Star Trek vs Dr Who--a comparison

[dougiezerts]

Star Trek has the Enterprise: Dr Who has his Tardis.
Star Trek has a crew: Dr Who is a lone wolf (except for his companions.)
Star Trek has Romulons, the Borg, and Q: Dr Who has Cybermen, Daleks, and the Master.
Star Trek's prime directive is "Do not try to change a culture": Dr Who's prime directive is "Do not try to change history."
Star Trek can only occassionally go through time: Dr Who does it all the "time!"

 

[MacLeod]

That's not striclty true regarding DW for a time duing his third incarnation he was exiled on Earth with his knowledge of time travel removed. But moving slightly back on topic what sort of debate do you have regarding the similiarites/differences between the two shows?

 

[Melakon]

Star Trek has film, Doctor Who has videotape.

 

[Metryq]

The crews of all the spin-off TREKs time traveled far more often than any Time Lord! That was one of the four basic plot themes in TNG:

1.) Time traveling (which includes alternate universes with evil twins)
2.) Fencing with that elitist snob, Q
3.) Getting stuck in the holodeck
4.) Messing with Data's emotion chip

And TARDIS is an acronym. (Although it has become commonplace to spell "laser" with all lowercase letters...)

 

[The Wormhole]

Star Trek's prime directive is "Do not try to change a culture": Dr Who's prime directive is "Do not try to change history."

Hardly, the Time Lords have a very liberal attitude towards changes in the timeline. In fact, changing the timeline to suit one's whims is considered the right of a Time Lord. Hell, the 2010 Christmas special A Christmas Carol is all about the Doctor making changes to one man's life trying to make him a better person.

True, there are the Fixed Points in Time, certain historical events which are considered key developments and have to happen, but otherwise there is no directive forbidding changes to history.

 

[MacLeod]

Esp. when enlightened self interest is at stake, from "Genesis of the Daleks"

DOCTOR: What's going on? Don't you realise how dangerous it is to intercept a transmat beam?
TIMELORD: Oh come, Doctor, not with our techniques. We Time Lords transcended such simple mechanical devices when the universe was less than half its present size.
DOCTOR: Look, whatever I've done for you in the past, I've more than made up for. I will not tolerate this continual interference in my life.
TIMELORD: Continual? We pride ourselves we seldom interfere in the affairs of others.
DOCTOR: Except mine.
TIMELORD: You, Doctor, are a special case. You enjoy the freedom we allow you. In return, occasionally, not continually, we ask you to do something for us.
DOCTOR: I won't do it. Whatever it is, I refuse.
TIMELORD: Daleks.
DOCTOR: Daleks? Tell me more.
TIMELORD: We foresee a time when they will have destroyed all other lifeforms and become the dominant creature in the universe.
DOCTOR: That's possible. Tell on.
TIMELORD: We'd like you to return to Skaro at a point in time before the Daleks evolved.
DOCTOR: Do you mean avert their creation?
TIMELORD: Or affect their genetic development so that they evolve into less aggressive creatures.
DOCTOR: Hmm. That's feasible.
TIMELORD: Alternatively, if you learn enough about their very beginnings, you might discover some inherent weakness.
DOCTOR: All right, just one more time.
TIMELORD: You'll do it?
DOCTOR: Yes. If you'll let me have the space time coordinates, I'll set the Tardis for Skaro.

 

[dougiezerts]

That's not striclty true regarding DW for a time duing his third incarnation he was exiled on Earth with his knowledge of time travel removed. But moving slightly back on topic what sort of debate do you have regarding the similiarites/differences between the two shows?

Just humerous, that's all!
I love both series about equally, by the way.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

-Both series had two pilots. Although Doctor Who's was made in a week and had the same plot and cast (with some differences), whereas Trek's featured a new cast/plot with the exception of Nimoy and took a bit longer to make.



Regarding Doctor Who and videotape, while it's true many of the interiors were filmed on video, a lot of the exterior work-at least up to season 23-was done on film (There are some exceptions-Spearhead From Space the first color story was entirely on film.). They did use video for the new series but spruced it up a bit-however the show has been in HD since 2009's David Tennant specials.


Some actors have been in both, most recently Noel Clarke (Who's Mickey Smith) as the father of the sick girl in STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS. Also John D Lancie and Nana Visitor appeared together in Torchwood: Miracle Day.


Both series have, to a degree, involved a former 'warrior race' enemy becoming an ally-although there were of course still holdovers from the old era. In Doctor Who, it's the Ice Warriors; in Star Trek it of course the Klingons. Like Kirk in TUC, in "Curse of Peladon" the Doctor did not trust the Ice Warriors but they turned out to be the good guys. We also see this a bit with the Silurians, although the Silurian issue is more of a case of mistrust.


...and of course there's the Cybermen, who have some features similar to the Borg.

 

[MacLeod]

...and of course there's the Cybermen, who have some features similar to the Borg.

Or do the Borg have some features similar to the Cybermen? given that they preede the Borg.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Both are Cyborgs, although the Cybermen have more of a sixties tin robot look due to budget issues and trying to keep consistency.

The Cybermen remove emotions, although I think the Borg sort of have them, although more 'efficient' ones. Certainly the queen had some. However the 80's Cybermen also sounded somewhat emotional.

The Cybermen don't seem to have a collective mind although they have a degree of telepathy.


The Cybermen do of course convert other beings to their own kind, although I don't think this was really done by the Borg until Best of Both Worlds. Certainly both Cybermen and Borg have fought their conditioning on occassion.

 

[Rarewolf]

Or do the Borg have some features similar to the Cybermen? given that they preede the Borg.

It's certainly goes beyond them both being Cyborgs - The Cybermen's 'You will become like us' & 'Resistance is futile' mantras long before the Borg.

I tend to think of the Borg as the Cybermen done right.

 

[Doctorwhovian]

Yeah, apart from "Tomb of the Cybermen" "Invasion" and "Earthshock" the Cybermen stories of both old Who and classic Who have been lacking IMO.

 

[Green Shirt]

I'll be 55 next Tuesday, and have never seen an episode of Dr. Who. I honestly don't know why.

 

[Melakon]

I'll be 55 next Tuesday. . .

Happy birthday in advance, you young whippersnapper.

 

[borgboy]

There is a big difference in the tone of the characters. Trek's characters are largely Starfleet officers, military personnel with a rigid command structure, a charter of rules and regulations.

The Doctor is very much a loner (with the odd friend or two in tow), a maverick who is furious when he's forced to work for his own people in the past. The Doctor doesn't like anyone exerting authority over him.

 

[Green Shirt]

I'll be 55 next Tuesday. . .

Happy birthday in advance, you young whippersnapper.

Thank You

 

[Green Shirt]

I'll be 55 next Tuesday. . .

Happy birthday in advance, you young whippersnapper.

Update -- I meant Wednesday. Haven't learned to read a calendar yet.

 

[dougiezerts]

There is a big difference in the tone of the characters. Trek's characters are largely Starfleet officers, military personnel with a rigid command structure, a charter of rules and regulations.

The Doctor is very much a loner (with the odd friend or two in tow), a maverick who is furious when he's forced to work for his own people in the past. The Doctor doesn't like anyone exerting authority over him.

Yes. In fact, he stole his TARDIS!

 

[MacLeod]

Or did the TARDIS steal him? though at times The Doctor claims he borrowed the TARDIS.

 

[dougiezerts]

He just hasn't returned it, yet!