News Spock has already been cast

[JKM]

TMP began with him failing to attain Kolinahr because he was unable to stop V'Ger from stirring his emotions. He later got giggly and touchy-feely with Kirk in sickbay. He also wept for V'Ger in some cuts.

You don't remember him furiously slapping the phaser out of Valeris' hand in sickbay and then the aftermath of their mind meld on the bridge in TUC?

He came across as pretty upset there to me too. Other Vulcan's may not struggle for control all the time, but Spock is half human. From what I've seen, he was raised the Vulcan way in both verses and feels he has to live up to that. I always felt his whole story revolves around that conflict within. Which makes for good stories when he's thrown into traumatic events.

 

[Longinus]

TMP began with him failing to attain Kolinahr because he was unable to stop V'Ger from stirring his emotions. He later got giggly and touchy-feely with Kirk in sickbay. He also wept for V'Ger in some cuts.

You don't remember him furiously slapping the phaser out of Valeris' hand in sickbay and then the aftermath of their mind meld on the bridge in TUC?

Yeah. Those are not really out of the control situations. He is showing some some normal human emotions very briefly, which is understandable as he is after all half human. I'm talking about going totally psycho like in ST:09.

Please remind me, did that ever happen to Prime Spock without some sort of external influence? I mean did he ever go totally nuts because mere pressure of the situation, when not drugged, or sick etc? I don't remember it happening, but maybe I'm wrong?

 

[Longinus]

Exactly. That's always been my understanding of Vulcans as well. They're more passionate than humans, which is why they have to keep their emotions all bottled up and repressed most of the time. But when that emotional reserve is "compromised" somehow . . . watch out!

And, honestly, that's far more interesting and dramatic a paradox than just assuming that they're naturally calm and unruffled all the time.

It really must be something way more extensive than just bottling up their emotions. Vulcans often have hard time understanding emotions, if they constantly felt those same emotions that would not be the case. A lot of what Roddenberry wrote for Xon in Phase II was later used for Data, and one major point was not really getting emotions.

 

[Longinus]

So then if I were you I probably wouldn't watch any more of the Kelvin timeline, but you can hardly blame the actor for the story.

In Beyond he was written more like Prime Spock, and while I liked him more there, I was not super impressed. I'm not saying that he is terrible or anything, I just don't get how so many people seem to think he is somehow perfect for the role. I want someone who can nail the role of Spock on the level Urban nailed the role of McCoy.; that was stellar job!

 

[BillJ]

It really must be something way more extensive than just bottling up their emotions. Vulcans often have hard time understanding emotions, if they constantly felt those same emotions that would not be the case.

They choose to control them. The Vulcans being emotionless is a fanon myth that we cannot shake for some reason. In "This Side of Paradise", Spock states that he was happy. That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't understand them.

 

[BillJ]

I just don't get how so many people seem to think he is somehow perfect for the role. I want someone who can nail the role of Spock on the level Urban nailed the role of McCoy.; that was stellar job!

I like Urban, but I don't feel like he has made McCoy his own. He feels like he is trying to play De Kelley playing McCoy.

 

[Succubint]

Based on what they say in the interview, it sounds pretty clear that they're looking for more than just a kid in a flashback. Besides, you were telling us not too long ago, based on your reading of interviews, that they will never bring Spock to Discovery. So, I'll go with the chance you're wrong being pretty high.

In the video, he's asked specifically what he looked for in casting the Spock character. So, he's put on the spot there. I think what he said could easily apply to a young actor, who has the difficult task of playing a half Vulcan, half human who has been raised as full Vulcan. He as to be talented enough to emote mostly with his eyes and subtle gestures, rather than just facial expressions and verbal intonations. It's quite a challenge and I would expect they looked for similar things when casting young Burnham as well.

Here's the casting notice for the character of 'Samuel' which some speculate (including myself) was really Young Spock:

http://comicbook.com/startrek/2018/04/21/star-trek-discovery-season-2-character-breakdowns/

Next up is the character called “Samuel” in the breakdown. That seems to be a codename for the young Spock that Jonathan Frakes revealed he will be directing in the second episode of the season. The biggest giveaway is that the character is listed as a Vulcan, but Samuel is not a Vulcan name. Here are the details:

“A 10yr old Caucasian Male.

A brave and logical Vulcan. Under 5’2 and thin faced.

LATEX PROSTHETICS REQUIRED.

Must be immediately available for 1 – 2 episodes.”

That last line suggests that we may be seeing Spock in more than one episode, perhaps in the currently filming season premiere.

 

[fireproof78]

It really must be something way more extensive than just bottling up their emotions. Vulcans often have hard time understanding emotions, if they constantly felt those same emotions that would not be the case. A lot of what Roddenberry wrote for Xon in Phase II was later used for Data, and one major point was not really getting emotions.

Nimoy always played as someone with intense emotions and keeping them under control from what I've read. Not saying others have not played it differently but there have been many interpretations.

 

[Longinus]

They choose to control them. The Vulcans being emotionless is a fanon myth that we cannot shake for some reason. In "This Side of Paradise", Spock states that he was happy. That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't understand them.

Yes, they have emotions in some extent, but I really do not see this boiling pot of emotions with a lid barely kept on that many people seem to be seeing.

 

[CorporalClegg]

The whole idea is that it's more than just a 'lid;' it's the entire philosophical and existential foundation of their culture.

 

[BillJ]

The whole idea is that it's more than just a 'lid;' it's the entire philosophical and existential foundation of their culture.

Yep. The whole point of Surak's emotional suppression movement was to get the violent Vulcans to settle down before they destroyed themselves.

 

[Mudd]

Theodore Sturgeon wrote the first and last word on Vulcans and their culture over fifty years ago. Everything since has been (often talented and skillful) filling in the blanks.

 

[BillJ]

Heck, Enterprise did an entire episode about Vulcans who reject suppressing their emotions.

TAVIN: Vulcans without logic. It's a name the Elders give to anyone who disagrees with the ancestral teachings, but it's not entirely accurate. We haven't abandoned logic. We've simply learned to exist without the need to continually repress our emotions. It's taken years of experimentation, but we've managed to find a balance between the two.

 

[TrickyDickie]

I like Urban, but I don't feel like he has made McCoy his own. He feels like he is trying to play De Kelley playing McCoy.

I like that....just as I liked Josh Brolin playing Tommy Lee Jones in MIB III.

 

[BillJ]

I like that....just as I liked Josh Brolin playing Tommy Lee Jones in MIB III.

Everybody has their preferences.

As is clearly in evidence here.

 

[Longinus]

Yep. The whole point of Surak's emotional suppression movement was to get the violent Vulcans to settle down before they destroyed themselves.

Sure, but two points.
1) These 'violent and emotional' ancient Vulcans are actually pretty much like humans, they're not some rabid rage machines. Proof: Romulans. Romulans are Vulcans who rejected Surak, they do not seem any more emotional than humans.
2) This suppression of emotion goes way beyond just having really good self control. The goal if Kolinahr, purging of all emotions. Even if all Vulcans could not attain that level, that's the end point they're aiming for, and thus presumably are at least near that ideal.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

^
"Emotions run deep in our people, far deeper than humans..." Sarek to his son, Star Trek '09.

 

[BillJ]

The goal if Kolinahr, purging of all emotions. Even if all Vulcans could not attain that level, that's the end point they're aiming for, and thus presumably are at least near that ideal.

I've seen nothing that indicates Kolinahr is the desired state of being for every Vulcan. There are lots and lots and lots of Catholics who don't want to board themselves up in monasteries and be celibate their whole lives.

Vulcans are likely as diverse as any other race.

 

[Longinus]

Vulcans are likely as diverse as any other race.

As diverse as any other race in Star Trek?

 

[Succubint]

From what I gather, the lore has changed over time and been expanded regarding Vulcans and their relationship to logic vs emotion. In TOS the lore seemed more like you claim Longinus, but since TMP and in later TV series/movies we've seen a shift towards the idea that Vulcans are actually a very emotional species that train all their lives to suppress/purge their baser emotions.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulcan_(Star_Trek)

Scroll down to the section on Emotion.

http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Vulcan
http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Emotion

Despite their suppression of emotions Vulcans still have them, and sometimes their violent nature resurfaces.

There's even a philosophical conflict as to whether Vulcans should purge all emotions or embrace them as an important part of themselves. Clearly the writers have intended to explore this dichotomy rather than insist Vulcans have been wholly successful in controlling and excising all emotion in favor of logic, otherwise the V'tosh ka'tur and Sybok wouldn't have been introduced.

Spock is pretty much the embodiment of this conflict, by being literally half Vulcan/ half human. But even with Sarek, T'Pol and Tuvok there have been story arcs exploring what happens when that rigid control/suppression slips.