Why Unification?
- Thread starter Denise
- Start date
If I recall correctly "Unification" was like a pre-released sequel tie in to Star Trek VI, the episode being released in November and the film in December. "Unification" could comment on things in the upcoming film as if they had already happened. I like the parallel in both of Spock trying to bring each eras main cold war type race into dialogue of the Federation. It's interesting how Spock's logic got him to the point of Unification as the end point, instead of just an alliance like with the Klingons, and I wonder if that was something that was unique to him as man with feet already in two worlds.
That's a very interesting comment. Perhaps that's the logical result of his growth from the time we see in TOS (ignoring Kelven and SNW changes because that's how I roll) his obvious turmoil between his human and vulcan halves.
Or maybe it's simply because some writer at the time came up with what they thought was a cool idea. "Hey, I've got a story idea. Let's explore vulcan/romulan reunification. It'll be a two-parter and we can bring back Mark Lenard" (This is likely the correct answer
)
Also, might Spock feel something like that about his relationship with his father, they didn't always get along.
I've preferred to think that by this point in his life Spock had come to terms with that.
Or perhaps he wants these divided peoples to know the harmony he has experienced personally, on a society-wide level.
Being a child of a "complex" upbringing, you never really come to terms with a lot of what happened.
I've always wondered about total reunification because as Picard said it would be difficult after thousands of years of separation. The Romulans had their own culture and way of life, for better or worse, would they have had to give up their emotions to join with the Vulcans? If I were a Romulan I think I'd have legitimate questions about this.
I’ve always headcanoned that what really drives his intense late-in-life efforts toward unification is irrational residual guilt: During the initial “Balance of Terror” encounter, he urged attacking the Romulan ship. Correctly, but he still subtly blames himself for all the deaths of the cold (and occasionally hot) conflict with the Romulans after that point.
Presumably many still do, since in DISCO there’s mention of Ni’Var having to crush insurgencies.
I totally agree here.
When we are talking about Germany, Korea and Vietnam, they were countries divided by outer forces and were divided for a short time.
it would be more accurate to compare Vulcan and Romulus with the British Empire and the US.
I don' think that neither the British or the US would like to have a "reunification" today, even if it probably would be easier which such a reunification than it would be with Vulcan and Romulus due to the development of culture and such on those two worlds during thousands of years. At least the British and the American have some things in common, demcracy and such.
Not to mention that Star Trek would lose two interesting species with such a "reunification".
Perhaps the happy medium would be to keep two separate cultures and create a third unified world of those so inclined, with regular peace meetings between the two, mediated by the third.
I think peaceful unity is something worth working for. Of course I say that as somebody who loathes countries in real life and would gladly welcome a unified Earth.
Of course in the case of the Vulcans and the Romulans it would only be desirable if neither side loses the positive aspects of their individual cultures (self-control, passionate emotion) a happy medium between the two extremes would be desirable, as already pointed out in this thread.
The again if I had my way I'd rather see the Romulans Republic from STO in the shows, but that ship has sailed.
Of course in the case of the Vulcans and the Romulans it would only be desirable if neither side loses the positive aspects of their individual cultures (self-control, passionate emotion) a happy medium between the two extremes would be desirable, as already pointed out in this thread.
The again if I had my way I'd rather see the Romulans Republic from STO in the shows, but that ship has sailed.
Spock is bananas.
Disregarding the JJ movies, this is the last we've seen him. He probably spent the rest of his days in a Romulan prison
Disregarding the JJ movies, this is the last we've seen him. He probably spent the rest of his days in a Romulan prison
I think there is a lot to say about reunification, especially in bringing together a shared history. There is clearly value in both cultures on the idea, expressed by Romulans and Spock, so it's not like this is just a wild idea out of the blue for Spock.
If they can find a balance approached, without forcing the Surakian ideal on to the Romulans, while moving away from the imperialist state I don't see the problem.
This may be a case of Spock having a delusion of grandeur.
The episode gave no indication that there was any kind of mass clamoring for reunification among the Vulcan people. And regarding the Romulans, Spock told Picard that he was aware of a growing movement of Romulans who were seeking to learn Vulcan philosophy.
But what we saw were a bunch of impressionable Romulan youths who had a fascination with Vulcan culture.
It's possible that their fascination with Vulcan culture may have been more a reflection of their dissatisfaction with Romulan society/government than an actual desire for reunification.
In any case, the episode didn't give me the impression that there was any mass movement among Romulans for reunification either.
Picard tried to talk some sense into Spock, but to no avail.
At one point, Spock admitted to Picard that his motive in persuing reunification could not be explained logically. And even after his effort at reunification crashed and burned, Spock still insisted on carrying out his mission.
Peaceful reunification turned out to be a pipe dream, Spock's pipe dream.
"Spock, give it up!". I'm sure that would have been Kirk's advice, if he were there.
The episode gave no indication that there was any kind of mass clamoring for reunification among the Vulcan people. And regarding the Romulans, Spock told Picard that he was aware of a growing movement of Romulans who were seeking to learn Vulcan philosophy.
But what we saw were a bunch of impressionable Romulan youths who had a fascination with Vulcan culture.
It's possible that their fascination with Vulcan culture may have been more a reflection of their dissatisfaction with Romulan society/government than an actual desire for reunification.
In any case, the episode didn't give me the impression that there was any mass movement among Romulans for reunification either.
Picard tried to talk some sense into Spock, but to no avail.
At one point, Spock admitted to Picard that his motive in persuing reunification could not be explained logically. And even after his effort at reunification crashed and burned, Spock still insisted on carrying out his mission.
Peaceful reunification turned out to be a pipe dream, Spock's pipe dream.
"Spock, give it up!". I'm sure that would have been Kirk's advice, if he were there.
Yes. (Nimoy's) Spock wasn't seen again until Star Trek 09, which oddly enough was a story that once again involved Romulan treachery against Vulcan.
"Unification" was ostensibly about the attempt to unify the Romulan and Vulcan peoples. But did "unification" also refer to something else, besides the obvious?
A good chunk of the dialogue between Spock and Picard was devoted to Spock's rocky relationship with Sarek. Spock kept bringing up the fact that there was a rift between him and Sarek.
In the course of their dialogue, Picard let Spock in on what he learned from his last meeting with the dying Sarek. Picard informed Spock that Sarek was actually proud of Spock and that Sarek very much wanted to heal the rift between them.
But Sarek passed away (off screen) during the episode.
As you know, in the end, Spock failed to achieve peaceful Romulan/Vulcan reunification.
But in a bit of a twist, Picard offered Spock a chance to experience the mind meld that Picard had with Sarek. Spock grabbed the opportunity.
There was a meeting of the minds, literally and figuratively. After a lifetime of estrangement, Spock finally acheived unity, so to speak, with Sarek.
From the look on Spock's face during the mind meld, it did appear that he made peace with Sarek, albeit post mortem.
Spock failed to bridge the divide between Vulcans and Romulans, but ironically he succeeded in healing the rift between himself and Sarek.
Maybe the episode was intended to be as much about Spock's unexpected personal journey to "unification" with Sarek as it was about Spock's quest for geopolitical unification with the Romulans.
