Nimoy vs DeForest Kelly. Who was the better actor?

[2takesfrakes]

Well ... I, personally, was not pleased with BEYOND -- especially with what was done with the Sulu character. However, Karl Urban has essayed the "Bones" character surprisingly well and I'm glad he was cast in the new movies. He's a fine actor and I've enjoyed seeing him in various other roles, as well.

 

[Noname Given]

I think you are forgetting the interplay between Dr. Pulaski and Data, which was very much in the same vein as McCoy vs. Spock.

^^^^
That's what they were going for with that in TNG - BUT IMO - they didn't succeed because (unlike Spock) Data was often written as totally naive and wheras Spock would be able to quip back to McCoy with as good as he got; when Pulaski confronted Data it often came across as someone taunting/belittling/bullying a child.

 

[2takesfrakes]

Yes, the Spock/Bones quipping was between two people equally equipped to handle eachother. Data was unable to process Pulaski's jibes and prejudice, much less respond in an appropriate way to fend her off. It didn't work a second time, as many things don't. New characters, new era, new show ... all that requires new tactics, rather than relying on what flew before. I loved Pulaski on TOS, she was absolutely gorgeous and a joy to have onscreen, otherwise, being so classy and sophisticated. But as a TNG cougar, Pulaski got lost in translation, as it were ...

 

[alensatemybuick1]

Data couldn't give as good as he got, huh? When Pulaski asked what the difference was between "Data" vs "Dat-uh", I thought his response if "one is my name, the other is not", was a pretty good comeback.

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I brought up the Data-Pulaski dynamic as a counterpoint to someone saying in this thread that Roddenberry didn't want any conflict on TNG, not to suggest that their interplay was identical to that between McCoy and Spock. It was definitely inspired by it.

 

[KennyB]

I loved Kelly but I think Nimoy got better with age and De was really showing his by TUC............

 

[Trekfan12]

I can't say one is better than the other. They both were playing two sides of a coin. Spock had his emotions in check and was the logical one and McCoy was the one who had emotions and brought the 'Human' side to the equation. If you watch the ep "Enemy Within" you can clearly see how each played a role in how Kirk relied on both of them when it came to making tough decisions. Wanting to use both logic and feelings in the mix and both Spock and McCoy did that. both actors played their roles to the hilt, both competent and expertly based on how they saw their respective parts.