The year begins with a New Trek bringing us to even strange new worlds while franchise – both old and new – celebrate upcoming awards ceremonies.
Section 31 Released…
After a long, long wait the potentially least anticipated project in the Star Trek Universe was released on January 25th as Section 31, starring Michelle Yeoh reprising her role as reformed (kinda) Emperor Georgiou displaced in time and recruited to rejoin Section 31 for a dangerous mission to protect the Federation in the most non Federation way possible.
Initially developed as a full series exploring the nature of the organisation’s questionable origins and motives, the project was placed in the hands of new writers to transform the concept into a made for streaming movie as a condensed action piece that limited the original intention and replaced it with something a little more…. well, we’ll say different!
Reactions have been mixed so far – which was to be expected with a show that drew ire on it’s announcement alone – and has now officially bumped The Final Frontier from most disliked project on Rotten Tomatos. Alas, it’s not all bad as some critical and audience reviews have been positive. You can check out our DoFA review with Q2 Member Reviews also open!
GLADD to Be Nominated!
The show that originated Georgiou is having a slightly better time in the critical eye right now as Discovery is up for nomination on this years GLAAD awards. It’s fifth entry in a row! The awards are unique among most as they offer credit and acclaim to productions that portray positive representations of LQBT characters and inspiration for diverse audiences.
Discovery had previously won for it’s third season in the Outstanding Drama category and this year, entering for the last time time following the fifth and final season of the show, it has some stiff conception including Interview With A Vampire and Doctor Who among others in the category looking for the big win!
Discovery isn’t the only show with some award potential! Lower Deck’s Dawn Lewis (captain Freeman) has been nominated for Outstanding Voice Over Performance for her role in the animated comedy series for NAACP Image Awards. Previously winning for the same role, this year she’s up against Angela Basset for Orion and the Dark and Keke Palmer from The Second Best Hospital In The Galaxy.
The Living Legend
In terms of awards, the Sci Fi world is often best represented with the Saturn Awards. Having been running since 1973 the Saturn Awards are presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and have been a continuous gold standard for representing often overlooked genres in TV and film.
Having racked up multiple awards over the years, the Star Trek franchise as a whole is no stranger to the ceremonies with last year seeing the cast of the Next Generation receiving a lifetime achievement award for their continued iconic presence in the science fiction world while one of the new generation of Trek, Paul Wesley, gained one for his guest star role as a young James Kirk in Strange New Worlds.
Now arguably the biggest iconic of al in the universe is having his day of celebration as William Shatner is due to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at this years 52nd Saturn Awards event.
Gaining his first nomination in 1978 for Kingdom of the Spiders – an event he also hosted whilst singing a song you might have heard, Shatner was offered the Life Achievement Award in 1980 following The Motion Picture and gained his first Best Actor win in 1983 following the heralded Wrath of Khan.
No stranger to the ceremony, Shatner appeared last year to present Seth MacFarlane with the Robert Forster award, but this year he’s taking centre stage to receive the honoured Lifetime Achievement for who they describe as being a living legend. Which, in fairness, is hard to argue!
The Saturn Awards will stream for free on Roku on February 2nd with support for the event going to the efforts to support and rebuilt the people harmed by the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.