Star Trek vs. Star Wars

                                                 

                                                                           Star Trek vs. Star Wars
       

           It is a constant battle in our house. Who is better? Captain Kirk vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi. Spock vs. Yoda. Data vs. C3PO. Warp speed vs. Light speed. Whether the Hyper Drive is superior to the Warp Coil.

Before my sister’s obsession began with Star Wars, our house was united underneath Star Trek’s many voyages. We knew when the new shows of Star Trek Deep Space Nine and Star Trek Voyager were on (Wednesday nights) and sought out the reruns of Star Trek: The Next Generation. When the intros played, we hummed along with the melodies. We said the famous lines along with Captain Jean-Luc Picard as the camera panned across the stars:

“Space, the final frontier. These are the voyagers of the Star Ship Enterprise. Its’ continuing mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.”

My mother and father are Star Trek fans. They spent many dates in front of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Both were in the Air Force, but had opposite work hours so on Wednesday nights at seven they would meet. My dad rushed over from work and my mom woke up early before her night shift. They would watch with anticipation as Jean-Luc became Locutus and Data discovered emotions.

My sister, though raised by my parents with the best of intentions, strayed to the dark side in first grade. Although Star Trek reigns supreme, my parents believed it would be fun, but not harmful, for the whole family to see the original Star Wars films in the theatres for their thirty year anniversary. Interest slowly turned to obsession. Now, her room explodes as a Star Wars memorabilia gift shop.

Bright light saber green walls blind you as you enter. Covered in wall to wall posters, several full casts’ prints smile at you. Yoda jumps off of the door, ready to fight. From Young Anakin and Chancellor Palpatine striking a pose to Darth Vader and the Emperor; mentor and student stand menacingly glinting back and forth as you cross the room. A glass cabinet overflowing with collectibles is locked against invasion. An exact replica of Luke Skywalker’s light saber from the ‘The Return of the Jedi’ hangs on the wall.

A true fan. She once won a Star Wars game of trivia four to one with the question:

What is the name of the droid who leads Qui-Gon and Obi Wan Kenobi into the meeting room of Star Wars: Episode One?

For all those who aren’t fanatics, the droid’s name is: TC-14.

(I only know that because I asked her again, five minutes ago.)

Me? I can sit through Star Wars. Yes. I will willingly admit that I like it, but I prefer Star Trek. Thanks to Rick Berman, I grew up underneath the command of Captain Kathryn Janway. For three Halloweens, I dressed up as Seven of Nine. Sticking silver band aids across my left eyebrow and right hand and repeating, “We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile,” to those lost in space.

A saga of six movies vs. six series lasting over four decades. The fanatics on both sides continually go head to head. Star Wars fans dressed as Darth Vader and Jedi Knights make fun of the Trekkies in their Star Fleet uniforms and Klingon’s cranial ridges. My mom continually teases my sister whenever she watches Star Wars, nicknaming Anakin “Whine-a-kin” and Padme “Pet-me” making her squirm. Now, there is a momentary truce as we explore other sides of the Syfy galaxy.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion (no matter how misled they may be).

They know whether they prefer light sabers to hand phasers. The Borg to the clone armies.

            I will say this. Star Trek came first. Dominating the galaxy ten years before George Lucas wrote Star Wars. Ten full years. With a total of six shows, twenty-nine seasons, and eleven movies, Star Trek is the longest Syfy series. Without Star Trek, Syfy would not be where it is today. Gene Roddenberry and Rick Berman created not only a western take on exploring space, but a take on the human condition. So, if it weren’t for Star Trek, then there probably wouldn’t be a Star Wars.

            Just don’t tell that to George Lucas…or my sister.

NEXT WEEK'S BLOG:

Two Battlestar Galacticas

Remakes. We’ve all seen them. Whether we are cheering for the new version or walking out of the theater defending the original story. The premise between the two Battlestar Galacticas is the same. Following a brutal attack from the Cylons, a war is started between humans and Cylons. Both series pushed the envelopes of special effects. How the two different writers dealt with this premise is what separates them.