The Energon Pub

Like the title says, I'm not looking to debate which is "better" or maybe even which do you like more. I am asking that in your opinion, which franchise has had the better "run" in entertainment since its inception. Granted, Star Trek has an 11-year head start, coming around in 1966, as opposed to Star Wars' 1977 launch. But since then, each franchise has gone through numerous updates, welcomed aboard new characters and actors to portray them, and branched out into many more different entertainment medias. In addition to TV series for Star Trek and the movies for Star Wars with which they started, there are books, video games, and other entertainment venues. Star Trek also got into the movies in 1979, and Star Wars developed some TV series, albeit later on.

So, to sum it up, I guess, I want to know which do you think fared better in all facets of its franchise, starting with the creators, then the various continuities through the stories and characters, to the actors' careers and lives themselves.

Also, going forward, which do you think has the better future ahead of it, with Episode VII (and a planned Episode VIII) for Star Wars, and the 3rd installment of the "new" Star Trek coming out in the next few years?

And do you think that J.J. Abrams' involvement in both franchises is a positive or a negative for each?

This is a good question. In my opinion I would say that Star Wars has aged better, despite the prequels attempt to kill it off (though I guess Enterprise did the same thing). Both had quiet times but both are successful for different things. Star Trek on its shows and star wars on its merchandising, this is why I give the choice to star Wars.

I so far have nothing constructive to say, as I am a big fan of the Star Wars franchise and never really got into the Star Trek one (I have really only seen the two latest films, and wasn't overly impressed).

So I'll leave this here, to answer that last question: http://youtu.be/OTfBH-XFdSc?t=2m20s

ZeroWolf wrote:star wars on its merchandising, this is why I give the choice to star Wars.

Oh definitely this.

I am a sucker for Star Wars merch, especially those money-grabbing collector editions of fake in-universe books.

(Trying really hard not to buy both The Bounty Hunter Code and The Imperial Handbook.)

I'd say Star Wars.

Albeit the new movies were total stinkers but it's the subsidiary shows like Clone Wars and Rebels that keep the franchise fresh and interesting. The story writing and quality animation really carry the franchise forward and give it momentum that maintain it's relevance.

Star Trek on the other hand is totally killing it with those new movies. They're awesome! Star Trek really needed the reboot of the last two movies to keep it going. I'll certainly never buy a Star Trek figure but i'll definitely go and see another movie if and when it comes out.

With that being said. Both the new Star Wars and Star Trek movies are currently under production and being made in my hometown of Vancouver. Star Wars is looking like it's going to be a heavily CGI based movie and there isn't a lot of sets being built for it. Just Animators. As far as i know it's not actually being shot here just being animated here. Kinda disappointing for me...as a set carpenter. I would really like to be able build something for the new film and see it on the big screen of one of the most influential movies franchises of my generation.

Star Trek on the other hand is gobbling up all the studio space available here for lots of live action sets that will hire heaps of folks involved in the industry and really boost the local economy.

This is a tough question for me to answer but i'll stick with my original decision that Star Wars has aged better but i really like the live action style in which Star Trek is going.

MGrotusque wrote:I'd say Star Wars.

Albeit the new movies were total stinkers but it's the subsidiary shows like Clone Wars and Rebels that keep the franchise fresh and interesting. The story writing and quality animation really carry the franchise forward and give it momentum that maintain it's relevance.

Star Trek on the other hand is totally killing it with those new movies. They're awesome! Star Trek really needed the reboot of the last two movies to keep it going. I'll certainly never buy a Star Trek figure but i'll definitely go and see another movie if and when it comes out.

With that being said. Both the new Star Wars and Star Trek movies are currently under production and being made in my hometown of Vancouver. Star Wars is looking like it's going to be a heavily CGI based movie and there isn't a lot of sets being built for it. Just Animators. As far as i know it's not actually being shot here just being animated here. Kinda disappointing for me...as a set carpenter. I would really like to be able build something for the new film and see it on the big screen of one of the most influential movies franchises of my generation.

Star Trek on the other hand is gobbling up all the studio space available here for lots of live action sets that will hire heaps of folks involved in the industry and really boost the local economy.

This is a tough question for me to answer but i'll stick with my original decision that Star Wars has aged better but i really like the live action style in which Star Trek is going.

Awesome post.

In answer to the thread's question, I'd have to say Star Trek. I think that as a franchise it has evolved much better because the fluidity and regular evolution of the cast and various settings have kept the show fresh and relevant with pertinent messages about society and morality.

Star Wars on the other hand just feels static, you have the six movies which have aged poorly in terms of design and special effects. Don't get me wrong, the originals are rightly regarded as classics but the 'new trilogy' really didn't freshen the franchise up. It was just more of the same but with more silly robots/ridiculous aliens.

But then you also get the Clone Wars animated series, and the current/upcoming Star Wars Rebels, which has something of the original trilogy plus the expertise of the Clone Wars animation and learning curve. With some amazing voice actors behind it, to boot!

Maybe a way of measuring the 'legacy' of the two is to find out how many references still wander around groups of people who still haven't seen any of them. Things like catchphrases (e.g. Live long and prosper vs Do or do not, there is no try), merchandise being bought, hype around new iterations from old and new fans of the franchises. Maybe.


Someone above mentioned the lack of sets, props and non-CGI elements in SW VII, but I was under the impression that there is, in fact, a return to all of that. Check out the following!

http://www.themarysue.com/star-wars-dre ... g-cgi-use/

http://www.themarysue.com/abrams-force- ... e-7-xwing/
http://www.themarysue.com/star-wars-mil ... ce-online/