Deep Cliff #2 Star Trek vs Star Wars

Question: Which is better, Star Trek or Star Wars?

Hello, and welcome to the first entry of Deep Cliff. After careful consideration and thought, I have heard all of your questions and ideas and have finally picked one to discuss. This does not mean that I will not address the others made…I just wanted to start with this one. Also, remember that these are all just my opinions and my theories. You are free to agree or disagree. So, let us begin shall we?

I have thought long and hard about this question…and I finally feel like I have an answer for it. There has been a long and grand battle that has taken place between the Trek fans and the Star Wars lovers. And it’s easy to see how it has escalated recently, with the release of the new Star Trek movies and the announcement that Disney will be taking over the Star Wars franchise. With all this in mind, I felt I would address this.
The answer is simply that it depends on two factors. Which you were exposed to when you were growing up and which style is more preferred to you.

When comparing Star Wars to Star Trek, it’s important to keep in mind that Star Trek was a television show that addressed many different ideas, morals, and ethics in their episodes. Some episodes might have dealt with philosophies on war or prejudice, and others may have been simply about the evolution of species and the history of our race. These were very provocative lessons and Star Trek had very creative ways to show them. This is proven from all the different spin off shows and recreations of Star Trek there are! Star Wars doesn’t have this distinction. While you can argue that there are certain moral lessons and different ethical battles that are faced in Star Wars movies, they simply didn’t have as many that Star Trek did.
With that said, I think it’s very easy to say which one had the better effects and story line. Star Wars, when it first came out with the original trilogy, was a huge hit. It was everywhere and no one could ever forget it. The Star Trek movies, while more numerous, were simply not as consistently powerful. Say what you will about the Star Wars prequels, but the original trilogy was all in all fantastic, but with the Star Trek movies, there were several inconsistencies and plot holes that didn’t add up. The prequels in Star Wars at least stayed consistent (for the most part).

I think that when it comes to characters, Star Trek has a slight advantage. With the different variations and different casts that were used, Star Trek had a much wider variety of likable and colorful characters to use. Star Wars might have had a wider array of creative aliens and creatures, but none were truly fleshed out or examined to the fullest. Here is an example. If I asked you to describe a vulcan for me, you could probably do it. Now what if I told you to describe a Twi’lek? Unless you are a hardcore Star Wars fan, it’s likely you don’t know what I said. This shows us that Star Trek has left behind a lasting impression with us. That’s not to say Star Wars hasn’t had any impact at all. We know the key figures like Yoda and Darth Vader.

Also, another small factor to look into as far as difference is concerned is the fact that Star Wars had a more fantastical element while Star Trek had a more scientific and technological element. With these two franchises, technology, ships, and mechanics are essential and are very much apparent, but we often overlook the fact that Star Wars also has the presence of the “Force” and invisible power that guides, grants power, and determines destiny. This is almost a social commentary on the idea of religion. The Force gave Star Wars a fantastical and unexplainable element that was not always present in Star Trek. There were certainly episodes and movies that had these unexplained elements (hence the idea of “Going Where No Man Has Gone Before”), but they weren’t consistently there, and more often than not, the Star Trek crew used intelligence, strategy, and technological intuition to solve their problems.
It should also be noted that the Force was also a determiner of good vs. evil as there was a “dark side” and a “light side.” Star Trek never made a solid distinction of that which was evil and that which was truly good. That good people could make wrong choices and evil actions without inherently becoming evil themselves. Perhaps Star Trek was a little more subtle in its approach, but I also believe that Star Wars was not wrong to have a good vs evil idea in it. It shows that there will always be a line between that which is pure and that which is wicked, no matter how technologically advanced we become. This is a minor difference, but one that should be addressed all the same.



So in the end…which is truly stronger? Well, let me put it like this. My father is a huge fan of the original Star Trek because he grew up with that and watched it loyally. When Star Wars came out, he enjoyed it, but he preferred Star Trek still, because he had a prior exposure to it. My younger brother though, has a greater love for Star Wars, because he got to watch the prequels and then the Trilogy together and this gave him a great appreciation for the franchise. But he grew up with Star Wars rather than Star Trek.
When you look at their underlying meanings and themes, Star Trek seems to be about how the growth and advancement in technology has helped improve society greatly. That we want for nothing and that we are prepared to go beyond our understanding and seek out the unknown and grow even further. Star Wars takes a different approach and seems to address the idea that there is good and evil in all things and that the choices we make determine the path we walk. Theser are two totally different themes and meanings that both use sci-fi writing and settings to tell fantastic stories.
It’s safe to say that both Star Wars and Star Trek both have great story lines, great writing, great ideas, and awesome sci-fi action. At the same time they both have flaws and disadvantages that stand out in different ways. The fact is that it will often depend on personal preference and which you are more exposed to. I personally believe that Star Wars has the greater storyline, and to a writer that is vital…but at the same time, I certainly can’t overlook the fact that Star Trek has lasted in the hearts and minds of so many for so long that they are releasing new Star Trek movies and merchandise.

Personally, I don’t think it matters which is better and which one isn’t. Whichever is the stronger, both will always hold loyal fans and haters and they will always remain the grand and irreplaceable sci-fi masterpieces that they are. In the end, I can’t call any one truly greater than the other, but I can certainly say that I will continue to appreciate and enjoy both.

Thank you very much for joining me on this indepth look at Star Trek and Star Wars and taking the time to examine both. Remember that these are all my opinions and thoughts. You are free to agree or disagree, but I urge you to be kind in your responses and answers to this. I also urge you to bring me your questions and thoughts so that I might address them. Thank you, and I hope to see you all again soon.

Until next time, my friends.

Signed,

Clifford