Why do scifi bad guys never have security cameras and wear armor?

[yoda313]

Ok two part question here for scifi gurus:

1 - Why do scifi bad guys never have security cameras?

You see this all the time. Even back in the original Star Trek they could sneak onto an enemy ship and wouldn't be detected. A big offender of this is Stargate - Sg1 and Atlantis. - They'd sneak onto a Go'auld, Wraith, or Ori ship and never be detected. What kind of security system do they have?

Oh sure sometimes they use "stealth" material to avoid detection but most of the time the heroes just waltz in and never get detected until just the right "suspensful" moment - or just before a commercial break

2 - Why do scifi bad guys wear armor?

Two special cases - Star Wars and Stargate. Star Wars - stormtroopers and the prequel clone troopers wear armor. Yet anytime they get shot they have a gaping scorching hole in their chest and are on the ground. Whats the point? Certainly it isn't for protection - heck even the Ewoks pummeled them mercilessly even when they were wearing armor!

Stargate - why do jaffa soldiers wear the armor? the bullets take em down like crazy. Not to mention the zat stun gun knocks em out cold. Again whats the point?

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I do understand the need for artistic license and willing suspension of disbelief and all that. But I mean come on how long have security cameras been around? Sure a night guard could miss an intruder for a short time and they could get in but I mean when somebody starts shooting up the place? I think even the most moronic stupid guard in the world would be able to call for police when the building starts imploding!

Anybody else get a little peeved with these oh so cliched moments in scifi?

I mean I guess you can't do scifi without some of this but it just seems silly sometimes. You have an advanced race that can travel faster than light and blow up planets but they don't know how to install security cameras to watch for intruders??? Come on......

edit - oh and if the bad guys are wearing armor because they could get stabbed with a knife what are they carrying particle weapons like phasers for in the first place? Just shoot the damn bastard and be done with it......

[hech54]

As my friend always said to me:

Prime time television needs better marksmanship.

[yoda313]

As my friend always said to me:

Prime time television needs better marksmanship.

I think part of it to is mpaa related. I'm sure the "mainstream" shows don't want a kill count so as to keep them more "family friendly".

I think this was especially true for the 80s action shows. I mean I've been watching the A-team on hulu and am finishing season 2. For former special forces guys they don't really have good aim do they? But then again you don't want your heros killing fifty guys before half way through the show.

Come to think of it how many guys did the "hoff" kill in Knight Rider? Macguyver never carried a gun. I don't think Magnum PI ever had to shoot anyone in cold blood or self defense.

But yeah in movies and tv shows its like - Stop moving, point and aim THEN shoot! Duh!

[fatcharlie]

I think the bad guys wearing armor is all about the intimidation factor. Without the armor the bad guys wouldn't look as ominous and pose as much of a threat to the audience. I do agree that ultimately the armor is useless.

[yoda313]

I think the bad guys wearing armor is all about the intimidation factor. Without the armor the bad guys wouldn't look as ominous and pose as much of a threat to the audience.

Good point. I doubt some 5'3 weenie would look quite as imposing without some kind of badass armor on

I do agree that ultimately the armor is useless.

Yep it never seems to stop anything does it?

[El Heggunte]

Why do scifi bad guys never have security cameras and wear armor?

"Because the movie script said so."

OTOH, Robocop was the good guy, his new body was an armor as well,
and still, the bad guys never were smart enough to shoot him in the mouth.

[yoda313]

@el heggunte - thats because "good guy" armor is always the best and always works 100% of the time.

And just like the bad guys always tell the good guys exactly what they are planning to do so they can stop them.

Ah cliches and tried and true plot devices. Where would hollywood be without them?