Spock is a reflection of us, as he deals with his stoic Vulcan side and his emotional human side. On the original series, In the Naked Time, Spock loses all control of his emotions in the famous heartbreaking briefing room scene, exposing his human side for Jim Kirk to see. In Amok Time, Spock has the blood fever where he must take a mate or die.
Here we see the end of his relationship with T’Pring but in Strange New Worlds, we are exposed to their beginings with foreshadowing that Spock’s Starfleet career would come between them. It’s been interesting to see their courtship and how the human side affects it. Season two promises to show us more. Getting back to Amok Time, Spock express his outward delight in seeing James Kirk alive, (Thanks to Dr. McCoy) . What Is usually forgotten , is that in Star Trek The Motion Picture, through V’Ger he comes to find peace in both halves exisiting together as a Vulcan and human. This is a huge lesson for Spock and us, to meld our reason and emotions.
I can help but show admiration the metaphorical significance of Vulcans. As part in our history, humanity struggles with our reasonable side and our emotional side. Each can influence our decisions. The Spock character is too rich not to mine more stories especially in Strange New Worlds, where he is still figuring out who he is, and learning to live among humans. In the Kelvin universe, Zachary Quinto ’s Spock is also not the finished product. losing his temper with James Kirk and also having a romance with Lt Uhura.
I felt the use of Vulcans were diminished in The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, at times Enterprise. The Vulcans seem to spend too much time scolding us then to help guide us to a better place. T’Pol changed that for me. By working with a human crew, she was exposed to humanity every day, and got to see their values and their weaknesses first hand. Tuvok was a worthy edition to get Vulcans back on track in my book, with echoes of the Kirk-Spock relationship with Janeway. We saw their connection especially in the series finale for Voyager, Endgame.
Gene Roddenberry was brilliant in emboding characteristics in his characters. Kirk was Courage, boldness, the explorer. Dr McCoy was the heart, the moral compass. And Spock was the logic, the reason and called us out for past and current mistakes.
In the original Planet Of The Apes film, If I can detour Star Trek for a moment, Dr Zaius remarks that man’s reason goes hand in hand with his lunacy. Written by the brilliant Rod Serling, the original apes film is a cautionary tale. In Spock, there a cautionary tale as well but with a solution, if we control our emotions and use our reason we can and will survive.
