A wise herald once said that truth depends greatly on our point of view. Subjective questions are difficult to answer, such as: which is better – Star Trek or Star Wars?
First, a disclosure: I love Spock. I always have and I always will. So I asked myself, WWSD (what would Spock do)? Then I logically determined objective criterion.
I focused on the storytelling from the motion pictures of both and looked at story elements: setting, plot, conflict, characters and theme.
The setting has the most similarities. While Star Trek is set in the future and Star Wars in the past, both are in space. Neither is superior; both take us to new and interesting places. Five points each.
It’s difficult to say which has better plots; both are dynamic. Following the Enterprise crew as they seek out new civilizations and resolve ethical dilemmas is a great adventure. Watching the rebels in the Millennium Falcon stand up to the evil empire, a thrill. Five points each.
The differences are more pronounced in conflict and characters, and most notably in theme. This is where Star Wars shines.
The conflicts in both are action packed, good fun, but in Star Trek, the conflicts are fairly one-dimensional. Something bad happens and they resolve it. Three points.
In Star Wars, the conflicts are many and varied. The characters’ actions create change. It is more complex than a simple war between good and evil as many try to describe it. On one level is the struggle between the security provided by the Empire and the longing for freedom. On another level are personal struggles.
Luke has to face the evil within himself. In the cave, he is stunned to see his own face in Vader’s helmet and more stunned when, during the final light saber fight with his father, he sees his own mechanical hand as symbolic of his own path down the dark side. Luke doesn’t just confront evil; he experiences it, understands it and rejects it.
Vader is not so simplistic either. The loss of his mother had already brought him close to the dark side. He chose that path out of his love for Padme when Palpatine promised it would save her life. When Anakin believes himself responsible for Padme’s death, his rage consumes him and dominates his destiny. But ultimately, he turns away from the dark side to save their son.
The characters face struggles that everyone relates to. Five points.
The characters in Star Trek, lovable as they are, are static. They are stereotypes. Kirk is the brave and reckless leader. Spock is the logical right-hand. Bones is the emotional and oh so human conscience. They don’t change or grow. Three points.
Conversely, the characters in Star Wars evolve. They are archetypes with strengths and flaws.
Luke is the hero. We watch him grow from an impatient farm boy to a confident Jedi master.
Leia is not the stereotypical damsel. That woman can shoot; she is a warrior. She can lead; she is a senate member. And she is not helpless, not even when confined by the chains she uses to choke Jabba. Like her brother, she has the qualities of a hero.
Han Solo, the shape shifter, is the scoundrel who doesn’t care about anybody or anything, or is he? He develops friendships and loyalties, and even falls in love.
Anakin is the child who becomes Vader, the shadow. Obi-Wan is the herald and Yoda the mentor. They even have an earth mother in Padme and a friendly beast in Chewbacca. R2D2 and C3PO are the everyman straight from the Greek chorus. Five points.
The human condition is Star Trek’s overall theme. Star Trek poses philosophical questions about ethics and morality. It appeals to our intellect – Kirk is so clever. Each film can stand alone as a cautionary tale, like folklore. Four points.
Star Wars is a modern retelling of the hero’s quest; it is myth. It comments on human nature and it appeals to our hearts – Luke is faithful. The hero’s journey begins when he lets go of the past. Luke can, but Anakin cannot. He must then choose his path and find his place in the world. It inspires us to do likewise. Five points.
Star Trek is, in its own way, inspirational. It inspires exploration, compassion and inclusion. Star Wars inspires self-actualization. The enemy is ourselves and we must learn how to reject fear and anger to embrace our humanity.
Logically speaking, Star Wars is better. It scores more points: 25 – 20.
“My God man, you could at least act like it was a hard decision.” It was, McCoy, but I will not insist it is definitive, because as Obi-Wan tells us, only a Sith deals in absolutes.
If the enemy within is a whiney kid needing to run off with his friends to pick up some power converters, then Star Wars is better than Star Trek. Who hasn’t been that kid once or nine times? You know, a kid that needed his aunt and uncle all burnt up and corpsified in order for him to put his life back together? (Jess Whedon says “corpsified” is a real word, so stop acting all Spocky and finish reading this comment).
However, if the lemur in my pocket has any say about this, and he does, mostly because he’s a lemur … and he’s in my pocket … then clearly Start Trek is better.
Why? It’s a bit timey-wimey, so try to keep up.
Okay, it’s not timey-wimey at all, but I’m writing this from my TARDIS. So, anyway, if Luke and Kirk ever had a reason to get into a fight, which they wouldn’t, because they totally know each other’s secrets*, then Kirk would clearly be the winner. The lemur in my pocket says Kirk would just pull “The Corbomite Maneuver” on Luke and then Luke would look around for backup and find that even Pink Five wasn’t going to hang around to find out what the heck Corbomite was, and he would fly away, crying, in his little X-wing jet with his cargo-pants full of born-pregnant pocket-lemurs**.
Kirk – 4 “quatloos”: Luke 1 whambulance (which is also a word, like quatloos only less spacy).
Star Trek wins.
*Luke totally kissed his sister in a “Han shot first” kind of way. And Kirk’s acting is really bad. Honestly, he can only ever pull off a mildly constipated Shatner.
**Also, the lemur in my pocket wanted me to remind you that he is not a pocket-lemur, he’s just here for Netflix. And I need a friend. Don’t judge me – only Jar-Jar can do that.