I was going to blog this week about a big hole in the ground in Wales – but got diverted by the sad loss of Leonard Nimoy – universally known as Mr Spock.
Spock was possibly my first great love – when I was about 11.
Leonard Nimoy and the Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry developed a wonderful character in Spock. With the news this week of Nimoy’s death, I started to wonder exactly what was it about Spock that was so very fascinating.
Spock was an alien – that in itself was interesting to a developing Sci Fi fan like my young self. But he was also mixed race – half Vulcan and half Human. That was inspired. The viewer was constantly looking for both the human and the alien in the character.
His Vulcan side was supposedly devoid of emotion, but in reality, Spock was not devoid of emotion – he had simply learned to control and hide it. Throughout the series his character was a battleground between his Human and Vulcan halves – between emotion and logic.
One of Spock’s most famous lines was – The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. But then, Kirk goes in search of Spock and brings him back – because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.
This was the dichotomy in a nutshell.
Of course, Spock was a handsome man made just that little bit strange by his pointed ears and raised eyebrows. But when taken by the Pon Farr (the Vulcan mating urge) – he becomes sexually driven to the point of danger and death. It occurs to me that this has been reflected in the passion for Vampire heroes (think Twilight and the Vampire Diaries). The danger inherent in falling for the hero adds to his appeal.
There were two other reasons I think Spock was a great character – and a hero. One of course was his amazing intellect. Very smart men are very sexy.
And the other was his moral code. Even if his idea of right and wrong was different to ours, he acted on what he believed – and that is the sort of honesty and morality that I like to see in a hero.
Jim Kirk was the Captain – but to me, Spock was the hero.
So – goodbye Leonard Nimoy – you gave me a character I still love.
Live long and prosper Mr Spock… I have been and always shall be your friend.
