A genealogical possibility

[MAGolding]

in Star Trek VI: The Wrath of Khan Spock says:

SPOCK: An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

Sherlock Holmes is famous for saying that.

So Kirkusoveractus said:

Spock said Holmes was an ancestor of his, and Data was a fan. There's your link!

And Greg Cox quite reasonably pointed out:

Spock's line can be interpreted two ways. Was he quoting Holmes--or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle? You can take that line to mean that Spock claims Doyle as an ancestor, although that's admittedly not as fun.

And I replied:

Actually it can be interpreted many ways, since many actors portraying Sherlock Holmes have quoted that saying - different actors in the Star Trek universe than in our universe - and other writers may have quoted it in other works of fact and fiction, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have copied it from earlier writers.

See this thread:

https://www.trekbbs.com/threads/star-trek-is-part-of-mcu.293148/

And I just now thought of an actor who might have portrayed Sherlock Holmes in some entertainment tape or live stage play in the alternate universe of Star Trek: Kodos The Executioner or Anton Karidian.

Its a good thing that Arnold Moss was born in the same year as Jane Wyatt, making it unlikely that Kodos was secretly the father of Amanda Grayson by a first marriage. But perhaps they were related and had a common ancestor who was an actor who said those lines.

So what do you think of this genealogical possibility?

 

[Poltargyst]

It is said that the phrase "Revenge is a dish best served cold" has its origins from the Pashtuns who live in Afghanistan, and yet Khan tells us it is of Klingon origin. The same phrase can independently originate on Earth and on other planets. It is entirely possible that a Vulcan ancestor of Spock's also said "if you eliminate the impossible whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." I realize that's not as much fun as you were going for, but I'm comfortable with that.

 

[Albertese]

I'm fine with it being an actual Vulcan saying, and I'm also fine with Amanda being a descendant of Arthur Conan Doyle. I think that the idea of him referring to a line spoken by an actor or a fictional character* is a bit of a stretch.

--Alex

___________
*Fictional in both our real universe and in the Star Trek setting. We know from Data's interest in the works of Sir A. C. Doyle that Holmes is indeed still fictional in Trek.

 

[Commishsleer]

I'm assuming you mean TUC not TWOK.

Anyway its just Spock playing with us. Just as he knows all the human expressions and is playing with McCoy.
And when McCoy's no there in TUC Spock has to do something to amuse himself.

And the human crew in TUC act dumb enough to fall for it too.

 

[Butters]

The Vulcans have a saying, that only Nixon could go to China. The Klingons say can’t really appreciate Shakespear unless it’s in the original Klingon.

Beware romulans bearing gifts. For a while I thought McCoy was romulan because that line in TWOK.

Truth is, Trek characters spout a load of old cobblers. Best not pay too much attention I find.

 

[TrickyDickie]

The Vulcans have a saying, that only Nixon could go to China.

And only Spock could mind-meld with him, although there be consequences.

I believe that the Trek novel 'Ishmael' had it that one of Amanda Grayson's ancestors was Benjamin Spock, the pediatrician.

People in the late 60s and early 70s who were unfamiliar with Trek and Nimoy's character were constantly calling him 'Dr Spock' and I think the author of that Pocket Books novel decided to do something with it.

 

[Phaser Two]

And only Spock could mind-meld with him, although there be consequences.

I believe that the Trek novel 'Ishmael' had it that one of Amanda Grayson's ancestors was Benjamin Spock, the pediatrician.

People in the late 60s and early 70s who were unfamiliar with Trek and Nimoy's character were constantly calling him 'Dr Spock' and I think the author of that Pocket Books novel decided to do something with it.

Yes! I remember tons of Dr. Spock references to TOS. I also seem to recall that the real-life Dr. Spock was very good-humored about it.

 

[johnnybear]

When I was a kid back in the sixties virtually everyone (especially the adults who didn't really watch Trek) called Spock, Doctor Spock! It took a few quiz shows and interviews with the actors from the show to put that right!
JB

 

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[BillJ]

I always figured he was referring to Doyle.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Anyway its just Spock playing with us. Just as he knows all the human expressions and is playing with McCoy.
And when McCoy's no there in TUC Spock has to do something to amuse himself.

Because what better time to amuse yourself than when your two best friends and your commanding officer are captured by enemy forces, their lives are in jeopardy, and galactic peace is at stake? Time to break out the jokes!!!

 

[Shawnster]

Because what better time to amuse yourself than when your two best friends and your commanding officer are captured by enemy forces, their lives are in jeopardy, and galactic peace is at stake? Time to break out the jokes!!!

Humor. It's a difficult concept.