Earth Is the Center of the Universe: Difference between revisions

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On the other hand, maybe it's because [[Humans Are Special]].
On the other hand, maybe it's because [[Humans Are Special]].


Of course, maybe [[Science Fiction]] shows really ''do'' show aliens invading the planet Zog just as often as they do Earth. It's just that those shows are only aired on the planet Zog, where Earth is just one of the countless [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet|Insignificant Little Blue Planets]].
Of course, maybe [[Science Fiction]] shows really ''do'' show aliens invading the planet Zog just as often as they do Earth. It's just that those shows are only aired on the planet Zog, where Earth is just one of the countless [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]]s.


Both [[Tokyo Is the Center of the Universe]] and [[Big Applesauce]] taken to the MAX of the EXTREME. For subversions and aversions, see [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]] and [[Earth-That-Was]].
Both [[Tokyo Is the Center of the Universe]] and [[Big Applesauce]] taken to the MAX of the EXTREME. For subversions and aversions, see [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]] and [[Earth-That-Was]].
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* In ''[[Marvel Zombies]]'' the zombie Galacti (don't ask) manage to destroy every planet in the universe until finally going back to Earth. Justified in that it was said that the inhabitants had forty years to plan a defense if the zombies ever came back. Another thing to remember is that by this time some of the zombies were losing their hunger as {{spoiler|Spiderman and Luke Cage are the first to help the humans}}.
* In ''[[Marvel Zombies]]'' the zombie Galacti (don't ask) manage to destroy every planet in the universe until finally going back to Earth. Justified in that it was said that the inhabitants had forty years to plan a defense if the zombies ever came back. Another thing to remember is that by this time some of the zombies were losing their hunger as {{spoiler|Spiderman and Luke Cage are the first to help the humans}}.
* Justified in the [[Marvel Universe]]; the reason so many aliens come to Earth is because a space warp in our solar system is a major Hyperspace nexus. And yes, the Marvel Universe IS filled with alien conquerors and space empires.
* Justified in the [[Marvel Universe]]; the reason so many aliens come to Earth is because a space warp in our solar system is a major Hyperspace nexus. And yes, the Marvel Universe IS filled with alien conquerors and space empires.
** Averted in recent [[Crisis Crossover|Crisis Crossovers]] set in the cosmic side of the Marvel universe in that the alien empires and conquerors are too busy warring over each other to care about Earth. The only time the events happening in space impacted on Earth resulted in an [[Easily-Thwarted Alien Invasion]]. The threadbare state of the rest of the universe after the result of [[Annihilation|three]] [[War of Kings|consecutive wars]] [[The Thanos Imperative|along with an invasion from]] [[Eldritch Abomination]] s has little to no bearing on the events happening on Earth.
** Averted in recent [[Crisis Crossover]]s set in the cosmic side of the Marvel universe in that the alien empires and conquerors are too busy warring over each other to care about Earth. The only time the events happening in space impacted on Earth resulted in an [[Easily-Thwarted Alien Invasion]]. The threadbare state of the rest of the universe after the result of [[Annihilation|three]] [[War of Kings|consecutive wars]] [[The Thanos Imperative|along with an invasion from]] [[Eldritch Abomination]] s has little to no bearing on the events happening on Earth.




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* In ''[[Dune]]'', Earth used to be the capital of the Old Empire for many millennia before the Time of [[Humongous Mecha|Titans]]. Even after [[AI Is a Crapshoot|Omnius]]'s coup, Earth is considered to be the core Synchronized World. The [[La Résistance|League of Nobles]], however, is based on the outskirts of the former Empire, and their capital is Salusa Secundus. After the rebels [[Nuke'Em|nuke]] Earth, Corrin becomes the center of the Synchronized Worlds. Then the machines are defeated, and the Imperium is formed, making Salusa Secundus the center of the universe. House Tantor nukes Salusa Secundus, and the Corrinos make Kaitain the new center, followed by Arrakis when Paul takes over.
* In ''[[Dune]]'', Earth used to be the capital of the Old Empire for many millennia before the Time of [[Humongous Mecha|Titans]]. Even after [[AI Is a Crapshoot|Omnius]]'s coup, Earth is considered to be the core Synchronized World. The [[La Résistance|League of Nobles]], however, is based on the outskirts of the former Empire, and their capital is Salusa Secundus. After the rebels [[Nuke'Em|nuke]] Earth, Corrin becomes the center of the Synchronized Worlds. Then the machines are defeated, and the Imperium is formed, making Salusa Secundus the center of the universe. House Tantor nukes Salusa Secundus, and the Corrinos make Kaitain the new center, followed by Arrakis when Paul takes over.
* In ''[[Discworld/The Science of Discworld|The Science of Discworld]]'' and sequels, the wizards have an entire non-magical universe to study. Once a planet with actual oceans and stuff emerges, they pretty much lose interest in the rest of it. Especially when it aquires people. (There may be other lifeforms on other planets. The wizards have never asked.)
* In ''[[Discworld/The Science of Discworld|The Science of Discworld]]'' and sequels, the wizards have an entire non-magical universe to study. Once a planet with actual oceans and stuff emerges, they pretty much lose interest in the rest of it. Especially when it aquires people. (There may be other lifeforms on other planets. The wizards have never asked.)
* ''[[Time Scout]]'': [[Time Portal|Time Portals]] only ever open on the surface of the Earth.
* ''[[Time Scout]]'': [[Time Portal]]s only ever open on the surface of the Earth.
* Averted in [[Alastair Reynolds]]' ''Revelation Space'' universe: the little we hear about Earth suggests that a major Ice Age has turned it into a backwater.
* Averted in [[Alastair Reynolds]]' ''Revelation Space'' universe: the little we hear about Earth suggests that a major Ice Age has turned it into a backwater.
* [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''[[Foundation]]'' series both averts this trope and plays it straight:
* [[Isaac Asimov]]'s ''[[Foundation]]'' series both averts this trope and plays it straight:
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== Live-Action TV ==
== Live-Action TV ==
* ''[[Star Trek]]'': Why on Earth would the capital of the Federation be... er, Earth? ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'', depending on your point of view, either [[Justified Trope|justifies]] this or [[Hand Wave|waves it away]] by saying that other species were out there first, but humans were the diplomats of the galaxy and formed the heart of the Federation -- that without humans, it would have taken much longer or might never have happened at all. It is also noteworthy that, while the Federation is based on Earth, several presidents have been non-human.
* ''[[Star Trek]]'': Why on Earth would the capital of the Federation be... er, Earth? ''[[Star Trek: Enterprise|Star Trek Enterprise]]'', depending on your point of view, either [[Justified Trope|justifies]] this or [[Hand Wave|waves it away]] by saying that other species were out there first, but humans were the diplomats of the galaxy and formed the heart of the Federation—that without humans, it would have taken much longer or might never have happened at all. It is also noteworthy that, while the Federation is based on Earth, several presidents have been non-human.
** The theory that humans are the diplomats of the galaxy can be seen as [[Fridge Brilliance]], considering how every other race is portrayed as a [[Planet of Hats]], meaning humans would be the only ones with practice overcoming cultural differences.
** The theory that humans are the diplomats of the galaxy can be seen as [[Fridge Brilliance]], considering how every other race is portrayed as a [[Planet of Hats]], meaning humans would be the only ones with practice overcoming cultural differences.
** [[Lampshaded]] in ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country|Star Trek VI the Undiscovered Country]]'' when a Klingon refers to [[The Federation]] as a "'homo sapiens only' club". Quark the Ferengi expresses many similar sentiments in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' too.
** [[Lampshaded]] in ''[[Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country|Star Trek VI the Undiscovered Country]]'' when a Klingon refers to [[The Federation]] as a "'homo sapiens only' club". Quark the Ferengi expresses many similar sentiments in ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine|Deep Space Nine]]'' too.
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*** Justified in at least one case with mention made of a Starfleet ship crewed entirely by [[Starfish Aliens|Horta]]. Not many other life forms could really expect to survive in the conditions on board.
*** Justified in at least one case with mention made of a Starfleet ship crewed entirely by [[Starfish Aliens|Horta]]. Not many other life forms could really expect to survive in the conditions on board.
** Federation star charts are apparently based on this trope as well. Earth is located in Sector 001. Of course, this is a ''Federation'' identification, with Starfleet headquarters and most primary Federation facilities on Earth.
** Federation star charts are apparently based on this trope as well. Earth is located in Sector 001. Of course, this is a ''Federation'' identification, with Starfleet headquarters and most primary Federation facilities on Earth.
*** We are never told exactly how big a "sector" is, but it is at least tens of light years based on several episodes<ref>It contains Wolf 359 and 40 Eridani A, which are just under 20 light years apart</ref>. 001 could well contain many other species homeworlds as well.
*** We are never told exactly how big a "sector" is, but it is at least tens of light years based on several episodes.<ref>It contains Wolf 359 and 40 Eridani A, which are just under 20 light years apart</ref> 001 could well contain many other species homeworlds as well.
** With Canonicity of the Prime universe up in the air for now, many sources have come around to explain such apparent inconsistencies. ''[[Star Trek Online]]'' has Sector 001 referred to as the "Vulcan Sector", and it contains not only Vulcan and Earth, but Andoria as well. Still played straight in that the dividing line between Alpha and Beta quadrants runs EXACTLY through Earth's solar system. One mission also involves escorting a Vulcan, not Federation, medical transport, which shares design similarities to the Vulcan ships seen in the Enterprise era. This would suggest that private or noncombat starships have been independently built by individual member worlds of the Federation from the beginning, which helps to explain a lot.
** With Canonicity of the Prime universe up in the air for now, many sources have come around to explain such apparent inconsistencies. ''[[Star Trek Online]]'' has Sector 001 referred to as the "Vulcan Sector", and it contains not only Vulcan and Earth, but Andoria as well. Still played straight in that the dividing line between Alpha and Beta quadrants runs EXACTLY through Earth's solar system. One mission also involves escorting a Vulcan, not Federation, medical transport, which shares design similarities to the Vulcan ships seen in the Enterprise era. This would suggest that private or noncombat starships have been independently built by individual member worlds of the Federation from the beginning, which helps to explain a lot.
** There is at least a brief subversion to this with the Dominion War where Deep Space Nine and the wormhole take over the "center of the universe" position. While the Dominion would love to take Earth, the wormhole and the region around it is far more important real estate. Even Sisko would rather see Deep Space Nine and the wormhole taken back before Earth.
** There is at least a brief subversion to this with the Dominion War where Deep Space Nine and the wormhole take over the "center of the universe" position. While the Dominion would love to take Earth, the wormhole and the region around it is far more important real estate. Even Sisko would rather see Deep Space Nine and the wormhole taken back before Earth.
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' practically defines the trope. Every time there's a rift, a cosmic vortex, a long-dead race returning to conquer, an evil galactic bureaucracy whose schemes require a planet-sized sacrifice, ''anything'', it happens to Earth. The 2005 revival is a particular offender: At last count, seven different alien menaces have suffered some kind of catastrophe and, needing a planet on which to convalesce or just crash-land, chose Earth for no adequately explained reason -- or they just "fell through time and space" and landed there by coincidence. (Including the Daleks. ''Three times''.) {{spoiler|At least in series 5 this is likely due to the fact that falling through time and space actually meant falling through the cracks in time and space caused by the explosion of the TARDIS on Earth in the penultimate episode.}} During the first series, no episode was set outside the Solar System. In the [[Big Finish Doctor Who]] audio ''Doctor Who And The Pirates'', the Doctor rattles off (to the tune of "I am the very model of a modern Major General") a list of planets he's saved, and Earth is every third entry.
* ''[[Doctor Who]]'' practically defines the trope. Every time there's a rift, a cosmic vortex, a long-dead race returning to conquer, an evil galactic bureaucracy whose schemes require a planet-sized sacrifice, ''anything'', it happens to Earth. The 2005 revival is a particular offender: At last count, seven different alien menaces have suffered some kind of catastrophe and, needing a planet on which to convalesce or just crash-land, chose Earth for no adequately explained reason—or they just "fell through time and space" and landed there by coincidence. (Including the Daleks. ''Three times''.) {{spoiler|At least in series 5 this is likely due to the fact that falling through time and space actually meant falling through the cracks in time and space caused by the explosion of the TARDIS on Earth in the penultimate episode.}} During the first series, no episode was set outside the Solar System. In the [[Big Finish Doctor Who]] audio ''Doctor Who And The Pirates'', the Doctor rattles off (to the tune of "I am the very model of a modern Major General") a list of planets he's saved, and Earth is every third entry.
** It should be noted that the Doctor himself is a gargantuan [[Weirdness Magnet]], and that his fondness of Earth may be what draws a lot of stuff here. And several aliens display a variant on the [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]] attitude, in that Earth is invaded/chosen to be blown up/whatever because no one else would miss it.
** It should be noted that the Doctor himself is a gargantuan [[Weirdness Magnet]], and that his fondness of Earth may be what draws a lot of stuff here. And several aliens display a variant on the [[Insignificant Little Blue Planet]] attitude, in that Earth is invaded/chosen to be blown up/whatever because no one else would miss it.
** This tendency got a brief [[Lampshade Hanging]] in the fourth series finale. As the Doctor is interrupted while saving worlds left and right from interdimensional doom...
** This tendency got a brief [[Lampshade Hanging]] in the fourth series finale. As the Doctor is interrupted while saving worlds left and right from interdimensional doom...
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** And the epilogue reveals that {{spoiler|that planet wasn't our Earth, but quite different planet of the same name. The Colonials and their Cylon allies finally find an unnamed planet that is, according to them, filled with more life than all the Twelve Colonies put together, and inexplicably also houses primitive ''Homo sapiens'' in one of its continents. They decide to call it Earth in memory of the dream they pursued for so long. Fast-forward 150,000 years and confirm that it's indeed our very own home planet, in case the continental shapes weren't a dead giveaway, already.}}
** And the epilogue reveals that {{spoiler|that planet wasn't our Earth, but quite different planet of the same name. The Colonials and their Cylon allies finally find an unnamed planet that is, according to them, filled with more life than all the Twelve Colonies put together, and inexplicably also houses primitive ''Homo sapiens'' in one of its continents. They decide to call it Earth in memory of the dream they pursued for so long. Fast-forward 150,000 years and confirm that it's indeed our very own home planet, in case the continental shapes weren't a dead giveaway, already.}}
* [[Ultraman]] and all his successors keep coming to Earth.
* [[Ultraman]] and all his successors keep coming to Earth.
** To be fair, the Ultramen are basically Japanese [[Green Lantern|Green Lanterns]]. It can be asumed there are thousands of other Ultramen patroling the rest of the univearse.
** To be fair, the Ultramen are basically Japanese [[Green Lantern]]s. It can be asumed there are thousands of other Ultramen patroling the rest of the univearse.
* The [[Stargate]] franchise has several occurrences of this trope.
* The [[Stargate]] franchise has several occurrences of this trope.
** The Goa'uld found Earth's native population, abducted, and enslaved them. Furthermore, much of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' deals with Earth trying to defend itself from the Goa'uld coming back.
** The Goa'uld found Earth's native population, abducted, and enslaved them. Furthermore, much of ''[[Stargate SG-1]]'' deals with Earth trying to defend itself from the Goa'uld coming back.
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** Terra is also the capital world of the vastest empire in the ''Warhammer 40K'' universe - the Imperium of Mankind, the single biggest political and military force in the galaxy. Terra is also notably the site of the final and most crucial stage of the [[Horus Heresy]], and ever since has been the most heavily fortified world in the entire Imperium - to put that into perspective, it makes the second most heavily defended world look like ''a sandcastle''.
** Terra is also the capital world of the vastest empire in the ''Warhammer 40K'' universe - the Imperium of Mankind, the single biggest political and military force in the galaxy. Terra is also notably the site of the final and most crucial stage of the [[Horus Heresy]], and ever since has been the most heavily fortified world in the entire Imperium - to put that into perspective, it makes the second most heavily defended world look like ''a sandcastle''.
** Because of this, the galactic map looks extremely lopsided, with the segmentums surrounding the Segmentum Solar rather small - relatively speaking - due to Sol's position in one spiral arm, and the ones to the galactic east utterly enormous.
** Because of this, the galactic map looks extremely lopsided, with the segmentums surrounding the Segmentum Solar rather small - relatively speaking - due to Sol's position in one spiral arm, and the ones to the galactic east utterly enormous.
* Subverted in ''[[BattleTech]]'' -- Earth is indeed pretty much the spatial center of the known universe because it's the planet mankind started out from and there are [[Absent Aliens|no other known intelligent species]] in the setting, but most of the important political and military action has moved elsewhere centuries ago and the governments of the Successor States have their seats on their own capital worlds.
* Subverted in ''[[BattleTech]]''—Earth is indeed pretty much the spatial center of the known universe because it's the planet mankind started out from and there are [[Absent Aliens|no other known intelligent species]] in the setting, but most of the important political and military action has moved elsewhere centuries ago and the governments of the Successor States have their seats on their own capital worlds.
** However whoever controls Earth tends to be the most powerful faction.
** However whoever controls Earth tends to be the most powerful faction.
* You'd think that ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' would avoid this easily, being a fantasy RPG, but no. Two of the oldest D&D game-settings, Mystara and Oerth (get it?), have each been described as "parallel Earths", and the top-selling [[Forgotten Realms]] was named that because it'd supposedly been visited by medieval Earth folk, giving rise to our own legends of magic, dragons, unicorns and so on. A spin-off of the [[Ravenloft]] product line was called Gothic Earth, from which one of the domains of the Land of Mists was derived. Several major NPC wizards from the early Greyhawk/Oerth products made a habit of visiting Earth, and when it became necessary to hide the Mace of St. Cuthbert from hostile forces, it was sent off-world and concealed in London's British Museum. The last one ties into legends that St Cuthbert was a mortal from "another reality" - the [[Genius Bonus]] being that Cuthburt of Lindisfarne was a real British saint.
* You'd think that ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' would avoid this easily, being a fantasy RPG, but no. Two of the oldest D&D game-settings, Mystara and Oerth (get it?), have each been described as "parallel Earths", and the top-selling [[Forgotten Realms]] was named that because it'd supposedly been visited by medieval Earth folk, giving rise to our own legends of magic, dragons, unicorns and so on. A spin-off of the [[Ravenloft]] product line was called Gothic Earth, from which one of the domains of the Land of Mists was derived. Several major NPC wizards from the early Greyhawk/Oerth products made a habit of visiting Earth, and when it became necessary to hide the Mace of St. Cuthbert from hostile forces, it was sent off-world and concealed in London's British Museum. The last one ties into legends that St Cuthbert was a mortal from "another reality" - the [[Genius Bonus]] being that Cuthburt of Lindisfarne was a real British saint.
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* Then there's the really bad joke that "if the universe is infinite in all directions, then I am the center of the universe".
* Then there's the really bad joke that "if the universe is infinite in all directions, then I am the center of the universe".
** Once upon a time, a king asked a wise man to tell him where the center of the world was. The wise man pointed to a spot on the floor and said, "It's right here. If you don't believe me, go ahead and measure it."
** Once upon a time, a king asked a wise man to tell him where the center of the world was. The wise man pointed to a spot on the floor and said, "It's right here. If you don't believe me, go ahead and measure it."
* Don't know if Real Life fits here as it is part of the entertainment industry, but the [[Universal]] [[Iconic Logo|logo]] -- [[Logo Joke|with a few exceptions]]-- centers on the planet Earth.
* Don't know if Real Life fits here as it is part of the entertainment industry, but the [[Universal]] [[Iconic Logo|logo]] -- [[Logo Joke|with a few exceptions]]—centers on the planet Earth.
* There is an entire subset of astronomers that actually use this as a valid explanation for everything they can. Be it the lack of quasars in a large radius around us, or the fact that the galaxy is contracting inward, they jump to the conclusion it must be we're in a special spot. Of course, [[Subverted Trope|then other astronomers come up with more logical explanations]], often the "point of observation" effect mentioned above. One theory even posited that we were the center of the universe, until another proposed that ''everything'' was. This may have an interesting message.
* There is an entire subset of astronomers that actually use this as a valid explanation for everything they can. Be it the lack of quasars in a large radius around us, or the fact that the galaxy is contracting inward, they jump to the conclusion it must be we're in a special spot. Of course, [[Subverted Trope|then other astronomers come up with more logical explanations]], often the "point of observation" effect mentioned above. One theory even posited that we were the center of the universe, until another proposed that ''everything'' was. This may have an interesting message.


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