Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Section 31.Michelle Yeoh returns as Emperor Philippa Georgiou in Star Trek: Section 31, but the film makes it difficult to root for her as a character. Georgiou first appeared in Star Trek: Discovery season 1 as the ruthless Emperor of the Mirror Universe’s Terran Empire. After being brought to the Prime Universe, Georgiou could not help but be influenced by Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the hope of the United Federation of Planets. Georgiou may not have suddenly become a hero, but she did grow and change throughout her time on Discovery, beginning a long journey toward redemption.
Star Trek: Section 31 finds Emperor Georgiou in the early 24th century, having been sent back in time by the Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle) in Star Trek: Discovery season 3. Now running a flamboyant nightclub, Georgiou gets pulled into helping an eclectic group of Section 31 agents find and neutralize a dangerous new weapon. By the end of Star Trek: Section 31, Georgiou seems poised to continue aiding the Federation in her own roundabout way, but the first scene of the film muddies her supposed redemption arc by making her almost impossible to root for.
Star Trek: Section 31 Makes It Impossible To Root For Emperor Georgiou
Section 31’s Opening Scene Makes Georgiou A Difficult Character To Like.
Star Trek: Section 31’s opening flashback begins as the young Philippa Georgiou (Miku Martineau) returns from a contest that saw eighteen teenagers compete for the chance to become the next Emperor of the Terran Empire. Philippa’s younger brother runs out to greet her before the family sits down to enjoy a meal together. As Philippa’s parents question her about her experience, she reveals that she has one more task to complete. Slowly, the realization dawns that Philippa has poisoned her entire family, because “no ties to the old life are permitted” and “an emperor can only be loyal to duty.”
As Philippa’s parents and brother lie dying in their home, a Terran Proctor (Sonja Smits) arrives to inform Georgiou that she has won the contest and will now be crowned Emperor. The other compeтιтor, a boy named San (James Huang), was unable to complete the final task and will now be forced to serve Georgiou. The Proctor says that San’s village now “burns as a testament to his cowardice,” implying that Georgiou’s family (and her entire village) would have been killed either way. Still, killing her entire family does not exactly make Georgiou an easy character to root for.
Star Trek: Discovery’s Georgiou Redemption Is Upended By Her Great Section 31 Crime
Section 31 Complicates Georgiou’s Star Trek: Discovery Redemption Arc.
Emperor Philippa Georgiou committed numerous atrocities as the leader of the Terran Empire, but most occurred before viewers met her in Star Trek: Discovery. It’s one thing to hear about the terrible things she’s done, and another to see her commit a horrific act on screen. The opening of Star Trek: Section 31 illustrates just how brutal life in the Terran Empire can be, suggesting that Georgiou never had a chance to become a hero in her own universe. Still, not being a hero is a far cry from being a monster, and killing her entire family is a monstrous act.
Emperor Georgiou was a ruthless tyrant who was responsible for countless deaths, and it’s thanks to Yeoh that she is such a captivating character. Georgiou grew a lot throughout Star Trek: Discovery’s first three seasons, but for viewers who have not seen Discovery, she seems like an impossible character to root for. Even for those who have seen her Discovery journey, it’s questionable whether Georgiou’s change of heart is enough to redeem her from slaughtering her family. Star Trek: Section 31 tries to give Georgiou another chance at redemption, but complicates her journey and makes her difficult to root for.
