So this is a little less profound than it might have been if I had actually written it a few weeks ago when I wanted to, instead of waiting until after Orci's statements on quantum theory, etc.
But what the hell, here goes...
What is the point of having Old Spock in Star Trek XI, really?
The simplest answer is, "Why not?"
Sure, Nimoy's still alive. It's a nice continuity nod, etc.
But I think it will be much more than that. Team Abrams has said that Nimoy's role is 'essential' to Star Trek XI. And no mere cameo is essential.
Here are my thoughts on the issue. And I invite your (hopefully vitriolic) responses.
My guess is that Nimoy will serve several purposes.
First off, it's a nice touch to include one of the old actors. That's a fairly standard effort made by most creative teams on remakes.
But Nimoy's role goes far deeper.
He will also likely serve as the film's default narrator. We will follow him back through time from the "original timeline" (OT) to the "new timeline" (NT). He will be the one who explains to the audience why he has travelled back in time. He will alert us to what has changed and why that is important. He will also let us know that all has been put right at the end of the film, while simultaneously sending off the NT Star Trek into the future, with his blessing.
This will no doubt be done as unintrusively as possible, as too much Old Spock and too much exposition will frighten and bore the newbies.
Secondarily, Old Spock will represent the Skeptical/Concerned Trekkie. It goes without saying that Nimoy's presence should make Star Trek XI more palatable to the old-school fans (even going so far as to dragging them to see a movie that they otherwise might not). If the marketing for the film is any indication, Old Spock has little value except to the hardcore fans, evidenced by the intentional effort to leave Nimoy out of the theatrical-release trailer, while including him shortly thereafter in the internet-only trailer.
But deeper than that, Nimoy has our trust. (I will assume the role of a 'skeptical Trekkie' for the rest of this post, to further illustrate my point.) Fans all over teh Internets have decided that this movie must be good solely because Nimoy has agreed to be in it, so clearly Nimoy's goodwill aura has extended over the production even before the movie has been released.
I trust the Spock. I love the Spock. So both Old Spock and I are going to be watching this movie from the shadows, with our discerning eyes, judging very carefully whether this new cast and crew is worthy. As the new cast does their thing in Plot A, Spock and I will watch from the relative safety of Plot B. Spock will protect me from the scary new people until he has observed them for long enough to make his judgment call as to whether they are worthy to carry the torch for the next generation. After observing for roughly two hours, Spock will no doubt proclaim this new cast worthy, and I will be expected to do the same. In other words, Spock will validate our skepticism for long enough to lull us into a false sense of security, and then will pronounce the new crew viable. At that point, we will either have been convinced along with Spock that the new kids are worthy, or we will be too ashamed/frightened to disagree with wise Old Spock, and we will bite our tongues and agree with him. To do otherwise would make us no longer true Trek fans, no?
(This does not apply to the existing Trek fans who are so giddy/wet with excitement about this new movie that they would cheerlead for it even if we found out that it was all about Tuvix and the Space Hippies.)
((And yes, that would make a great name for a rock band.))
Lastly, Old Spock makes the perfect Paramount pitchman. In a sense, his message will be this:
OLD SPOCK: "The original timeline is safe. Keep buying the old DVDs. The new timeline is worthy. Buy all the new DVDs and merchandise. My presence in this film connects this new timeline to the old, and makes all of it canon. So if you were in for a penny, you are in for a lot more pounds. You aren't off the hook yet. Keep spending."
And the brilliance of portraying Old Spock as much older than we have ever seen him before will telegraph this message to the old-schoolers: "All of the old canon is safe. This Spock is coming back long after 'Deep Space Nine,' 'Voyager,' (and a couple of other original timeline series/books/comics/etc. which have yet to be written) occurred, so breathe easy. All the old stuff is still canon."
In short, the inclusion of Nimoy/Spock is genius. He's part storyteller, part hardcore-Trekkie-ruffled-feather-soother, and part snake-oil salesman.
How all of this will play out on screen is just a matter of detail.
My guess is that the movie will end something like this...
[MAJOR PLOT CRISIS HAS JUST BEEN RESOLVED AND KIRK, YOUNG SPOCK, AND OLD SPOCK MEET IN THE SHUTTLEBAY, NEAR OLD SPOCK'S TIMESHIP]
OLD SPOCK: "I thank you for your hospitality. But now it is time for me to return to my timeline."
KIRK: "But how can you be sure that your timeline has been restored?"
OLD SPOCK looks into a viewer on his timeship, similar to the viewer at his post on the original Enterprise. (In other words, only he can see the images that the viewer has to offer.)
On the viewer he sees, in whatever romanticized, Doris Day lens technique that modern-day Hollywood has to offer, a few brief seconds of a scene from the original Star Trek series. A musical cue will make this irrelevant-to-the-masses scene even more emotional for the old-timers. (Absent a glossed-up scene from the original series, we should see a few seconds of a scene from the original series, but acted word-for-word and shot-for-shot by the new actors from the film.) Some of you out there will recoil at this suggestion, but you are all dumbshits who should just relax and trust me on this. It will only take up three seconds of the film. I promise you will tear up and have to pretend to your geek friends sitting all around you that something got in your eye. You will all be kissing my ass and telling me how right I was after the movie comes out.
After Old Spock (and only Old Spock) sees the old-school Trek on his viewer, he returns his attention to young Kirk and Spock.
OLD SPOCK: "All is as it was. All has been restored."
KIRK: "So what happens now?"
OLD SPOCK: "If my calculations are correct, I will be returned to my timeline, to live out the rest of my life there."
KIRK: "And what about us? What about our future?"
OLD SPOCK: "There is the very real possibility that your timeline will continue forward on its own."
YOUNG SPOCK: "And what of our ultimate fate? What becomes of us?"
KIRK: "Stop. I don't want to know. We'll make our own future."
OLD SPOCK: "The Captain is correct. There is no way to tell if you will share the same experiences and fates that we did. Only time will tell, as you go boldly into your own future."
OLD SPOCK: "And now I must return." [to YOUNG SPOCK, with Vulcan salute] "Live long and prosper."
YOUNG SPOCK [meeting the Vulcan salute with one of his own]: "Live long and prosper."
OLD SPOCK gets into his timeship and vanishes in a blinding burst of colored light.
YOUNG SPOCK [with eyebrow raised]: "Fascinating."
KIRK [looking at his hands, and then at YOUNG SPOCK]: "Well, we're still here. That's a good sign."
Cut to the ENTERPRISE BRIDGE. KIRK and SPOCK enter from the TURBOLIFT and take their familiar places among the now timeless crew.
CHEKOV: "Orders, Captain?"
KIRK: "Let's see what's out there. Let's boldy go where no man has gone before." [beat] "Warp six, Mister Sulu."
SULU [smiling and pressing the proper buttons on his console]: "Aye, Captain. Warp six."
EXTERIOR of ENTERPRISE. ENTERPRISE launches into warp and disappears from view.
Roll credits.
---------
"But what about the Sam Cogley Boston Legal-style ending?"
No worries. There's still plenty of time for that after all of the credits have rolled. Wait for the bonus scene.
But what the hell, here goes...
What is the point of having Old Spock in Star Trek XI, really?
The simplest answer is, "Why not?"
Sure, Nimoy's still alive. It's a nice continuity nod, etc.
But I think it will be much more than that. Team Abrams has said that Nimoy's role is 'essential' to Star Trek XI. And no mere cameo is essential.
Here are my thoughts on the issue. And I invite your (hopefully vitriolic) responses.
My guess is that Nimoy will serve several purposes.
First off, it's a nice touch to include one of the old actors. That's a fairly standard effort made by most creative teams on remakes.
But Nimoy's role goes far deeper.
He will also likely serve as the film's default narrator. We will follow him back through time from the "original timeline" (OT) to the "new timeline" (NT). He will be the one who explains to the audience why he has travelled back in time. He will alert us to what has changed and why that is important. He will also let us know that all has been put right at the end of the film, while simultaneously sending off the NT Star Trek into the future, with his blessing.
This will no doubt be done as unintrusively as possible, as too much Old Spock and too much exposition will frighten and bore the newbies.
Secondarily, Old Spock will represent the Skeptical/Concerned Trekkie. It goes without saying that Nimoy's presence should make Star Trek XI more palatable to the old-school fans (even going so far as to dragging them to see a movie that they otherwise might not). If the marketing for the film is any indication, Old Spock has little value except to the hardcore fans, evidenced by the intentional effort to leave Nimoy out of the theatrical-release trailer, while including him shortly thereafter in the internet-only trailer.
But deeper than that, Nimoy has our trust. (I will assume the role of a 'skeptical Trekkie' for the rest of this post, to further illustrate my point.) Fans all over teh Internets have decided that this movie must be good solely because Nimoy has agreed to be in it, so clearly Nimoy's goodwill aura has extended over the production even before the movie has been released.
I trust the Spock. I love the Spock. So both Old Spock and I are going to be watching this movie from the shadows, with our discerning eyes, judging very carefully whether this new cast and crew is worthy. As the new cast does their thing in Plot A, Spock and I will watch from the relative safety of Plot B. Spock will protect me from the scary new people until he has observed them for long enough to make his judgment call as to whether they are worthy to carry the torch for the next generation. After observing for roughly two hours, Spock will no doubt proclaim this new cast worthy, and I will be expected to do the same. In other words, Spock will validate our skepticism for long enough to lull us into a false sense of security, and then will pronounce the new crew viable. At that point, we will either have been convinced along with Spock that the new kids are worthy, or we will be too ashamed/frightened to disagree with wise Old Spock, and we will bite our tongues and agree with him. To do otherwise would make us no longer true Trek fans, no?
(This does not apply to the existing Trek fans who are so giddy/wet with excitement about this new movie that they would cheerlead for it even if we found out that it was all about Tuvix and the Space Hippies.)
((And yes, that would make a great name for a rock band.))
Lastly, Old Spock makes the perfect Paramount pitchman. In a sense, his message will be this:
OLD SPOCK: "The original timeline is safe. Keep buying the old DVDs. The new timeline is worthy. Buy all the new DVDs and merchandise. My presence in this film connects this new timeline to the old, and makes all of it canon. So if you were in for a penny, you are in for a lot more pounds. You aren't off the hook yet. Keep spending."
And the brilliance of portraying Old Spock as much older than we have ever seen him before will telegraph this message to the old-schoolers: "All of the old canon is safe. This Spock is coming back long after 'Deep Space Nine,' 'Voyager,' (and a couple of other original timeline series/books/comics/etc. which have yet to be written) occurred, so breathe easy. All the old stuff is still canon."
In short, the inclusion of Nimoy/Spock is genius. He's part storyteller, part hardcore-Trekkie-ruffled-feather-soother, and part snake-oil salesman.
How all of this will play out on screen is just a matter of detail.
My guess is that the movie will end something like this...
[MAJOR PLOT CRISIS HAS JUST BEEN RESOLVED AND KIRK, YOUNG SPOCK, AND OLD SPOCK MEET IN THE SHUTTLEBAY, NEAR OLD SPOCK'S TIMESHIP]
OLD SPOCK: "I thank you for your hospitality. But now it is time for me to return to my timeline."
KIRK: "But how can you be sure that your timeline has been restored?"
OLD SPOCK looks into a viewer on his timeship, similar to the viewer at his post on the original Enterprise. (In other words, only he can see the images that the viewer has to offer.)
On the viewer he sees, in whatever romanticized, Doris Day lens technique that modern-day Hollywood has to offer, a few brief seconds of a scene from the original Star Trek series. A musical cue will make this irrelevant-to-the-masses scene even more emotional for the old-timers. (Absent a glossed-up scene from the original series, we should see a few seconds of a scene from the original series, but acted word-for-word and shot-for-shot by the new actors from the film.) Some of you out there will recoil at this suggestion, but you are all dumbshits who should just relax and trust me on this. It will only take up three seconds of the film. I promise you will tear up and have to pretend to your geek friends sitting all around you that something got in your eye. You will all be kissing my ass and telling me how right I was after the movie comes out.
After Old Spock (and only Old Spock) sees the old-school Trek on his viewer, he returns his attention to young Kirk and Spock.
OLD SPOCK: "All is as it was. All has been restored."
KIRK: "So what happens now?"
OLD SPOCK: "If my calculations are correct, I will be returned to my timeline, to live out the rest of my life there."
KIRK: "And what about us? What about our future?"
OLD SPOCK: "There is the very real possibility that your timeline will continue forward on its own."
YOUNG SPOCK: "And what of our ultimate fate? What becomes of us?"
KIRK: "Stop. I don't want to know. We'll make our own future."
OLD SPOCK: "The Captain is correct. There is no way to tell if you will share the same experiences and fates that we did. Only time will tell, as you go boldly into your own future."
OLD SPOCK: "And now I must return." [to YOUNG SPOCK, with Vulcan salute] "Live long and prosper."
YOUNG SPOCK [meeting the Vulcan salute with one of his own]: "Live long and prosper."
OLD SPOCK gets into his timeship and vanishes in a blinding burst of colored light.
YOUNG SPOCK [with eyebrow raised]: "Fascinating."
KIRK [looking at his hands, and then at YOUNG SPOCK]: "Well, we're still here. That's a good sign."
Cut to the ENTERPRISE BRIDGE. KIRK and SPOCK enter from the TURBOLIFT and take their familiar places among the now timeless crew.
CHEKOV: "Orders, Captain?"
KIRK: "Let's see what's out there. Let's boldy go where no man has gone before." [beat] "Warp six, Mister Sulu."
SULU [smiling and pressing the proper buttons on his console]: "Aye, Captain. Warp six."
EXTERIOR of ENTERPRISE. ENTERPRISE launches into warp and disappears from view.
Roll credits.
---------
"But what about the Sam Cogley Boston Legal-style ending?"
No worries. There's still plenty of time for that after all of the credits have rolled. Wait for the bonus scene.
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