We’ve been spoiled with Spock in the past few years with Discovery introducing a younger iteration of the character long before he became the refined man of logic that made him famous, and continued that story through Strange New Worlds and his time under Captain Pike’s command. As Strange New Worlds continues, giving more history to the original series line up and the early meetings of Spock and Kirk as it makes way for the beginning of the Kirk era, we thought we’d look back at some moments that made the partnership one of the most popular combinations in science fiction.
JOURNEY TO BABEL
TOS Season 2
Spock’s got a bit of an issue with sharing. Secret brother who was shunned. Secret sister who’s fate was classified. And despite trusting the Enterprise crew with his life, it was clearly only in a literal sense as when his dear old dad showed up, even Kirk was stunned to realise Ambassador Sarek was also Spock’s old man. Of course, it was a strained relationship and it showed.
Sarek and Spock hadn’t spoken to each other in a significant amount of time which makes it a touch awkward when the Enterprise is assigned to host Sarek and a few other diplomats. It’s even more awkward when Sarek almost pops his clogs and needs a blood transfusion from his son to survive. But there’s shenanigans aplenty, and Kirk is also out of action, leaving Spock in command while the mission of diplomacy is being sabotaged and he has to rise above his family ties and stay put on the bridge.
It doesn’t seem much, but this is one of those episodes that shows the loyalty Spock had to his crew while Kirk shows how much he values Spock as, after learning of the situation, he fights through mortal injuries to relieve Spock of his obligations. It’s one of the better episodes in terms of story and insight into everyone’s favourite Vulcan, but also a nice early glimpse of a working relationship becoming a friendship that would connect them for the rest of their lives.
THE FINAL FRONTIER
TOS Film 5
Going from their early days to years after their first five year mission together, Kirk and Spock’s friendship had evolved massively by the Final Frontier, but those secrets were still being kept. It was in this film that Kirk learned of Spock’s half brother, Sarek’s fully Vulcan son from his first marriage who rejected logic to become a glorious space hippy.
While often cited as one of the worst of the original films, The Final Frontier delivered some wonderful character work with Shatner at the helm who, despite his reputation, has had even his fieriest critics like George Takei give him a nod of respect for his effort throughout the picture. Of all the things that didn’t work, the one thing that did was the bond between the top Trek trio and in how Kirk’s entire soldier boy act changes as soon as he realises who Sybok is, and why Spock can’t pull the trigger while he has the chance.
In the final act, when Sybok realises his spiritual journey led to a false prophet and sacrifices himself, Kirk gives his condolences and in a brief scene with Spock and McCoy, highlights that while they’ve all lived a life of duty, the time they’d spent together made them family.
BALANCE OF TERROR
TOS Season 1
One of the finest episodes of the original run, Balance of Terror has a few odd moments but is a perfect example of using the Star Trek world to tell more real world stories. Here, it was one of cold war paranoia wrapped up in pointy ears and invisible starships. Oh, and despite a previous long and bloody war, the first time anyone had seen a Romulan in person. And they looked remarkably just like our Vulcan science officer.
More often than not, Spock was always the butt of the joke. Particularly when it came to the verbal sparring that he’d reverse pointing out being calm, safe and sensible was better than our flawed reactionary humanity. But while paranoia runs deep, and we realise Romulans and Vulcans are pretty much the same, Kirk shows his first officer some love and respect by refusing to let fears of the revelation change how he – or his crew – treat Spock.
ERRAND OF MERCY
TOS Season 1
Dropping into Organia, Kirk and Spock try to sway the planet to rise aup and reject Klingon occupation. But once Klingon commander Kor drops in, the two have to blend in as locals despite looking somewhat suspicious…
The episode is just a great showcase of the two working together, with some really good dialogue and banter throughout. Throw in Kirk’s protective protest against Spok being taken by the Klingons and it stands as a great example of how well the two played against each other and why their partnership helped define and advance what Star Trek was.
THE GENESIS TRILOGY
TOS Films 2-4
Of all the original run of Star Trek, nothing defines the relationship of Kirk and Spock more than the move to film. Following the Motion Picture, there was more than just a change of style and tone for the Wrath of Khan. There was a new era for these characters who had largely moved on and settled down, no longer colleagues moving from mission to mission, but friends now working to raise the next generation of Starfleet’s finest.
Opening the Wrath of Khan with a birthday gift from Kirk to Spock, the unofficial trilogy re-wrote the partnership with a closer bond. Just in time for Spock to die, giving his life to save the ship and the now infamous ending with Kirk racing to engineering and saying his goodbye’s as Spock dies inside the reaction chamber. Spock’s parting line, ‘I have been and always shall be your friend’ becomes a theme as the sequel dedicates itself to Kirk giving up everything to save Spock’s soul, while the fourth has them work together as a resurrected Spock tries to re-establish himself.
From the funeral to the need to lay his ‘katra’ to rest, age and wisdom lent a lot to how their bond would last at the heart of science fiction, and helped solidify one of the genre’s most prolific examples of friendship through the ages.,
Did we miss out your Favourite Kirk-Spock moments? Get engaged and let us know at Starbase Europa!
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