Powetcast 109: Star Wars vs Star Trek

This was interesting, it made me consider my own feelings about both franchises. I loved Star Wars as a kid and it’s definitely very kid-oriented because none of it makes any sense if you’re an adult. Which is a wonder they put so much boring pseudo-political bullshit in the prequels.
I don’t like Star Wars that much any more and that new Clone Wars cartoon is so dull and preachy. But Empire will aways stand as one of the greatest and best looking films of all time.

Star Wars is the most mainstream and accessible of the two because there’s so much emphasise put on merchandise. What kid didn’t grow up beating their brother with a lightsaber?
Growing up in the 90’s I had no exposure to Star Trek at all, I was too young for it, but had there been merchandise I might have at least been peripherally aware.

Star Trek is usualy on a smaller budget and some people jut can’t get past the cheesy appearance. My mum often rolls her eyes when my friend and I are watching some good old TOS.
I didn’t get into Star Trek until seeing the 2009 film and I think it was at just the right time. It’s the perfect sci-fi for me now. It’s a better definition of science fiction that Star Wars, it’s all about exploration and discovery. You feel there’s a tangibility to their concepts, they explain how everything works.
But most of all, there’s so much more depth to the characters, Kirk Spock and Bones were an infinitley fascinating dynamic, they worked perfectly off of each other.

Firefly is one of my favourite sci-fi’s, I think it takes more after Star Wars than Star Trek, but does it a hell of a lot better.

Doctor Who is a whole thing onto itself, it’s an oddity that you can’t really compare to any other sci-fi.  It’s older than Star Trek and more complex than the Star Wars EU, yet it’s got a very shaky logic and continuity. There’s a lot of techno-babble and deus ex machina. Still I think it’s brilliant and I’m suprised it’s as popular in Britain as it is. It’s hard to be a casual fan because you really have to know your stuff to even follow a little of it.

But the series I’m suprised didn’t get mentioned as Stargate SG1, consistantly awesome for ten seasons and then it just kind of disappeared. It’s got fans but it didn’t leave much of a legacy or influence.