Why, Spock, Why?

[Spock's Barber]

Several writers and/or commentators have questioned some of the peculiar actions of Spock during the 3rd season. Some have blamed it on having his skull noodles removed in the season opener, 'Spock's Brain'. Whatever the case, which Spock activity struck you as being somewhat illogical or un-Vulcanly?

In 'Mark of Gideon' I thought that his choice NOT to neck pinch both of the 2 Gideon tough guys at the same time was a minor lapse in judgement.

 

[Nyotarules]

Turning into a barbarian on Sarpeidon, if McCoy can stay like a 23rd century human and not retort to a grunting Neanderthal, why did Spock turn into a prehistoric Vulcan who loved meat, smiled and called McCoy out on his bigotry?

 

[Hippocrates Noah]

Turning into a barbarian on Sarpeidon, if McCoy can stay like a 23rd century human and not retort to a grunting Neanderthal, why did Spock turn into a prehistoric Vulcan who loved meat, smiled and called McCoy out on his bigotry?

I wondered about that too, but I chalked it up to some sort of Vulcan telepathic mumbo jumbo.

 

[exocomp]

Turning into a barbarian on Sarpeidon, if McCoy can stay like a 23rd century human and not retort to a grunting Neanderthal, why did Spock turn into a prehistoric Vulcan who loved meat, smiled and called McCoy out on his bigotry?

Five thousand years is too short a time regarding to evolution at any rate for any significant change to take place. I think it's one of the many cases when the alien member of the crew reacts differently from the rest to some phenomenon. We see that in Ent Singularity for example where the whole crew (including the Denobulan) become lunatics but the Vulcan apparently remain unaffected.

 

[Hippocrates Noah]

Five thousand years is too short a time regarding to evolution at any rate for any significant change to take place. I think it's one of the many cases when the alien member of the crew reacts differently from the rest to some phenomenon. We see that in Ent Singularity for example where the whole crew (including the Denobulan) become lunatics but the Vulcan apparently remain unaffected.

I may be wrong, but I didn't think the Vulcans changing from their warlike ancestors into what we came to know was due to evolution, I thought it was more of an intentional change in philosophy. Surak, the Time Of Awakening, and all of that. They just made a decision to control their emotions with logic and suppress their emotions, to keep from destroying themselves, as opposed to any evolutionary change.

I would imagine it's similar with humans. Or maybe not. But I never took the humans of the 23rd or 24th centuries to be that much different from us physically, just they had more "evolved sensibilities". First Contact had been their awakening. Though I don't know, perhaps somewhere they may have said that there were biological changes in that time, but I always took it more as a philosophical evolution.

 

[KeepOnTrekking]

Oh, there are a plenty of those moments in the 3rd season besides "All Our Yesterdays.". Surely, Spock could have asked some personal bit of information that wasn't public record that would IMMEDIATELY tell him which Kirk was which in "Whom Gods Destroy" and that Kirk was trapped inside Dr. Lester's body in "Turnabout Intruder."

Why is Spock talking about pon farr with Droxine, a stranger, in "Cloud Minders" but was so reluctant to do so with Kirk in "Amok Time?"

Why didn't Spock leave a rescue party behind on the planet in "Paradise Syndrome" to discretely look for Kirk while the Enterprise left earlier than what they did to go divert the asteroid?

Was Kollos so dominant in the mind fusion that Spock didn't have the common sense to put his visor back on during the 2nd mind meld?

Why was Spock so stupid to not recognize the 2 different set of transporter coordinates a LOT sooner than he did in "Mark of Gideon"?

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

Why is Spock talking about pon farr with Droxine, a stranger, in "Cloud Minders" but was so reluctant to do so with Kirk in "Amok Time?"

Up to the period of "Amok Time," Spock never shared that information with a non-Vulcan. Once he crossed that great personal barrier, he was more open with himself as well as others. Clearly, he was fascinated with Droxine, so when she--clearly knowing something of Vulcan life--expressed interest, Spock then felt free to talk about it. That was character growth.

 

[johnnybear]

Wouldn't know about that, I preferred Vana myself!
JB

 

[UnknownSample]

Droxine was making such a pest of herself, needing justifications for Spock not falling for her, that Spock volunteered that about pon farr, not knowing what else to do. That's what I decided a few days ago when I got a chance to reappraise late season 3 on BBC America.... I think it happens between the times we cut back to their conversation from another scene.

Everyone screwed up on those transporter coordinates for Gideon...

I apply your question to the movies. Nimoy admits Spock lost his smarts in those, Spock mark 2 that is. That's the main thing thje movies lack, a smart Spock commenting insightfully on everything. He seems drugged. In season 3 I don't see the problem, though.

 

[UnknownSample]

Never noticed.

 

[Trekfan12]

Droxine was making such a pest of herself, needing justifications for Spock not falling for her, that Spock volunteered that about pon farr, not knowing what else to do. That's what I decided a few days ago when I got a chance to reappraise late season 3 on BBC America.... I think it happens between the times we cut back to their conversation from another scene.

Everyone screwed up on those transporter coordinates for Gideon...

I apply your question to the movies. Nimoy admits Spock lost his smarts in those, Spock mark 2 that is. That's the main thing thje movies lack, a smart Spock commenting insightfully on everything. He seems drugged. In season 3 I don't see the problem, though.

you are referring that Spock lost his intelligence in the movies? Where?

 

[Gojira]

Turning into a barbarian on Sarpeidon, if McCoy can stay like a 23rd century human and not retort to a grunting Neanderthal, why did Spock turn into a prehistoric Vulcan who loved meat, smiled and called McCoy out on his bigotry?

Even though i love that episode it makes no sense! No reason for Spock to return to a more primitive state just because of time travel.

 

[Hippocrates Noah]

you are referring that Spock lost his intelligence in the movies? Where?

I wouldn't say that Spock lost his smarts, but he is pretty out of it and not all there in the head during TVH. For good reason, it fit the story. Socially he was a bit of an idiot but his scientific knowledge was intact it seemed. And there are a few moments in TFF where he's kind of goofy, but that can be said for a lot of the characters. Chekov and Sulu getting lost, Scotty knocking himself out, etc. He seemed fine in TUC though, same old Spock. Though maybe he was a little naive to volunteer Kirk for the mission.

 

[ihno]

I have recently watched "all our yesterdays" and I was wondering too. But five thousands years ago humans were already building pyramids. Long after Gilgamesh. So there was no reason for McCoy to grunt (at least not genetically).

 

[UnknownSample]

you are referring that Spock lost his intelligence in the movies? Where?

Well, where are all the thought provoking ideas and criticisms we got in the series? Scientific background information? "Don't cross brains with Spock, he'll cut you to ribbons every time!"-- Sulu. Was he at all like that in the movies? No. They weren't intelligent movies, they were sloppily sentimental cast reunions, and popcorn movies.

He was especially out of it in ST 4 and 5, but basically in neutral in all the films.

 

[The Old Mixer]

In 'Mark of Gideon' I thought that his choice NOT to neck pinch both of the 2 Gideon tough guys at the same time was a minor lapse in judgement.

Have we ever seen a double-neck pinch?

 

[Spock's Barber]

Have we ever seen a double-neck pinch?

Yes. 'Whom Gods Destroy'.....Spock double-reverse-neck pinches both the Andorian and Tellerite.

 

[Trekfan12]

Yes. 'Whom Gods Destroy'.....Spock double-reverse-neck pinches both the Andorian and Tellerite.

I loved how he did it too