10 reasons Spock was the greatest sci-fi icon of all time

With the death today of Leonard Nimoy, science fiction, has lost one of its original icons.

10 reasons Spock was the greatest sci-fi icon of all time

By Ed Power

With the death today of Leonard Nimoy, science fiction, has lost one of its original icons.

Starting with the original Star Trek in 1966, Nimoy's Spock was a character for ages: laconic, inscrutable, occasionally dryly witty.

He was at the centre of many of Star Trek's great moments. The high-camp of Spock's Brain (a hilarious highlight of season three of 'Classic Trek').

His grueling fight (utilizing giant, alien cotton-buds) with Captain Kirk in Amok Time. The death scene – so difficult to watch today – at the conclusion of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

To mark Nimoy's passing at 83 here, then, are 10 reasons Spock was the best alien ever.

1: He Played A Mean Vulcan Harp.

As Enterprise science officer, Spock was responsible for monitoring alien life on unexplored planets and for scanning approaching ships for danger.

When not saving the Enterprise from the worst the universe could throw at it, however, he liked to relax by playing an outlandish instrument variously known as the Vulcan lute, lyre or harp. Whatever you want to call it, who could question Spock's chops?

2: When He Got Mad, He Got Really Mad

Though normally as gentle as an Akaalian dormouse, when required Spock knew how to look out out for himself.

"You belong in a circus Spock, not a Starship," Kirk tells him in This Side Of Paradise, attempting to rouse his first officer from a happy stupor caused by alien spores. Boom – suddenly Spock is swinging fists, slamming furniture and waving chairs over his head. Beware the quiet man. Especially the quiet man with pointy ears.

3: He Knew The Value of A Good Cry

Half-Vulcan, Spock understood displaying emotion in the workplace could be inappropriate. He also appreciated that, now and then, you have to let it all out – as he does in The Naked Time, after falling victim to a space-virus that causes him to lose his inhibitions. It could have been worse – in the same episode Sulu whips his shirt off and menaces the crew with a rapier.

4: He Was Responsible for Some Of The Best One-liners On Television

Without Spock, would Dr McCoy ever had cause to ask 'are you out of your Vulcan mind?'

5: He Didn't Know The Meaning Of Politically Correct

Spock was an old-school alien and his viewers on gender equality could be a bit…out there.

6: He Was Willing To Take One For The Team

With the Enterprise seemingly facing imminent destruction at the end of Wrath of Khan, Spock girds his Vulcan loins and exposes himself to a lethal dose of radiation in order to save the rest of the crew.

7: He Didn't Have Time For The Small, Boring Details

Especially when it came to primitive 20th century public transport.

8: He Didn't Quit Easily

By the end of Wrath of Khan, Spock has been dosed with lethal radiation, wedged into a space-torpedo, forced to listen to Scotty's terrifying Bagpipe soloing and blasted into the orbit of an unstable artificial planetoid.

And he STILL makes it back for Star Trek III.

9: He Had An Interesting Family

In Star Trek V, Spock's half-brother Sybok hijacks the Enterprise in an attempt to find "God" (apparently hiding out in an obscure corner of the universe).

Meanwhile, in JJ Abram's reboot of the franchise his mother is played by '90s screen goddess Winona Ryder. Fascinating.

10: He Coined A Catchphrase For The Ages…

He lived long, and he prospered.

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