Spock (Leonard Nimoy) laughs at the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, but it’s a crucial moment that completes the Vulcan’s resurrection. Directed by Leonard Nimoy,Star Trek IVwas thehighest-grossingStar Trekmovieuntil J.J. Abrams’Star Trek(2009) reboot. A true mainstream crossover hit,Star Trek IVwas also the conclusion of the unofficial “Genesis Trilogy” that began with Spock’s death inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanand continued inStar Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Homepicks up months afterAdmiral James T. Kirk(William Shatner) and the former crew of the USS Enterprise rescued Spock from the doomed Genesis Planet and reunited the Vulcan with hiskatra(soul).Star Trek IVis primarily a fish-out-of-water time travel romp where Kirk and his friends travel back to the 20th century to bringtwo humpback whalesback to the future. But throughoutStar Trek IV,there is the ongoing subplot of Spock gradually coming to terms with his human side.
Spock’s Laughter In Star Trek IV Completed His Resurrection Story
Spock Feels Fine
At the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home,Admiral Kirk’s stolen Klingon Bird-of-Preymakes a successful time warp back to the 23rd century and crashes in San Francisco Bay. Kirk and his crew release their humpback whales, George and Gracie, into the wild and watch them swim away as they communicate with the Whale Probe threatening Earth. The Enterprise’s heroes then frolic in the water, splashing around, withKirk pulling a laughing Spock into the drink.
Spock is clearly laughing and enjoying himself, but rather than being out of character for the stoic Vulcan,his emotional display pays off Spock’s reassessment of his humanity. WhenStar Trek IVbegins, Spock undergoes an intensive Vulcan test but is stymied by the question prepared by Spock’s human mother, Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt).“How do you feel?“Amanda urged Spock not to neglect his human side as he reclaims his true self.
Spock earned the right to request his father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), report to Amanda, “Tell her I feel fine.”
Spock’s breakthrough was when it was time to calculate time travel back to the 24th century. Spock decided to guess, which astonished Admiral Kirk and was encouraged byDr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Trusting his human instincts instead of his strict Vulcan logic, Spock’s guess proved correct.It’s understandable, then, that Spock was overcome with joyalong with his friends when they splashed down in San Francisco Bay. Thus, Spock earned the right to request his father, Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard), report to Amanda,“Tell her I feel fine.”
Why Spock Laughing At The End Of Star Trek IV Wasn’t Out Of Character
Leonard Nimoy Would Know If Spock Was Breaking Character
Spock earned the right to laugh and come to terms with his human emotions at the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, andit completes the Vulcan’s story that started inStar Trek: The Motion Picture.Spock is central to the firstStar Trekmovie, starting with his attempt to purge all of his emotions through the Vulcan ritual ofkolinahr.Instead, Spock chose to return to Starfleet after mind-melding with V’Ger and relating to the sentient machine’s quest for greater meaning. Spock sacrificing his life inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanwas the ultimate expression of the Vulcan’s love for his friends.
Spock had come to peace with his human and Vulcan sides, and he was whole again.
In turn, Admiral Kirk and the USS Enterprise crew risking their Starfleet careers to bring Spock back showed how they feel towards their Vulcan friend. Upon realization of this, Spock had a great deal to process beyond reassessing his Vulcan sense of self, which his mother, Amanda, understood before Spock did. After Spock and his friends saved Earth and shared their joy of splashing around in San Francisco Bay, Spock’s resurrection was finally complete.Spock had come to peace with his human and Vulcan sides, and he was whole again.
As the director ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Leonard Nimoy not only had control over the movie, but Nimoy was also the final say over how Spock is portrayed. Of course, Nimoy saw the footage of his performance as Spock laughing and playing in the water. While the scene could not have been reshot, Leonard could have edited out Spock’s emotional display.Nimoy keeping the footage of Spock laughing in the film indicates that he felt it was appropriate, and perhaps even reinforces the logic of Spock completing his resurrection by embracing his human side.
Spock Has Shown His Human Side Many Times In Star Trek
Emotion & Spock Are Old Friends
Spock laughing at the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Homeis a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but the Vulcan has outwardly displayed emotion throughoutStar Trek.Spock began with a more emotional portrayal inStar Trek’s original pilot, “The Cage,” before the character and the Vulcans' logic were established.Spock experienced bursts of emotion throughoutStar Trek: The Original Series, like when he was struck by the Psi 2000 virus in “The Naked Time.” Of course, Spock was overcome with joy that he didn’t kill Captain Kirk inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2’s premiere, “Amok Time.”
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country displayed a startling burst of anger from Spock when he slapped a phaser from Lt. Valeris' (Kim Cattrall) hand when he uncovered her as a traitor.Star Trek: Strange New Worldshas explored the younger Lieutenant Spock’s (Ethan Peck) humanity even further, including Spock experiencing the emotional highs and lows of being completely human inStar Trek: Strange New Worldsseason 2, episode 5, “Charades.” Spock laughing at the end ofStar Trek IV: The Voyage Homecouldn’t be morein-character for the Vulcan, and it’s proof that Spock did, indeed, feel fine.
