Star Trek | At Home with Tech

January 26, 2025

Star Trek: Section 31 Tries to be a Dumpster Fire and Succeeds

If you’ve also been waiting since 2020 to see what happened to Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Georgiou from “Star Trek: Discovery,” she’s finally reappeared in “Section 31.” Here’s my review of this crazy TV movie.

There’s been a hole in my Trekkie heart ever since the very first episode of “Star Trek: Discovery” back in 2017. My heart broke early in the episode when Starfleet Captain Philippa Georgiou played by the wonderful Michelle Yeoh shockingly died with a Klingon blade to the heart.

More than a plot device, it was a clear message from the showrunners to all Trekkies that the old Star Trek you knew and loved was dead.

I was all set to watch another five-year mission with Captain Georgiou at the helm. But no, that wasn’t the plan. That said, this unexpected Trekkie betrayal also contained a hidden twist… with a lifeline to a future redemption.

It didn’t take that long. Soon we had a mirror universe replacement of Georgiou. And I’ve got to admit that Yeoh’s Emperor Georgiou from the Terran Empire was a blast.

Yeoh was unleashed to embody a delightfully naughty version of Georgiou. Every scene with her was always a bright spot through the entire “Star Trek: Discovery” series until she was banished by the writers through the Guardian of Forever in season 3 (another disappointment).

But wait. Trekkies then heard the producers were going to create a Section 31 series with Yeoh as part of this sinister and secret Federation spy division that has popped up in so many Star Trek series, including “Discovery.”

But no… the series ended up just being a one-off TV movie, which has finally arrived.

Back to the Future
Running just over an hour and a half on Paramount+, this ‘extended episode’ feels somewhat Star Trek adjacent. It’s filled with the quirky characters you might find in a “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie but pulled from the back pages of a “Star Trek” encyclopedia.

When the movie begins, Georgiou has already been transported back to the past a few decades before “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” She’s set up shop running a ritzy space station bar just outside of the Federation. The opening credits explain she had previously joined Section 31 but then disappeared (to apparently follow in the ‘legendary’ footsteps of Quark from Deep Space Nine).

But a threat of galactic proportions sends a Section 31 team led by Agent Alok Sahar (played by Omari Hardwick) to find and re-recruit Georgiou to help save the Federation.

It’s Good to be Evil
Section 31 isn’t as scary an organization as I remember, and the team that finds Georgiou initially acts like a second-rate band of misfit thugs.

Thank goodness they’ve got the ‘evil’ Georgio to save the day. Clearly Section 31 needs her anti-hero vibe to stop a terrorist with an uber-destruction device called the ‘godsend.’

As the story likes to remind us, you can’t escape your past, and so the Terran Empire plays a prominent role in the story.

Warped Sense of Fun
“Star Trek: Section 31” is sometimes clever, but often silly. The writers are clearly Trekkies, but tonally, this story is out of control. The closest parallel might be “Star Trek: Lower Decks.” And that’s a cartoon.

The Terran Empire in the mirror universe used to be the place where the writers and directors allowed the actors to chew up the scenery, but the producers have flipped that equation on its head. Here, all the Terran Empire scenes feel like normal Star Trek. And now it’s the Federation that looks like an extended frat party.

Does that mean “Star Trek: 31” is bad?” Not necessarily. It tries hard to be irreverent, fun and completely over the top. Yes, it’s mostly absurd, which is not your typical Star Trek formula. And you’ve got to be a Trekkie to really appreciate all the hidden references in plain sight.

This movie ends up being an absolute dumpster fire, but intentionally so (both figuratively and literally).

Mayhem with a Touch of Heart
In the middle of the mayhem highlighted by near-constant fighting, shaky camera work and fire spitting out of almost every orifice in the scenery, you can find a small core of Star Trek humanity still aglow. It takes the form of lost love and impossible redemption. This gives Yeoh her only opportunity to stretch her role a bit.

For a movie specifically built for her character, the script doesn’t really offer her enough and instead needs to focus on the new characters, especially due to all the twists in the plot.

Plus, the script requires the film to burn precious minutes with an opening Terran Empire flashback sequence featuring a younger Georgiou played by Miku Martineau.

A Guilty Pleasure
The final scene with our newly congealed team feels like any TV series’ pilot, and as Shatner’s Kirk liked to say, “There are always possibilities.”

Is this gritty, crazy but imperfectly lightweight “Star Trek: Section 31” good enough to stream?

Sure.

It’s a nice diversion… perhaps even a guilty pleasure. And it’s always great to watch the awesome Michelle Yeoh. And yes, I could get used to spending more time with the new characters, who thankfully became more likable by the end of the movie.

No Future for “Section 31?”
But is “Star Trek: Section 31” deserving of getting its own sequel ahead of the non-greenlit “Star Trek: Legacy” spinoff from “Star Trek: Picard?”

I’m not totally feeling it, and no sequel has been announced. But it doesn’t matter, because we’re all going to “Star Trek: Starfleet Academy” soon enough with Holly Hunter and Paul Giamatti.

Happily, next up is season 3 of “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.”

Hit it.
(please)

September 22, 2024

Don’t Tell Anyone I’m Watching Star Trek: Prodigy

“Star Trek: Prodigy” is a kids’ show also made for adult Trekkies. Here’s why season 2 is so good.

It’s not logical. But they keep making animated versions of Star Trek. In yet another example, Netflix picked up the cancelled “Star Trek: Prodigy” from Paramount+ and has given us season 2.

Clearly intended for kids by Nickelodeon Animation and CBS’s Eye Animation, “Prodigy” focuses on a group of teens having the same types of Trek adventures usually reserved for the adults in the captain’s ready room.

Talk about watering down a classic science fiction property. Sounds insulting, right? But surprisingly, it’s not.

Star Trek: Prodigy
The writers are clearly Trekkies and have made full use of Federation history. They dig deep and bring back details and characters we all know and love… assuming you’ve been paying attention across these past decades.

The younger target audience couldn’t possibly catch all the easter eggs. Only the adults in the living room will appreciate all the Star Trek references.

And that’s why this series works so well for all ages.

Star Trek: The Animated Series
I must admit I’ve never entirely understood the whole Star Trek animation thing. The original animated series (1973-1975) felt like a cheat instead of bringing back the actual show. But the Saturday morning cartoon was at least something in a world and time that only had the original series’ 79 episodes. It was both terrible and wonderful. A juicy morsal.

Star Trek: Lower Decks
I was confused when I watched the first episode of “Star Trek: Lower Decks” (2020 to present). An adult comedy? But I quickly figured it out.

This series is poking fun at the entire Star Trek universe. But it’s not a parody. It’s smart, clever and spot on, brought to you by writers who really know their Trek.

And the crossover episode on “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” was pure genius.

Star Trek: Voyager Returns?
Then “Star Trek: Prodigy” showed up in 2021. I hardly paid attention. But when I finally checked out the first episode, the series quickly grew on me. Season 2 is even better.

As a Trekkie, how can you not love a show that after more than two decades brings back Captain (now Admiral) Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and our favorite Emergency Medical Hologram doctor (Robert Picardo). Plus, we’ve got a new USS Voyager and a rescue mission to find Chakotay (Robert Beltran) who’s marooned in another time.

Yes, there’s time travel. Plus, alternate universes. And surprise iconic cameos. You’ve got to break out your full Trekkie knowledge to take it all in. In fact, the plot is somewhat complex. (You may need a kid to help you keep track of it all.)

And this beautifully animated series is the only format that could have possibly made this “Star Trek: Voyager” reunion happen after so many years.

These are the Voyages of the Starship Protostar
Beyond the Voyager thread, there’s a new set of characters who drive the story. Led by young Dal (voiced by Brett Gray), six misfit teens from different worlds are thrown together by circumstance. Through a series of fortunate events, they’ve also got their own baby-sized starship (USS Protostar). And of course, the Protostar transports them through their many adventures.

They’re a silly bunch, but totally endearing… again designed for a younger audience.

This team’s journey through a complex and well-designed “Star Trek” storyline, fully emersed in Trek canon, makes it so enjoyable for any adult in the room. (Seasons 1 and 2 both contain 20 episodes.)

The Kid in All of Us
Yes, “Star Trek: Prodigy” is a cartoon for kids. But, if you’re a life-long Trekkie, it’ll latch onto you faster than a Borg implant.

Each nostalgic episode offers a little gift of Trekkie joy, as it taps into the optimism and can-do attitude that centers around everything Star Trek.

It’s not encumbered with the need to reimagine Starfleet into the darker and edgier versions reflected in “Discovery” or “Picard.” Dangers are presented, but we all know how it’s going to work out.

Live Long and Prosper
Some people practice meditation. Others work out to maintain their balance. Watching a geeky dose of “Prodigy” fuels my Zen.

It’s entirely uplifting and continues what is an illogical but successful tradition of Star Trek animation.

I shouldn’t admit that I’m watching “Star Trek: Prodigy.” But I am. Each short episode, which I often stream after dinner has left me with a smile on my face and a little less stress to end my day.

If you know the difference between a Klingon and a Cardassian, I present “Prodigy” for your pointy-eared consideration.

August 18, 2024

Don’t Miss this Important Part of an Effective Work Email

How well you write an email is only half the equation. If you rush it, you may miss this path to success.

The commute-to-work model is a shattered construct. Many of us corporate folks now stay home and remotely dance to our own beat with more flexible schedules. With remote work, the workday can be redesigned into countless versions of our 24 x 7 existence.

That’s flexibility. That’s freedom. That’s evolution!

Are You Awake?
But your unique schedule can fall outside of normal business hours and may not always align with your colleagues. If you need to communicate, what are you supposed to do?

You’re certainly not going to call them and wake them up. (And who makes phone calls anymore?)

We all know the standard solution is an email. When your recipients are back online, they’ll read it then. What’s the problem?

The Road to a ‘Perfect’ Connection
Once upon a time, our species chained itself to clunky desktop computers in the office. If you walked away, you were disconnected from the collective. Then, laptops showed up, and suddenly you could be connected from different locations. Eventually, work email made it to mobile devices, and you were entirely free to work from anywhere there was a cell signal.

Staying connected couldn’t be easier.

I often like to refer to the evil Borg characters on “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” They had bad skin, and they weren’t friendly. But their hive-mind collective kept them constantly updated and in-the-know. It was the ultimate connection. Nobody was left out, and everyone was on the same page.

It was the perfect workplace utopia. And of course, the ultimate nightmare for the human race.

Are We Ever Entirely Offline?
I must admit… in another universe, there’s a version of me who is Borg. That’s because I often feel the pull of what I call the ‘email siren song.’

Do I have my work email on my iPhone? Of course.
Will my emails also show up on my Apple Watch? Yup.
If I’m wearing my AirPods, does Siri whisper my updates to me? Uh huh.

Maybe I’m already partially Borg. My technological enhancements are simply more elegant (courtesy of Apple).

I know I’m not unique. There are many who are also Borg-leaning… always connected… quick to respond to an email no matter where or when they are.

Happily, there are still plenty of humans playing by more reasonable rules set by our circadian rhythms. These ‘rebels’ in our ever-increasing ‘Matrix’ society are savvy, and they do just fine setting reasonable limits. (It’s working smarter… not harder… right?)

Email Siren Song
Don’t worry. I’m not truly Borg. And I don’t aspire to be a controlling alpha Borg queen. (I don’t typically communicate with my collective after normal business hours.)

And though I’m aware of inbound communications (unless I’m sleeping) I usually won’t respond. Unless there’s a fire raging, I don’t reach out.

But yes, I still listen to the email siren song.

Disclaimers may not Matter
Sometimes, I see an email late at night. At the bottom, there’s a disclaimer that admits the sender is working outside of normal business hours and doesn’t expect others to respond until the sun has risen.

But it’s too late. I’ve read the email. And if there are multiple recipients, the discussion may then start to move forward, regardless of the sender’s disclaimer.

Navigating these complexities can be hard. There are no easy answers. But here’s a great way to minimize the problem:

Schedule your After-Hours Emails to Deliver the Next Day
If you need to catch up on email at night, do the work, but delay when your email goes out.

If it’s not urgent, I recommend you simply hit that ‘delay’ email tab and schedule your emails to ‘send’ the next business morning.

I highly recommend it.

Put your Smartphone to Sleep!
Unfortunately, not everyone follows this best practice. So, you may need to protect yourself from overnight emails while you’re snoring. And to do that, schedule your phone to go to sleep along with you.

Even if your phone is set to silent mode, its ‘buzzing’ can wake you up in the middle of the night.

That’s happened to me on more than a few occasions. I finally went into my iPhone’s settings to really shut it down while I was getting some shut-eye.

Your Emails are Ambassadors
Every touch point in your life contributes to who you are and how you are seen. It’s part of your personal brand.

You should consider that each email you send is an ambassador that represents you and your brand.

How well you write your emails is certainly important, but when they show up can have an even greater impact… and not always in a good way.

Often, successful communication is about timing. Always ask yourself this question: “When will your email be most effective?”

So be mindful to the when.

Don’t rush it.

Tag: Star Trek

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