T'Pol's emotions opposed to Spock's

[Jedi Marso]

After recently completing a cherry-pick re-watch of ENT, I'm rewatching TOS and paying particular attention to Spock's behavior vis a vis T'Pol's. Two things come immediately across: Spock, despite his inner conflicts, is already more at peace with himself on the 1701 than T'Pol is on the NX-01.

Also, SPOCK SMILES A LOT MORE THAN YOU REMEMBER. Go back, watch, and really pay attention. Those emotions do creep through at times, although you can see how controlled they are. It's as though Spock is silently acknowledging that human half and occasionally indulging it, often to poke fun at his shipmates. Really. Watch!

 

[T'Arwen]

I think Spock is more at peace with himself because he's a lot more comfortable in his own skin than T'Pol. He seems to have accepted that Sarek wouldn't like his choice to go to Starfleet. Even after her mom died (and said she was proud of her), T'Pol was worried pretty late into season 4 about being a good Vulcan. That's why she kept Trip at arm's length.

But Spock had the advantage of one understanding parent. Unlike Amanda, T'Pol's father died young. This means that for most of her life, she was deprived of someone she talk to about anything. People have complained T'Pol is more emotional than Spock and it's completely unfair. Spock had it easier in the parental department. Of course he would cope with his daddy issues better than T'Pol did with her mommy issues. The real miracle is that T'Pol isn't more messed up. I wonder if her detractors would have been more sympathetic if the stuff we learn in Home was introduced earlier. Some of it is innate but T'Pol is more emotional than Spock because she is less secure. She's highly underrated as someone who has accomplished a lot despite being the Vulcan version of a "special" kid.

 

[Tosk]

Also, SPOCK SMILES A LOT MORE THAN YOU REMEMBER.

Spock has smirking down to a fine art.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Mr Smirk.

 

[Anna Yolei]

I think T'Pol unfairly gets compared against Spock. For one, Spock was an anomaly amount Vulcans being half-human and one generation removed from the prejudice that was common from both sides in T'Pol's day. He had a lot more to compensate for.

For two (and the show did a huge disservice for waiting to Season Four to address this), Vulcan culture was different. The higher ups discouraged telepathy and sharing thoughts like that.

I think Tuvok would've been a far better litmus test to hold her up to, given he had a fairly standard Vulcan upbringing and to that, she stands up a bit better, IMO.

 

[Scotchy]

Spock was half human, but T'Pol had to deal with her Trellium-D addiction. Both had some nasty mind meld experiences as well. When she was sober T'Pol probably was a little colder than Spock.

 

[Michael]

My feelings about T'Pol were rather erratic when the series was originally airing. It was only year later, upon giving the show another chance and getting over the fact that they cast Jolene Blalock partially because of her babe factor, that she actually became one of my favorite characters from the show. Having a full Vulcan who's secretly curious about her emotional side was a brilliant move. And Jolene Blalock brings a subtlety and nuance to her performance that's really appreciated. I'm so glad T'Pol and her story are part of the Star Trek tapestry.

 

[Long Syntax]

It has been discussed that had ST:ENT entered a 5th season, it would have revealed a reason for the emotions that seemed close to the surface on T'Pol - it would have been revealed that she was half Romulan. I think it would have facilitated a very interesting story line.

 

[JeffinOakland]

I think the writers made her more emotional and difficult to enhance the sexual tension between her and Trip & Archer for dramatic purposes & to emphasize how unhelpful the Vulcans, in general, were towards the humans in ENT. The writers didn't really care if she wasn't particularly "Vulcan". They needed viewers. However, they overdid it and were forced to include some episodes in Season 4 explaining why she hadn't fully evolved yet and they were even going to make her half-Romulan in Season 5.

 

[Anna Yolei]

Genetically speaking, Vulcans and Romulans are identical, yes?

It stands to reason that Romulans are capable of the same control over emotions than Vulcans are and vice versa, so the whole half-Romulan thing as a handwoven for her behavior just doesn't wash for me.

 

[Overgeeked]

Genetically speaking, Vulcans and Romulans are identical, yes?

It stands to reason that Romulans are capable of the same control over emotions than Vulcans are and vice versa, so the whole half-Romulan thing as a handwoven for her behavior just doesn't wash for me.

Not quite. They're two groups from the same species, yes, but they split a few hundred if not thousand years before TOS. The Vulcan control of their emotions is a philosophical choice as seen in their adherence to logic, the Romulans indulge in their emotions. So theoretically, yes, they are capable of control.

But, as seen in later ENT episodes the Vulcans of the time have a corrupted and incomplete version of Surak's teachings. Also, I forget where this was stated, but Vulcan emotions are supposed to be more intense than humans' emotions.

So, Spock being half-human and having proper Vulcan training has a far easier time controlling himself than T'Pol.

 

[TheSubCommander]

Genetically speaking, Vulcans and Romulans are identical, yes?

It stands to reason that Romulans are capable of the same control over emotions than Vulcans are and vice versa, so the whole half-Romulan thing as a handwoven for her behavior just doesn't wash for me.

Except Romulans AREN'T identical. The Enterprise Incident also establishes that there are subtle differences, among which can be brain chemistry. There's at least a couple thousand years of separation, since the two subspecies diverged. Also, Romulans may not be of pure Vulcan stock, as they may have intermarried with other races along the way to Romulus, or since Romulus became an empire. Additionally, it must be noted that at the time the ancestors of the Romulans left Vulcan, Vulcans in general were more warlike and emotional, and the Vulcans who later became Romulans were the ones who rejected logic, so they never learned to control themselves. Also, there has not been a canon representation of a Romulan having the same telekinetic and mental disciplines Vulcans have.

So, I CAN buy a Romulan-Vulcan hybrid having a harder time controlling their emotions.

That all said, T'pol was not any more emotional until the Trellium-D storyline. If there were a Vulcan on Enterprise that seemed overly emotional, I would say Sovol was a lot more openly hostile and emotional than a logical vulcan should be.

 

[Anna Yolei]

Thanks for both your answers.

 

[T'Arwen]

I can totally buy the idea that Romulans don't have telepathic powers. That said, I hate the idea of making T'Pol half Romulan.
It makes them too much of a monoculture. Can't every Vulcan have a different level of ability to control emotions?

 

[Nerys Myk]

I can totally buy the idea that Romulans don't have telepathic powers. That said, I hate the idea of making T'Pol half Romulan.
It makes them too much of a monoculture. Can't every Vulcan have a different level of ability to control emotions?

I think they do. Kohlinar is really for the ones who can do it best.

 

[Willow]

I can totally buy the idea that Romulans don't have telepathic powers. That said, I hate the idea of making T'Pol half Romulan.
It makes them too much of a monoculture. Can't every Vulcan have a different level of ability to control emotions?

Agreed. I never compares T''Pol too much with Spock because I saw them as individuals, each with his or her own individual abilities to control or suppress their emotions.

 

[Reanok]

I'm glad T'Pol wasn't made into a half Romulan. Saavik was half Vulcan/ Romulan I thought she was an interesting character but I didn't want T'Pol to be half Romulan either. I think it was fine she was kept a full Vulcan instead. I always thought T'Pol was a Vulcan whose emotional control was different from other Vulcans and they commented on it. V'Lar and T'Les mentioned it. Spock 's being half Human and Vulcan tried to be more Vulcan thatn Vulcans in the tv series before he finally was at peace with both parts of his dual heritage.

 

[eyeresist]

T'Pol's problem was she thought she had to reject emotion, whereas the true teaching of Sarek is that you have to accept emotion in order to control it.

 

[2takesfrakes]

T'Pol's job was in the Science Department, but she wasn't a nerd. Instead ... she was a beautiful, passionate woman. So, the intensity of her emotions were much more like being shackled to a madwoman.

Spock, on the other hand ... is all nerd.

 

[eyeresist]

T'Pol's backstory as revealed in The Seventh was pretty crazy, a Jason Bourne kinda deal.