Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Section 31
Star Trek: Section 31could have used a cameo from the USS Enterprise. Released on August 04, 2025, on Paramount+,Section 31is the fourteenthStar Trekfilm overall and the first made exclusively for streaming. Set in the early 24th century,Section 31followsMichelle Yeoh’s Emperor Philippa Georgiouas 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 31has received mostly negative reviews from critics and fans alike.
While every otherStar Trekfilm has centered on aversion of the USS Enterprise,Star Trek: Section 31does not offer even a glimpse of the franchise’s most iconic ship.Starships have always been a major part ofStar Trek,butSection 31ultimately 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, aderelict garbage scowbecomes 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 aboutStar Trek: Section 31is that it feels largely disconnected from theStar Trektimeline. While the film features Lt. Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl), the future captain of the Enterprise-C,Section 31doesn’t feel veryStar Trek. An appearance by the Starship Enterprise may not have saved the film from negative reviews, butit would have made it all feel more connected to theTrekuniverse.Theend ofStar Trek: Section 31provided the perfect opportunity for the Enterprise to make an appearance, just after Alok and Georgiou closed the Passageway to the Mirror Universe.
Who Is Captain Of Star Trek: Section 31’s Missing USS Enterprise?
Star Trek: Section 31 takes place outside Federation space, but if the USS Enterprise had appeared, who would be the Captain?
The events ofStar Trek: Section 31take place in 2324, makingthe 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 ofStar 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 forStar Trekfans.
Alan Ruck’s Captain Harriman Could Have Been Section 31’s Other Great Cameo
Star Trek: Section 31had one major cameo in the form ofJamie Lee Curtis as Control. It was great to see an actress like Curtis inStar Trek,butAlan Ruck’s Captain Harriman would have been a cameo specifically forTrekfans.It has been 31 years sinceStar Trek Generationscame out in 1994, which is almost exactly the same amount of time between the opening scenes ofGenerationsand the events ofSection 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 byTrek’smost iconic ship would only have improvedStar 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 31could 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 ifSection 31had found a way to include him. AStar Trekfilm without the Starship Enterprise could certainly work, but an appearance byTrek’smost iconic ship would only have improvedStar Trek: Section 31.
