It's interesting - I guess in my mind, the stuff SNW is doing is about as close to "traditional" Star Trek as it's possible to get in the current landscape. What do you feel is missing?
I haven't liked everything to come out of this era, but on balance I think Kurtzman has done a very good job with the franchise. One streaming movie that's a bit of a dud (assuming I don't like it when I actually see it) isn't likely to change my opinion on that.
To be honest, that's always been the core argument.
I don't know where the line is - obviously, the morphogenic virus in DS9 was beyond the pale, but is it wise to expect hostile neighbours to be won over by sunshine and rainbows?
The Federation didn’t need 31 to win the war
Do we know that for certain? The cure to the virus was actually pretty fundamental to the Female Changeling ordering the Jem'Hadar to stand down. She refused to surrender until Odo linked with her and cured her.
I completely agree.
I've often thought that there must have been plenty of Section 31 operations that didn't rise to the level of, you know, genocide, and that those operations were likely more ambiguous.
I'm hoping that whatever they're up to in this movie is more in that vein - almost certainly illegal, but probably more ethically murky?
They were definitely villains in the series...but I don't think DS9 ever made a strong case that they weren't necessary (nor do I think they were trying to).
Right up until the end, the morphogenic virus was critical to the end of the war.
It's quite difficult to describe the character of Fuzz. This is a species that we have never seen before.
...Huh. So neither Vulcan nor Romulan, apparently. It's been a while since the word "Vulcanoid" has been on my mind.
I appreciate the long answer - this is supposed to be a space for discussion!
I appreciate your perspective, too - I think if there's a difference in our perspectives, it might be that I prefer to see aspiration through struggle. The TNG "sunny ways" were fine for its time, but I think it's more meaningful - especially in the times we're living through - to portray the eternal vigilance and struggle to get to the Federation "utopia" (I kind of hate that word, but you know what I mean) - and to maintain it once you've got it.