How did San manage to escape in Star Trek: Section 31 after staging his own death? Speculations explored

Star Trek: Section 31 marks the return of the Star Trek universe to movies. It shows many actors reprising their roles from the recently released Star Trek TV shows. So, the fans must have been cautiously optimistic about this new movie and how it will turn out. After all, it has one of the most dedicated fanbases that are vocal about their likes and dislikes about any of the series offerings.

Sadly, Star Trek: Section 31 has been getting less than favorable reviews from critics and audiences alike. It currently has a 16% Popcornmeter rating with more than 1000 audience ratings. The reactions are not pleasing since the fans are supposedly not satisfied with the direction it takes.

While that is true, they might want to know the lore to understand its relevance to the later chapters. Every bit of information matters in such continued universes as they can make or break their understanding of a particular character or their background.

In this fictional universe filled with multiple universes, things are bound to get messy and confusing. Even Star Trek: Section 31 shows many surprising encounters that change the perception of some of its characters. One of these happens to be between Philippa Georgiou and San, her former lover who rivaled the Terran throne.

Some fans were wondering how he managed to fake his own death and flee in the newest chapter of the series. Let's try to break down how he might have achieved this remarkable feat and his prime motivation.

***Star Trek: Section 31*: How did Philippa and San know each other?**

San’s Fate in Star Trek: Section 31, explored (Image via Instagram/@startrek)

Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) and San (James Hiroyuki Liao) reunite in Star Trek: Section 31 in relation to Godsend - an incredibly powerful doomsday weapon that can prove beneficial to whichever side can get their hands on. There is a reason why Philippa and San stand against each other in an attempt to acquire it. It is rooted in their past, which was explored in some previous Star Trek seasons.

Philippa and San knew each other when they were just a bunch of teenagers in the Terran Empire from the Mirror Universe. They were fond of each other and at the time, it seemed like they would stick together till the end of the times. However, it all changed with Philippa made a shocking decision and put San's future in jeopardy.

Philippa wanted to sit on the Emperor's throne and for the same reason, she befriended San. Once she became the Emperor, she cut ties with this friend. San eventually became her slave.

San's surprising escape after staging his death: How could it have happened?

In Star Trek: Section 31, San is on a mission to invade the Federation and get hold of the Godsend. He shows up under the disguise of a mask and visits Baaram, Philippa's bar.

Previously, San had staged his death by poisoning himself. It happened in the first season of Star Trek: Discovery. So, Philipa had been oblivious to the fact that he still exists and is after the highly destructive weapon that she had expected to be acquired in the Mirror Universe.

San manages to hide his identity from Philipa and uses a phase pod to flee her universe. He runs away with Godsend to create an alternate "righteous" universe. San hopes to use the weapon to destroy the Prime Universe to put an end to Philipa's cruel regime for good.