The Great Debate of Our Age: Trek vs. Wars
I came here to shoot phasers and chew womp rats. And I'm all outta womp rats.
As I’m sure most of our faithful readers are aware at this point, I’m a huge geek. I’m also a huge Trekkie. Now, don’t get me wrong, I do love Star Wars. The music, the toys, the fandom. Oh, and most of the movies.
But, I’m a Star Trek guy, totally. Except for Discovery. That show sucks. Not even sure about Strange New Worlds and Picard because Disco was such a huge disappointment. I’m gonna start this off with some art. Oh, and subscribe to
First, some Star Trek art:
I’ve done a lot of Star Wars commissions over the years… And, some really goofy stuff. I’m actually working on the last one in this gallery right now.
So, thus begins the debate, after the appropriate hors d'oeuvres
Which do you like better. As I said, I’m more of a Trek guy. The original vision of this show/franchise is thus: Humanity has gotten past it’s stupidity, united, provided a post-scarcity society, and has begun to explore our galaxy. Imagine it. Granted, I’m sounding like a hippie here, but I was raised by one. Over the course of five series (I don’t count anything Kurtzman has done. Sorry/not sorry) and 13 movies (I like the Abrams reboots. Well, the first and third one)
Star Wars is “The Hero’s Journey” in a galaxy far, far away. If you don’t know about Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking out Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” and Jung’s “The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious”. Heady stuff, I know.
Anyway. It’s fun stuff. Cool stuff. Laser swords. Spaceships. Monsters. Robots. A dude in a sweet van that travels around with a big hairy sidekick. Who has a laser crossbow.
Star Trek tackled some really deep philosophical issues in many episodes and movies. Big stuff. Racism. Bigotry. Courage. Honor. Fear. Anger.
But, at its heart, it was about the betterment of humanity. Seeking out new life, new knowledge, and new civilizations.
Boldly going. Because our future is in the stars.
I’m genuinely interested in hearing back on this one. Thanks for reading!
Kilgore
I love the original Star Trek. The offshoots have their moments, but Shatner and Nimoy always delivered. I liked the first Star Wars movie but lost interest in those that followed.
You've already alluded to the main issue: The question is really asking whether we prefer episodic science fiction in which rich themes are explored through the lens of advanced technology and interplanetary relations, or a timeless coming-of-age fantasy epic that happens to be dressed up as science fiction.
Star Trek and Star Wars are two entirely different entities that appeal to people for entirely different reasons. Both have had extraordinary highs and abysmal lows (and we can blame 21st-century efforts for some of the lowest lows). The universe is big enough for both.
That being said, Star Trek is better.