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.
Comments
8 responses to “Much more than just pointy ears”
Loved this post, Janet. A wonderful character and a wonderful man who will live on in many, many memories.
Thanks Katy – I didn’t know it until now, but Nimoy wrote romantic poetry and he directed Three Men and A Baby. What would Spock have said?
Janet X
Yes, Spock was a heart-stopping character, made you feel all warm, affectionate and amused (which you knew he would not have shared) AND made you think (which he would). Lovely restrained performance from Nimoy which suited the character to perfection, too. Sad loss.
It was one of those magic moments Jenny – a beautifully written character placed in the hands of an actor who understood exactly how to play him. I still watch the original series reruns on TV. J X
He was something special, wasn’t he?
In a fit of nostalgia, I watched an old episode on YouTube. I hadn’t seen one since I was a kid. I’d forgotten how young and beautiful they all were! I guess seeing them get old with each successive film, made me forget what they actually looked like back in the day.
You’re right. Clever is sexy. So is the slightly unattainable man (who thinks he has no emotion, but feels things anyway). Spock, Avon (from Blakes’ Seven), Sherlock Holmes, Death from Discworld…
The unattainable thing is a big draw Rhoda. I think its because each of us wants to believe we are the one person who can break through those barriers. But I also think its a good think we can’t. Sometimes its not such a good thing to attain that dream 🙂 J X
I just loved the original Star Trek series, which for it’s time was quite subversive with a black comms woman, a Russian midshipman and a seemingly cold and unemotional first officer but it was Mr Spock played earnestly by Leonard Nimoy that gave the series some of it’s best plot lines and twists. So RIP Mr Spock.
It was groundbreaking stuff, Jean. When Kirk kissed Uhura, it was the first multiracial kiss on US TV – that in itself is something to be very proud of. J X