“Star Wars and Star Trek are both exciting franchises, but…”
Jonathan Frakes couldn’t be more beloved by Trekkies in large part thanks to his wonderful portrayal of Commander William Riker for seven seasons on Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, Frakes has done so much for the beloved science fiction franchise, which was created by the late Gene Roddenberry, both in front and behind the camera.
And in a new episode of the State of Mind with Maurice Benard podcast, Frakes discusses why Star Trek endures. Plus, the actor compares the best sci-fi series of all time to George Lucas’ equally loved and cherished Star Wars universe. Frakes said:
“I think Roddenberry created Star Trek, built a future in which there was hope. It’s a bit of a cliche, there was hope. There was no racism, no sexism. It was the prime directive, where you didn’t [expletive] with people on other planets. You let them do what they wanted to do. I think that’s how the prime directive goes… [laughs]. And more and more and more, we need that. Star Wars and Star Trek are both exciting franchises."
Frakes continued by saying:
“But Star [Trek] provided, I think, more heart and promise and hope, and continues to. His legacy, I think is all [...] provided all that and continues to. Gene left us in the third season of our show [TNG] back in 1990. So, talk about a legacy."
Star Trek and Star Wars are beloved by their respective fandoms and have thrived over the years. However, both have been heavily criticized in recent years. Many Trekkies aren’t particularly happy with producer Alex Kurtzman’s vision of the final frontier, while Star Wars purists have voiced their displeasure with J.J. Abrams' sequel trilogy and the short-lived Disney+ series, The Acolyte.
I agree that Star Trek offers more heart and hope than Star Wars. However, in a perfect world, can’t we just enjoy them both? There’s plenty of good content out there from both franchises even in recent years. Star Trek: Prodigy is unquestionably must-see TV, and the limited series Obi-Wan Kenobi reignited interest in the prequel trilogy by reuniting the Jedi Master (Ewan McGregor) and his fallen apprentice Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen) on-screen.
Bottom line: enjoy them both, Trekkies. However, don’t expect a crossover between the two iconic sci-fi franchises anytime soon. Why? Well, Star Wars takes place "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away," and Star Trek is set in a future full of hope and heart. Share your thoughts about the matter with us on the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Live long and prosper, Trekkies!