For decades, Star Wars and Star Trek fans have (mostly) jokingly remained at odds with one another. Two fictional space franchises couldn’t possibly co-exist! Now, thanks to a recent New York Times Sunday crossword puzzle, Star Wars and Star Trek fans have been forced on equal turf … for now.
A Twitter user called attention to the clever trick not long after it was published. The puzzle was set up so that no matter which franchise you chose — War or Trek — you would have been able to solve the clue.
Fun little trick in the Sunday New York Times crossword yesterday: the central theme clue was "The better of two sci-fi franchises", and regardless of whether you put Star Wars or Star Trek, the crossing clues worked pic.twitter.com/NS4LDxwxxl
— ℳatt (@matttomic) February 7, 2022
If players entered Star Wars as their answer, the other formed words would have been “wrap,” “waist,” “payers,” and “leased.” Star Trek would have given “trap,” “wrist,” “payees,” and “leaked.”
Star Wars and Star Trek have both been around for decades and, while technically ‘set in space” during a different era of time than we’re currently living in, they’re quite different and unnecessary to seriously compare. Star Wars has produced more movies than shows where Star Trek’s total franchise-wide episode count continues to exceed a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars takes place in the past and is often more fantasy than science fiction, while Star Trek is set in a fanatical future that leans heavier into the sci-fi genre.
However, both franchises have featured now-iconic actors that are still so widely known for their so-called “space adventures.” Both also share a similar core message: In the battle between good versus evil, one way or another, good will always prevail. It may all be fake and in space, but there are always lessons to take from both sets of ongoing stories.
Leave it to The New York Times to remind us that all fictional universes matter, except Star Wars totally has better music. MTFBWY!
Follow Dork Side of the Force for all your Star Wars news, reviews, and more!