8 things Star Trek did better than Star Wars

Social themes

What’s really neat about Star Trek is that the saga is not just another “galaxy far, far away” kind of tale that you get with Star Wars. Instead, it acts like something of a mirror, reflecting our own societal issues, despite being set in outer space and in a futuristic timeline. It doesn’t just provide an escape from reality, it has a knack for tackling big, topical, and relevant subjects, including (but not limited to) racism, sexism, nationalism, and war.

What makes Star Trek special is how it uses the narrative of space exploration to tell tales that hit very close to home. Sure, we are dealing with aliens, starships, and far away planets, but the stories themselves dive deeply into themes we see every day on the news. They might be larger-than-life stories, but they are told in a very personal manner.

This gives Star Trek an edge, adding a layer of depth to its storytelling and characters. It’s like it’s whispering, “Hey, these are your stories too,” making the whole experience feel much more profound and uniquely relatable to each individual viewer.

Star Trek has never shied away from mature and relatable themes such as these and that makes it resonate with audiences more.