The relationship between Captain James Tiberius Kirk (William Shatner) and Spock of Vulcan (Leonard Nimoy) is one of the greats in televised science fiction. These two we’re not just friends. They were brothers. Despite being from very different worlds literally, they formed a bond that transcended mere friendship. They were family. They would die for the other.
When writers understood how to handle the relationship it worked great. When they did not-like a previously unmentioned sibling named Sybok-it got clunky and faltered. As two people that were demonstrated to be as close as those two were that did not fit. But I am here to focus on the positives.
Kirk and Spock were two people from very different worlds that met and overcame their differences and bonded in a very deep way. This was not a romantic relationship but one of deep and meaningful friendship. They would sacrifice and die for each other. That is one the great lessons in TOS: people from very different backgrounds can get along and be friends.
That’s an important message. If you look at what you have in common you can come to understand someone and get along if not become friends. We can overcome our differences if we look at what unites us rather than what separates us. We need more of that in this world and portrayed in media.
Kirk was a farm boy from Riverside, Iowa (though he spent time on the colony Tarsus IV) who dreamed of big adventure among the stars. Despite the portrayal in popular culture, Kirk was an intellectual whose intelligence was coupled with a natural charm and a self-confidence along with a strong moral compass.
Spock was cool, calm and collected. Much like Kirk, he had a moral clarity and a strong sense of right or wrong. He was the son of an ambassador and a schoolteacher and a perpetual outsider on the planet of his birth. He was an individual of deep feeling, like Kirk, but hid it mostly because of his upbringing. Doubt that? Check out “Amok Time” when Spock lets his stoic exterior fall because he sees his Kirk is still alive.
We do not see much of that in television or science fiction or even Star Trek these days. The last time I saw a portrayal of two vastly different individuals become good friends was on DS9 and that was not only Jake Sisko and Nog but Bashir and O’Brien. Neither would have normally gravitated towards another but they found points they could bond over and built from there. Kirk and Spock did it first though.
Star Trek is a universe filled with many messages and many parables. The relationship of Kirk Spock is perhaps one of the best. And one of the most important. And it is something we should try to emulate.
Warren Watched A Movie 
Yeah, it was good writing, and good actors. Out of fashion now, I’m afraid. These days they don’t earn it. Look at that second JJ Abrams Star Trek movie when Kirk sacrifices himself for Spock. It wasn’t earned. Give us a few movies first before you try pulling that trick.
LikeLiked by 1 person