Do Spock & Saavik have any children?

When I interviewed Paul Winfield, who was making a movie Down Under after filming ST II, but before its theatrical release, we asked him about the rapport we could expect between Saavik and various regular characters and he indicated that the film would show a hint of romantic attraction between Saavik and Kirk, then elaborated that it was inverse to how the actors felt about each other.

My friends and I were puzzled and intrigued, especially when the film came out and there wasn't much evidence of an onscreen attraction. (And what did that mean for Winfield's comment about the actors? Especially when a set of licensed playing cards came out, with set pics of Saavik and David hugging.) When we finally got to see an off-air taping of the ABC TV broadcast of ST II, sent by a US-based penpal, the new version of the Kirk/Saavik elevator scene was much appreciated!

It was also interesting that Saavik ended up being recast for ST III (and essentially reconceived as a full Vulcan by Director Nimoy). Paramount offered Kirstie Alley less money than she made on ST II, her agent counter-offered, expecting a haggling match, as per usual - and Paramount never responded. Contractually, the studio had made the offer and was now free to recast.

Not quite. Peter David made a suggestion that Janice Rand had left the Enterprise pregnant, and had had a daughter, Annie, who died at age two. Readers were left to consider if the child was Kirk's, who had since been "killed off" in "Generations".

"Your condition" was dropped into the (cut) dialogue as a little plot hook that could have been later picked up if the writers decided they needed it.

The main reason for removing Saavik from the main action of ST IV, according to Nimoy and Bennett, was that hiding one Vulcan's ears and eyebrows was tricky yet humorous. A second Vulcan in 20th century San Francisco was unnecessary.

When online Newsgroup rumours were running thick and fast during the making of ST VI, and it was revealed that Kim Cattrall had steadfastly refused to play a third incarnation of Saavik, there was supposedly a brief consideration that the new Vulcan character, Valeris (or Eris, or Val'eris), might have been the child of Saavik and Spock, who had hyperaged to adulthood due to the same Genesis effect that had hyperaged Spock in ST III. (I've never seen this rumour reported elsewhere, but I well remember it from the newsgroup printouts of the day. Whether it was fan speculation or an actual leaked conversation from the production, who knows.)

The "Vulcan's Noun" books handled the issue very well. Spock and Saavik had both lived career-oriented, partnerless lives for decades and, realizing that as long-lived Vulcans they probably had decades of the same ahead of them. They had not been in a mentor/student relationship in a loooong time. They came together as a couple for companionship, and out of mutual respect. Quite logically.

 

Actually, Nick Meyer pursued Kirstie Alley for ST VI. He didn't care for Robin Curtis's portrayal in ST III and ST IV and never approached her agent, which saddened Robin Curtis when she eventiually learned that her character had been in the ST VI script.

"Cinefantastique" had nasty, spoilery captions. Damn them! I'd chosen not to read the "making of" article, but only the captions - which must have been added at the last minute, after the journalists had viewed the movie.

No way was Nick Meyer going to listen to Roddenberry's suggestion, and he's reiterated that before. He only changed the character because Kim Cattrall didn't want to be the third actress in the role, and she'd been his personal first choice for Saavik in ST II.

Totally agree. I'd have hated it, but would have loved the bravery/surprise of the choice.

I knew Valeris was the traitor. It felt telegraphed all the way through the movie - but I'm not good at whodunnits so, if I hadn't been spoiled by "Cinefantastique", I would have been caught on the hop!

 

Vulcans need only see logic in a situation. Remember the DS9 episode, "Field of Fire", in which a Vulcan sniper was killing people?

The emotional shock of a nasty experience during the Dominion War drove a Vulcan Starfleet officer to target any fellow officer showing happiness. While being questioned, Chu'lak attempted to justify his actions by saying "Because logic demanded it."

 

Numerous print interviews ("Starlog", etc). Roddenberry had suggested not using Saavik because the character was "beloved by fans" and Meyer countered that Roddenberry hadn't wanted Saavik - a Meyer addition - in ST II in the first place.

I believe it may also be on the director's commentary on the DVD.

There was a quite recent online interview where Meyer regrets treating the ailing Roddenberry so poorly during the making of ST VI.

Yes, but had Kim Cattrall agreed to play Saavik, the character name change wouldn't have happened. Contractually, as Creative Consultant, GR had to be given the opportunity to write memos on every draft script - and he did - but no one had to listen to him.

He was incredibly ill at the time. Wheelchair bound from several strokes. He died not long after viewing the ST VI work print. Shatner's book has him racing back to his home office and making angry phone calls, but in reality he went straight to hospital and never returned. Ernie Over, Gene's carer, told me his only comment on ST VI was something like: "The fans will probably love it."