Must a Vulcan MC "lose control"?

[Ragitsu]

Good morning.

In any theoretical Star Trek series which features a Vulcan as a main character (e.g., TOS, VOY and ENT), should there be at least one episode where the Vulcan in question is unable to maintain the race's normal emotional suppression, be it due to the Pon Farr, a mind meld gone awry, an unusual alien attack disrupting mental balance, et cetera? Is this necessary?

 

[BillJ]

Vulcans have emotions, so I would think that they would occasionally have emotional outbursts.

 

[The Wormhole]

Is this necessary?

It give the actor the opportunity to do something other than be stoic all the time. Indeed, you'll note in other shows which have a stoic main character in their cast there will be frequent attempts over the course of the series to have them shed that stoic persona for an episode here and there. That's just how television works.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

It give the actor the opportunity to do something other than be stoic all the time. Indeed, you'll note in other shows which have a stoic main character in their cast there will be frequent attempts over the course of the series to have them shed that stoic persona for an episode here and there. That's just how television works.

And drama in general. Vulcans can be prone to errors and ill actions. They're not Steven Seagal or Walker: Texas Perfect Bore.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

In any theoretical Star Trek series which features a Vulcan as a main character (e.g., TOS, VOY and ENT), should there be at least one episode where the Vulcan in question is unable to maintain the race's normal emotional suppression, be it due to the Pon Farr, a mind meld gone awry, an unusual alien attack disrupting mental balance, et cetera? Is this necessary?

The Writers of STRANGE NEW WORLDS: HELL YES it's necessary. We'd do it every episode if we could.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

I hope they can find new interesting ways of doing it. So far, we have:

* Must mate (Amok Time, Blood Fever)
* Must kill (Field of Fire)
* Must assert my superiority (Take Me Out To The Holosuite)

 

[Ragitsu]

The Writers of STRANGE NEW WORLDS: HELL YES it's necessary. We'd do it every episode if we could.

They must have it out for stoicism.

Vulcans have emotions, so I would think that they would occasionally have emotional outbursts.

I do not mind masterful (tactical) use of sarcasm; after all, what is a Vulcan without a bit of an attitude? What I spoke of was more along the lines of stark and unbridled emotion ->

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[fireproof78]

? Is this necessary?

No, it is not. It can be utilize, like any dramatic tool. Take a look at Brooklyn 99 and how they utilize Captain Holt. His often stoic demeanor is used as an offset of the more emotional other characters, but still subjected to while, interests and preferences.

 

[BillJ]

The Writers of STRANGE NEW WORLDS: HELL YES it's necessary. We'd do it every episode if we could.

It is weird, I thought Ethan Peck was a great Spock on Discovery but have been very disappointed in the writing and performance in SNW.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

They must have it out for stoicism.

I really wish the SNW writers realized that having Spock lose his stoicism so often on the show means that him acting emotional is no longer shocking in the least. And even if it's only happening once a season, a 10 episode season vs. a 26 episode season means that cumulatively, Spock acting emotionally is happening more often.

They made a similar mistake on the Kelvin movies. Zachary Quinto's Spock lost his temper about once a movie, as I recall. By the end of three movies, it's no longer "OMG, Spock is losing his temper!!!", it's that Spock has become that hothead who loses his temper a lot.

 

[FredH]

It’s by no means necessary, but it’s likely to happen because the writers will almost inevitably choose to go there. I’d be perfectly fine with a Vulcan protagonist who remained unflappable throughout.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

To be fair, young Spock Prime didn't experience the loss of his people and homeworld. The Intrepid was traumatizing enough.

If the Vulcan loses it, things must be bad/wrong. The ship has a stoic as a status barometer.

 

[F. King Daniel]

Good morning.

In any theoretical Star Trek series which features a Vulcan as a main character (e.g., TOS, VOY and ENT), should there be at least one episode where the Vulcan in question is unable to maintain the race's normal emotional suppression, be it due to the Pon Farr, a mind meld gone awry, an unusual alien attack disrupting mental balance, et cetera? Is this necessary?

They'd be dull as hell otherwise, so yes. Spock in TOS was the first, and the pattern was set.

I just see it as Vulcans being a really dysfunctional society.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

If the Vulcan loses it, things must be bad/wrong. The ship has a stoic as a status barometer.

If Spock loses his temper all the time, it's no longer the exception. It's the rule.

 

[fireproof78]

They made a similar mistake on the Kelvin movies. Zachary Quinto's Spock lost his temper about once a movie, as I recall. By the end of three movies, it's no longer "OMG, Spock is losing his temper!!!", it's that Spock has become that hothead who loses his temper a lot.

I can't imagine why? He just lost his mom and whole planet and had a wish to die at times. It's crazy what might happen to people to cause them to lose their stuff.

Spock has always been a hothead. He regulates it well.

 

[Set Harth]

He doesn't do it in Beyond. In the other cases one is provocation by Kirk after his mother's death and the other is due to Kirk's death.

 

[fireproof78]

He doesn't do it in Beyond. In the other cases one is provocation by Kirk after his mother's death and the other is due to Kirk's death.

Yes, context is for kings in this case.

We see the same in TOS too, though more maturity at times.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Good morning.

In any theoretical Star Trek series which features a Vulcan as a main character (e.g., TOS, VOY and ENT), should there be at least one episode where the Vulcan in question is unable to maintain the race's normal emotional suppression, be it due to the Pon Farr, a mind meld gone awry, an unusual alien attack disrupting mental balance, et cetera? Is this necessary?

They're on TV show that is built on character drama, so of course it is.

 

[Forbin]

Now I wanna see a rap artist named MC Vulcan.

 

[1001001]

Now I wanna see a rap artist named MC Vulcan.

How about Tuvok Shakur?