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Star Trek Beyond
Movie

Star Trek Beyond

2016 • Unknown

Woke Score
2
out of 10

Plot

The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Overall Series Review

The movie operates as a character-driven action-adventure that reaffirms the central values of the Star Trek franchise. The narrative shows Captain Kirk struggling with his role and the nature of endless exploration, which leads him to reaffirm his commitment to the Starfleet mission of unity and peace. The antagonist, a former Starfleet officer named Krall, explicitly rejects the Federation’s founding ideals of collaboration and diversity, seeing them as weakness. Success is achieved through the combined merit and skill of the entire crew, including the capable new alien ally, Jaylah. The depiction of a future of universal meritocracy remains the central philosophical pillar. A main character is briefly shown in a same-sex marriage with a child, presented as a casual, accepted part of 23rd-century life, not as a political statement or lecture.

Categorical Breakdown

Identity Politics2/10

The core of the narrative focuses on the universal human questions of leadership, purpose, and friendship, not on race or intersectional hierarchy. The crew’s meritocracy, a foundational element of Starfleet’s multi-species composition, remains intact and unquestioned. There is no lecturing on privilege or systemic oppression.

Oikophobia2/10

The central conflict pits the Federation’s ideal of unity and collaboration against the villain’s ideology of isolation, militarism, and hatred of the Starfleet institution. The narrative validates the Federation’s vision as the objective good, showing gratitude and respect for the civilizational project.

Feminism2/10

Female characters like Uhura and the alien ally Jaylah are competent, resourceful, and critical to the mission's success. Their strength is demonstrated through skill and complementary teamwork, and the male characters retain their competence and leadership arcs. There are no elements of emasculation or anti-natal messaging.

LGBTQ+4/10

The character Sulu is established as being in a same-sex marriage with a man and raising a daughter. This inclusion centers an alternative family structure, but the scene is very brief and casual, presenting the relationship as a non-issue in the future society. It is an inclusion without political lecturing.

Anti-Theism1/10

Religion and spiritual belief are not themes in the movie. The morality is transcendent and objective: the peaceful, multi-species, collaborative future represented by the Federation is the moral good, while the villain’s nihilism and warmongering are the objective evil.