History Main / TheSpock

The Spock maintains audience sympathy by being willing to TakeAThirdOption and also by being [[HeroicSacrifice as ruthless about their own life]] as the lives of his crewmates, [[TheMenFirst if not more so]]. Even better, they are [[StiffUpperLip utterly unflappable]] in the face of serious problems or danger; their friends know that no matter how terrifying or hopeless things get,they will [[NervesOfSteel never lose their cool]] and will not stop working on a solution to save everyone (which TheMcCoy does respect about them). And finally, they are perfectly willing to hear out TheMcCoy.

The Spock's relationship with his crewmates[=/=][[TrueCompanions comrades]] is often tense, because this character type is [[ColdEquation willing and able to ruthlessly consider ethically troubling situations without batting an eye]] -- especially situations where [[WeHaveReserves people might be ordered to die]]. While his counterpart TheMcCoy is interested in doing the right thing regardless of cost, The Spock is more interested in the end result. For him, everyone, ([[TheNeedsOfTheMany including himself]]) is expendable if it is necessary to complete the mission, and he has no problem treating people as such.

The Spock maintains audience sympathy by being willing to TakeAThirdOption and also by being [[HeroicSacrifice as ruthless about his own life]] as the lives of his crewmates, [[TheMenFirst if not more so]]. Even better, he is [[StiffUpperLip utterly unflappable]] in the face of serious problems or danger; his friends know that no matter how terrifying or hopeless things get, he will [[NervesOfSteel never lose his cool]] and will not stop working on a solution to save everyone (which TheMcCoy does respect about him). And finally, he is perfectly willing to hear out TheMcCoy himself.

The Spock will at times become a TinMan, though this varies with the writing, and will often have NoSenseOfHumor. When he has emotion, he may sometimes express it with a FascinatingEyebrow and nothing more. Since SmartPeoplePlayChess, if The Spock plays a game, it will invariably be [[VariantChess a variant of chess]].

The Spock is an archetype that can be loosely summed up as the tendency to apply rules, reason and the greater good to all of his/her decisions -- in other words, a character who will always think before acting. This character can exist by themselves, but more often, they will have [[TheMcCoy a more emotional and humanistic counterpart]] to contrast their decisions. The main difference between the two archetypes is that while TheMcCoy will leap before looking, The Spock's solution to problems will have a balanced and well-thought out approach. When put in a PowerTrio (or FreudianTrio) with TheKirk and TheMcCoy, this character becomes the Superego.

* Dr. Herman Kahn. His works in the 1950s on nuclear war examine the aftermath in extremely dry terms. He was considered a sort of monster by some to actually argue that, while extremely horrible, a nuclear holocaust would not be the end of humanity.

* Franchise/{{Transformers}}: Almost all versions of Shockwave are what you get when this type of character is a villain. Cold, calculating, and unflinching. The [[ComicBook/TheTransformers original comic version]] even decided to overthrow Megatron, because it was the logical thing to do. And later on, he handed back power to Megatron, again because it was perfectly logical for him to do so. Best encapsulated by this quote from [[ComicBook/TheTransformersMegaseries another Shockwave]]:

* [[UsefulNotes/ClassicalMythology Hades]] is usually portrayed as the unemotional ruler who wouldn't allow exceptions to the rules of the Underworld.

* The Treen of ''ComicStrip/DanDare'' are completely emotionless and driven by logic. Sondar, a good Treen, is capable of feeling emotion, but still approaches problems logically.
* While he's the self-styled leader of the ComicBook/FantasticFour, Reed Richards is most comfortable as the thinker of the group. If anyone is TheKirk it's his wife Sue.

* Linus often performs this function for Charlie Brown in ''ComicStrip/{{Peanuts}}''. Likewise Schroeder to Lucy (and occasionally Charlie).

* ComicBook/TheVision of Marvel's ''ComicBook/TheAvengers''. No wonder, he's a robot after all. Partially averted on times, DependingOnTheWriter: he may show human emotions to a high or low extension, or lack them completely.

** Prowl, more so in the comic (which is why it's here). IDW's take [[DeconstructedTrope deconstructs]] this- Prowl's lack of empathy and IDidWhatIHadToDo attitude alienate him from the rest of the Autobots, even those who were previously his friends. During ''ComicBook/TheTransformersRobotsInDisguise'' and ''ComicBook/TheTransformersCombinerWars'', it's show that his "logical" behavior isn't even that logical -- he's motivated as much by a desire for revenge and lingering mental instability over his torture by the Decepticons and being made a part of Devastator.

* Ulquiorra from ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' appears to be a villainous example of this trope- while his comrades generally act like children, he openly describes himself as an emotionless tool for [[BigBad Aizen]] to use as he pleases. The closest he ever comes to showing emotion are several cases where his eyes slightly widen and a single instance where he raises his voice.

---> '''Spock:''' Fascinating. You have an efficient intellect, superior physical skills, no emotional impediments... there are Vulcans who aspire all their lives to achieve what you've been given, by design.

''"[[TheKirk Captain]], the logical course of action in this situation is to let the inhabitants of [[SugarBowl Pupolon]] fend for themselves. We need the [[MacGuffin device]] keeping the planet's orbit stable, or risk endangering the very existence of TheFederation. I am aware of [[TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt the consequences]] for the local population, [[TheMcCoy Doctor]], but simply rushing in to '[[SaveThePrincess save the]] [[TheHighQueen high priestess]]' will leave us open to a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Klingon]] [[InescapableAmbush ambush]] with a [[LudicrousPrecision 78.52% probability]] of [[TotalPartyKill outright destruction]].\\\

%%* Brainiac 5 of DC's ''ComicBook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}''.

When put in a PowerTrio (or FreudianTrio) with TheKirk and TheMcCoy, this character becomes the Superego: a character who will always think before acting. The Spock is an archetype that can be loosely summed up as the tendency to apply rules, reason and the greater good to all of his/her decisions. This character can exist by themselves, but more often, they will have [[TheMcCoy a more emotional and humanistic counterpart]] to contrast their decisions. The main difference between the two archetypes is that while TheMcCoy will leap before looking, The Spock's solution to problems will have a balanced and well-thought out approach.

* Piccolo of ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' became this after CharacterDevelopment. He first appears as a raving, cackling lunatic hell-bent on killing Goku (justified, as he has all his [[BigBad father's]] memories, and is only [[PsychopathicManchild a few years old.]]) Despite that, he was intelligent enough to ally with Goku and kill Raditz. However, when he did kill Goku, the circumstances made him realize that he had no goal afterwards, though he ends up training Gohan. Gohan's large heart helps Piccolo discover his conscience and he ends up becoming TheStrategist of the Z-Fighters though he is still often puzzled by the emotions of his friends and he often decides the smart and pragmatic decision among his comrades. Sometimes, though, he gets angry. Like if [[MoralityPet Gohan]] [[BerserkButton gets hurt.]] Then he goes from being The Spock to a PapaWolf.

* The premise of ''Manga/ScienceFellInLoveSoITriedToProveIt'' is two Spocks (Yukimura and Himuro) falling in love, and attempting to answer the question WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove through [[MeasuringTheMarigolds]] science and statistics.

%%* [[EmotionlessGirl Rei Ayanami]] and [[HotScientist Ritsuko Akagi]] of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion''.

** Michael Burnham ''tries'' to be this in ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'', but is TheMcCoy [[NotSoStoic at heart]]. Saru, meanwhile, tends to be far more calculating, with the explicit goal (at least [[CharacterDevelopment early on]], of avoiding unnecessary risks.

%%* Fate from ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima'' is a villainous version of this.

* In Anime/{{Tamagotchi}}, Mametchi fits this trope, given the fact he's the most intelligent of the group and he makes inventions.

%%* Brainiac 5 of DC's ''Comicbook/{{Legion Of Super-Heroes}}''.

* ''{{Franchise/TheTransformers}}'':

* The ''Naruto'' FanFic ''FanFic/Team8'' puts Shino (along with the rest of the [[FriendToBugs Aburame clan]]) into this role, in contrast to [[HotBlooded Naruto]] and [[TheHeart Hinata]]. However, Shino himself is actually noted to be relatively emotional and expressive compared to the rest of his clan.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles''

** Squall of ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is a rare main character version. [[ChildSoldiers Raised as a mercenary]], he's cynical about how the world works and tries to act solely according to duty rather than emotion. For the first portion of the game he seems like a lone Spock in a team of [[TheMcCoy McCoys]], but much of his CharacterDevelopment is him learning how to healthily feel and express his emotions rather than acting like an automaton until he blows a gasket over, say, the execution of someone he knew from childhood.

[[folder:Web Comics]]

* ''Film/{{Sunshine}}''. When the crew out to save the sun (and the world) are down to five members and their oxygen supply is cut, they realize they only have enough oxygen for four people to make a return trip. Michelle Yeoh doesn't bat an eyelid in suggesting they murder one of their own (whom happened to be already wracked with guilt for a mistake that led them into this predicament in the first place) instead of all five of them dying from lack of oxygen, and it didn't take much convincing for two other crew members to accept the idea.

%%* Naoto Shirogane in ''VideoGame/Persona4''

* Squall of ''Videogame/FinalFantasyVIII'' is a rare main character version. [[ChildSoldiers Raised as a mercenary]], he's cynical about how the world works and tries to act solely according to duty rather than emotion. For the first portion of the game he seems like a lone Spock in a team of [[TheMcCoy McCoys]], but much of his CharacterDevelopment is him learning how to healthily feel and express his emotions rather than acting like an automaton until he blows a gasket over, say, the execution of someone he knew from childhood.

* Jusqua of ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyThe4HeroesOfLight'' thinks that he's this. When Horne is petrified, he doesn't go with Brandt and Yunita because they can find a way to lift the curse. Later, [[SubvertedTrope he faces up to the fact]] that he was actually being immature by snarking at them when he himself was unwilling to try anything he thought he'd fail at.

** ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'' introduces Izuru Kamukura, who makes all of the above look hotheaded. [[spoiler:He used to be a perfectly ordinary guy, until he accepted to subject himself to an operation in order to become as talented as the other Ultimates. The end result: he acquired ''every'' talent, but his memories and emotions are completely gone and he has no drive other than acquire other talents]].

* ''LightNovel/AscendanceOfABookworm'': Ferdinand is very result-oriented and coldly rational to the point of caring more about the results than other people's feelings. He sacrificed the taste of his {{Mana}}-regenerating potions for efficiency to the point that others shudder at the thought of drinking them, while his idea of teaching others about the protagonist's poor health is having them spend time with her until she collapses in front of them. The two childhood companions with whom Ferdinand still spends a decent amount of time grew into a ManChild with a [[TheMcCoy soft-to-a-fault]] side to him, and someone comparatively [[[TheKirk well-balanced in regards to the two other members of the group]].