10 Reasons That Settle Once and for All Why Star Trek Is Better Than Star Wars

If we're forced to deal in absolutes, there's only one answer.

Published 4 months ago in Ftw

“Do you like Star Wars, or Star Trek?”

We’ve all heard it before, and even though the correct answer is, “They’re not comparable,” for some reason, people don’t seem to care. One is a series of fantasy movies, and the other is a bunch of episodic sci-fi, but people still think that because they’re both set in space, and begin with the word “Star,” that they’re two sides of the same coin. Well they’re not, and I’m tired of pretending that they are.

I happen to be a massive fan of both, and I hate when fans drag one to promote the other. But that’s exactly what I’m about to do. Because if we're forced to deal in absolutes, there's only one answer.

Star Trek is better. And here are 10 reasons why.

1
It Came First: Originality
When Star Trek premiered in 1966, there had never been anything like it. It used a diverse cast to portray an optimistic future, and told stories television had never conceived of. Star Wars, although brilliantly executed, is little more than a King Arthur and Dune ripoff on a conceptual level.

2
Science Fiction vs Fantasy
As science fiction, Star Trek is always based in reality. Stories are grounded, and actions have to make sense. Star Wars is to sci-fi what Miracle Whip is mayo. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of fantasy, but it needs rules, and Disney specifically has bent them a little too far.

3
Aliens
Aliens are a huge part of both Star Wars and Star Trek, but I’d argue Star Trek does it better. Corny prosthetics aside, Star Trek paints a mixed galaxy, and highlights diverse cultures. Different species actually act… differently! More than speak in a different voice, they do.
4
Fans
Does any fanbase hate themselves quite as much as Star Wars fans do? The prequels are worse than the OT, the sequels are worse than the prequels, and each show is worse than the last. While those defeatist sentiments might be true in some cases, it's as if Star Wars fans actively root for new Star Wars to be bad. There is constant infighting, and it seems like an entire fragment of the fanbase exists in active dissonance with the IP’s intrinsic message. Stop bullying actors, stop bullying each other, and start rooting for better shows.

5
Romance
Han and Leia are a great couple… but that’s where it ends. Romances like Kira and Odo, or Warf and Dax redefine what love can be. Leia kissed her brother, and Padme dated a minor.
6
Ships
Star Wars is hardly lacking when it comes to cool spaceships, but while it might have the edge in small fighters, even the Falcon has nothing on beauties like the Enterprise D or E.
7
Values
Those who grew up watching Star Trek often cite it as a core part of their moral compass. It teaches values like acceptance, morality, compassion, and humanity. Obi-Wan might be the daddy Luke needed all along, but Picard was the daddy WE needed all along.

8
War vs Trek
Both Star Trek and Star Wars have themes of fighting for what is right, but they come from different directions. The Star Wars galaxy is one of danger, deception, and “war.” In Star Trek, humanity is a utopian society, and the “Trek” involves exploration, discovery, and knowledge.
9
The New Stuff Is Better
Star Wars is now owned by Disney, and Star Trek is now owned by Paramount Global, and while each have had significant issues restoring the IPs, there is no question that Paramount did it better.

The Star Wars Sequels were an objective dumpster fire, and outside of “Rogue One,” “Andor,” and “The Mandalorian,” Disney pretty much has yet to do anything right.

Conversely, the newer Star Trek movies had a slightly warmer reception, and “Star Trek: Discovery” and “Star Trek: Picard” aren’t half bad. Nobody should be happy with where either franchise is right now. But at least Star Trek has some hope.
10
Rewatchability
Star Trek’s episodic nature means that there is much more in the way of standalone material that you probably forgot. Jumping into a random episode you haven’t seen in ten years is way easier than finding a Star Wars project you forgot. Plus, that means it’s much more accessible to someone who isn’t interested in watching everything, or learning all the lore.