8 things Star Trek did better than Star Wars

Unique and complex villains

Darth Vader is a legend. An icon. He’s got this menacing aura that’s hard to ignore. But, where’s the real complexity in his character? Why don’t we see more of the evil acts he commits, the reasoning behind them, and the “real” Vader? We did see a glimpse of the real threat he represents at the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and in that amazing episode in Kenobi, where he literally kills innocents to draw out Obi-Wan. But, when it comes to villains who are truly intriguing, Star Trek does it a little better with its baddies because it gives them seriously thought-out backstories and motivations.

You’ve got Khan, whose revenge-driven persona keeps you on your toes. Then there’s Q, an entity as powerful as he is mysterious (and slightly annoying), and the Borg, whose hive mind idea is pretty creepy (and makes sense with what the Borg are). There’s also the Dominion, Klingons, and Romulans, each with their distinct cultural complexities and conflicts. Even the Doomsday Machine and Mirror Universe characters add their unique flavor to the mix.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Star Wars has its share of villains, and they’re not half bad. But you’d be lying if you didn’t admit that they all kind of strike the same note. There’s the amazing Darth Maul with his badass double-bladed lightsaber, and General Grievous, the chronically asthmatic droid commander with a hobby of collecting Jedi lightsabers. Even the power-hungry Palpy Emperor Palpatine fits right in.

Each one gives off this undeniably Dark Side vibe – it’s like they’re all different verses of the same tune. They’re really cool, they’re mostly mean, and they’ve got their iconic moments, for sure. But, when it comes down to it, they’re all cast from a similar, if not the same, mold. Most of them seem to lack the depth and variety that the Star Trek villains bring to the table. That’s not to say there aren’t some epic Sith out there, because there are. We just don’t get to see them often because Disney doesn’t know how to use them properly or pretends they don’t exist.

I said what I said.