Spock

"*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*"

– **James T. Kirk**, 2285 (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)

**Spock** – full name generally considered unpronounceable by Humans – was a male Human/Vulcan hybrid who lived during the 23rd and 24th century. He became one of the most distinguished and respected figures in the United Federation of Planets. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise", "Journey to Babel"; TNG: "Unification I", "Unification II"; VOY: "Alliances", "Endgame")

As a Starfleet officer in the 23rd century, Spock served aboard the starship USS *Enterprise* as science officer under Captain Christopher Pike, as first officer and science officer under Captain James T. Kirk, and as the commanding officer of the *Enterprise* during its tenure as a training ship. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II", "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Corbomite Maneuver"; DIS: "Brother", "If Memory Serves", "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2"; *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)

In the 24th century, Spock became an adviser to the leadership of the Federation and a celebrated ambassador on their behalf. He disappeared in 2387 after saving the Federation from a supernova that destroyed Romulus and caused the creation of the alternate reality. (TNG: "Unification I", "Unification II"; *Star Trek*).

## Contents

* Childhood
* Starfleet career
	+ Starfleet Academy
	+ Serving under Christopher Pike
		- Arrival on the *Enterprise*
		- Rescuing Pike from the Talosians
		- Searching for the Red Angel
		- Return to Starfleet
		- Meeting Leila Kalomi
	+ Serving under James T. Kirk
		- Year One
		- Year Two
		- Year Three
		- Year Four
		- Year Five
	+ Purging emotions
	+ *V'ger* crisis
	+ Death and resurrection
	+ The *Enterprise*-A
* Diplomatic career
	+ Reunification attempts
	+ "Cowboy diplomacy"
	+ Rumors
	+ The Red Matter incident
* Legacy
* Involvement in the alternate reality
	+ Final death
* Physiology
* Personal interests
* Relationships
	+ Friendships
		- James T. Kirk
		- Leonard McCoy
		- Christopher Pike
	+ Family
		- Sybok
		- Michael Burnham
	+ Romances
		- T'Pring
		- Christine Chapel
		- Leila Kalomi
		- Zarabeth
* Key dates
* Memorable quotes
	+ Catchphrases
	+ Kirk and Spock
* Awards and achievements
* Appendices
	+ Appearances
	+ Additional references
	+ Background information
		- Performers
		- Name
		- From concept to series
		- Season 2 salary issue
		- Animated depictions
		- Reappearances
		- Other language voice actors
		- Reception
		- Observations
	+ Trivia
	+ Apocrypha
	+ External links

## Childhood edit | edit source

Spock was born on January 6, 2230 in the city of Shi'Kahr on the planet Vulcan. His mother was Amanda Grayson, a Human school teacher, and his father, Sarek, was a Vulcan scientist and diplomat. (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver", "This Side of Paradise", "The Squire of Gothos", "Amok Time"; *Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*; *Star Trek Beyond*)

*In a deleted scene from the film* Star Trek*, Spock was shown to be born in the year 2230 (specifically, on stardate 2230.06). By Sarek's suggestion, he was named after one of Vulcan's early society builders. Since Spock's birth took place prior to the arrival of the* Narada *and the destruction of the USS* Kelvin*, this event was considered to have taken place in the original timeline; however, since the scene was deleted, it was not regarded as canonical. Spock's date of birth was later made canon as it was shown on a display in* Star Trek Beyond*.*
*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*
After his half-brother Sybok's mother died, Spock and Sybok were raised as brothers. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*)

Spock's mixed parentage caused difficulties throughout his early life. His own father, despite having married a Human woman, was ambivalent about his son's half-Human nature at his birth. For her part, Amanda watched Spock's stiff-lipped anguish caused by torment at the hands of other Vulcan children who repeatedly attacked and teased him to provoke emotional responses, knowing that his "Human half" was suffering. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*; *Star Trek*; TOS: "Journey to Babel"; TAS: "Yesteryear") Spock himself indicated that emotions confused him. (DIS: "Light and Shadows")

When Spock was a child, he seemed to have fewer filters, and everything reached him. He also suffered from L'tak Terai, the Vulcan equivalent of dyslexia which he had inherited from his mother. Amanda intervened early on to ensure that her son was able to work past his learning difficulties. As part of her efforts to assist him, Amanda read *Alice's Adventures in Wonderland* and *Alice Through the Looking Glass* to him. (TAS: "Once Upon a Planet"; DIS: "Context Is for Kings", "Light and Shadows")

As a child, Spock was betrothed to T'Pring in accordance with traditional Vulcan marriage procedure. (TOS: "Amok Time")

In 2237, at the age of seven, Spock decided prematurely, and without parental knowledge or approval, to undertake the *kahs-wan* in the Vulcan wilderness in an attempt to prove himself. His pet *sehlat*, I-Chaya, tagged along against his master's wishes and defended Spock from a *le-matya*. The intervention of an older cousin saved Spock from the *le-matya* but I-Chaya was left badly wounded. Faced with the choice of a painfully extended life or a peaceful release for I-Chaya, Spock logically opted for the latter. That decision marked his choice of following Surak's philosophies of logic and emotional control. *In 2269, the accidental creation of an alternate timeline created a universe in which Spock was killed in his childhood. Using the Guardian of Forever, Spock returned to the Vulcan of his youth and assumed the role of Selek, the nearly-forgotten cousin who saved his life during the* kahs-wan *ordeal.* (TAS: "Yesteryear")

Spock often disappeared into the mountains for days as a boy, refusing to tell his father where he had gone or what he had been doing. He ignored Sarek's forbiddance of his trips, and silently endured punishment. (TNG: "Unification I")

After the apparent death of two Human scientists on Doctari Alpha, Sarek considered it his and Amanda's responsibility to take in the scientists' daughter, Michael Burnham. (DIS: "Battle at the Binary Stars", "The Red Angel", "Brother") Upon being introduced to his new foster sister and being told he was to teach her the ways of Vulcan, Spock was not very welcoming to her. Upon seeing Michael enter the house, he withdrew into his room and drew an image of a dragon-like monster with his computer tablet. He flung the image at her and it screamed at her, after which he shut his door to her. (DIS: "Brother")

Later, however, Spock became what Michael described as her "little shadow." After logic extremists bombed a Vulcan Learning Center targeting Michael, she resolved to run away from home, believing if the logic extremists could not get to her, they would target Spock. Spock confronted her as she tried to leave and tried to convince her to stay. Michael deliberately insulted Spock's parentage to drive him away from her, leaving Spock distraught as she fled. Michael was subsequently found after Spock told his parents where to find her, claiming this information was given to him in a vision from a being he called "the Red Angel." His parents assumed the Angel was a figment of his imagination and that Spock had used logic to pinpoint her direction, but he never wavered from the belief that the Angel was real. Michael's insult to Spock also caused a long-lasting change: He withdrew and lost trust in other people, and his openness vanished. Burnham later reached out many times to make amends but Spock did not appear to be interested. (DIS: "Point of Light", "If Memory Serves")

After Michael's graduation from the Vulcan Science Academy, Sarek was forced to choose between Michael and Spock as to who should join the Vulcan Expeditionary Group. He chose Spock over Michael but he came to regret this decision as Spock chose to join Starfleet instead. Sarek had given Spock his first lessons in computers and set him on a path of science. Therefore, Spock's preference to pursue a scientific career in Starfleet caused a rift between him and his father that kept them from speaking to each other for eighteen years. (TOS: "Journey to Babel"; DIS: "Lethe")

*In J.J. Abrams' film* Star Trek*, a scene revealed that Spock (the first person ever admitted to the VSA who then chose not to attend) reached his decision when he concluded that the senior professors of the Academy would never see him as an equal, realizing this once and for all upon being told that his record was all the more impressive given the "disadvantage" of being half-Human – told by the astonished head councilor that never before had a Vulcan turned down this honor, Spock shot back that, as he obviously wasn't a* real *Vulcan, this was still true. However, its canonicity in the "prime" timeline was uncertain, as it occurred after Nero's first incursion. Screenwriter Roberto Orci felt that Nero's first incursion left Spock's backstory unaffected.* [1]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

## Starfleet career edit | edit source

### Starfleet Academy edit | edit source

During his time at Starfleet Academy, Spock had Onafuwa for Fundamentals of Quantum Stochastics and several other advanced courses. He was commissioned as a Starfleet officer in 2250 with the serial number S 179-276 SP and held an A7 computer expert classification. In 2254, he was assigned to the USS *Enterprise* under the command of Captain Christopher Pike. (ST: "Q&A"; TOS: "The Enterprise Incident", "Court Martial", "The Ultimate Computer", "The Cage")

*In the alternate reality, Spock began programming the* Kobayashi Maru *scenario in 2254. The writers of the film* Star Trek *stated, in the movie's audio commentary, that they felt this event overlapped with the prime reality and that Kirk also met Spock at a hearing after he cheated on the test. According to the script for* Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*, after taking the* Kobayashi Maru *test for the third time, Spock said to Kirk that his solution would not have occurred to a Vulcan mentality. [2] This would have implied that Kirk and Spock knew each other since the late 2250s, and that Spock was at the Academy. As it was, this information was not in the theatrical or director's cut of the film. Furthermore, Spock was to have been depicted as a Starfleet cadet in two undeveloped productions:* Star Trek: The First Adventure *and a story suggested for inclusion in ENT Season 4. (For more information, see Reappearances.)*

### Serving under Christopher Pike edit | edit source

#### Arrival on the *Enterprise* edit | edit source

When Ensign Spock was transported aboard the *Enterprise* in 2254, he bonded with the ship's first officer, Lieutenant Commander Una who preferred to be known simply as "Number One." When they became trapped in the turbolift while on their way to the bridge, Spock asked Una many questions and the two opened up to each other. Later that year, he was promoted to lieutenant. (ST: "Q&A"; TOS: "The Cage")

*Spock's promotion to lieutenant can only be extrapolated by comparing his rank in "Q&A" (i.e., ensign) with that in "The Cage" (i.e., lieutenant).*

#### Rescuing Pike from the Talosians edit | edit source

As a science officer under the command of Captain Pike, Spock was wounded in the leg when Pike's landing party was attacked on Rigel VII in 2254. As the ship proceeded to the Vega colony for medical care, a radio wave distress call forced Pike to divert the ship to Talos IV. Still limping, Spock joined a landing party that transported to the barren surface of the planet where Talosians captured Pike. He was the first of the ship's crew to realize the Talosians had powerful illusory abilities. Spock's final report, along with Pike's, recommended a ban on visitation to the planet. Starfleet's General Order 7 supported that judgment. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

*At one point during the filming of "The Cage", Gene Roddenberry intended for Spock to appear in an installment which was to be filmed later but set before "The Cage". In that episode, Spock would have been depicted injuring his leg. Roddenberry, as a way to set the story up, asked Spock actor Leonard Nimoy to limp on-screen during "The Cage". Nimoy complied with that request but the planned episode was never filmed, leaving the reason for Spock's leg wound as somewhat of a mystery.* [3](X)*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

#### Searching for the Red Angeledit | edit source

Following the end of the Federation-Klingon War in 2257, Spock took an unspecified leave of absence from Starfleet. He had accumulated a number of months during the five-year mission which, according to Pike, took a toll on the whole crew as well as Spock. Upon reviewing Spock's personal log entries on the *Enterprise*, Michael Burnham learned that Spock had been having visions ever since he was a boy, and that he had had premonitions of the mysterious red bursts that the USS *Discovery* was likewise investigating, which Spock believed were related to his childhood visions of "the Red Angel." (DIS: "Brother")

Spock followed his visions to an unknown planet where he encountered the Red Angel. Through a mind meld, he discovered that it was a Human but one clad in a suit far beyond 23rd century technology. Through the meld, he received a vision of the destruction of Earth, Vulcan, Andor, and Tellar, and began experiencing time non-linearly. (DIS: "If Memory Serves") He decided to have himself committed to the psychiatric unit on Starbase 5. In doing so, he requested that Starfleet not inform his family about the matter, including his father and foster sister. While there, he was observed to display acutely emotional dissociation and extreme empathy deficits. When he was told the red bursts had occurred as he had predicted, Spock broke out of the facility, disabling three of his doctors with Vulcan nerve pinches and fleeing on a shuttlecraft. (DIS: "New Eden", "Point of Light", "If Memory Serves")

Starfleet subsequently claimed that Spock had murdered his doctors and made finding him a priority. The USS *Discovery* and Section 31 became involved in the search. Aware he was being pursued, Spock abandoned his shuttlecraft in the Mutara sector and secretly returned to Vulcan. There, his mother hid him in a sacred crypt where katra stones shielded him from telepathic searches. Spock had become delusional and incoherent, unable to bear the experience of viewing time non-linearly, and repeated the First Doctrines of Logic and a sequence of numbers over and over. Burnham convinced Amanda to take her to Spock, but Sarek followed Burnham and convinced her that the best way to help Spock was to hand him over to Section 31. Burnham took Spock to the Section 31 ship NCIA-93 where Captain Leland promised he would help repair Spock's mind. However, Philippa Georgiou warned Burnham that Leland intended to extract Spock's memories using a process that would destroy his mind. At Georgiou's suggestion, Burnham overpowered her and took Spock from the Section 31 ship in a shuttlecraft. (DIS: "Saints of Imperfection", "Light and Shadows")

Burnham realized that, since Spock's mind had regressed to childhood, the sequence of numbers he had been repeating was reversed due to his *L'tak Terai*. In the opposite order, the numbers represented the coordinates for Talos IV. Burnham thus set a course for that planet. There, the Talosians and Vina agreed to help heal Spock and subsequently projected illusions to the pursuing NCIA-93 to allow Burnham and Spock to escape to the USS *Discovery*. (DIS: "Light and Shadows", "If Memory Serves")

#### Return to Starfleet edit | edit source

After the battle against Control, Spock returned to his position as science officer aboard the *Enterprise* in 2258. He was sworn to secrecy, along with the rest of the crew of Pike's starship, to never again speak the name of his adoptive sister or the ship she served on aloud in public again. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

#### Meeting Leila Kalomi edit | edit source

On Earth briefly in 2261, Spock met Leila Kalomi. Although she declared a love for Spock, his Vulcan control prevented him from reciprocating until 2267 when he was infected by the spores on Omicron Ceti III. Under the spores' influence, he became peaceful and happy but Captain Kirk infuriated him, which killed the spores and returned him to normal. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

Spock's service under Pike (eleven years, four months, and five days) inspired considerable respect and loyalty from the young officer. In 2267, Spock risked his life and career for the sake of his former captain. (TOS: "The Cage", "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

### Serving under James T. Kirkedit | edit source

#### Year Oneedit | edit source

After Pike's promotion to fleet captain, James T. Kirk assumed command of the *Enterprise* in 2265, with Spock as his first officer. An early mission proved disastrous when Lieutenant Commander Gary Mitchell, a close friend of the new captain, developed enhanced psionic abilities when the *Enterprise* encountered an energy barrier at the edge of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Spock examined the tapes of an earlier ship, the SS *Valiant*, that had encountered the same barrier and was destroyed. As Mitchell's powers increased, Spock believed he had become extremely dangerous and feared that he would destroy the *Enterprise*. He therefore advised Kirk to either strand Mitchell on the uninhabited and desolate Delta Vega to isolate him from galactic civilization or kill Mitchell before it was too late. Kirk hesitated but initially attempted the former, but the scope of Spock's concerns were eventually borne out and Kirk was forced to kill Mitchell. (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")

*In the final revised draft of the script for "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (dated 8 July 1965), Spock's final line of the episode was to have featured him admitting he had "hated every minute of being logical about" the treatment of Gary Mitchell.* [4] *This line of dialogue, however, wasn't used.*

#### Year Two edit | edit source

The *Enterprise* repelled the first Romulan incursion of Federation space in over a century on stardate 1709.2. Spock and the bridge crew became the first Starfleet officers to make visual contact with Romulans who finally revealed their Vulcan-like appearance to Starfleet. Lieutenant Stiles briefly suspected Spock of being a Romulan agent until Spock saved his life in the course of battle. (TOS: "Balance of Terror")

#### Year Three edit | edit source

Spock kidnapped Fleet Captain Pike and hijacked the *Enterprise*. Pike had been crippled and was confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak, as a result of an accident. Spock wanted to return him to Talos IV; he wished to return Pike to the Talosians there so he could enjoy the rest of his life in an illusory reality and would not have to continue enduring his disability. After a lengthy inquiry into the matter, and in light of the Talosian-provided images, Kirk allowed Pike to beam down. Commodore Jose I. Mendez also dropped all charges against Spock. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

While commanding an away mission aboard the *Galileo* on stardate 2821.5, the shuttlecraft crashed on the surface of Taurus II. Giant hostile creatures killed two crewmembers while the shuttle was stranded there. Spock, aided by Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott, eventually launched the shuttle. Knowing that it could not break free of the planet's gravity, Spock ignited the shuttlecraft's remaining fuel to use it as a flare. His gamble paid off; it alerted the *Enterprise* which turned around and rescued the team. (TOS: "The Galileo Seven")

After being thrown back in time to Earth of 1969 and interacting with that planet's US Air Force, Spock was able to recreate a time warp with a slingshot maneuver around the sun. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

When Kirk was court-martialed for causing the death of Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney, Spock proved that Finney had altered the *Enterprise*'s computer tapes to frame Kirk, by beating the computer at chess four times in a row, something which would ordinarily be impossible. (TOS: "Court Martial")

Spock, along with Kirk, helped disable Landru, a computer that controlled the lives of a civilization on Beta III and allowed no free thought or creative thinking. (TOS: "The Return of the Archons")

Spock helped Kirk to retake the *Enterprise* after Khan Noonien Singh, a 20th century Augment dictator whom the *Enterprise*'s crew had found in stasis, commandeered the starship. He flooded the ship with gas, disabling Khan and his followers. (TOS: "Space Seed")

On stardate 3192.1, Spock and Kirk were taken prisoners on Eminiar VII which had been at war for over five hundred years with Vendikar. Computers fought the war virtually so that the destruction of actual warfare did not devastate the two worlds, thus preserving both civilizations. Whenever the computer registered a hit, the affected citizens reported to a disintegration chamber where they were vaporized. When the *Enterprise* entered orbit around Eminiar VII, it became a legitimate target for Vendikar. The war computer soon declared that a tricobalt satellite explosion had destroyed the *Enterprise*; as a result, Eminiar officials expected the crew to report to the disintegration stations. They abducted Kirk and Spock to ensure compliance, but the two escaped captivity and destroyed the computers on Eminiar VII. With the threat of a real war looming over the inhabitants of both planets, Spock and Kirk negotiated a peace between Eminiar VII and Vendikar. (TOS: "A Taste of Armageddon")

On the mining planet Janus VI, an unknown creature was killing miners there. After locating the creature, Spock mind melded with it. He discovered that the creature was called a Horta and determined that its killing of the miners was an attempt to protect its young. The miners had been unintentionally killing the Horta's offspring by destroying silicon nodules which were really the creature's eggs. Spock negotiated a pact between the Horta and the miners: The miners would leave the eggs alone and the Horta, in turn, would help the miners locate valuable minerals. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")

Spock and Kirk later became trapped on Organia during a Klingon occupation of that planet. The Klingons wanted to use Organia as a base in their war against the Federation. The Organian council refused the Federation's help, and after the Klingons invaded and took control of Organia, Kirk and Spock had civilian identities imposed on them, with Spock being given the identity of a merchant. They then became involved in sabotage. After the Klingons captured them, the Organians set Spock and Kirk free. Just as war began to break out, the Organians revealed themselves to be powerful energy beings. They neutralized both sides weaponry and stopped the war. (TOS: "Errand of Mercy")

On stardate 3134.0, Spock and Kirk traveled back in time using the Guardian of Forever to retrieve Dr. Leonard McCoy who had entered the time portal and somehow changed history. Spock discovered McCoy saved the life of Edith Keeler who, in the altered timeline, led a pacifist movement that delayed the United States of America's entry into World War II, thus allowing Adolf Hitler to win the war. Spock persuaded Kirk that allowing Keeler to die in an auto accident was only way to restore the timeline. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

Near the end of the year, a Denevan neural parasite that destroyed the colony on Deneva also attacked Spock. He submitted to an experiment that destroyed the creature inside him but also left him blind. However, the blindness was only temporary due to an inner set of eyelids that all Vulcans possessed. (TOS: "Operation -- Annihilate!")

In late 2267, the *Enterprise* encountered a probe called *Nomad* that had destroyed multiple star systems and their inhabitants. Spock mind-melded with the probe and discovered it was an old Earth probe originally tasked with seeking out new life. Somehow damaged in space, it had merged with an alien probe on a mission to sterilize "imperfect" biological organisms from soil. These two missions had merged into sterilizing or improving anything that was not "perfect." Using its own logic against it, Kirk destroyed the probe. (TOS: "The Changeling")

On stardate 3219.8, an alien cloud creature took control of a shuttlecraft carrying Spock, Kirk, and Federation diplomat Nancy Hedford, landing it on a deserted planet. There, they found Zefram Cochrane, the inventor of Earth's warp drive who was believed to have died decades ago. The cloud creature, which Cochrane called the "Companion", had discovered him and kept him alive and young. The creature had brought the three Starfleet officers to be companions for Cochrane. When Spock tried to repair the shuttlecraft, the Companion stopped him. The situation was resolved when the Companion joined with Hedford, who was terminally ill, and cured her. Hedford/The Companion remained on the planet with Cochrane. (TOS: "Metamorphosis")

#### Year Four edit | edit source

At some point around Spock's fourth year on the *Enterprise*, he was offered an assignment with Medusan Ambassador Kollos which he turned down, as he claimed that he "*was unable to accept,*" as his "*life is here,*" aboard the *Enterprise*. The assignment, instead, went to Miranda Jones. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

In 2268, Spock and other crewmembers of the *Enterprise* encountered Harry Mudd stranded on a planet of androids. The androids wanted the *Enterprise* to escape the planet and serve Humans so that they would not have to explore space. Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew eventually managed to overload the androids' central control by acting in a illogical manner, causing the chief android, Norman, to have a breakdown. (TOS: "I, Mudd")

While traveling to a peace conference on Babel, Spock was reunited with his parents. There was still much friction between Spock and his father. When Sarek was accused of the murder of another delegate, it was revealed that he was ill with a cardiac defect which made it unlikely that he could have committed the crime. McCoy was then tasked with performing surgery on Sarek while in a space battle with an enemy ship. It was then discovered that Orions were responsible for the murder, and Spock made himself available for a blood transfusion for his father's surgery because they shared the same rare blood type, T-negative. Recovering in sickbay, Sarek and Spock made peace with each other, even playfully teasing Amanda. (TOS: "Journey to Babel")

On stardate 4523.3, Spock helped foil a Klingon plot to poison quadrotriticale earmarked for Sherman's Planet while at the same time trying to clear the *Enterprise* of a fast-breeding alien species called tribbles. (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles"; DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")

Spock later visited Sigma Iotia II whose inhabitants had modeled their society on the gangster era of Earth's 1930s. An earlier starship had left behind a book about gangsters from Earth's 20th century that the imitative Iotians had used as a blueprint for their society. Spock played the part of one of the bosses of the main syndicate, "The Federation," and helped Kirk unite the two warring bosses into a form of government. (TOS: "A Piece of the Action")

Spock, along with the *Enterprise*, encountered a space amoeba that destroyed entire star systems. The USS *Intrepid*, which was sent to investigate the phenomenon, was destroyed, and Spock felt the Vulcans on the ship dying. In order to gain information on the creature, Spock piloted a shuttle into the amoeba and found that it was about to reproduce by fission. He subsequently destroyed the creature with an antimatter bomb. (TOS: "The Immunity Syndrome")

Spock's body was later taken over by Henoch, one of three survivors of an ancient civilization that had destroyed itself. The three had become energy beings to survive and wished to build androids to house their minds. Henoch, the rival of fellow survivor Sargon, refused to relinquish Spock's body and attempted to kill Sargon. He himself was killed with the help of Spock's consciousness and Sargon's wife Thalassa. (TOS: "Return to Tomorrow")

Spock came in contact with various other worlds in the early part of 2268. He was captured by Ekosians who had based their society on that of Nazi Germany and tortured him for information about the *Enterprise*. John Gill, a Federation historian, had visited Ekos and attempted to use the efficiency of Nazi Germany to bring stability to the planet. Toward the end of the encounter, it was found out that Gill was drugged by his deputy Melakon. Through the use of the mind meld, Spock helped bring Gill to almost full wakefulness. (TOS: "Patterns of Force")

Spock battled Kelvans who tried to take over the *Enterprise* in order to return to their homeworld in the Andromeda Galaxy. He helped Kirk stop Ronald Tracey, a Federation captain interfering in Omega IV's societies by arming the Kohms against the Yangs. He battled the government of a planet where a Rome-like civilization had never fallen and gladiatorial games still took place in the planet's modern era. (TOS: "By Any Other Name", "The Omega Glory", "Bread and Circuses")

Later the same year, Spock's brain was stolen by the Eymorgs to help power the Great Teacher that controlled their society and provided for all their needs. McCoy was able to reconnect Spock's brain to his body with the same technology used to remove it. (TOS: "Spock's Brain")

Spock, along with Kirk, stole a cloaking device from the Romulans. As part of the plan to retrieve the device, he pretended to kill Kirk in self-defense and romanced the craft's commander in order to gain her trust. He initially intended only to carry out his mission but experienced actual feelings for the beautiful and brilliant commander. After Kirk returned to the Romulans' craft disguised as a Romulan and stole the device, Spock stalled the Romulans long enough for the device to be installed in the *Enterprise*. The ship escaped with the cloaking device and the Romulan commander on board, who made a pact with Spock to keep their mutual feelings for the other a secret. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident")

Spock later saved Kirk and a tribe of transplanted Native Americans when he helped save their planet Amerind from an asteroid by activating a deflector beam. (TOS: "The Paradise Syndrome") He allowed Kollos to take over his body so that he could guide the *Enterprise* back into the galaxy after a mad Larry Marvick had driven it into an uncharted region. The Medeusans were a highly intelligent species but their bodies were grotesque in form – so much so that gazing upon a Medeusan would cause instant insanity in humanoids. However, it was said that telepathically viewing a Medeusan's mind, as Spock did, was quite a beautiful experience. (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")

Spock helped save an landing party from the Melkotians who had, as punishment for trespassing, forced them to relive the infamous gunfight at the OK Corral in a recreation of Tombstone, Arizona. (TOS: "Spectre of the Gun") He also helped redirect *Yonada* from colliding with Daran V. (TOS: "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky")

Spock took command of the *Enterprise* when a spatial interphase trapped Kirk between universes. Despite a Tholian attack from Commander Loskene, Spock and the *Enterprise* crew managed to retrieve Kirk and escaped from the Tholians' energy web. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

A race of psychokinetics later captured Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. The aliens forced them to take part in dangerous games and unwanted love affairs. (TOS: "Plato's Stepchildren")

After hyper-accelerated aliens took over the *Enterprise* and hyper-accelerated Kirk to take as a hostage, Spock managed to receive a warning from Kirk and became hyper-accelerated himself but carried an antidote with him. He and Kirk stopped the aliens and retook the ship. (TOS: "Wink of an Eye")

Spock was part of a landing party that aliens were using to test the worthiness of an empathic race. A supernova was going to destroy their planetary system, and the aliens wanted to see if their race should be saved. After the aliens tortured Kirk, Spock, and McCoy, the empath Gem healed them. Impressed by this, the aliens saved her planet. (TOS: "The Empath")

#### Year Five edit | edit source

In early 2269, Spock and Kirk took a new medicine that could cure mental illness to a Federation mental facility. However, under the leadership of former Starfleet captain Garth of Izar, inmates had taken over the facility. Garth captured Spock and Kirk, putting their lives in danger. Spock escaped and found Kirk but Garth, who had developed shapeshifting powers, had assumed Kirk's identity. Spock determined the real Kirk from the impostor and subdued Garth, thus giving him medication that helped his mental illness. (TOS: "Whom Gods Destroy")

In the same year, Spock was part of a landing party that found a Human named Flint. He found masterpiece paintings and original classical music. Flint admitted that he had been Johannes Brahms and Leonardo da Vinci on Earth, and that he was an immortal being. (TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah")

Spock helped Kirk negotiate a peace treaty between two societies on Ardana. He also became attracted to Droxine, the daughter of Plasus, the ruler of Ardana; he referred to her as a work of art and even discussed *pon farr* with her. However, nothing ever came out of the relationship. (TOS: "The Cloud Minders")

The Excalbians forced Spock and Kirk into a battle between good and evil to study Human concepts. The aliens created images of people who possessed "good" qualities, such as Abraham Lincoln and Surak, against "bad" people such as Colonel Phillip Green and Kahless. (TOS: "The Savage Curtain")

Spock, Kirk, and McCoy entered a time portal, and were stuck in different past eras of Sarpeidon which was about to be destroyed by an exploding sun. Spock and McCoy traveled into the planet's ice age where they met Zarabeth, who had been sent there as punishment. Even though McCoy was dying from the cold, Spock wished to remain with the woman with whom he had fallen in love since, in this time period, he had emotions. Eventually, he discovered the portal door and saved McCoy. (TOS: "All Our Yesterdays")

After Janice Lester transferred her consciousness into Kirk's body and his consciousness into her body, she attempted to kill Kirk and assume his captaincy. However, Spock managed to expose her and helped to re-transfer Kirk's consciousness into his body. (TOS: "Turnabout Intruder")

Spock joined a landing party that beamed down to inspect the second planet of the Taurean system. There, he became affected by the glandular secretion of the female members of Theela's species who inhabited there, who were known for controlling the male mind. This drained Spock of his "life force," causing him to age at a rate of ten years per day. Spock escaped the females of the planet and contacted the *Enterprise*. An all-female security detachment led by Lieutenant Nyota Uhura eventually recovered him and the landing party. By using their molecular pattern stored in the transporter system, Spock and the others were returned to their previous ages. (TAS: "The Lorelei Signal")

On a mission to Phylos, Spock was captured by Stavos Keniclius who planned to clone him and make an army of Spock clones to enforce an era of peace throughout the galaxy. His first clone, Spock Two, possessed all of the original's memories, abilities, and sense of logic. However, the cloning process left the original Spock near death. Since Spock Two possessed his progenitor's sense of logic, he mind melded with him and restored his mind, most likely transferring his *katra* back into the original Spock. The original Spock proposed that Spock Two remain on Phylos to help Keniclius rebuild the Phylosian society. (TAS: "The Infinite Vulcan")

### Purging emotionsedit | edit source

After completing the *Enterprise*'s five-year mission of exploration, Spock chose to return to his home planet. As a result of his occasional displays of emotion during his *Enterprise* missions, he decided to undergo the *kolinahr* ritual to purge himself of the last vestiges of emotion. (*Star Trek: The Motion Picture*)

### *V'ger* crisis edit | edit source

Two and half years after leaving Starfleet, Spock felt the arrival of a vast consciousness. He aborted his *kolinahr* training and resumed his Starfleet career both for personal reasons and to help Rear Admiral Kirk during the *V'ger* incident. Spock's return to Starfleet amazed former colleagues and others but his reputation remained excellent, with Commander Will Decker stating that he was "well-aware of Mr. Spock's qualifications" when Spock offered to again serve as science officer. Within three hours, he helped Scott repair the *Enterprise*'s malfunctioning warp drive.(*Star Trek: The Motion Picture*)

*This film was one of the few instances in which Spock was not second in command or a commanding officer for that matter. Since Decker had a temporary grade reduction from captain to executive officer, this left Spock to serve only as a science officer without the dual responsibility of a first officer.*

Spock's attitude towards his colleagues was far different from when he had served with them during the five-year mission. Wishing to rid himself of any personal attachments to Starfleet, he no longer considered any of the crew to be his friends and barely acknowledged them upon his return except where his duties demanded it. Feeling that the consciousness would answer for his quest, he broke into an airlock and stole a thruster suit. He exited the ship and proceeded to the next chamber of the mechanism, witnessing a planet populated by living machines. There, he attempted a mind meld and he realized *V'ger*'s quest. Knocked unconscious by the enormous power of *V'ger* during the meld, Spock was recovered in open space by Kirk. Later, he was in sickbay being treated for neurological trauma. He informed Kirk that *V'ger* was a life-form of its own, seeking answers to its questions; specifically "*Is this* all *that I am? Is there nothing more?*" Grasping Kirk's hand while lying on a biobed, Spock told Kirk that the simple feeling of touching another was something beyond *V'ger*'s comprehension.

Spock later accompanied Kirk, Decker, and McCoy to the heart of *V'ger*, guided by the Ilia probe. The group discovered *V'ger* was actually the 20th century NASA probe *Voyager 6*. Spock deduced that the old probe was found by the living machine inhabitants of a planet located on the other side of the galaxy and they built the mammoth vessel so it could fulfill *Voyager*'s simple programming, "*learn all that is learnable*." Spock told Kirk that *V'ger* had to evolve, as its knowledge had reached the limits of the known universe.

Spock informed McCoy and the others that other dimensions and higher levels of being could not be proven logically and *V'ger* was therefore incapable of believing in them, needing the Human quality to leap beyond logic. Decker chose to merge with *V'ger*, and Kirk, McCoy, and Spock escaped shortly thereafter when it and Decker evolved into another dimension. Afterwards, Spock chose to remain on the *Enterprise* rather than return to his homeworld, his experience with *V'ger* showing him that purging his emotions and operating on pure logic would not answer his questions but would simply create new ones. (*Star Trek: The Motion Picture*)

### Death and resurrection edit | edit source

Sometime after the *V'ger* incident, Spock was promoted to captain and assigned to Starfleet Academy where he trained cadets on the *Enterprise* which had been retired from active service.

In early 2285, Spock, while on a training mission, ceded command of the *Enterprise* to Kirk during a mission that involved keeping the Genesis Device from Khan Noonien Singh. When Kirk and the *Enterprise* defeated Khan, he armed the device. Spock repaired the *Enterprise*'s warp drive in a severely irradiated portion of engineering in order to save the crew. He saved the ship but sacrificed his own life in the process. Following his funeral service, Kirk gave Spock a "burial by sea" by firing Spock's body into space inside a torpedo casing. (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)

Spock's coffin landed on the surface of the Genesis Planet. The radiation emanating from the planet regenerated his cells. Spock was thus reborn as a child but quickly aged to adulthood. However, his mind was a complete blank. Kirk and the rest of the *Enterprise*'s senior staff disobeyed Starfleet orders so that they could retrieve Spock's body. On Vulcan, Spock's living body, now at the age of his death, was reunited with his *katra* which Spock himself had placed in McCoy prior to his death via mind meld. (*Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)

After his *katra* and body were re-integrated, Spock trained for three months with the help of his mother to bring his knowledge and intellect back to where it had been before he died. Answering many complicated questions at rapid fire during his memory test, he had difficulty answering the question "*How do you feel?*", something he felt was irrelevant, though his mother disagreed. Returning back to Earth aboard the HMS *Bounty* with his *Enterprise* crewmates to offer testimony in their defense to the Federation Council, Spock and the crew discovered that the planet was under siege by a mysterious alien probe which was causing critical damage to Earth's oceans. Analyzing the transmission the probe was producing, Spock concluded that the probe was transmitting the songs sung by whales, specifically humpback whales. Spock informed Kirk that the humpback whales had been extinct since the 21st century and suggested the crew travel back through time to acquire humpback whales. Spock's calculations from memory for the slingshot effect around Sol proved instrumental in the *Bounty*'s successful journey back to the year 1986.

Upon the landing of the cloaked Bird-of-Prey in Golden Gate Park, Spock teamed up with Kirk and together they set off in search of humpback whales. The pair discovered George and Gracie at the Cetacean Institute in Sausalito. Spock jumped into the whales' tank and mind melded with Gracie, discovering she was very pregnant. After traveling back to 2286 with the whales and cetacean biologist Gillian Taylor, Spock and the rest of the crew saved Earth once again by releasing George and Gracie into the San Francisco Bay from the sunken *Bounty*. The whales successfully communicated with the probe and it left Earth's solar system. After the dismissal of all charges to the crew of the *Enterprise*, save for Kirk, Spock spoke to his father and asked him to relay a message to his mother: That he felt fine. Spock went on to serve as a Starfleet officer for several more years aboard the new USS *Enterprise*-A. (*Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home*)

*In* Star Trek III: The Search For Spock*, Kirk honors Spock, after his death, in a toast with Kirk's senior staff in his apartment on Earth. "To absent friends" is the same toast Picard gives in Data's honor after his death in* Star Trek Nemesis*. This is a traditional naval toast.*

### The *Enterprise*-A edit | edit source

Prior to the launch of the new *Enterprise*, Spock was recruited to test the new brig as he was the most intelligent and resourceful person the designers could find. However, despite his ingenuity, he failed to escape. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*)

Spock joined Kirk and McCoy for shore leave at Yosemite National Park and observed Kirk climbing El Capitan with his levitation boots. He saved Kirk's life when he slipped and fell off of the mountain, grabbing his ankle just seconds before he was killed by the impact. Later, Spock told Kirk and McCoy that before leaving the *Enterprise*-A, he had studied all the details involving "camping out" and roasted a marshmallow over a fire. Spock's shore leave was interrupted when Commander Uhura brought the shuttlecraft *Galileo* to the trio's campsite to bring them to the *Enterprise* as the transporters were malfunctioning.

Upon the *Enterprise*'s mission to Nimbus III to resolve a hostage situation, Kirk retained Spock as his first officer. During the *Enterprise* strike team's rescue mission to Paradise City on Nimbus III, Spock discovered his long-lost half-brother Sybok had been the leader of the Galactic Army of Light, the group responsible for capturing the three diplomats. Sybok hijacked the *Enterprise* and ordered that it be brought through the Great Barrier. During the subsequent voyage in the shuttle *Copernicus* to the mythical Sha Ka Ree, Spock tried to console his brother when they could not initially find "God" on the surface.

Shortly thereafter, the landing party encountered the supernatural being when it presented itself to them. Learning of the malevolent nature of the being calling itself "God", Sybok sacrificed his life to save Spock and his friends. Spock and McCoy were beamed up to the *Enterprise* through the repaired transporter, leaving Kirk alone. The transporter was severely damaged when Klaa's Bird-of-Prey fired on the *Enterprise*. Spock saved Kirk's life from the entity by commandeering the Bird-of-Prey with the help of General Korrd and firing on it with the Klingon ship's weapons. Later, in the *Enterprise*-A's observation lounge, Spock reflected on the loss of his brother. Kirk told him that he had lost a brother once, but he was fortunate in that he got him back. Returning to Earth, Spock resumed his shore leave in Yosemite with Kirk and McCoy, this time playing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" on his Vulcan lute. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*)

In 2293, Spock was chosen to be the Federation's special envoy to the "Gorkon Initiative" as it was he who opened secret talks with Chancellor Gorkon following the Praxis disaster. Spock later committed Kirk to the negotiations with the Klingon Empire. During Kirk and McCoy's subsequent trial and imprisonment for the assassination of Gorkon, Spock took command of the *Enterprise* and the murder investigation. He led the rescue mission of Kirk and McCoy from Rura Penthe and helped stop an assassination attempt on the Federation President. Though this mission was successful, Spock blamed himself for endangering Kirk and the consequences that followed, a guilt that lasted seventy-five years. (*Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country*; TNG: "Unification II")

## Diplomatic career edit | edit source

In 2293, on the suggestion of his father, Spock opened a dialog with Gorkon in the hopes of initiating peace talks. He recommended an alliance between the Klingon Empire and the Federation at the Khitomer Conference, and Gorkon agreed to negotiate. His recommendation produced a major dispute because the Federation viewed Klingons as outlaws who built their empire through violence and brutality. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, an alliance was nevertheless forged, bringing peace and stability to the Alpha Quadrant that had not existed for two hundred years. Tuvok, who initially opposed the alliance, later noted that "*Spock's suggestion, so controversial at first, proved to be the cornerstone of peace*." (*Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country*; VOY: "Alliances")

Also during the Khitomer Conference, Spock opened up negotiations with Ambassador Pardek of Romulus in an attempt to unify Vulcan and the Romulan Star Empire. (TNG: "Unification I", "Unification II")

*Picard stated in the episode "Sarek" that, as a lieutenant, he had briefly met with Sarek at the wedding of the latter's son. Episode writer Ira Steven Behr recalled that caution was still in place during early* The Next Generation *about dealing with characters from* The Original Series*, thus it was only implied that the son in question was Spock. (*Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion *(2nd ed., p. 127)) In the novel* Vulcan's Heart*, it was the wedding of Spock and Saavik, in 2329, and Lt. Picard, not really knowing why he was there, spent most of it in the company of one of the few other Humans in attendance, Leonard McCoy.*

Spock and Sarek publicly disagreed over issues involving the Cardassians, leading to a rift in their relationship. (TNG: "Unification I")

In his later years, Spock went into semi-retirement, choosing to act as a Federation ambassador, much as his father had done. (TNG: "Unification I")

#### Reunification attempts edit | edit source

In 2368, Spock undertook a secret personal mission to Romulus, unauthorized by the Federation Council or Starfleet. As he knew it would be risky, he preferred not to involve others and wrapped up his affairs. He acted to facilitate Romulan-Vulcan reunification, avoiding contact with the rest of the Federation as he was reluctant to risk anyone's life but his own on such a mission after the near-fatal consequences to Kirk and McCoy in their involvement in the Khitomer conference. Captain Jean-Luc Picard met Spock on Romulus and informed him of his father's death. Before Picard's departure, the two mind-melded, allowing Spock to realize the depth of his father's feelings for him. (TNG: "Unification I", "Unification II")

In 3189, a recording of Spock made on stardate 45825 while on Romulus was retrieved from the personal files of Admiral Picard and viewed by Michael Burnham and Cleveland Booker. (DIS: "Unification III")

#### "Cowboy diplomacy" edit | edit source

In 2369, Spock was involved in an incident of "cowboy diplomacy" in which Deanna Troi was temporarily kidnapped to help with the defection of three Romulans, including Vice-Proconsul M'ret, to the Federation. He also had a message sent back to the Federation indirectly through the defector DeSeve. (TNG: "Face of the Enemy")

#### Rumors edit | edit source

When an unknown person was beamed on board the USS *Enterprise*-D in 2370, Ben told a few junior officers that he heard that this was Ambassador Spock. (TNG: "Lower Decks")

*In the novel* Star Trek: The Motion Picture*, it was mentioned in the footnote that James T. Kirk heard of rumors about an affair with Spock, something he denied: "*I was never aware of this *lovers* rumor, although I have been told that Spock encountered it several times. Apparently he had always dismissed it with his characteristic lifting of his right eyebrow which usually connoted some combination of surprise, disbelief, and/or annoyance. As for myself, although I have no moral or other objections to physical love in any of its many Earthly, alien, and mixed forms, I have always found my best gratification in that creature *woman*. Also, I would dislike being thought of as so foolish that I would select a love partner who came into sexual heat only once every seven years.*"*

In 2380, Ensign Beckett Mariner asked Ensign Brad Boimler if he knew who Spock was, to which Boimler answered, "I think I know who Spock is." (LD: "Second Contact")

#### The Red Matter incident edit | edit source

In 2387, Romulus faced destruction when its sun threatened to go into a massive supernova. After a synth attack on Mars destroyed the Federation fleet being assembled to evacuate Romulus, Spock formed a plan which involved injecting red matter into the star, thus creating an artificial black hole which would consume the star instead. Piloting the *Jellyfish*, an advanced spacecraft equipped with red matter, Spock proceeded to the star to carry out his mission. Before he could, the star went supernova and destroyed Romulus. With other worlds threatened with destruction, Spock continued his mission and successfully created a black hole which consumed the supernova. Before he could escape, however, the Romulan mining vessel *Narada*, commanded by Nero, intercepted him. Nero blamed Spock for Romulus' destruction and was bent on revenge. The black hole eventually pulled in the *Narada* and the *Jellyfish*. (*Star Trek*, PIC: "Remembrance")

*In the script of* Star Trek*, Spock was established as having seen "the beginning" of the supernova and its destructive effects. His mission to stop the supernova was a kamikaze run, as Spock did not plan on returning, and actually underwent "a ritual ceremony of a Vulcan Kamikaze pilot" (involving "tea, sipped inside the Ark") before leaving Vulcan. Also, Spock purposely created a second, smaller black hole that he deliberately used to escape by traveling back in time.* [5] *In the final version of the film, it is unclear if he saw the supernova prior to approaching it in the* Jellyfish*, Spock was beginning his return journey when Nero intercepted him, and he was accidentally pulled into the black hole, of which there was only one.*

## Legacy edit | edit source

By 2399, Spock would become known as "The Great Spock". (PIC: "The End is the Beginning")

His work towards reunification eventually led Romulans to settling on Vulcan and beginning to merge their society with the Vulcans, eventually renaming the planet to Ni'Var. (DIS: "Unification III")

## Involvement in the alternate reality edit | edit source

Spock emerged from the black hole in the year 2258 of the alternate reality. Since Nero had emerged twenty-five years earlier, Spock was immediately intercepted by the *Narada* upon his arrival. Both Spock and the *Jellyfish* were captured by Nero who had been waiting for him. Spock's life was spared by Nero, although Nero marooned him on Delta Vega where he could witness the destruction of Vulcan from the planet's surface. After Nero used some of the red matter from the *Jellyfish* to create a black hole in Vulcan's planetary core, Spock watched helplessly from Delta Vega as his homeworld was destroyed.

*As of 5 November 2007, the script of* Star Trek *did not include Spock witnessing the destruction of Vulcan.* [6]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

Shortly thereafter, Spock rescued a Starfleet officer from a hengrauggi, only to discover that the young officer was James T. Kirk himself, that reality's Spock having marooned him on the planet for mutiny. The elder Spock was surprised that Kirk was not captain of the *Enterprise*. When Spock heard from Kirk that Captain Christopher Pike had been captured, Spock knew that Nero was responsible, describing the Romulan as "particularly troubled." Through a mind meld, Spock explained to Kirk his presence in this time period and the reasons behind Nero's actions.

*An ultimately omitted line of dialogue from the script of* Star Trek *would have established that Spock, prior to scaring a hengrauggi away in the movie, was already familiar with that species of animal.* [7]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

He then walked with Kirk to the Starfleet Delta Vega outpost, where they met Montgomery Scott. Using Scott's equation for transwarp beaming (which Scott had not actually figured out yet), Spock was able to transport Kirk back to the *Enterprise* along with Scott. When asked why he would not come with them, Spock stated that his other self must not know of his existence, implying that it could cause some kind of temporal paradox. Knowing his younger self would never take the course of action that could stop Nero but that Kirk would, Spock instructed Kirk to use Regulation 619 to force his younger self to give up command to him by proving he was emotionally compromised. He informed Kirk he knew his younger counterpart was emotionally compromised due to the destruction of his homeworld. Kirk followed his advice and, by emotionally manipulating the alternate Spock, managed to take command of the *Enterprise*.

After the *Enterprise* defeated the *Narada* and Nero, the elder Spock returned to Earth. There, he met his less-than-surprised younger self (while Kirk had kept his word, his word was no match for even the intellect of the younger Spock, as he had figured out who Kirk's mysterious benefactor must be) and convinced him to remain in Starfleet. He also explained the reason he had not returned to the *Enterprise* with Kirk to explain things was that he had not wished to deprive Kirk and Spock of the chance of working together and developing the friendship they were destined to have. He then wished his younger self good luck and walked away.

*In ultimately omitted dialogue from the script of* Star Trek*, Spock additionally told his alternate reality counterpart that he and Kirk were, "*Opposing yet complimentary opposites,*" and went on to say, "*It was that balance between us – I should say you and Kirk – that often made the impossible, possible.*" His heart heavy, Spock admitted, however, that he was "in no position to judge," and that his own actions had "robbed" the younger Spock of much. Moments later, Spock Prime advised his younger self, "*The world you've inherited lives in the shadow of incalculable devastation... but there's no reason you must face it alone.*"* [8]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

Afterwards, Spock witnessed the official promotion of Kirk to captain of the USS *Enterprise*, repeating what he knew the crew would say before launch, apparently commiserating on his own experiences as a member of the crew of the *Enterprise*. He left with an intention to establish a Vulcan colony. His attempts to convince his younger self succeeded and the younger of the two Spocks returned to the *Enterprise* to act as Kirk's first officer. (*Star Trek*)

*Spock also planned to help start a new Vulcan Science Academy, due to the destruction of Vulcan and the elimination of the old version of that organization.* [9]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

A year later, Spock was living on New Vulcan, having made a solemn vow not to further interfere with history by keeping information about his experiences confidential. However, when the younger Spock contacted him for information regarding Khan Noonien Singh, the old Spock felt obligated to break his vow. He responded that Khan was the most dangerous adversary the *Enterprise* had faced, and that it had required a great sacrifice to stop him.

Ironically, the younger Kirk later made the same sacrifice Spock himself had made when facing Khan in the prime reality to save the crew of the *Enterprise*, though he was revived. (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*; *Star Trek Into Darkness*)

#### Final death edit | edit source

Spock passed away of natural causes on New Vulcan on January 2, 2263.

*Having been born in 2230 in his own timeline, Spock would be around 161 years old at the time of his death if the time travel in 2387 through the black hole was in very short time and it led him to the same month in 2258. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise"; TAS: "Yesteryear"). However, the obituary document published upon his passing reflected the paradoxical nature of his temporal journey by stating his lifespan as "2230-2263," as if he died at the same age of his younger alternate reality counterpart.*

After his death, a small cache of personal items Spock had managed to retrieve from the *Jellyfish* was turned over to the younger Spock, including a photograph of the prime reality's bridge crew of the *Enterprise*-A from around 2287, illustrating to the younger Spock that his destiny was to serve alongside Kirk, McCoy, and the others for decades to come. (*Star Trek Beyond*)

*In the script of* Star Trek*, Spock was to "appear to be 75 earth-years old" at the age of 157.* [10]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

*The death of Ambassador Spock was written into* Star Trek Beyond *in memory of the actor who played him, Leonard Nimoy, who had died shortly beforehand. Including Nimoy in the film was appreciated by Zachary Quinto, who portrayed the younger Spock and stated about the tribute, "*I think people will see where it's coming from, and it's coming from a place of love. I felt it was very important that we acknowledge it, and I think Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, who co-wrote the film together, did a beautiful job of finding a way to fold it in.*" (*Star Trek Magazine Movie Special 2016*, p. 32)*
*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

## Physiology edit | edit source

Although half Human, Spock's physiology retained most of its Vulcan characteristics such as the green blood, the placement of his liver, (TOS: "The Apple", "A Private Little War") his strength, (TOS: "The Naked Time", "This Side of Paradise", "Operation -- Annihilate!") telepathic abilities, (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind", "A Taste of Armageddon", "By Any Other Name") and his greater lifespan (TOS: "The Deadly Years"; TAS: "The Lorelei Signal"; TNG: "Unification II"; *Star Trek*) when compared to the average Human. However, it should also be noted that the life he lived was still about forty years shorter than the average Vulcan, who generally lived to be around two hundred years old. His father Sarek, for example, was 203 at his death. (*Star Trek Beyond*; ENT: "Broken Bow"; TNG: "Sarek"; TNG: "Unification II")

His Human characteristics were obvious when Sarek was in need of a blood transfusion and concern over donating his hybridized blood would be a danger to Sarek's full Vulcan physiology. (TOS: "Journey to Babel") The other instance where his Human side was evident happened during the final stages of his Kolinahr ritual acceptance. While on Vulcan performing the ritual, the *V'ger* probe approached proximity and its own emotional instability affected Spock's Human emotional side which he worked so hard to repress. (*Star Trek: The Motion Picture*) Spock's Human side was also present when spores affected him on Omicron Ceti III. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

Like most Vulcans, he experienced *pon farr* neurochemical imbalance at least every seven years until the symptoms were remedied through ritual mating or *kal-if-fee* (dueling). If not dealt with, a Vulcan could die within eight days of the first symptoms. Spock experienced *pon farr* at least twice, once performing the *kal-if-fee* with Kirk's assistance, once mating with Saavik while physiologically a youth as a result of his regeneration by the Genesis Device. Both successfully relieved his symptoms of *pon farr*'s neurochemical issues. (TOS: "Amok Time"; *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)

As of Vulcan rituals concerning death, Spock was able to transfer his *katra* into someone that was close to him – such as a family member – who could then transfer the *katra* into a large repository on Vulcan. In his case, he picked Dr. McCoy as a host for his *katra* when he decided to expose himself to fatal warp core radiation in order to restore warp power to the *Enterprise*. His corpse regenerated when his torpedo casing casket was shot towards the Genesis planet and was subjected to the Genesis cycles that rapidly evolved all life on the planet. (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*; *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)

*Spock was also written to die and be resurrected in the ultimately undeveloped TOS episode "Shol".*

After Spock received a mind meld from Captain Picard, he seemed to have accepted his Human side. He admitted to being emotionally compromised and showed some emotions when he dealt with Nero destroying Vulcan in the alternate timeline and dealing with his younger self. (TNG: "Unification II"; *Star Trek*)

On his Human side, Spock once implied he had an ancestral relationship to British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. (*Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country*)

## Personal interests edit | edit source

Spock carried a lifelong interest in art, literature, poetry, music (especially the Vulcan lute and the piano), and three-dimensional chess. (TOS: "Requiem for Methuselah", "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "Charlie X", "The Cloud Minders", "Court Martial"; TAS: "The Jihad", "The Magicks of Megas-Tu") He disliked Italian food, possibly because like most Vulcans, he was a vegetarian. (TOS: "All Our Yesterdays"; TAS: "The Slaver Weapon"; *Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home*)

## Relationships edit | edit source

### Friendships edit | edit source

#### James T. Kirk edit | edit source

Spock presumably first met Kirk when the latter succeeded Christopher Pike as captain of the *Enterprise* in 2265. After the death of Gary Mitchell, Spock's detached and logical analysis was relied on by Kirk as a supplement to his own intuitive and impulsive nature. Their official relationship deepened into a friendship of mutual respect and love that was, without a doubt, the most important relationship of both Spock and Kirk's life. As Edith Keeler observed of Spock's place in the world, "*You? At his side. As if you've always been there and always will.*" (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

Kirk once described his Vulcan friend as "the noblest half of myself" and declared that Spock's immortal soul "is my responsibility, as surely as if it were my very own." Kirk even told Spock's father that he would never realize how important Spock was to him, and declared that, despite losing the *Enterprise* and his son, had he not tried to rescue his friend, "*the cost would have been my soul.*" (*Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)

*Spock's first ever scene with Kirk, in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", was not included in that episode's first draft script. In ultimately unused dialogue from that scene in the final revised draft of the teleplay (dated 8 July 1965), Spock concluded a sentence for Kirk, who later predicted Spock might someday learn to enjoy his "bad blood."*

The polywater intoxication that affected the *Enterprise* crew in 2266 led to a difficult encounter between Spock and Kirk. When Spock was urgently required by his commanding officer, an anguished and reflective Spock was found by Kirk, Spock regretting his inability to express love even for his mother. Trying to bring the first officer around to the moment, Kirk slapped him. Spock's reaction was flat and revelatory, "*Jim, when I feel friendship for you, I'm ashamed.*" Struck again, Spock responded in kind, sending Kirk backwards over a table. (TOS: "The Naked Time")

Spock was sympathetic to Kirk's plight after the transporter divided the captain's personality into opposite aspects. He referred to his own halves, "submerged... constantly at war with each other." Spock believed that Kirk could survive such a contest intact, and urged him to embrace the part of himself that, seemingly ugly, was crucial to his personality and captaincy. (TOS: "The Enemy Within")

After Kirk discovered emotional rage was the key to nullifying the effect of the pod plants' spores, his first step in retrieving his crew was to taunt Spock into anger. Anticipating the result of a Vulcan's strength pitted against him, Kirk wielded a pipe for protection. After calling him an "elf with a hyperactive thyroid" and saying he belonged "in the circus, right next to the dog-faced boy," Spock indeed lost control, nearly killing Kirk before regaining control of himself. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

In 2267, Spock began his *pon farr* mating cycle, and behaved bizarrely aboard the *Enterprise*. Kirk called Spock "the best first officer in the Fleet" and "an enormous asset to me" as he pled with Spock to explain his actions. When told that taking Spock to Vulcan was against Starfleet orders, Kirk fired back, "*I owe him my life a dozen times over! Isn't that worth a career?*" Joining him on Vulcan for his marriage ceremony, Kirk was drawn into T'Pring's scheme to marry another, and forced to fight Spock to the death. McCoy, knowing Kirk was endangered, faked Kirk's death, and the marriage was not consummated. Spock, despondent that he had murdered his captain, was thrilled at the sight of Kirk alive, exclaiming, "*JIM!*" which McCoy delighted in needling Spock about, once he gained his composure. (TOS: "Amok Time")

Kirk's understanding of Spock had an enormous impact on the parallel mirror universe, visited after a transporter accident in 2267. As Kirk's party prepared to return to their proper universe, Kirk implored the mirror Spock to re-examine his role in the fascistic Terran Empire, insisting, "*One man can make a difference.*" Mirror Spock's consideration of those words led to his rise to dominance and reform of the Empire, with drastic consequences. (TOS: "Mirror, Mirror"; DS9: "Crossover")

When Kirk was trapped in spatial interphase during a rescue operation in Tholian space, Spock ordered the *Enterprise* to maintain its position in an effort to retrieve him, in spite of the danger the Tholians presented and the disruptive nature of the local space. After Kirk's assumed death, Spock and McCoy viewed the "last orders" Kirk had prepared. He urged Spock to use all the Vulcan disciplines at his disposal, tempered with intuitive insight. Kirk believed Spock had the latter qualities, but should they elude him, he was urged to seek out McCoy. (TOS: "The Tholian Web")

Kirk once commented to Captain Garth that he and Spock were "brothers". Spock merely responded, "*Captain Kirk speaks somewhat figuratively, and with undue emotion, but what he says is logical and I do, in fact, agree with it.*" (TOS: "Whom Gods Destroy")

When Dr. Janice Lester, a former lover of Kirk's, took over Kirk's body, Spock performed a mind meld on Kirk while he was trapped in Lester's body. Spock believed Kirk was Lester before anyone else, and when Lester as Kirk ordered his execution, he continued to stand by his friend. (TOS: "Turnabout Intruder")

At the end of the *Enterprise*'s five-year mission, a period marked by his frequent loss of emotional control, Spock chose to leave Starfleet and his friends, to pursue the *kolinahr* discipline of logic on Vulcan. His return to the *Enterprise* during the *V'ger* threat was a cold event, without acknowledgment of his past friendships. In *V'ger*'s aftermath, Spock finally achieved equilibrium, able to express his friendship for Kirk without the influence of aliens or illness, and notably lacking any threat of physical violence. In 2285, Spock was calmly able to tell Kirk, "*You're my superior officer. You are also my friend. I have been and always shall be yours.*" (*Star Trek: The Motion Picture*; *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)

Spock's sacrifice of his own life, to save the *Enterprise* from Khan's detonation of the Genesis Device, deeply affected Kirk. At his funeral, Kirk could only bring himself to say of Spock, "*Of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most... Human.*" (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)

The revelation that Spock's *katra*, his living spirit, survived in the tormented mind of McCoy, led Kirk to risk his career, and in turn, his crew's. He first asked Fleet Admiral Morrow for permission to retrieve Spock's body from the Genesis Planet, to bring it, and McCoy, to Vulcan. Kirk insisted that any chance to save Spock's soul was his responsibility, "*as surely as if it were my very own.*" His request declined, he told his crew, "*the word is No. I am therefore going anyway.*"

With the help of Uhura, Scott, Sulu, and Chekov, Kirk rescued McCoy from confinement and commandeered the *Enterprise* from Earth Spacedock. The renegade mission saw the death of Kirk's ship as well as his son. Finding Spock's body re-animated by Genesis, Kirk brought him and McCoy, to Vulcan for the *fal-tor-pan* (re-fusion) ritual. The first person Spock recognized was Kirk: "*Jim. Your name, is Jim.*" (*Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)

During their homecoming from Vulcan, and eventually their trip to 1986, Kirk tried to remind the resurrected Spock, suffering from memory loss, of their friendship and past adventures together. After Kirk and the crew's trial, Spock told his father, his "associates" were his friends. (*Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home*)

In 2287, Spock accompanied Kirk and McCoy on a camping trip together at Yosemite National Park, which abruptly ended when Spock's half-brother, Sybok, diverted the *Enterprise* to Nimbus III. After their adventure on Sha Ka Ree and Sybok's death, Kirk referred to Spock once again as his "brother", and told him and McCoy that they were his real family. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*)

When Spock later entered the alternate reality, he told the James T. Kirk of that reality of their deep friendship, despite the fact that the alternate Spock had marooned Kirk on Delta Vega. Before returning Kirk, along with Scott's counterpart, to the USS *Enterprise* (revealing to this Scott an advancement in transporter technology over a century before his prime counterpart perfected it), Spock – who in this reality had designed the *Kobayashi Maru* simulation and openly begrudged Kirk outsmarting it – was reminded that this could be viewed as "cheating", to which he replied that an "old friend" – namely, Kirk – had taught him how to cheat.

Later, when Spock Prime spoke to his own alternate reality counterpart about that universe's Kirk, he explained that he had resorted to a level of subterfuge in order to inform both men of the necessity of their friendship, both to themselves and to others. Spock Prime explained, "*I could not deprive you of the revelation of all that you could accomplish together, of a friendship that will define you both in ways you cannot yet realize.*" (*Star Trek*)

*According to the script for "The Wrath of Khan", after taking the* Kobayashi Maru *test for the third time, Spock said to Kirk that his solution would not have occurred to a Vulcan mentality. This would have implied that Spock had known Kirk since the late 2250s, and that Spock had attended Starfleet Academy. As it was, this information was not in the theatrical or director's cut of the film. In the film* Star Trek*, the alternate Spock programmed the scenario and leveled charges of cheating against Kirk.*

*Another scripted but never executed moment was when, in the first draft script of* Star Trek Generations*, Spock's role as an ambassador was discovered by Kirk, who learned it from Picard and replied, "*Spock's an Ambassador? What have things come to...? I can see I'm needed in your century.*"*

*In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the script of the aforementioned film* Star Trek*, Spock made reference to Kirk Prime upon reacting to the Kirk of the alternate reality clearly looking confused by a particular regulation. In reply, Spock said, "*Yes. I forget what little regard you had for such things.*"* [11]*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*
*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

#### Leonard McCoyedit | edit source

The relationship between Spock and Dr. Leonard McCoy seemed a little strained at times on McCoy's part because of his taunts about Spock's green blood and lack of emotion. However, there was an obvious respect and friendship among James T. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy. McCoy, in fact, was one of the two friends Spock requested to join him in his marriage ceremony. (TOS: "Amok Time")

While he would rarely do so without provocation, Spock was also quite capable of turning the tables on the doctor. During Kirk's court-martial, after an astonished McCoy discovered him in the briefing room playing chess against the ship's computer, Spock casually allowed him to assume the worst (to the point of thanking him after the furious doctor had said he was "*The most cold-blooded man I've ever known*"), waiting until he reached the door to reveal that he had been victorious in four consecutive games – since the computer, whose account of the incident was the main evidence against Kirk, was programmed to be unbeatable, this proved that it had been tampered with (something only Kirk, Spock, and the "dead" Commander Finney were authorized to do), and cast doubt on the credibility of its account, keeping the trial going long enough to discover that Finney was, in fact, alive.

Later that year, after the *Enterprise* crew had defeated the androids on planet Mudd (beings almost Vulcan-like in their lack of emotion and their "logical, pragmatic" thinking), McCoy told Spock that he must be quite unhappy to see that "poor, illogical" Humans were able to fairly defeat them, Spock responded that this was quite satisfactory, as *nobody* needed him and his logical ways as much as a ship full of Humans. (TOS: "Court Martial", "I, Mudd")

*In an ultimately unused line of dialogue from the final draft script of "Charlie X", Spock voiced a statement of approval about McCoy, saying, "*Occasionally the doctor does associate himself with a scientific fact.*"*

*In the first draft script of* Star Trek Generations*, Spock's first line of dialogue, while in a very small turbolift with McCoy as they traveled to the bridge of the USS* Enterprise*-B, was to tell him, "*I haven't felt this close to you in years.*"*
*…Of my friend, I can only say this… of all the souls I have encountered in my travels, his was the most… Human.*

#### Christopher Pike edit | edit source

Spock grew very fond of Pike even so far of risking court martial in 2267 to kidnap his disabled former captain and bring him to Talos IV to live a life of illusion and happiness. (TOS: "The Menagerie, Part I", "The Menagerie, Part II")

### Family edit | edit source

#### Sybok edit | edit source

Sybok, Spock's elder half-brother, encountered Spock on Nimbus III in 2287, shortly before Sybok hijacked the *Enterprise*-A for his quest to find Sha Ka Ree in the Great Barrier. Spock had remained silent on the subject of his brother for decades, not even telling Kirk until Sybok had already taken control of the *Enterprise*. At first, Spock was extremely distant from him, but following Sybok's death, he realized what he had lost. (*Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*)

#### Michael Burnham edit | edit source

Michael Burnham was Spock's adoptive sister after her parents' presumed deaths. When she first met him, a very young Spock shut his bedroom door on her after greeting her with a holographic drawing of a dragon screaming. Over time, Spock and Michael grew closer and Spock grew to idolize his older adoptive sister. However, feeling that she placed her adoptive family in danger from logical extremists who targeted her due to being Human, Michael decided to run away. Spock tried to persuade her otherwise, telling her that he "loved her" and would run away with her. To push Spock away, Michael insulted him by calling him a "half-breed" who was "incapable of love." While well meaning, her insults deeply hurt Spock who shunned his Human half in response and grew to no longer trust people. Over the years, Michael tried to make amends, but Spock showed no interest in reconnecting.

After they both grew up and entered Starfleet, they rarely talked to each other. Eventually Spock and Michael were forced to come to terms with each other after the Federation-Klingon War. Michael searched for a missing Spock after meeting his commanding officer, Captain Christopher Pike of the USS *Enterprise*. Eventually finding her brother, she was dismayed to find Spock suffering from a mental breakdown due to an encounter with a time traveler. She was able to help restore Spock's mind with the help of the Talosians, but this did not resolve the animosity between the siblings as they clashed several times with Spock blaming her for causing the Federation-Klingon war and calling her out on her habit of assuming responsibility for all the wrongs in the universe. Eventually, the two came to terms with their respective short-comings and eventually grow closer as they worked together to solve the mystery of the Red Angel.

When Burnham needed take *Discovery* to the future in order to avoid Control having access to the Sphere information stored in the ship's memory, Spock volunteered to help her. Unfortunately, while helping Burnham prepare, Spock's shuttle was badly damaged. Both distraught that they could not be together in the future, they shared a bittersweet farewell and Spock was transported away after one last "live long and prosper." (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

In the months following *Discovery*'s disappearance, Spock was unnerved that they had not received a signal to indicate that *Discovery* had arrived safely in the future. When the signal arrived, Spock found peace. (DIS: "Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2")

In 3189, Michael Burnham watched a recording of Spock. She told her boyfriend Cleveland Booker that since she had arrived in the 32nd century, she hadn't bothered researching history to find out the type of man that Spock eventually became. But she was proud of who he had became, and she was happy he had found a way to reunify the Vulcans and Romulans. (DIS: "Unification III")

### Romances edit | edit source

#### T'Pring edit | edit source

At age seven, Spock was bonded to T'Pring in a family-arranged Vulcan ceremony described in Human terms as "*less than a marriage, but more than a betrothal.*"

When Spock experienced his *pon farr* of 2267, he succumbed to the madness of the *plak tow* mating instinct. The *Enterprise* diverted to Vulcan in time to consummate the marriage. Accompanied by Kirk and McCoy, Spock arrived at his family's ancient *koon-ut-kal-if-fee* site for the wedding ceremony officiated by the matriarch T'Pau. Unexpectedly – but within the bounds of Vulcan tradition – T'Pring demanded the challenge of *kal-if-fee*, forcing Spock to earn the right to marry his bride through victory in personal combat. Rather than her prospective consort Stonn, T'Pring chose Kirk as her champion.

Unwilling to appear weak or disrespectful in front of the legendary T'Pau, Kirk agreed to fight his first officer. Between rounds using the *lirpa* and *ahn-woon* weapons, T'Pau belatedly revealed the combat was "to the death," and it became clear that Kirk had little chance against Spock in the throes of his blood fever. McCoy intervened, deceptively dosing Kirk with a drug that simulated his death.

Spock's *plak tow* subsided after his apparent victory. Appalled at the turn of events, Spock calmly questioned T'Pring's decisions. T'Pring admitted her distaste for Spock's growing fame among Vulcans, and her mutual attraction to Stonn. By her logic, choosing Kirk meant neither victor would claim her in the end, and she would have her life with Stonn. Spock acknowledged her way of thinking, referring to it as "flawless". T'Pring, for her part, was honored, but Spock advised Stonn that he would find that "*having... is not so pleasing a thing after all... as wanting*."

After returning to the *Enterprise*, McCoy revealed Kirk's clandestine survival. A rare show of extreme emotion came from Spock when he exclaimed "*JIM!*" with a beaming smile. (TOS: "Amok Time")

#### Christine Chapel edit | edit source

When the Psi 2000 intoxication infected the crew of the *Enterprise* in 2266, Nurse Christine Chapel admitted her love for Spock, who was thereupon emotionally shocked. Her love for him was an ongoing issue, but never interfered with her professional duties. (TOS: "The Naked Time")

Chapel once housed Spock's consciousness to keep him from being destroyed by Henoch. They were later forced by powerful telepaths to kiss each other, but neither enjoyed the forced situation. (TOS: "Return to Tomorrow", "Plato's Stepchildren")

While under the spell of Harry Mudd's love potion, Spock became infatuated with Chapel, and was willing to fight for her love. However, the potion eventually wore off and then Chapel, as a side effect of the drug, seemed to hate Spock for a brief time. Spock commented to Mudd that a few brief moments of love being paid for with several hours of hatred is scarcely a bargain. (TAS: "Mudd's Passion")

#### Leila Kalomi edit | edit source

On stardate 3417, Spock was infected by Omicron spores while on Omicron Ceti III by Leila Kalomi, who was serving as the Omicron colony's botanist. The spores broke down Spock's emotional control, and he confessed his love for Kalomi. Their time together was short-lived, however, as Kirk deduced a method of destroying the spores with intense emotion and induced anger in Spock.

Once free from the spores, Spock freed Kalomi and the rest of the planet from their influence. He later reflected that his time with Kalomi was the first time in his life at which he had felt happy. (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

#### Zarabeth edit | edit source

When visiting the planet Sarpeidon Spock got trapped in in the planet’ ice age in the past with Dr. McCoy. When there Spock began to act like the Vulcans of that time period and started to act emotional. There he fell madly in love with her. Eventually McCoy realized what was happening and they were eventually able to escape back to their time period without Zarabeth. (TOS: "All Our Yesterdays")

## Key dates edit | edit source

* 2230: Born in ShiKahr on Vulcan
* 2250–2254: Cadet at Starfleet Academy
* 2254: Assigned to the USS *Enterprise* under Captain Christopher Pike
* 2257:
	+ Takes a leave of absence from Starfleet following the Federation-Klingon War
	+ Assists the USS *Discovery* in solving the mystery of the Red Angel
* 2258: Returns to service aboard the *Enterprise*.
* 2265–2270: Serves as First officer and science officer aboard the *Enterprise* under Captain James T. Kirk.
	+ 2268: Is offered an assignment with Medusan Ambassador Kollos.
* 2270: Resigns from Starfleet and returns to Vulcan to undergo the Kolinahr ritual
* 2270s: Returns to Starfleet to help with the *V'ger* crisis
* 2285
	+ Dies on the USS *Enterprise*
	+ Transfers his Katra to Leonard McCoy
* 2286
	+ Is resurrected on the Genesis planet
	+ Transfers to the USS *Enterprise*-A
* Between 2293 and 2368
	+ Becomes a Federation ambassador
	+ Begins attempts to reunify the Romulan and Vulcan people
* 2387: Attempts to stop a star from destroying Romulus and ends up pulled into a black hole and transferred to an alternate reality.
* 2258 (alternate reality): leads the surviving members of the Vulcan people to start a new colony on New Vulcan
* 2263 (alternate reality): Dies on New Vulcan. The age must be around 161 if the time travel in 2387 through the black hole was in very short time and it led him to the same month in 2258.

## Memorable quotesedit | edit source

"*Is there a valuable question in your arsenal?*"

"*Yes. Do you actually think the beard is working?*"

- **Spock** and **Burnham** (DIS: "If Memory Serves")
"*History will not provide an answer to your query, doctor. Instead you should be asking me, 'How is it I can remember tomorrow?'"*

- **Spock**, to the psychiatrist (DIS: "If Memory Serves")
"*This will go easier if you answer me. Or it could go harder.*"

"*I beg to differ. Say goodbye, Spock.*"

(Spock raises his hand in the Vulcan salute) "*Goodbye, Spock.*"

- **Leland**, **Burnham**, and **Spock** (DIS: "If Memory Serves")
"*Greetings, captain.*"

"*Spock. Are you all right?*"

"*Much better for seeing you in person, sir. Even if we are riding into danger.*"

(Spock smiles)

"*Is that a smile I see on your face?"*

"*I believe it is. Yes.*"

"*Well, Welcome to* Discovery*.*"

- **Spock** and **Christopher Pike**'s reunion on *Discovery* (DIS: "If Memory Serves")
"*I don't suppose the Red Angel offered you any advice on how to handle a situation like this.*"

"*No. But my limited experience as a fugitive suggests only one course of action.*"

"*And what is that?*"

"*We run.*"

- **Christopher Pike** and **Spock**, on *Discovery* becoming "the most wanted ship in the galaxy" (DIS: "If Memory Serves")
"*I happen to have a Human thing called an adrenaline gland.*"

"*That does sound most inconvenient, however. Have you considered having it removed?*"

"*Very funny.*"

"*Try to cross brains with Spock, he'll cut you to pieces every time.*"

- **Bailey**, **Spock**, and **Sulu** (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")
"*I am endeavoring, ma'am, to construct a mnemonic circuit using stone knives and bearskins.*"

- **Spock**, to Edith Keeler, regarding his frustrations with early twentieth century technology (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")
"*I have never understood the female capacity to avoid a direct answer to any question.*" (TOS: "This Side of Paradise")

"*A curious creature. Its trilling seems to have a tranquilizing effect on the Human nervous system. Fortunately, of course, I am... immune... to... its... effect...*"

- **Spock**, while petting a tribble (TOS: "The Trouble with Tribbles")
(To Alice 27) "*I love you.*"

(To Alice 210) "*However, I* hate *you.*"

"*But I am identical in every way with Alice 27!*"

"*Exactly. That is exactly why I hate you; because you are identical.*"

*[The androids violently malfunction.]*

"*Fascinating.*"

- **Spock** and **Alice 210** (TOS: "I, Mudd")
"*Logic is a little, tweeting bird, chirping in a meadow. Logic is a wreath of pretty flowers that smell bad.*" (TOS: "I, Mudd")

"*Nowhere am I so desperately needed as among a shipload of illogical Humans.*" (TOS: "I, Mudd")

"*On my planet, 'to rest' is to rest, to cease using energy. To me, it is quite illogical to run up and down on green grass, using energy instead of saving it.*" (TOS: "Shore Leave")

"Enterprise *to signaler on planet's surface. Identify self.*" (Reads answer) "*'Hip, hip, hurrah...' and I believe it's pronounced 'Tally ho'.*" (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")

"*'Fascinating' is a word I use for the unexpected. In this case, I should think 'interesting' would suffice.*"

- **Spock**, regarding the puckish alien Trelane (TOS: "The Squire of Gothos")
"*I have been, and always shall be, your friend.*"

- **Spock**, stated to Kirk at least three times – as his dying words, his first fully conscious words (recalling the previous conversation) after rebirth, and, in the alternate reality, after recognizing the young Human he just saved from a hengrauggi as that universe's James T. Kirk (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*; *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*; *Star Trek*)
"*Jim. Your name is* Jim."

- **Spock** (*Star Trek III: The Search for Spock*)
"*If I were Human, I believe... my response would be 'Go to Hell.' If I were Human.*"

- **Spock**, giving his opinion on Starfleet's decision to retire the USS *Enterprise* and her crew (*Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country*)
"*Billions of lives lost, because of me, Jim... because .. I failed.*"

-**Spock**, blaming himself for the destruction of Romulus and Vulcan in a mind meld with Kirk (*Star Trek*)
"*Thrusters on full.*"

-A proud **Spock**, after watching Kirk being promoted to captain of the *Enterprise* (*Star Trek*)
"*Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new lifeforms and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before.*"

- **Spock** (*Star Trek*)
### Catchphrases edit | edit source

"*Fascinating.*" (*Star Trek: The Original Series*)

"*Live long and prosper.*" (*Star Trek: The Original Series*)

"*Interesting.*"

"*The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.*"

### Kirk and Spock edit | edit source

"*Have I ever mentioned you play a very irritating game of chess, Mr. Spock?*"

"*Irritating? Ah, yes: one of your Earth emotions.*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock** (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before")
"*Your illogical approach to chess does have its advantages on occasion, captain.*"

"*I prefer to call it 'inspired'.*"

"*As you wish.*"

- **Spock** and **Kirk** (TOS: "Charlie X")
"*You'd make a splendid computer, Mr. Spock.*"

"*That is very kind of you, captain!*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock** (TOS: "The Return of the Archons")
"*So, we're stranded here, in the middle of a Klingon occupation army.*"

"*So it would seem. Not a very pleasant prospect.*"

"*You have a gift for understatement, Mister Spock. It's not a very pleasant prospect at all.*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock** (TOS: "Errand of Mercy")
"*You didn't really think I was going to beat his head in, did you?*"

"*I thought you might.*"

"*You're right.*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock** (TOS: "Errand of Mercy")
"*Well, Mr. Spock, if we can't disguise you, we'll find some way of explaining you.*"

"*That should prove interesting.*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock** (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")
"*My friend is obviously Chinese. I see you've noticed the ears. They're actually easy to explain.*"

*[Long pause.]*

"*Perhaps the unfortunate accident I had as a child.*"

"*The 'unfortunate' accident he had as a child. He caught his head in a mechanical... rice picker.*"

- **Kirk** and **Spock**, attempting to explain Spock's appearance to a 20th century police officer (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")
"*Don't grieve, admiral. It's logical. The needs of the many... outweigh...*"

"*The needs of the few.*"

"*Or the one. I never took the* Kobayashi Maru *test, until now. What do you think of my solution?*"

-**Spock** and **Kirk**, as Spock is dying (*Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*)
"*You know, coming back in time, changing history... that's cheating.*"

"*A trick I learned from an old friend.*"

-**Kirk** and **Spock** (*Star Trek*)
## Awards and achievements edit | edit source

* Twice decorated with awards of valor by Starfleet Command (TOS: "Court Martial")
* Vulcanian Scientific Legion of Honor (TOS: "Court Martial")
* The Vulcan IDIC (TOS: "Is There in Truth No Beauty?")
* An A-7 computer expert classification (TOS: "The Ultimate Computer")
* Innovator of time travel methodologies: the warp drive cold start and the "slingshot" maneuver (TOS: "The Naked Time", "Tomorrow is Yesterday")
* Twice recommended for commendations by Captain Kirk. (TOS: "Space Seed", "The Immunity Syndrome")

*Spock wears a total of nine medals in 2269, not counting the IDIC medal he wore in "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" It is likely he accumulated a great many more decorations by the time of his eventual retirement in the late 2290s.*

## Appendicesedit | edit source

### Appearances edit | edit source

This list contains 28 items (show all)

* TOS: (every episode)
* TAS: (every episode)
* *Star Trek* films: (9)
* TNG: (2)
* DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations" (archive footage)
* DIS: (11)
* ST: (2)
* LD: (1)

### Additional references edit | edit source

This list contains 16 items (show all)

* DIS: (6)
* *Star Trek* films: (1)
* TNG: (3)
* VOY: (3)
* LD: (2)
* PIC: "The End is the Beginning"

### Background information edit | edit source

#### Performers edit | edit source

Spock was played by Leonard Nimoy in the vast majority of the character's television and cinematic appearances. The Genesis-regenerated versions of Spock at nine, thirteen, seventeen, and twenty-five years of age in *Star Trek III: The Search for Spock* were portrayed by Carl Steven, Vadia Potenza, Stephen Manley, and Joe W. Davis, respectively. Spock's screams in that film were provided by Frank Welker.

The young Spock from TAS: "Yesteryear" was voiced by Billy Simpson. Carey Scott recorded some dialogue for a younger Spock in *Star Trek V: The Final Frontier*, but his scenes were cut. Spock is also portrayed by an unknown infant in that film. And while Nimoy portrayed the elder Spock in the film *Star Trek*, his younger alternate reality adult self was played by Zachary Quinto (who reprised the role in *Star Trek Into Darkness* and *Star Trek Beyond*), as well as briefly by Jacob Kogan, who portrayed Spock as a young boy. Nimoy reprised the role of Spock for a cameo in *Star Trek Into Darkness*. Liam Hughes portrayed a young Spock in the Discovery episode "Brother" while Ethan Peck voiced the adult version of the character in the same episode. Peck also played the character in subsequent episodes of *Star Trek: Discovery* and *Star Trek: Short Treks*.

A deleted scene from *Star Trek* featured a newborn Spock, portrayed by Jenna Vaughn. As Spock's birth would have occurred before the universe split, technically, she would have been the only performer to portray both Spock Prime and his alternate reality counterpart, as well as the only *actress* ever to play Spock.

#### Name edit | edit source

Jane Wyatt, who played Spock's mother Amanda Grayson, was once asked by fans at a convention what Spock's first name was. She replied, perhaps jokingly, "*Harold*". [12] However, the question itself was flawed, since the episode "Journey to Babel" makes it clear that "Spock" is Spock's personal name.

On the other hand, Spock's family name has never been established in canon. In the episode "This Side of Paradise", Leila Kalomi says to Spock, "*You never told me if you had another name,*" to which he replies, "*You couldn't pronounce it.*" D.C. Fontana – who was considered the "Vulcan expert" of the TOS behind-the-scenes staff and who created such details as the fact that Spock's father was an ambassador and his mother a school teacher – revealed, in an issue of the fanzine *Spockanalia*, that she had intended his family name to be "Xtmprsqzntwlfd", but since this is unpronounceable, there wasn't really any way to get this said in dialogue during an episode.

The Pocket TOS book Ishmael gives Spock's full name as "S'chn T'gai Spock".

Since the release of the film *Star Trek*, the original reality version of Spock is now often referred to on websites and other media as "Spock Prime", to differentiate from the alternate reality version of the character.

#### From concept to series edit | edit source

From the start of thinking Spock up, Gene Roddenberry knew he wanted the character to be partly alien, and that he wanted Leonard Nimoy to play the role. Roddenberry later explained, "*I made [Spock] a half-caste, because I remember thinking a half-breed Indian would be a lot more interesting than a full-blooded Indian or white, because he's going to be tugged in many different directions.*" (*Star Trek - Where No One Has Gone Before*, p. 15)

Gene Roddenberry also wanted Spock's appearance to be very similar to typical portrayals of Satan the Devil. "*I did purposely give him a slight look of the 'devil' because I thought that might be particularly provocative to women, particularly when his nature contrasted so greatly to this,*" Roddenberry stated. [13]

The following character biography appeared in Roddenberry's original, 1964 series pitch *Star Trek is...* (and was reprinted in *The Making of Star Trek*):

"'*The First Lieutenant**.*** **The Captain's right-hand man, the working-level commander of all the ship's functions – ranging from manning the bridge to supervising the lowliest scrub detail. His name is Mr. Spock. And the first view of him can be almost frightening – a face so heavy-lidded and satanic you might almost expect him to have a forked tail. Probably half Martian, he has a slightly reddish complexion and semi-pointed ears. But strangely – Mr. Spock's quiet temperament is in dramatic contrast to his satanic look. Of all the crew aboard, he is the nearest to Captain April's equal, physically, emotionally, and as a commander of men. His primary weakness is an almost catlike curiosity over anything the slightest 'alien.**"
In the revised first draft script of "The Cage" (dated 6 October 1964), Spock was described thus; "*The only exception to the familiar types represented by the crew, Mister Spock is of partly alien extraction, his reddish skin, heavy-lidded eyes and slightly-pointed ears give him an almost satanic look. But in complete contrast is his unusual gentle manner and tone. He speaks with the almost British accent of one who has learned the language in textbooks.*" The episode's revised final draft script (dated 20 November 1964) excluded mention of the "reddish skin" but otherwise remained the same. Later in the script, one of Spock's statements was directed to be delivered in an "excited" manner.

Gene Roddenberry thought up the unemotional aspect of Spock. Roddenberry explained, "*As I created him, I said to myself, 'If I could just get rid of the emotions that plague me and work things out logically...* ah*, the things I could do!*" (*Cinefantastique*, Vol. 27, No. 11/12, p. 47) Casting Director Joseph D'Agosta added, "*On the Spock character, the only guidelines I had were that he had to be thin, and a good actor with no emotion. He was a cold, calculating, logical person. Humor was not even considered at that time.*" (*The Star Trek Interview Book*, p. 213)

Actor Martin Landau (Commander John Koenig of *Space: 1999*) was an early casting consideration for the character of Spock in TOS. This was before the role went to Leonard Nimoy.

In spite of studio request to get rid of "the guy with the ears," Gene Roddenberry insisted on keeping the character through both pilot episodes of the series. (*Leonard Nimoy: Star Trek Memories*; *Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime*)

According to Leonard Nimoy, he felt the need to play the character as more emotional when Jeffrey Hunter was playing the internalized Christopher Pike, as opposed to William Shatner's portrayal of Captain Kirk. (*Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime*; et al.) Also, there was room for Spock's emotional detachment when the similarly emotionless character of Number One was discarded along with Pike, after "The Cage". (*Star Trek - Where No One Has Gone Before*, p. 15)

NBC's early-1966 publicity booklet gave this bio for Spock (reprinted in *Inside Star Trek: The Real Story*):

"**Science Officer Spock** *has a precise, logical turn of mind inherited from his father (a native of the planet Vulcanis, who married an Earth woman). Because Vulcanians regard any display of emotion as a breach of good taste, Spock rarely betrays what he is thinking or feeling, either by his speech or his facial expression. He cannot, however, mask his cat-like curiosity about everything of alien origin. This sometimes proves to be his Achilles-heel.*"
The unemotional quality of Spock's persona was extremely appealing to Leonard Nimoy. "*What immediately intrigued me was that here was a character who had an internal conflict,*" Nimoy observed. "*This half-Human, half-Vulcan being, struggling to maintain a Vulcan attitude, a Vulcan philosophical posture and Vulcan logic, opposing what was fighting him internally, which was Human emotion. There was a dynamic there to work with from an acting point of view.*" (*Star Trek - Where No One Has Gone Before*, p. 15)

Gene Roddenberry recognized Spock as a team effort. "*I'll take credit for formulating Spock and guiding the character,*" he said, "*then give as much credit to Leonard Nimoy for making it work, and also credit to the writers who kept it going in many story situations.*" [14] On the other hand, Roddenberry proclaimed, in a letter to Isaac Asimov, "*It's easy to give good situations and good lines to Spock.*" Roddenberry also thought it was easier to write Spock than it was to write McCoy. [15] Nonetheless, the depiction of Spock was still to be further developed as the show began. Recalling the character's genesis, TNG Producer Robert Lewin noted, "*Spock was not the hero that he became during the early part of the first series.*" (*The Fifty-Year Mission: The Next 25 Years*, p. 71)

The series writers' guide (third revision, dated 17 April 1967) gave the following description of Spock (*Star Trek: The Original Series 365*):

"**MISTER SPOCK**": *Played by Leonard Nimoy, this is the ship's science officer, in charge of all scientific departments aboard. As such, he is the ship's number two ranking officer and holds the rank of commander.*
"*His bridge position is at the library-computer station, which links the bridge to the vessel's intricate 'brain', a highly sophisticated and advanced computer that interconnects all stations of the ship. From his central panel, Spock can tap resources of the entire computer system – including a vast micro-record library of man's history... plus all known information on other solar systems, Earth colonies, alien civilizations, a registry of all space vessels in existence, personnel information on any member of the USS* Enterprise*, or almost anything else needed in any of our stories...*
"*Mister Spock's mother was Human, his father a native of the planet Vulcan. This alien-Human combination results in Mister Spock's slightly alien features, with the yellowish complexion and satanic pointed ears... He has a strange Vulcan 'ESP' ability to merge his mind with another intelligence and read the thoughts there. He dislikes doing so since it deprives him of his proud stoic mannerisms and reveals too much of his inner self...*
"*We now realize that Spock is capable of feeling emotion, but he denies this at every opportunity. On his own planet, to show emotion is considered the grossest of sins. He makes every effort to hide what he considers the 'weakness' of his half-Human heredity.*"
#### Season 2 salary issue edit | edit source

In the spring of 1967, before production began on *Star Trek*'s second season, Leonard Nimoy and his agent got into an argument with the producers regarding the actor's salary (Nimoy felt it unfair that series star William Shatner was paid US$5,000 per episode, while he was only paid US$1,250). The agent wanted US$3000 per episode for his client, and would settle with US$2,500. However, a misunderstanding resulted in the agent believing that *Mission: Impossible* stars had at least US$11,000 salaries, so he suddenly demanded US$9,000 for Nimoy. The studio, of course, refused. Nimoy threatened to leave the series if the dispute was not solved.

In response to Nimoy's threats, Desilu executive Herb Solow asked Casting Director Joseph D'Agosta to compile a list of possible "Vulcan replacements", in case negotiations went unresolved. Three lists were made of actors who were deemed suitable for the role of Spock:

"A" List: Mark Lenard, William Smithers, Liam Sullivan, Lloyd Bochner, Joe Maross, Donald Harron, Edward Mulhare, James Mitchell, Michael Rennie, Peter Mark Richman, Charles Robinson, Chris Robinson, Stewart Moss, David Canary, John Anderson, David Carradine

"B" List: Anthony James, Perry Lopez, George Bachman, Alan Bergmann, Lee Kinsolving, Blaisdel Makee, Bill Fletcher, Henry Darrow, Anthony George, Curt Lowens, Jacques Denbeaux, Maxwell Reed

"C" List: Lawrence Montaigne, Ron Hayes, Patrick Horgan, Paul Mantee, Bruce Watson, Robert Yuro, Richard Evans, Joseph Ruskin, Ted Markland, Lee Bergere, John Rayner

In reality, these lists were only a psychological ploy to put pressure on Leonard Nimoy and his agent. The only two actors considered as possible replacements were Mark Lenard and Lawrence Montaigne (ironically, both of them appeared as Vulcans in the second season, Lenard playing Spock's father, Sarek).

Eventually, Desilu (at the insistence of NBC) and Nimoy settled with US$2,500 per episode, plus US$100 for additional expenses, a better billing, a better merchandising deal, and more script input. However, when Montaigne was cast as Stonn in "Amok Time", his contract had an option of recalling him to be cast as Spock, "just in case." (*Inside Star Trek: The Real Story*, pp. 317-324)

#### Animated depictionsedit | edit source

For approximately half an hour while *Star Trek: The Animated Series* was in early development, a boyhood version of Spock was considered for inclusion as a regular character in the upcoming series, along with other child equivalents of the series' main characters. (*The Art of Star Trek*, pp. 42 & 43)

While initially developing TAS: "Yesteryear", D.C. Fontana realized she wanted to feature Spock in the story, since he had always been her favorite main character and was the focus of her favorite episodes from the ones she had written for *Star Trek: The Original Series*, such as "This Side of Paradise" and "Journey to Babel". (*Star Trek - Where No One Has Gone Before*, p. 56) She was excited by the prospect of showing "part of what made Spock Spock," delving into his backstory in "Yesteryear". (*Captains' Logs: The Unauthorized Complete Trek Voyages*, p. 97)

#### Reappearancesedit | edit source

The notion of Spock suffering racial prejudice, alluded to in TAS: "Yesteryear" and the film *Star Trek*, was shared by the unmade prequel *Star Trek: The First Adventure*, in which Spock first met Kirk when he was defended by him from bullies at Starfleet Academy.

Gene Roddenberry once distributed a memo to the TNG writing staff which declared that, due to financial considerations, it would probably be impossible for Leonard Nimoy to ever guest star on that series as Spock (though Roddenberry also suggested Sarek appearing in a guest star role as an alternative). (*The Making of Yesterday's Enterprise*, p. 22)

In an interview with Trekmovie.com's Anthony Pascale in July 2007, Leonard Nimoy explained that he felt Spock had been superfluous in the script of *Star Trek Generations* and that that was why he had chosen not to appear in the film. Nimoy initially proclaimed, "*There was no Spock role in that script,*" then elaborated, "*There were five or six lines attributed to Spock [...] but it had nothing to do with Spock. They were not Spock-like in any way. I said to Rick Berman, 'You could distribute these lines to any one of the other characters and it wouldn't make any difference.' And that is exactly what he did. There was no Spock function in the script.*" [16]

In a memo he wrote Manny Coto (on 20 August 2004), Mike Sussman suggested that both an elderly Spock and a young version of the character be featured in a story covering an episode or two from the fourth season of *Star Trek: Enterprise*, if Leonard Nimoy was interested in appearing. As Sussman proposed, the older depiction of Spock would have been portrayed, in a framing story, by Nimoy, while the young Spock would have been played by another actor (a technique inspired by the portrayal of Indiana Jones in a two-parter from *The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles* called "Mystery of the Blues", which features not only a young version of Jones, but also a middle-aged Jones, played by Harrison Ford). In the same memo, Sussman envisioned Spock in the 24th century, as a "distinguished and retired Ambassador," being visited by a young Vulcan/Human hybrid who sought advice for balancing the two halves of his own personality. The elderly Spock then began recounting an adventure that took place in the early 23rd century, in which he, as a Starfleet cadet, assisted a middle-aged T'Pol, learning, in the process, "some lesson which helped him choose his own path in life." Sussman went on to suggest that a lot of new details about Spock could be divulged in the story, possibly including that, in his young adulthood, he had been torn between life as a diplomat (like his father) and a Starfleet career. The memo continued by proposing that Spock's mission include the now-aged other senior officers from *Enterprise* NX-01, and be "a secret and possibly illegal TBD mission." However, this Spock story ultimately wasn't developed. [17]

Roberto Orci, a co-writer of the film *Star Trek*, wrote the Spock character as being essential to that film's narrative without considering a back-up story, had Leonard Nimoy turned down appearing in the film. He recalled Nimoy raised an eyebrow at the idea of the destruction of Vulcan. [18] Commented J.J. Abrams, "*Leonard was a dream to work with. He was always incredibly encouraging and excited about what he was seeing. He had a couple of thoughts, but he loved everything related to his role [....] He was happy to see Spock look so damn good!*" (*Star Trek: Costumes: Five Decades of Fashion from the Final Frontier*, p. 240) Abrams also stated, "*It's a big deal for him to come back and play this part again. I don't think it's something he expected to do. Directing him as Spock for the first time was as surreal a moment as I've had. It was preposterous, but wonderful.*" (*Empire*, issue 234, p. 126)

After the making of the film *Star Trek*, Leonard Nimoy retired (again) from acting and publicly stated that he did not intend to return to the role of Spock again, as he felt that to do so would be unfair to Zachary Quinto. Nimoy even went as far as to say, "*I definitely will not be in* Star Trek 2," and, "*I think I can be definitive about the fact that I will not be in it.*" (*SFX*, issue #200, p. 68) However, it was eventually confirmed that he would indeed be returning to the role of Spock for the sequel, *Star Trek Into Darkness*. [19] [20] Regarding how J.J. Abrams invited him to make a cameo appearance in the film, Nimoy recalled, "*He just said, 'Would you come in for a couple of days and do me a favor.'*" Whereas Nimoy had declined to cameo in *Star Trek Generations* because he felt Spock's part in that movie had been too general, Nimoy was persuaded that Spock had such a specific role in *Star Trek Into Darkness* that he was willing to accept the part. Addressing why he had claimed not to be in the film, Nimoy, who was very pleased that the truth of his involvement was kept secret, initially said, "*I was asked time and time again if I was in the movie, and I managed to avoid answering without lying.*" He laughed, but was then reminded that he had flat-out denied being in the film and replied, "*Maybe I was confused. Of course, speaking, if you'll pardon me, logically, I wouldn't know if I was in the movie until I saw the movie.*" [21] His cameo marked Nimoy's final appearance as Spock and his final role overall prior to his death in February 2015.

In 2017, *Star Trek: Discovery* producer Akiva Goldsman said that Spock would not be seen on *Discovery*. [22] However, two years later, Spock did appear in *Discovery's second season*, played by Ethan Peck.

#### Other language voice actors edit | edit source

Herbert Weicker was a German stage and voice actor who is widely associated with Spock, since he voiced this character in all German translations of episodes and films with the exception of the first run of *Star Trek: The Animated Series*.

#### Reception edit | edit source

Spock became one of the most enduring symbols of *Star Trek*. Accounting for the character's popularity, Gene Roddenberry stated, "*I think that everyone was so smitten with Mr. Spock because he stood for loyalty and reliability.*" (*Cinefantastique*, Vol. 27, No. 11/12, p. 47)

The popularity of Spock was one factor that motivated Leonard Nimoy into demanding a salary increase for the second season of TOS. "*By this time, Leonard's popularity had convinced him of what he already knew: He had the most important role,*" Herb Solow observed. In a memo Gene Roddenberry sent Gene L. Coon (on 1 April 1967), Roddenberry mentioned Spock having generated "considerable mail volume and public adulation" during the first season. (*Inside Star Trek: The Real Story*, pp. 317 & 319) NBC likewise regarded Spock and Nimoy as the most popular part of the original *Star Trek* series, and believed that losing them would be very unflattering. The popularity of the character was thus influential in Leonard Nimoy's continuation in the part. (*Inside Star Trek: The Real Story*, p. 324)

Roberto Orci has cited Spock as his favorite character. [23]

Casting Leonard Nimoy as an elderly version of Spock in the film *Star Trek* gave irate fans pause, caused them to stand down, and even won them over. (*Empire*, issue 234, p. 126) However, William Shatner has been disapproving of how Spock is portrayed in that movie and its sequel, *Star Trek Into Darkness*, commenting, "*I thought the two Spock appearances were gratuitous. J.J. [Abrams] wanted to pay homage to Spock I guess, but he didn't offer anything to the plot [....] I told Leonard, 'You know that you're old when you go back in time and you're still old.'*" ("*Empire* Presents *50 Years of Star Trek*" supplement, p. 15)

#### Observations edit | edit source

Spock is referred to as a lieutenant commander in "Court Martial", though the final draft and revised final draft of that episode's script instead referred to him as a full commander (in the equivalent line of dialogue). The *Star Trek Chronology* listed Spock as having been promoted from lieutenant commander to full commander following "Court Martial". This was apparently the result of mishearing a captain's log entry that Kirk makes in "The Menagerie, Part I", where Spock is still identified as a lieutenant commander. He is also referred to as a lieutenant commander in "Tomorrow is Yesterday" and was first referred to as a commander in "Amok Time", indicating the promotion occurred between those two episodes. Somewhat oddly, even when he was a lieutenant commander during the first season, he still wore a full commander's stripes.

The events of *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan* and *Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country* show Spock having full command of the *Enterprise*, the latter having Spock outrank Kirk as he was in command of the entire mission. However, the events of "The Cage" and *Star Trek: The Motion Picture* show Spock having a lower rank than First Officer.

Spock's heritage was explored in a book about *Star Trek* science; it was determined that a Vulcan/Human hybrid is biologically impossible, as Vulcan blood was copper-based, while Human blood is iron-based – copper and iron are chemically incompatible. (citation needed • edit)

### Trivia edit | edit source

Spock was the inspiration for the Decepticon scientist, Shockwave, from the *"Transformers"* franchise. Comic book writer Bob Budiansky, who gave Shockwave his name and personality, described the character as "my attempt to take Spock from *Star Trek* and make him into a Decepticon." [24]

### Apocrypha edit | edit source

Barbara Hambly's novel *Ishmael* gives Spock's unpronounceable full name as "S'chn T'gai Spock," with "S'chn T'gai" apparently being the family name as opposed to the personal name.

According to Diane Duane's novel *Spock's World*, Spock was a descendant of Surak.

Spock briefly reactivated his Starfleet commission, with the rank of admiral, during the Dominion War, according to *Spectre*, a novel on whose writing William Shatner collaborated with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens.

In the novel *Crossover*, Spock and several unificationists were captured by the Romulan Empire. He was ultimately rescued by Montgomery Scott, Commander Riker, Data, and Geordi La Forge aboard the USS *Yorktown* that Scott stole from a Starfleet museum using the shuttle he was given by Picard to control the *Yorktown*'s computer. After believing Scott dead for 75 years, Spock was momentarily startled to see him behind the transporter controls, but quickly regained his control. Scott promised to explain how he reached the 24th century later to Spock.

In the novel *The Fire and the Rose*, Spock began to lose his emotional control after hearing of the death of Captain Kirk, and eventually returns to Gol to take *Kolinahr* training again. Spock ultimately succeeded and became truly emotionless, a situation that neither Sarek nor Amanda agreed he should have tried to do. Amanda in particular, felt Spock had rejected his Humanity and therefore in some measure, her by extension. Spock's lack of emotion also ultimately alienated McCoy when he came to ask Spock to stand with him at his wedding to Tonia Barrows and Spock refused. Ultimately, after Amanda's death in a shuttle accident and Spock seeing Sarek grieve for Amanda *(which surprised Spock as he mistakenly believed Sarek to have also been a student of* Kolinahr*)*, and when Spock realized that he can't grieve for Amanda and that he didn't even miss her, he sought McCoy out on Earth to help him engage in an ancient Vulcan ritual to reverse the *Kolinahr*, allowing Spock to feel emotions again. This accomplished, Spock rebuilt his relationship with McCoy, was able to grieve for his mother and Captain Kirk, and once again found the balance and peace between his Vulcan and Human halves, allowing him to have emotional control again without rejecting his emotions.

In the novel *Provenance of Shadows*, Spock, having been contacted by McCoy's wife Tonia Barrows, and told that McCoy was taking a turn for the worse, went to see McCoy because he had regretted that he didn't get to see either Kirk or his mother once more before their deaths, and he was not going to make that mistake this time. Spock did spend the day with McCoy and planned to return the next day, but as he left McCoy's house, Spock was left with the impression he would never see McCoy alive again. Spock's feelings are proved correct as McCoy does die peacefully in his chair on the porch that same evening before Spock can return, with Tonia by his side, reflecting on his life and the good work he's done and his family and friends.

In the novel *Vulcan's Forge*, Spock commanded the science ship *Intrepid II* in 2294, a year after Kirk was lost in the Nexus. Within the story, Uhura was Spock's first officer and McCoy his chief medical officer.

Other novels set after *Star Trek VI* established that Picard was at the wedding of Spock and Saavik met Sarek.

In the novel *Yesterday's Son*, Spock found out that he had a son with Zarabeth, whom she had named Zar.

In the game *Star Trek: Armada*, Ambassador Spock was sent aboard a *Galaxy*-class starship to mediate a treaty between the Klingon and Romulan empires on Romulus. The Borg intercepted this ship and assimilated him. The USS *Enterprise*-E traveled two days back to make sure he reached the peace conference. The plan succeeded, resulting in Romulan and Klingon ships being dispatched to assist the Federation in defending Earth.

In the comic series *Star Trek: Countdown*, leading up to *Star Trek*, Spock was aided in his attempts to help convince the Vulcans to provide the Romulans with the red matter necessary to stop the impending supernova explosion by Jean-Luc Picard, who was now Federation Ambassador to Vulcan, as well as by a restored Data, who was now captain of the *Enterprise*-E. Also, the comic established that Geordi La Forge had designed the *Jellyfish*, which Spock used to drop the red matter into the supernova. Just after the *Jellyfish* and the *Narada* were pulled through the black hole and into the alternate reality, the black hole finished collapsing and the *Enterprise* arrived in the area finding no indication anywhere that Spock managed to escape. Presuming Spock to be dead, Picard said that he hoped his friend's soul did indeed live long and prosper.

In the novelization of *Star Trek*, after Kirk told Spock that Dr. McCoy, Sulu, Chekov, and Uhura – all but one of the group of officers who had once been willing to throw away their careers to save him – were all serving on the USS *Enterprise* (taking McCoy's presence for granted when following the confirmation of the other three), Spock suggested to Kirk that their meeting, and the way the crew was already coming together, was the work of the timeline attempting to "fix" itself. As for the one person not yet aboard the ship, he had been well aware that Scotty was stationed at the outpost, which he had visited on occasion for supplies – though it wasn't clear whether they had actually met – but he had a made a point of keeping his distance. This self-imposed isolation was the only reason that he happened to be at the right place with a torch as the hengrauggi wrapped its tongue around Kirk's leg, which struck him as yet more evidence to support his theory – Kirk's arrival made it clear that the three had converged there for a reason, since he could give Scott the basics of his own invention, and therefore return Kirk to the *Enterprise*, with a way to take his rightful place in command (seeing that the young officer was obviously unaware of Regulation 619, he admitted to having forgotten how insignificant such things had been to the Kirk he knew so well), and hopefully be able to minimize the damage to the timeline.

In the comic series *Star Trek: Spock: Reflections*, the events leading up to *Countdown* were detailed.

Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto also lent their voices to *Star Trek Online*; Nimoy reprised his role as Spock and narrated key events to players, while Quinto voices a Mark VI Emergency Medical Holographic program who helps the player though the tutorial level.

The 2013 virtual collectible card battle game *Star Trek: Rivals* was using Nimoy's picture for card #103 "Ambassador Spock".

The *Star Trek: Ongoing* story arc *Legacy of Spock* focuses on his place in the alternate reality's new Vulcan settlement. Though initially blamed in part for the ultimate destruction of Vulcan, he is ultimately revered for his dedication to his people and receives a monument that is still standing 3,000 years later. Unlike the other monuments, which are massive, his is life-size, reportedly because he felt to make it any larger would not be "logical".

In the third issue of the *Doctor Who* crossover comic *Assimilation²*, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scott investigate a Federation archaeological team on the planet Aprilia III on stardate 3368.5, which had lost contact with Starfleet. Upon landing in the shuttlecraft *Galileo*, they are greeted by project manager Jefferson Whitmore, who assures them that all is well and gives them a tour of the facility, but Kirk finds the staff suspiciously calm, which Spock agrees with as by Human standards, the research team seemed remarkably placid and unemotional. The team later return to the facility after dark where they meet the Fourth Doctor, assuming he's a member of the research team and he helps them break the electronic lock with his sonic screwdriver and then offers Spock a jelly baby. Together, they infiltrated the facility. There, they find the researchers standing catatonically, with small cybernetic devices in their ears. It is discovered they were under the control of the Doctor's enemies, the Cybermen. A battle ensues and Spock and Scotty use their phasers on two Cybermen, while Kirk and the Doctor handle the Cyber-Controller. The Doctor then uses gold dust to clog up the Controller's respiration, allowing Spock to fire his phaser and destroying it. After the Cybermen are defeated and the Doctor slips quietly away, Spock assures Kirk there are no signs of anymore Cybermen on the planet, but Kirk arranges for a permanent garrison of Starfleet Security personnel to protect the researchers just in case.

In *Star Trek Cats*, Spock is depicted as an Oriental Shorthair cat.

In the *Star Trek: Picard* novel *The Last Best Hope*, Spock left Romulus in the early 2380s, believing there was nothing more he could achieve in the face of the predicted Supernova, but not without taking as many survivors as his small ship can carry with him. He was later contacted by now-Admiral Jean-Luc Picard when his journey brought him to an unplanned rendezvous with the USS *Verity*.