Spock appears in 9Star Trekmovies, but these six scenes define why I love the heroic Vulcan. Originated by Leonard Nimoy, Spock isStar Trek’s signature character. As a half-human and half-Vulcan, Spock is torn between logic and emotion, and his internal struggle makes the Vulcan Science Officer an enduringly fascinating character, as does Spock’s eternal loyalty to his best friend, Captain James T. Kirk, played by Willliam Shatner and Chris Pine in theStar Trekmovies.
Spock is central to the first six motion pictures starring thecast ofStar Trek: The Original Series, which were released theatrically from 1979 to 1991. In the interim, Leonard Nimoy became a celebrated director, helmingStar Trek III: The Search for SpockandStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, which was thehighest-grossingStar Trekmovieuntil J.J. Abrams’Star Trek(2009). Nimoy reprised Spock in Abrams’Star TrekandStar Trek Into Darkness,though Zachary Quinto took center stage as a younger, alternate-reality Spock in all 3 Abrams-produced films.
In his everyStar Trekmovie appearance, Spock is pivotal to the story, and his heroic nature is continually reaffirmed. Through death, rebirth, and a re-dedication to Starfleet and the United Federation of Planets,Spock continually saves the galaxy alongside his crew aboard the USS Enterprise. Spock then helps create an entirely newStar Trektimeline, which is where the Vulcan spent his final years. Every time I see these Spock scenes inStar Trekmovies, I’m reminded why I love Spock.
6Spock Meets Spock
Star Trek 2009
Star Trek(2009) ends with Leonard Nimoy’s Ambassador Spock (or Spock Prime) meeting his younger Kelvin timeline counterpart. Before this moment,Zachary Quinto’s Commander Spock was unaware that his older doppelgänger fromStar Trek’s Prime timeline was in his alternate reality. However, it was Spock Prime who ‘nudged’ James T. Kirk and Spock toward each other, knowing that their burgeoning friendship would be crucial to saving Earth from theRomulan villain Nero(Eric Bana).
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Ambassador Spock urged Commander Spock to remain in Starfleet, noting that he can now be"in two places at once,“allowing the elder Spock to help repopulate Vulcan. Spock Prime concludes with a witty observation:“Since my customary farewell would appear oddly self-serving, I shall simply say… good luck.“It’s a crackling moment between Nimoy and Quinto. The two Spocks would meet again inStar Trek Into Darkness, butStar Trek(2009) is the only time they share the same physical space.
The two Spocks together on screen in Star Trek (2009) is a moment that lives long and prospers
Zachary Quinto’s Spock would be a lightning rod of controversy, from his anger and emotions always boiling just beneath the surface, to Spock’s controversial romance with Lt. Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), andSpock’s uncharacteristically violent slugfest with Khan Noonien Singh(Benedict Cumberbatch). But the two Spocks together on screen inStar Trek(2009) is a moment that lives long and prospers.
5Spock’s Spacewalk & Mind Meld With V’Ger
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek: The Motion Pictureis a special effects extravaganza that brought a dazzling new sheenStar Trek’s 1960s TV incarnation could not achieve. One of the most spectacular, mind-bending moments of the firstStar Trekmovie isSpock’s space walk. To unlock the mystery of the massive starship called V’Ger,Spock donned a space suit and rocketed himself into V’Ger’s inner sanctum, where the Vulcan performed a mind meld with the sentient machine.
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Spock linking minds with V’Ger is the culmination of the Vulcan’s eye-popping, psychedelic journey where no one has gone before. In these moments,Star Trek: The Motion Pictureachieved the ineffable. While the ordeal of mind-melding with V’Ger rendered Spock unconscious, he was rescued and brought safely aboard the Starship Enterprise. There,Spock wept for V’Ger"as if he were a brother,“as he finally met a being whose unfathomable loneliness and desperate search for answers exceeded his own.
4Spock Mind Melds With Lt. Valeris
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Countrycontains perhapsthe single most controversial Spock scenewhen he performs a Vulcan mind meld on the treasonous Lieutenant Valeris (Kim Cattrall) to extract the truth about the conspiracy to prevent peace between the Klingons and the Federation. Spock’s forcible invasion of Valeris' mind is disturbing yet fascinating, although director Nicholas Meyer has since expressed regret for the scene.
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Spock pillaging Valeris' psyche looking for answers is a powerful moment, punctuated by both Vulcans feeling pained by the experience. However,my read on their mind meld is that it’s a two-way conduit of information. Spock did learn the names of Valeris' co-conspirators, but perhaps Valeris also entered Spock’s psyche, and the traitor learned of his sacrifice and loyalty towards the USS Enterprise and the Federation.
Spock inferred that Sherlock Holmes is his ancestor when he quoted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective inStar Trek VI.
Star Trek VIis a showcase for Spock, who takes command of the Starship Enterprise and launches an investigation to exonerate Captain Kirk andDr. Leonard McCoy(DeForest Kelley) of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon’s (David Warner) assassination. Just as fascinating as the mind meld is the trap Spock and Kirk laid for Valeris, withan enraged Spock slapping a phaser from his protégé’s hand.
3"Tell Her I Feel Fine.”
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Spock and his father,Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), only share one scene inStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, but it’s the amusing and heartwarming culmination of an earlier concern by his mother, Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt). Following Spock’s resurrection at the end ofStar Trek III: The Search for Spock, Star Trek IVbegins with Spock’s indoctrination into Vulcan logic - untilhe is flummoxed by a simple question programmed by his mother:“How do you feel?”
Spock’s reclamation of himself is now complete.
Amanda knew Spock’s rebirth would not be complete until he also honored his innate humanity.Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home contains numerous charming and humorous scenes of Spock and Admiral Kirk in 1986 San Francisco, but the one that truly gets me is when Spock and Sarek meet at the end of the film. When asked if he has a message for his mother,Spock says,“Tell her I feel fine.“Translation: Spock’s reclamation of himself is now complete, and the half-Vulcan/half-human hero we love is truly back.
2"Your Name Is Jim.”
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
Star Trek III: The Search for Spockhinges on the final moments when the resurrected Spock is reunited with hiskatra, or Vulcan soul. Following the Vulcan rejoining ritual, a visibly disoriented Spock attempts to make sense of the many human faces surrounding him, butSpock fixes on one in particular: Admiral James T. Kirk.When Spock recognizes Kirk and says, “Your name is Jim,” it’s a moment that truly brings the house down.
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Spock acknowledging Kirk is the payoff for everything the Admiral sacrificed to deliver his best friend to Vulcan. Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew risked their Starfleet careers and nearly perished at the hands of the Klingons on the self-destructing Genesis Planet. Yet for Kirk,it was all worth it to have Spock back. Audiences feel the same palpable joy and relief when Spock raises his eyebrow at Kirk, signaling that Kirk ultimately did the right thing by saving Spock.
1Spock Has Always Been And Always Shall Be Kirk’s Friend
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
Spock will forever have the greatest death scene - and the most emotionally powerful declaration of everlasting friendship - inStar Trek. Spock’s death was the selling point of why Leonard Nimoy agreed to return forStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and his farewell to Admiral Kirk is not just an iconicStar Trekmoment, but Spock’s death has been remade and homaged byStar Treknumerous times. Yetnothing matches the impact of Spock declaring he is and always has been Kirk’s friend.
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Star Trek IIboasts several resonant moments and lines of dialogue by Spock, who gladly allows Admiral Kirk to take command of the Starship Enterprise against Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). But Spock exposing himself to radiation poisoning to allow the USS Enterprise to escape Khan’s detonation of the Genesis Device was a point of no return. Even 40+ years later, a dying Spock affirming that Kirk is his friend forevermore doesn’t leave a dry eye in the house. It’s simply a perfect Spock andStar Trekmoment.
