet as a world that fits Gene Roddenberry’s very specific vision of optimism and plays by very specific rules in Federation space,” Alex Kurtzman, executive producer and Star Trek‘s broad architect was reflected in Paramount. “The concept of Section 31 was originally conceived Deep Space Nine It suggests that the Federation we know and love could not exist without the people who live in the shadows, operating outside of Federation space, protecting what we all value. Star Trek. It’s a really interesting conversation because, like anything else Star Trekit reflects the conversations we have about our real word, and to me that’s what makes it beautiful: it’s a mirror, it attaches itself to our world and asks us to think about the lives we live and the way we live. we live them. Section 31 does exactly that.”

How Section 31 do you do that For Kurtzman, it’s a ton of ideas that break down a lot of preconceived notions about what. Star Trek Section 31 itself is as much about the wider fiction. “I believe that the food taken from the film is a solidification of Roddenberry’s core vision, which for me has a beating heart. Star Trekand tone is very important to that,” Kurtzman continued. “If we’re going to do something dark, just serious, brutal Star Trek I think the fans will be within their rights to say ‘it’s not.’ Star Trekit is not Star Trek that I know and love'”.

“This film is fun and funny, adventurous and emotional – and it touches on darkness, but I don’t think it’s a dark film. Our goal was to find a way to precisely address these fan concerns as we share them. At the beginning of the movie 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 see that we are ultimately trying to do what they want, which is to reinforce this core vision. Star Trek.”

Star Trek: Episode 31 It starts streaming on Paramount+ on January 24th.

Additional reporting by Cheryl Eddy.

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