These controversial aliens from one of Star Trek: The Original Series' most recognizable episodes are still alive in Star Trek: Section 31. Directed by Olatunde Osunsanmi and written by Craig Sweeny, Section 31 is shaping up to be different from any other Star Trek project that has come before it. With a cast led by Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh, the main storyline of Section 31 follows Emperor Philippa Georgiou and a team of black ops Section 31 agents as they embark on a covert mission to protect the United Federation of Planets.
Premiering on Friday, January 24, on Paramount+, Star Trek: Section 31 takes place during Star Trek's "lost era" of the early 24th century before the events of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite being set many years after Star Trek: The Original Series, Section 31 appears to have some connections to the adventures of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). An alien with distinct black-and-white coloring appears in the newest Section 31 trailer, after his species first appeared 55 years ago in TOS season 3, episode 15, "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield."
One Of Star Trek: TOS’ Controversial Half-Black, Half-White Aliens Is Still Alive In Section 31
The People Of Cheron Have Not Been Seen Since Captain Kirk First Encountered Them
Early in Star Trek: Section 31's trailer, an alien character makes an appearance, with the same black-and-white coloring as Bele (Frank Gorshin) and Lokai (Lou Antonio) from Star Trek: The Original Series' "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield." When Captain Kirk first encountered Bele and Lokai, they had been chasing one another for 50,000 years, as the result of a devastating war between their peoples on their home planet of Cheron. Bele's skin pigment was black on the right side and white on the left, while Lokai's was the opposite.
Although the Starship Enterprise's crew noted the similarity between Bele and Lokai's appearance, the two pointed out how clearly different they were. This was the crux of their people's conflict (and a heavy-handed metaphor for prejudice in general). Both Bele and Lokai could produce personal force fields, and Bele had the ability to take control of the Enterprise with his mind and zap people with electricity. Much about the people of Cheron remains unknown, andSection 31 now has the opportunity to reveal more about this fascinating species.
Why It’s Surprising Star Trek: TOS’ Cheron Is Still Alive In Section 31
In TOS, The Cheron People Appeared To Have Been Wiped Out In A Civil War
The presence of this Star Trek: The Original Series alien in the early 24th century of Star Trek: Section 31 raises several interesting questions. When the Enterprise visited Cheron in "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," they discovered a barren planet void of intelligent life. It appeared that the people of Cheron had completely annihilated one another in a civil war. Despite this, Bele and Lokai continued attacking each another before returning to Cheron, presumably to continue their pointless crusade. According to the Section 31 trailer, however, at least some Cheron natives survived their people's war.
The alien in the Section 31 trailer has the same skin pigment as Bele, black on the right and white on the left.
Considering Bele and Lokai had been away from their planet for 50,000 years, there are many possibilities for what could have happened to their people during that time. While it's likely many of the Cheron natives did indeed perish in a civil war, it now appears some left their planet prior to Bele and Lokai's return. Perhaps a group of them escaped their war-torn planet and established a settlement elsewhere. Whatever the case, it will be interesting to see if Star Trek: Section 31 explains the return of one of Star Trek: The Original Series' most iconic one-off aliens.
