Star Wars The Most Overused Tropes?

[Umbran]

Yeah I used to be disappointed by this when I was younger, and I still like it when things are like, a fraction more realistic (c.f. nuBSG or The Expanse -

There's some effort, and techniques being learned. Some later Trek, and even more The Orville, tend to have large space battles happen as clouds of ships facing off. They seem to deal with the point-of-view issue by usually following one smaller ship that's looping its way through the cloud.

 

[Ryujin]

There's some effort, and techniques beign learned. Some later Trek, and even more The Orville, tend to have large space battles happen as clouds of ships facing off. They seem to deal with the point-of-view issue by usually following one smaller ship that's looping its way through the cloud.

Sort of how you can handle a major battle between armies, in D&D, as a series of encounters within the battle for the player characters.

 

[Stalker0]

Carbonite freezing somewhat majes sense in Mandalorian (hey it works) but shouldn't be default pre ESB.

agreed. It’s late enough after ESB thst people had heard about the incident with solo, realized carbonate was an effective way to transport prisoners, and many bounty hunters took it up as a practice.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Frankly, Rebels vs. Empire. I’m so thoroughly tired of that era and conflict (and I don’t consider Resistance vs First Order to be meaningfully different) that I have no interest in Andor even if it’s as good as everyone says.

It's more about the rise of fascism/totalitarianism and what causes people to fight against that, and to take risks, and so on. It's certainly not the same sort of take we've seen previously. Even if you don't like SW it's better than easily 99.5% of SF shows and about 98% of TV shows period, so your loss/mistake.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

There's some effort, and techniques being learned. Some later Trek, and even more The Orville, tend to have large space battles happen as clouds of ships facing off. They seem to deal with the point-of-view issue by usually following one smaller ship that's looping its way through the cloud.

Everything is ridiculously close together though. A couple of kilometres should be point blank range. Think about the speeds involved compared to the size of the vessels.

This means that, ironically, some of the most realistic space combat is in Star Trek the original series. We see the interior of one ship, with the other vessel only visible on a highly magnified screen. None of this "look out the windows" nonsense, as if enemy vessels in the vastness of space would be close enough for the human eye to resolve!

 

[Ryujin]

Everything is ridiculously close together though. A couple of kilometres should be point blank range. Think about the speeds involved compared to the size of the vessels.

This means that, ironically, some of the most realistic space combat is in Star Trek the original series. We see the interior of one ship, with the other vessel only visible on a highly magnified screen. None of this "look out the windows" nonsense, as if enemy vessels in the vastness of space would be close enough for the human eye to resolve!

Some of the most believable space combats, in Star Trek TOS, involved not even seeing the other ship on the screen. The Gorn. The "small Klingon scout with no belly for a fight." That sort of thing. Not even a moving dot on the display.

 

[Umbran]

Everything is ridiculously close together though. A couple of kilometres should be point blank range. Think about the speeds involved compared to the size of the vessels.

These are Space Opera, not Military Fiction.

We can no-prize this two different ways:

1) Most of what is getting used are energy beam weapons. Even lasers spread and attenuate with distance. Firing from short distances maximizes the energy deposition per unit area on the target, which we can intuit makes for a greater likelihood of punching through shields or cutting through hull.

2) Yes, those things are maneuvering ridiculously quickly for their size. But targeting computers are ridiculously fast - standing back at distance makes battle a slugfest of shield and weapon power - pounding at each other like olde-tyme battleships may seem realistic, but is boring as felgercarb on screen. Moving close in adds maneuverability and targeting into the conflict - at close range, one can dodge and miss, where you just would never miss at range.

This means that, ironically, some of the most realistic space combat ...

...again, this is Space Opera, not Military Fiction.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

...again, this is Space Opera, not Military Fiction.

Oh, I agree, the purpose is to tell a story, not deliver a physics lesson.

But the idea that having multiple ships on the screen at the same time moving in three dimensions is "more realistic" is mistaken.

 

[Umbran]

Oh, I agree, the purpose is to tell a story, not deliver a physics lesson.

But the idea that having multiple ships on the screen at the same time moving in three dimensions is "more realistic" is mistaken.

But, haven't we just noted that "realistic" isn't really the issue at all?

 

[jesseherbert]

In the Star Wars universe, there are certain tropes and elements that have been used extensively throughout the franchise, sometimes to the point of becoming overused. While some of these elements, such as the Sith, Jedi, and Mandalorians, are inherently part of the genre and can still be enjoyed when used creatively, their execution can sometimes be lackluster. Here are a few examples:

1. Stormtroopers: Stormtroopers, the elite soldiers of the Galactic Empire, are iconic in the Star Wars saga. However, due to their sheer numbers and uniform appearance, they often come across as cannon fodder rather than formidable opponents. This overuse can make them seem less threatening and diminish the impact of their presence in battle scenes.
2. Droids as comic relief: Droids like C-3PO and R2-D2 have provided humor and charm throughout the Star Wars saga. However, there has been a tendency to rely on droids solely for comedic relief, which can undermine their potential for deeper character development. By pigeonholing droids into purely comedic roles, the franchise has missed opportunities to explore their complexity and emotional depth.
3. Bounty hunters: While the Mandalorians as a culture are an interesting part of the Star Wars universe, the constant portrayal of bounty hunters can sometimes become repetitive. The popularity of characters like Boba Fett has led to an abundance of similar bounty hunter archetypes, which can make their stories feel formulaic and predictable. Finding fresh angles and narrative arcs for these characters would help avoid the trap of overuse.
4. Force powers: The Force and its associated powers are fundamental to Star Wars, but their overuse can dilute their impact. When every character seems to possess incredible Force abilities, it can diminish the significance and uniqueness of those powers. Thoughtful and strategic use of Force powers, along with focusing on the internal struggles and moral dilemmas associated with them, can help maintain their mystique and narrative weight.