Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31 could have used a cameo from the USS Enterprise. Released on January 24, 2025, on Paramount+, Section 31 is the fourteenth Star Trek film overall and the first made exclusively for streaming. Set in the early 24th century, Section 31 follows Michelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiou as she joins a Section 31 team to stop a dangerous weapon that connects to her past. While the film introduces several compelling new characters and has some fun sci-fi action sequences, Section 31 has received mostly negative reviews from critics and fans alike.
While every other Star Trek film has centered on a version of the USS Enterprise, Star Trek: Section 31 does not offer even a glimpse of the franchise’s most iconic ship. Starships have always been a major part of Star Trek, but Section 31 ultimately places its focus elsewhere. Although Section 31 Alpha Team leader Alok Sahar (Omar Hardwick) has a starship for this particular mission, the ship never gets a name and plays a small role in the story. After Alok’s ship is destroyed, a derelict garbage scow becomes the most significant ship in the film.
Why Star Trek: Section 31 Would Have Been Improved By The Starship Enterprise’s Appearance
The Enterprise Would’ve Helped Section 31 Feel More Connected To The Star Trek Universe
One of the complaints about Star Trek: Section 31 is that it feels largely disconnected from the Star Trek timeline. While the film features Lt. Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl), the future captain of the Enterprise-C, Section 31 doesn’t feel very Star Trek. An appearance by the Starship Enterprise may not have saved the film from negative reviews, but it would have made it all feel more connected to the Trek universe. The end of Star Trek: Section 31 provided the perfect opportunity for the Enterprise to make an appearance, just after Alok and Georgiou closed the Pᴀssageway to the Mirror Universe.
The events of Star Trek: Section 31 take place in 2324, making the USS Enterprise-B the most likely ship of that name to be in service at the time. Commanded by Captain John Harriman (Alan Ruck), the Enterprise-B has only made one official onscreen appearance, in the opening scenes of Star Trek Generations. Considering Alok and his team likely prevented the destruction of the Alpha Quadrant, it would have made sense for the Enterprise to check up on things. Plus, a cameo by Captain Harriman would have been a treat for Star Trek fans.
Alan Ruck’s Captain Harriman Could Have Been Section 31’s Other Great Cameo
Section 31 Had One Great Cameo With Jamie Lee Curtis As Control
Star Trek: Section 31 had one major cameo in the form of Jamie Lee Curtis as Control. It was great to see an actress like Curtis in Star Trek, but Alan Ruck’s Captain Harriman would have been a cameo specifically for Trek fans. It has been 31 years since Star Trek Generations came out in 1994, which is almost exactly the same amount of time between the opening scenes of Generations and the events of Section 31. While that’s a long time for the same person to be captain of the same ship, it’s not out of the realm of possibility.
An appearance by Trek’s most iconic ship would only have improved Star Trek: Section 31.
It’s also possible that Harriman could have been promoted to Admiral by this point and accompanied the Enterprise for this particular mission. Section 31 could have even given Harriman a specific reason to check up on this Section 31 team, perhaps connected to Lt. Garrett. Either way, considering that Alan Ruck is the correct age to appear again as John Harriman, it would have been cool if Section 31 had found a way to include him. A Star Trek film without the Starship Enterprise could certainly work, but an appearance by Trek’s most iconic ship would only have improved Star Trek: Section 31.
