| 1 | %% Image selected per Image Pickin' thread: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=1548534240086111200 |
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| 4 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/45c6817e_00bf_4a48_af13_6a9f943274b9.png]] |
| 5 | ''[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} A dying planet. A fight for life.]] '''[[Main/SpellMyNameWithAThe The]]''' [[{{TitleDrop}} search for Spock.]]]]'' |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ->'''Sulu:''' The word, sir?\ |
| 8 | '''Kirk:''' The word...is no. I am therefore going anyway. |
| 9 | |
| 10 | [[JustForFun/TheOneWith The one where]] the original CoolStarship ''Enterprise'' is KilledOffForReal. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ''Star Trek III: The Search for Spock'' is the third movie in the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' film series, released in 1984. |
| 13 | |
| 14 | '''Incoming LateArrivalSpoiler''': in ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Spock was killed, meant to be KilledOffForReal. But Nimoy changed his mind and decided he didn't want to leave the series, as working on that film was such a great experience. Thus room was left at the very end of that film for him to come back, and this film was all about this. [[Creator/LeonardNimoy Spock himself]] [[DirectedByCastMember sat in the director's chair]] this time and did so again for the next film. |
| 15 | |
| 16 | You see, Spock put his ''[[OurSoulsAreDifferent katra]]'' into [=McCoy=] before he died, so now the good doctor is SharingABody with the late Science Officer. Now, if only Spock's body could be raised as well. No, wait, his body landed on the Genesis Planet, so now it's a living empty shell! The RapidAging down there means he has to repeatedly go through [[AllPeriodsArePMS Vulcan PMS]] and MateOrDie. Fortunately, Saavik happens to be there. Now, the obvious thing would be to reunite Spock's body and soul, but the {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s say no. The crew [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight sets off for Genesis anyway]], of course, where the Klingons are waiting, headed by [[Creator/ChristopherLloyd Commander Kruge]]. |
| 17 | |
| 18 | Of the six "original cast" films, this one is the closest in style to the original television series: the planets all look like soundstages, it's a goldmine for the [=Kirk/Spock=] shippers, and it ends with Kirk having a manly brawl. Just about the only thing missing is the [[ClothingDamage classic shirt rip]]. |
| 19 | |
| 20 | ''Star Trek III'' is the second part in a loose trilogy arc that began with ''The Wrath of Khan'' and concludes with ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome''. |
| 21 | |
| 22 | ---- |
| 23 | !!Tropes seen in ''The Search for Spock'' include: |
| 24 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 25 | [[folder:Tropes A-M]] |
| 26 | * AccentUponTheWrongSyllable: This is the first ''Star Trek'' production to feature the full Klingon language, and so a lot of the word pronunciations are different to how they would sound in TNG onwards--for example, listen to how Kruge says ''Qapla'' (with a more phonetic sound) just before Torg's boarding party leaves for the ''Enterprise''. The most common explanation for this among fans is that Kruge just has an odd regional accent. |
| 27 | * AccompliceByInaction: David is this in the novel. Whereas the movie has David using the highly unstable protomatter in the Genesis device, the book instead has the rest of the development team using it instead. While David did speak out, Saavik berates him as he ultimately did nothing to stop his colleagues. |
| 28 | * AliensSpeakingEnglish: Although the Klingons are shown speaking their own language at first, [[TranslationConvention for simplicity's sake they speak English to each other]] for the majority of the film. Only [[BigBad Kruge]], Torg, and [[MauveShirt Maltz]] are shown to actually be able to speak English, though. [[spoiler:This becomes a brief plot point when the Klingon troopers board the ''Enterprise'' and don't recognise the computer counting down from 9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...]] |
| 29 | * AllDesertsHaveCacti: One of the indications of the instability of the Genesis planet is patchwork ecosystems in close proximity; a desert region next door to a lush jungle is visually signified not by expanses of sand but rocky terrain and tall cacti, which look eerily beautiful when snowed upon. |
| 30 | * AllThereInTheManual: |
| 31 | ** Kruge's Bird of Prey has more in common style-wise with a Romulan ship (bird-like) versus a Klingon ship (boxy and utilitarian). As a way to use [[invoked]]PropRecycling in the original series an episode suggested a brief Klingon–Romulan treaty where they shared technology and ship designs; it allowed them to represent the Romulans by using a (previously made) Klingon D-7 cruiser. This brief alliance (the two factions are later very antagonistic to each other) is also the source of Klingon cloaking technology and the Bird of Prey ship design first seen in this movie. Incidentally, that ship style became far more recognizable as a Klingon vessel later in the franchise. |
| 32 | ** The novelization reveals that Saavik and David became lovers after the events of ''Star Trek II'', [[spoiler:making his murder doubly tragic and his sacrifice even more meaningful (he gives his life to save the woman he loves when he realizes the Klingon is about to kill her)]]. |
| 33 | ** Sulu's comments about how awesome the ''Excelsior'' is, as well as Scotty calling her a piece of junk, are part of a subplot concerning Sulu being promoted to Captain of the ''Excelsior'' (Styles is in command temporarily until Sulu returns from the training mission). Scotty's comments are good-natured ribbing at Sulu, saying that the new ship is a lemon. |
| 34 | ** ''[[http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Mr._Scott%27s_Guide_to_the_Enterprise Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise'']] states that there are two methods of self-destruct: explosive charges throughout the ship, or warp core overload resulting in a matter-antimatter explosion. The last digit of the self-destruct code determines which method (zero for the charges, one for the warp core). This helps explain Kirk's pause before saying the last "zero": he's deciding which way to go.[[note]]He decides against the matter-antimatter explosion for fear that the blast would destroy the Klingon ship, hoping that his crew would somehow manage to get aboard it after rescuing Spock and Saavik.[[/note]] |
| 35 | ** The Blu-Ray releases include the Library Computer, an interactive database that will appear on screen as the movie plays offering entries on characters, ships, places, etc. with additional information on them. |
| 36 | ** The novelization notes that Torg notices the computer speaking from the moment they beam aboard but dismisses it as a possible human eccentricity, assuming the computer is constantly chiming the time. |
| 37 | * AndStarring: Leonard Nimoy's name doesn't appear in the opening credits, to preserve what surprise there might be about his return; to balance it, the roll of stars at the head of the closing credits ends with "And, as Spock:" followed by the names of all the actors who played the revived Spock and finishing with Nimoy. |
| 38 | * AndTheAdventureContinues: The end caption is exactly these words. |
| 39 | * AssholeVictim: |
| 40 | ** Though no one dies in this case, the ''Excelsior'' and her crew suffer rightly for treating Scotty like crap when he sabotages her experimental transwarp drive and the ''Enterprise'' leaves her in the dust. |
| 41 | ** The Klingon gunner that destroys the USS ''Grissom'' against the wishes of Commander Kruge. Disobedience is one thing, but ''talking back'' at your officer when he tells you off? He just signed his own death warrant. |
| 42 | ** Another non-fatal example: a hulking security guard calls Sulu "tiny" and tries to intimidate him. Sulu [[BewareTheNiceOnes later beats]] [[PintSizedPowerhouse him up]]. |
| 43 | --->'''Sulu:''' Don't call me "Tiny". |
| 44 | * AvengersAssemble: The scene where the crew get back together and beam aboard the ''Enterprise''. |
| 45 | * AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: |
| 46 | ** Spock and Sarek were always at odds with each other, but when T'Lar questions Sarek's logic in resurrecting Spock through fal-tor-pan, Sarek answers, "Forgive me, T'Lar. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned." |
| 47 | ** The same goes for Bones and Spock, but the former gives a quiet little speech to Spock's body that he missed him while the latter was dead. |
| 48 | * BackFromTheDead: Spock. What, did you think they ''weren't'' going to find him? They know where they left him! |
| 49 | * BattleAmongstTheFlames: Kirk vs. Kruge as [[spoiler:Genesis rapidly collapses]] during the film's climax. |
| 50 | * BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: |
| 51 | ** Uhura says [[https://youtu.be/MPQvVBaOx2E?t=35 this word-for-word to her adventure-seeking co-worker in the transporter room,]] moments before shoving him in a closet at phaser-point while she beams the crew to the ''Enterprise''. |
| 52 | ** The freighter captain demands Valkris tell him when he'll gets paid. She replies, "Soon, captain." Guess what happens next? |
| 53 | * BilingualDialogue: Upon his detection of [=McCoy=]'s life signs in Spock's quarters, Chekov exclaims, "I'm not crazy!" in Russian ("Я не сумасшедший!"). |
| 54 | * BittersweetEnding: Yeah, they get Spock back, but [[spoiler:Kirk loses his son David and destroys the ''Enterprise'' in the process, leaving the fate of himself and his immediate crew in serious doubt]]. |
| 55 | * BlownAcrossTheRoom: On the Genesis planet, when Kirk shoots a Klingon with a phaser. |
| 56 | * BodyHorror: Spock's RapidAging is not a pleasant thing to watch. And the screams he yells out add more to the effect of what is happening to him. |
| 57 | * BondVillainStupidity: Kirk asks for a minute to inform his crew of his surrender. Kruge gives him two minutes, more than enough time to first enable [[ISurrenderSuckers the auto-destruct sequence]]. |
| 58 | ** But not enough time to evacuate the hundreds of crew he believed to be on the ship. |
| 59 | * BrandishmentBluff: After the weapons fire exchange between ''Enterprise'' and the Bird of Prey, Kruge is surprised that his ship hasn't been put away, knowing he'd be heavily out-gunned. Of course, ''Enterprise'' had been hobbled since the Bird of Prey's one torpedo shot took out the automation center keeping it running with its skeleton crew. When Kirk comes on and demands a surrender, Kruge determines it is a bluff, and calls it, countering with the surviving ''Grissom'' crew as hostages. |
| 60 | * BrokenAesop: But replaced in a ''good'' way. [[spoiler:Sometimes the needs of the one actually outweigh the needs of the many.]] |
| 61 | * CallBack: Several: |
| 62 | ** Kirk taunts Kruge by communicator, that he'll have "(beam) us up" to the Bird-of-Prey to get "the secret of Genesis". This calls back to the previous film where Kirk taunts Khan by communicator, that Khan will have to "come down here" (to Regula) to get him (Kirk). |
| 63 | ** The destruct sequence used is the same one mentioned in the TOS episode "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E15LetThatBeYourLastBattlefield Let That Be Your Last Battlefield]]". |
| 64 | ** And of course Spock at the end repeating his dying words from the end of ''Film/{{Star Trek II|The Wrath of Khan}}''. |
| 65 | ** Kirk's "how many fingers am I holding up" comment to [=McCoy=] while making a Vulcan Salute could be seen as one to "[[Recap/StarTrekS2E10JourneyToBabel Journey to Babel]]", in which[= McCoy=] has trouble making one. |
| 66 | ** A bit of a BrickJoke also: in ''Wrath of Khan'', after the ''Kobayashi Maru'' scenario, Kirk asserts that Klingons do not take prisoners. In this film, Kruge ordered the attack on the ''Grissom'' with the specific aim of taking prisoners. |
| 67 | *** Was Kirk asserting that they never take prisoners, or recommending to Saavik to pray for a mercifully quick death? "Prayer, Mr. Saavik, that the Klingons don't take prisoners." It is a bit harsher in hindsight when Saavik is indeed taken prisoner by Klingons only several weeks later. |
| 68 | ** Kirk calling Kruge a "fool" might be a call-back to ''[[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Day of the Dove]]'' in which Kang comments that "Only a fool fights in a burning house." |
| 69 | ** In ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', Bones growled at Spock, "You green-blooded, ''inhuman''..." In ''III'', he gets to complete the insult. |
| 70 | --->'''Bones:''' ...Son of a bitch! |
| 71 | ** Like how he was forced to come out of a ThousandYardStare because there was no time to grieve his brother, Kirk has to keep himself from having a breakdown over the loss of his son, because again, there’s just no time. |
| 72 | ** As he's about to leave Genesis, Kirk sees the sun setting. During his eulogy for Spock in the previous movie, Kirk said "this death takes place in the shadow of new life, the sunrise of a new world, a world that our beloved comrade gave his life to protect and nourish.". |
| 73 | ** Saavik described Kirk in the last movie as "so...''human''". In this one, she tells David "You're just like your father. So human." |
| 74 | * CallingTheOldManOut: The novel lengthens the Kirk/Sarek scene, with Kirk ripping into Sarek how he and other Vulcans treated Spock awfully thanks to him being half human. |
| 75 | * CasualDangerDialogue: While Kirk and Kruge are fighting hand to hand on the rapidly disintegrating Genesis planet, Kirk shouts that they'll both die if they don't help each other to escape. Kruge eagerly agrees and calls it exhilarating (since dying while fighting a worthy foe is the most awesome thing a Klingon could ever wish for). |
| 76 | * ChuckCunninghamSyndrome: Carol Marcus disappears entirely after the conclusion of ''Wrath of Khan''. When Kruge watches the report on the Genesis Device, Carol Marcus's lines were re-recorded with Kirk, with the HandWave of Kirk giving a report on the project to Starfleet. In fact, everyone in this film acts like David was solely responsible for Project Genesis, even though Carol seemed to be the lead scientist in the previous movie. The filmmakers have even indicated that part of the reason she was written out was that they didn't want to deal with the implication of her being complicit in the use of protomatter. She would not appear onscreen in ''Star Trek'' again until the inclusion of her younger, alternate self in ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness''. This also means her reaction to David's death was never shown. [[note]]In the novelisations of the films, Carol was away during this film and the next visiting the grieving relatives of her Genesis Project coworkers, characters who were never developed onscreen, and it's during one of those visits that they tell her what happened to David. Kirk did try to contact her himself but was unable to get through.[[/note]] |
| 77 | * ComicBookAdaptation: Creator/DCComics adapted the film, though fans would have to wait until the 2010s for the first part of the trilogy (''Wrath of Khan'') to be made into a comic book.[[labelnote:Explanation]]Creator/MarvelComics first had the license to the franchise when ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture'' was released, but the last issue was released four months before ''Khan'' debuted. DC picked it up in 1984, just before ''Search'' debuted.[[/labelnote]] |
| 78 | * ContinuityNod: |
| 79 | ** Saavik is left hanging on the Genesis planet because Captain Esteban (of the ''Grissom'') wants to do things "by the book". Having learned that lesson last movie, she's almost a PhraseCatcher, there. |
| 80 | ** Some of the patrons at the bar have tribbles. |
| 81 | ** [=McCoy=] asks the katra-less Spock if he could remember, then adds "''Remember''?", which was what Spock told him before bestowing his katra. |
| 82 | * ConverseWithTheUnconscious: [=McCoy=] talking to the unconscious Spock after he's been recovered from Genesis. |
| 83 | -->'''[=McCoy=]''': Spock. For God's sake, talk to me! You stuck this damn thing in my head, remember? Remember? Now tell me what to do with it. Help me. I'm gonna tell you something that... I never thought I'd hear myself say. But it seems that I've missed you. I don't think I could stand to lose you again. |
| 84 | * CoolStarship: |
| 85 | ** Subverted with the cool-looking but utterly useless science vessel ''Grissom'', and the ''Excelsior'', which is intended to be an obnoxious too-modern contrast to the good old ''Enterprise''. She gets RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap a few movies later when [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry Sulu is in the center seat]]. |
| 86 | *** While not as popular, the Oberth-Class has a reasonably large fanbase, with some seeing it as a cool little short-range science ship that keeps getting blown up because it keeps ending up in fights it shouldn't be in. |
| 87 | ** Played straight with the utterly badass Klingon Bird-Of-Prey, and the ''Enterprise'', of course (battle damage be damned). |
| 88 | * CriticalStaffingShortage: Scotty has Jerry-rigged the ship to operate with only five crew members. The ''Enterprise'' is supposed to have a crew of hundreds. At least the automation breaks down later. Scotty says, "The automation system's overloaded. I didn't expect to take us into combat, ya know...!" It's understandable that simply moving in a straight line could be done with a far smaller crew than usually necessary. |
| 89 | * DarkerAndEdgier: The chief reason, according to Harve Bennett, that [[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome the next film]] had to be LighterAndSofter. |
| 90 | * DavidVersusGoliath: |
| 91 | ** The undermanned, still-battle-damaged ''Enterprise'' is basically The Little Starship That Could compared to the big, menacing ''Excelsior''. |
| 92 | ** This is Kruge's gambit when firing upon the ''Enterprise'' when they first meet over the Genesis planet. He is convinced that he is outgunned "ten to one" and is flabbergasted that the ''Enterprise'' didn't finish him off after the opening salvo. He doesn't realize that one shot was enough to disable her completely. |
| 93 | * TheDayTheMusicLied: The Transwarp sequence has all of these awesome, booming drums and trumpets as it's getting ready to pull off the maneuver, and the second the order is given to "execute", it dies out except for the sounds of strings that you can barely hear under the malfunctioning computer. |
| 94 | * DeathByDespair: It was hinted at in the movie, confirmed by the novel version, that part of Kirk wanted to kill himself after Spock died, noting that the Vulcan wouldn’t care if essentially cremated or buried, but Kirk wanted the flames for himself, in an IronicEcho to “Amok Time” when Spock says he shall neither live long or prosper after thinking he killed Kirk. |
| 95 | * DeathIsCheap: Undoubtedly the filmmakers must have known that once they decided to bring back Spock that it would undermine the emotion of his HeroicSacrifice from the previous film, and with it the theme of how despite his greatness Kirk can't always save everyone, which would probably explain why [[spoiler:they killed off Kirk's son David and destroyed the ''Enterprise'', in order to balance out Spock's return and retain the theme of Kirk's fallibility]]. |
| 96 | * DemotedToExtra: Uhura, for most of the film. Combined with [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter They Wasted a Perfectly Good Character]]. Mind you, her big scene in the transporter room is [[Awesome/StarTrekIIITheSearchforSpock pretty awesome]], but there is literally no reason for it ending with her being left behind other then that they didn't need her character for the rest of the film. The previous film, when everyone beams from Regula I to the caves inside Regula while leaving no one behind, shows that transporters can be operated on a time delay. This very film later also shows this, as none of the ''Enterprise'' crew remain behind when they beam off (while simultaneously beaming the Klingons aboard) before ''Enterprise's'' self-destruct. So there is ''no'' reason Uhura couldn't have put a short time delay on the transporter and joined everyone else on their mission to Genesis. (Fortunately, she rejoins them just before the end of this film, so that she can be along for [[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome the next one]].) The film's novelization gives Uhura a little more to do, as she scrambles Starfleet's communication channels during the ''Enterprise'' theft, hightails it to the Vulcan embassy on Earth, and joins Sarek in convincing the Vulcan government to pre-emptively grant Kirk and crew asylum there, instead of just handing them over to Starfleet authorities when they arrive. |
| 97 | ** Creator/GraceLeeWhitney appears at Spacedock when ''Enterprise'' arrives. She is only credited as "Woman in Cafeteria". Common fan canon has her as actually being Janice Rand. |
| 98 | *** The fact that she is there at all is due to Nimoy putting her there. Bennett had neglected to include her in the film. |
| 99 | * {{Desaturation}}: The pre-titles opening sequence replays spoiler:Spock's death and funeral from ''Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan'', initially greyed out before gradually becoming colorful again. |
| 100 | * DisneyVillainDeath: Kirk and Kruge end up fighting on the edge of an abyss opened up in the surface of the dying planet. Kruge goes over the edge and falls to his death. |
| 101 | * DramaticSitDown: Kirk stumbles backward in horrified, debilitating shock when [[spoiler:his son David Marcus]] is killed, [[PeopleFallOffChairs misses the command chair]], and falls to the floor. |
| 102 | -->'''Kirk (sitting slumped on the floor in front of the chair):''' You Klingon bastard, you killed my son. Oh! (breaks down crying) [[InelegantBlubbering You Klingon]] '''''[[InelegantBlubbering bastard]]''''', [[InelegantBlubbering you...]] '''''[[InelegantBlubbering killed]]''''' [[InelegantBlubbering my]] '''''[[InelegantBlubbering son]]'''''! ...You Klingon '''''bastard'''''. |
| 103 | * DroppedABridgeOnHim: The death of [[spoiler:Kirk's son, David Marcus]] is fairly...''abrupt'', all things considered, and happens without much lead-in or foreshadowing. It doesn't even get really strongly referenced until ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry three]]'' movies later. At least he got a better deal than his trope-naming [[Film/StarTrekGenerations father]]. |
| 104 | * EarthShatteringKaboom: Genesis Planet–shattering kaboom, anyway. Turns out the planet is unstable, and shatters itself within weeks of its creation. |
| 105 | * EightiesHair: Robin Curtis's (Saavik) bouffant-like perm/mullet hairstyle. |
| 106 | * EmptyChairMemorial: During Kirk's log entry, he paces the bridge, briefly stopping to pat the empty science station chair Spock previously occupied. Chekov is clearly reluctant to sit there when ordered. |
| 107 | * EndOfAnAge: [[spoiler:Although the original crew still lives, the ''Enterprise'' is destroyed during a self-destruct sequence initiated by Kirk, Scotty, and Chekov, in order for them to transport to safety. But not without taking a few Klingons with her]]. |
| 108 | * EpiphanyTherapy: Subverts it from the previous film, as no, a WistfulSmile and a brief moment of appreciating that you’re still alive, doesn’t magically stop a breakdown about feeling your age and your best friend dying. |
| 109 | * EvenEvilHasStandards: Kruge is brutal and cold-blooded, but prefers taking prisoners instead of destroying ships ([[PragmaticVillainy though probably just so he can get information or hold them hostage]]). |
| 110 | * EvilCannotComprehendGood: Kruge can only understand the Genesis Device as a weapon of mass destruction. His paranoid and violent relationship with his crew is the polar opposite of the friendship and loyalty among Kirk's. |
| 111 | * ExplosiveInstrumentation: |
| 112 | ** When Kruge's bird-of-prey is hit, sparks fly all over TheBridge, killing his pet targ. |
| 113 | ** When the ''Enterprise'' is hit, an explosion knocks Kirk to the deck and Scotty's console bursts into sparks before going dead. |
| 114 | * FaceDeathWithDignity: |
| 115 | ** Valkris makes no attempt to beg for her life or flee when she realizes Kruge is going to kill her for seeing the Genesis data. |
| 116 | ** Saavik, knowing that the Klingons are going to execute her, doesn't even blink [[spoiler:until David performs his HeroicSacrifice and dies in her place]]. |
| 117 | * FamilyUnfriendlyDeath: |
| 118 | ** David getting stabbed has a NothingIsScarier feel because of the GoryDiscretionShot. |
| 119 | ** While not human, the snake-like creature which attacks Kruge gets crushed to pulp by his hands. |
| 120 | ** The disintegration effect of the Klingon disruptor is a ''lot'' nastier than the usual "turn into a glowing silhouette and vanish" in other ''Trek'' shows. |
| 121 | * {{Fanservice}}: Valkris wears a silvery outfit with a plunging neckline that barely contains her ample bosom. |
| 122 | * FanserviceExtra: All the female Vulcan acolytes during the Fal-Tor-Pan ritual are wearing... somewhat sheer outfits, and apparently no bra from the looks of it. |
| 123 | * {{Flanderization}}: Metatextual example. Kirk actually spends the series as a RuleAbidingRebel -- [[TakeAThirdOption Taking Third Options]], yes, but not necessarily breaking laws or crossing rules. His reputation within popular culture as a MilitaryMaverick descends almost entirely from his actions in this film -- which, given that one of his best friends is dead and the other has become that first friend's SoulJar and he has to fix it, can be safely described as "outside what's covered by the rules."[[note]](The "Kirk disregards rules" reputation was further cemented with General Chang's description of Kirk during the [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry ST6 courtroom scene]]: ''This officer's record shows him to be an insubordinate, unprincipled, career-minded...'''opportunist'''! With a '''history''' of violating the chain-of-command, '''whenever it suited him'''!'' Chang was purposely (and grossly) exaggerating Kirk's actions to discredit him in front of the Klingon court.)[[/note]] |
| 124 | * ForegoneConclusion: Let's face it, when your movie is called ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin The Search for Spock]]'', it's not going to end with Admiral Kirk turning to the viewers and saying ''"Sorry folks, we didn't find him."'' As Creator/WilliamShatner put it, if they had done so, "people would have thrown rocks at the screen." |
| 125 | * {{Foreshadowing}}: Sulu seems to admire ''Excelsior''. He would eventually become its Captain in ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry''.[[note]]The novelization explains that Sulu is already slated to become Captain of ''Excelsior'' but throws that away to go rescue Spock. It is several years later that he is finally able to take command.[[/note]] |
| 126 | * FlyingCutlerySpaceship: Of course the Klingon Bird of Prey, which debuted as the villain Kruge's warship. Arguably this is where the trope originated. Compared to the more recent examples on this list, Kruge's Bird of Prey was actually rather tame, but it did have cool moving wings with disruptor cannons on the tips. Also, unlike most of the ships on this list, Kruge's ship was an actual physical model, not a CGI mashup. |
| 127 | * GiveMeAReason: |
| 128 | ** After Kruge executes a mook [[YouHaveFailedMe for failing him]], his second officer asks for his attention while he's still in full bloodlust mode. Fortunately for Torg, he points out the survivors on the planet (Saavik and David), giving Kruge the prisoners he desired. |
| 129 | --->'''Kruge:''' ''Say the wrong thing,'' Torg!! |
| 130 | * GoneHorriblyRight: Kruge orders his gunner to target the ''Grissom's'' engines, with the plan to take the crew captive, but the entire ship explodes. Kruge is not amused by the explanation that it was a lucky shot. |
| 131 | ** The precense of the ''Grissom'' itself is also an example as, due to an agreement between the Klingons and the Federation, it was sent to investigate Genesis due to it being a short range ship with practically zero armament, meaning that it could only be there for a limited science mission with no chance of laying claim militarily (and it being such a weak ship meant that it wouldn't be attacked by the more prideful Klingon commanders). Unfortunately, Kruge showed up with a different plan in mind. |
| 132 | * GoryDiscretionShot: |
| 133 | ** When [[spoiler:David]] is stabbed to death, the fatal blow ends up just off the bottom of the frame. |
| 134 | ** Averted to hell and back with the gunner who destroyed the ''Grissom''. While there is no gore, we see him ''burn to death from the inside out''. |
| 135 | * GroinAttack: Kirk pulls one on Kruge when Kruge pushes him against a rock and starts to choke him. |
| 136 | * GutPunch: David's murder. It's stark and brutal, and the film up til then had been a fun little jaunt with comedic action and scenes with each of the characters having their own little moments. Then David's stabbed in the heart and ''everything'' after that becomes a ''lot'' more brooding and dark as Kirk begins to lose ''everything''. |
| 137 | ** And then the destruction of the ''Enterprise'' itself. David had only been around since the previous film. The ''Enterprise'' had been around for (at the time) ''almost twenty years!'' |
| 138 | * HamToHamCombat: [[Creator/WilliamShatner Shatner]] versus [[Creator/ChristopherLloyd Lloyd]], figuratively and literally. The acting and fight choreography are so over the top that an entire planet is destroyed. |
| 139 | * HellBentForLeather: The uniforms worn by Kruge and his men look like they were designed by Gene Simmons. |
| 140 | ** Kirk, Sulu, and Chekov wear some snazzy leather jackets with their civilian outfits. Kirk removes his jacket to cover [[spoiler:David's body]]. |
| 141 | * HeroicBSOD: |
| 142 | ** Kirk when [[spoiler:his son David is killed]] and arguably again with a literal MyGodWhatHaveIDone while watching [[spoiler:the wreck of the ''Enterprise'' burning up in the Genesis planet's atmosphere]] |
| 143 | ** This entire movie is a long string of {{Heroic BSOD}}s for Kirk. He starts the movie with the one he suffered from Spock's death in ''Wrath of Khan'', has a short one when he hears the ''Enterprise'' is due for decommission, and the above mentioned two. Kirk's really [[EarnYourHappyEnding earning the happy ending]], and facing down situations he's so used to cheating his way out of. |
| 144 | * HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:David Marcus]] jumps in the way of a Klingon about to execute Saavik. She is spared because one dead hostage is as good as another, to them. |
| 145 | * HeyThatsMyLine: Bones encounters an alien in a bar with an unusual speaking pattern. |
| 146 | -->'''Big-Eared Alien:''' To your planet, welcome!\ |
| 147 | '''Bones:''' I believe that's ''my'' line, stranger. |
| 148 | * HopeSpot: ''Enterprise'' looks like she scored a CurbStompBattle against Kruge's bird-of-prey -- and then Scotty's automation system gets overloaded, her DeflectorShields conk out and one well-aimed torpedo from Kruge's gunner disables her. |
| 149 | * HostileTerraforming: Kruge refers to the Genesis Device as a "Doomsday Weapon", and he wants it for that reason. |
| 150 | * HowManyFingers: Kirk asks [=McCoy=] this as he gives him the Vulcan salute. |
| 151 | -->'''[=McCoy=]:''' That's not very damn funny. |
| 152 | * IAmXSonOfY: During the fal-tor-pan ritual, Sarek is addressed as "Sarek, child of Skon". When it comes time for [=McCoy=] to step forward and do his bit, he introduces himself as "[=McCoy=], Leonard H., son of David." |
| 153 | * IAmYourOpponent: Kruge, to Kirk. Literally a line in the movie: "Admiral Kirk. This is your opponent speaking!" |
| 154 | * ICantBelieveImSayingThis: Towards the end, as [=McCoy=] is speaking to the Katra-less Spock: |
| 155 | -->'''[=McCoy=]:''' I'm gonna tell you something that I... never thought I'd ever hear myself say. But it seems I've... missed you. And I don't know if I could stand to lose you again. |
| 156 | * ILied: When the captured Maltz declares he doesn't deserve to live, Kirk promises to kill him later (let's get away from the exploding planet first). When Maltz demands he make good on it, Kirk has him taken away. |
| 157 | --> '''Maltz:''' You said you would kill me.\ |
| 158 | '''Kirk:''' I lied. |
| 159 | * InvisibilityCloak: While cloaking technology was used in the Original Series, this movie gave it the ripple effect that has greatly influenced the way VisibleInvisibility is portrayed in media. Although here it is a plot point, as Kirk recognizes something is wrong when they reach the Genesis Planet and is able to [[InvisibilityFlicker visually point out where the ship is]]. |
| 160 | -->'''Kirk:''' There! That distortion, see it?\ |
| 161 | '''Sulu:''' Yes, sir. It's getting larger as we close in.\ |
| 162 | '''Kirk:''' Opinion, Mr. Sulu?\ |
| 163 | '''Sulu:''' I think it's an energy surge.\ |
| 164 | '''Kirk:''' Enough energy to hide a ship, Mr. Sulu?\ |
| 165 | '''Sulu:''' A cloaking device. |
| 166 | * IronicEcho: "Ship, out of danger?": |
| 167 | ** ''The Wrath of Khan'': Spock asks this with his dying breath to Kirk, having just done a repair job that exposed him to lethal amounts of radiation in order to save the ''Enterprise'' and all of its crew. |
| 168 | ** This film: Spock asks this again after being brought back to life, unaware initially that the ''Enterprise'' was destroyed in a gambit against the Klingons. In a way, the answer is yes, as self-destructing the ship prevented it from falling into enemy hands which would've been a far worse fate for it and the Federation. |
| 169 | * IWillFindYou: Once Kirk and company hear that Spock could be brought BackFromTheDead, they spend the rest of the film endeavoring to do just that. |
| 170 | * JustBetweenYouAndMe: |
| 171 | -->'''Kruge:''' ''(whispering in Torg's ear)'' Share this with ''no one''. |
| 172 | -->'''Torg:''' ''(whispering)'' ''Understood'', my lord! |
| 173 | * LargeHam: Christopher Lloyd in full ChewingTheScenery mode. So much so that Dom Irrera in his standup act thought that Lloyd was doing his other famous role: "Kirk, you don't want to give me the Genesis device? ''[[Series/{{Taxi}} Hokey-doke!]]''" |
| 174 | * LikeFatherUnlikeSon: The fate of David Marcus is a chilling reminder that just because you're the son of one of the most badass officers in the history of Starfleet, that doesn't mean that you'll inherit those great qualities that, with training and experience, helped make your famous father the badass he is. |
| 175 | * LittleNo: Echoed from [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan the previous movie]], when Sarek leads Kirk (or vice versa) through the memory of Spock's death. |
| 176 | * MagicCountdown: The ''Enterprise'''s 60-second countdown to self-destruct lasts 100 seconds on-screen, and even that is compressed to exclude people moving around. |
| 177 | * MagicalSecurityCam: When Kirk watches security footage of Spock's final moments to figure out who he might have given his katra to, it's footage taken from the previous movie, complete with dramatic pans and camera angles. |
| 178 | * ManlyTears: |
| 179 | ** Kirk cries quietly while Sarek is reliving Spock’s death with him, almost instantly after “he asked you not to grieve”. |
| 180 | ** He cries again after the Klingons [[spoiler:kill David]]. |
| 181 | * MateOrDie: Vulcan ''pon farr'' is normally a once-every-seven-years deal, but Spock experiences it multiple times as he undergoes RapidAging. Saavik has to make sure it's "mate" and not "die." |
| 182 | * MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: A number of aspects of the movie play with this, even though this is science fiction. |
| 183 | ** Spock's ''katra'' (speaking through [=McCoy=]) asks why Kirk left him on Genesis. The ''katra'' has no obvious way of knowing that Spock's body is there, as he was given a standard space burial. That the torpedo casing soft-landed, and that Genesis regenerated Spock's body, come as a surprise even to David and Saavik when they are investigating the planet. This implies that the ''katra'' is not merely a bunch of transferred memories, but an actual ''soul'' with awareness that its body is still alive. |
| 184 | ** When the Vulcan priestess T'Lar begins the ''fal-tor-pan'' ritual, lightning dramatically flashes. This could just be a coincidence of timing and the volatile Vulcan weather, or representative of her doing something with larger metaphysical impact than a simple mind meld. |
| 185 | * MeaningfulEcho: Kirk and Spock’s seeing each other again echoes the end of “Amok Time”, with Kirk in the position of grinning to see Spock alive. |
| 186 | * MeaningfulFuneral: The book has an extra wake for Spock and the trainees who died, and it’s a pathetic mess, Kirk getting (rightfully) rejected by Carol when he’s OnTheRebound, Scotty getting wasted out of his grief for his nephew, Spock’s Katra already causing issues for Bones and Saavik finding it all humiliating. |
| 187 | * MoodWhiplash: The ''Enterprise'' torpedoing Kruge's bird-of-prey is played as a triumphant moment, largely courtesy of James Horner and his BGM -- and then the bird-of-prey recovers while the ''Enterprise'' basically shuts down, her automation system overloaded. Cue OhCrap moment as Kruge fires a single torpedo that fully disables the ''Enterprise''. |
| 188 | * MourningAnObject: [[spoiler:Kirk uses the Self-Destruct Mechanism to destroy the Enterprise along with the Klingons who have boarded her. As what's left of her burns up in the atmosphere of the Genesis planet, Kirk watches with a heartbroken look on his face.]] |
| 189 | * MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Kirk despairs when he has to sacrifice the ''Enterprise''. |
| 190 | -->'''Kirk:''' My God, Bones, what have I done?\ |
| 191 | '''[=McCoy=]:''' [[YouDidTheRightThing What you had to do. What you always do...]] [[TheDeterminator turn death into a fighting chance to live.]] |
| 192 | * MyGreatestFailure: David feels this, on using protomatter for the Genesis matrix. |
| 193 | [[/folder]] |
| 194 | |
| 195 | [[folder:Tropes N-Z]] |
| 196 | * TheNeedsOfTheMany: {{Inverted}} by Kirk. |
| 197 | -->'''Kirk:''' Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many. |
| 198 | * NervesOfSteel: In the GiveMeAReason moment above, Torg calmly explains to Kruge that there are lifesigns on the planet that could mean potential prisoners, placating Kruge. You get the impression he's dealt with such mood swings before. |
| 199 | * NeuroVault: It turns out Spock implanted his soul/essence/memories in [=McCoy=] at the end of the previous film, just before his HeroicSacrifice. |
| 200 | * NeverTrustATrailer: Despite the notorious case of TrailersAlwaysSpoil that occurred when the destruction of the ''Enterprise'' was shown, it at least didn't reveal ''how'' the ship was destroyed, and was edited in such a way that it implied the ''Enterprise'' was destroyed outright by the Klingon Bird-of-Prey, instead of being hopelessly crippled and then destroyed via the SelfDestructMechanism. |
| 201 | * NoNameGiven: |
| 202 | ** The lieutenant who Uhura drives into the closet is just called "Mr. Adventure" in the credits. |
| 203 | ** [[InvokedTrope Invoked]] by Kruge, whose name is only spoken once in the film (by Valkris), when he refuses to give his name to Kirk. |
| 204 | * NoSell: Immediately after being almost strangled to death by a mutated snake-like creature, Kruge calmly reports to the ship that they haven't found anything significant as of yet. |
| 205 | * NotHowImDyingDeclaration: A more somber version. The ''Enterprise'' has been crippled by a shot from Kruge's ''Bird-of-Prey'', and Kruge is demanding their surrender. Kirk quietly tells his friends "I swear to you, we're not finished." He then comes up with a plan to take out the Klingon crew while saving his own, activating the ''Enterprise's'' self-destruct mechanism and then beaming out just as the Klingons are beaming in. |
| 206 | * NotNamedInOpeningCredits: William Shatner. [[spoiler: Leonard Nimoy.]] [=DeForest=] Kelley. Rest of the cast. ([[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by a slightly longer than normal gap between when Shatner's name fades and Kelly's appears.) |
| 207 | * NotSoStoic: Sarek. Despite his differences with Spock, and his own strict Vulcan beliefs, he is still a grieving and anguished father who just lost his son. When he goes to pay Kirk a visit, he checks logic at the door and demands answers. He then requests that T'Lar perform a mythical and dangerous procedure to reunite Spock's mind with his body. |
| 208 | -->'''T'Lar:''' Your request is not logical.\ |
| 209 | '''Sarek:''' Forgive me, T'Lar. My logic is uncertain where my son is concerned. |
| 210 | * NowYouTellMe: |
| 211 | -->'''[=McCoy=]:''' Hell of a time to ask. |
| 212 | * ObstructiveBureaucrat: Admiral Morrow. It's established that he and Kirk are old friends, but Morrow still refuses to help. Kirk is "therefore going anyway". |
| 213 | * OhCrap: |
| 214 | ** When Kruge hears the SelfDestructMechanism on the ''Enterprise'' counting down, he yells at his men, '''"GET OUT! GET OUT OF THERE! GET OUT!"''' Too late, though. |
| 215 | ** When Kruge's pet growls loudly as he's walking away, Kruge spins and tells one of the crewmembers, "Feed him!" Cue a frightened look on the crewmember. |
| 216 | ** Scotty and Chekov jump in surprise when Kirk starts up the self-destruct sequence, realizing how serious he is. |
| 217 | * OneHitKill: Kruge's Bird-of-Prey destroys the ''Grissom'' with one torpedo, which actually pisses him off. |
| 218 | --> '''Kruge:''' I wanted prisoners!\ |
| 219 | '''Gunner:''' A lucky shot, sir...\ |
| 220 | '''Kruge:''' ''(pulls out a disruptor and vaporizes the gunner)'' Animal. |
| 221 | * OneSteveLimit: Averted, which might confuse casually watching viewers who see a character named David and identified as Kirk's son die, then 20 minutes later hear Bones identify himself as '[=McCoy=], Leonard; son of David'. |
| 222 | * OutlivingOnesOffspring: Kirk, after David's murder. |
| 223 | ** Subverted for Sarek, when he gets his son back. |
| 224 | * PainlessDeathForAPrice: Zigzagged. When Kirk and Spock are beamed aboard the Klingon Bird of Prey, Kirk holds the sole Klingon left aboard, Maltz, at phaser point and tells him, "You, help us or die." Maltz replies, [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy "I do not deserve to live."]] An exasperated Kirk merely says, "Fine, I'll kill you later." Naturally, to Maltz's chagrin, Kirk reneges on that promise. |
| 225 | -->'''Maltz''': Wait! You said you would kill me. |
| 226 | -->'''Kirk''': ILied. |
| 227 | * PapaWolf: [[spoiler: Forget the "wrath of Khan", Kirk's fury over David's murder is such that he's willing to destroy the Enterprise to gain revenge against Kruge.]] |
| 228 | * ThePasswordIsAlwaysSwordfish: The final password for the self-destruct is 0-0-0-Destruct-0. Granted, it's the fourth password of a set of four, and the encryption is tied to voice recognition, but still. |
| 229 | ** Also, the self-destruct passwords apparently haven't been changed for years -- they're the same ones used in [[Recap/StarTrekS3E15LetThatBeYourLastBattlefield "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield"]]. The only thing that apparently changed was that the time interveal was changed from 30 to 60 seconds. |
| 230 | * PatchworkMap: It's actually {{lampshaded}} as a sign that something isn't right with the Genesis planet. |
| 231 | --> '''David:''' All the varieties of land and weather known to Earth within a few hours' walk. |
| 232 | * PeopleFallOffChairs: Kirk, a moment after he's blindsided with notification that his son David is dead. The script called for him to slump into his chair, but after a misstep caused Shatner to miss, [[ThrowItIn they changed it]] for the extra pathos of the normally unflappable Kirk being devastated. |
| 233 | * PintSizedPowerhouse: Hikaru Sulu (played by 5'6" George Takei) single-handedly disarms a security guard twice his size, with a judo drop. |
| 234 | * PrecisionFStrike: |
| 235 | ** The scene [[spoiler:where David dies.]] |
| 236 | ** See SharingABody, and you'll see [=McCoy=]'s always had a pretty foul mouth. |
| 237 | * PreviouslyOn: The movie opens with clips from the last movie showing Spock's death and BurialInSpace, serving as the equivalent of a "Previously on" segment (even if those words aren't actually spoken). |
| 238 | * PunctuatedPounding: "I... have had... enough of YOU!" |
| 239 | * RapidAging: Said word-for-word by [=McCoy=], about Spock, on the Genesis planet. |
| 240 | * ReasonableRequestRejected: Starfleet, apparently, has more than a few {{Obstructive Bureaucrat}}s: |
| 241 | ** When Sarek explains about Spock's katra to Kirk, Kirk goes to Starfleet Command, specifically Admiral Morrow, and makes an earnest request to be allowed to return to Planet Genesis to retrieve Spock's body to fulfill Sarek's request. Because of the controversy surrounding the Genesis Project and its potential to be misused as a weapon, as well as the controversy regarding its [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan inadvertent deployment]], Kirk is denied permission. He tells his crew, [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight "The word is 'no'. I am therefore going, anyway."]] |
| 242 | ** When Saavik and David find the rejuvenated Spock on Planet Genesis, they request permission to beam him aboard the U.S.S. Grissom. Captain J.T. Estaban, who is strictly "by the book" insists on contacting Starfleet Command for instructions on the matter. He agrees that Starfleet would probably approve, but he's not taking any chances. Ironically, this action saves Saavik and Spock, and gives David a little longer to live, as this is when the Klingons decide to show up, and the gunner disobeys an order to target the engines only, wiping out the whole ship. |
| 243 | * RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: The freighter captain gets "paid" by Kruge. |
| 244 | * RecycledSoundtrack: In a particularly shameless example even for Music/JamesHorner, the movie's end credits music is ''exactly the same'' as [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan the previous one's]]. |
| 245 | * RepayingForTheOne: This movie is the partial namer for this trope. Kirk and Company sacrifice so much to bring Spock's body and mind back together, [[spoiler:including self-destructing the Enterprise, and David Marcus' death.]] As Kirk explains to Spock when he's whole again: |
| 246 | --->'''Kirk:''' ...Because the needs of the one... outweighed the needs of the many. |
| 247 | * RewindReplayRepeat: How Kirk realizes Spock mind-melded with [=McCoy=]. |
| 248 | * [[RightHandAttackDog Right Hand Snarling Monster]]: Kruge has one. It doesn't do much but it still scares the crap out of the rest of his crew. |
| 249 | * SaveTheVillain: Subverted. Kirk does try to save Kruge from falling to his death, but the latter uses the opportunity to try and kill them both. Cue Kirk kicking Kruge away and sending him plummeting into the lava below. |
| 250 | * ScottyTime: Lampshaded when Scotty tells Kirk that refit will take "eight weeks, sir. But you don't have eight weeks, so I'll do it for you in two." Kirk asks if he multiplies all estimates by four. Scott says he has to, "how else would I keep up my reputation as a miracle worker?" |
| 251 | * ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: |
| 252 | ** Kirk and friends steal the ''Enterprise'' and defy Starfleet orders to not return to the Genesis planet in order to rescue Spock. |
| 253 | --->'''Sulu:''' The word, sir?\ |
| 254 | '''Kirk:''' The word is "no." I am therefore going anyway. |
| 255 | ** This becomes an ongoing plot thread. The moment in Spacedock where Chekov says "Commander Starfleet on emergency channel. He orders you to surrender this vessel," and Kirk scoffs, "No reply, Chekov," is the sole reason Kirk ends up being [[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome demoted later on,]] and one of the key elements Chang uses against him at a trial, [[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry many years after the fact.]] |
| 256 | ** PlayedForDrama as Kirk is almost about to warp away, and the Captain of ''Excelsior'' tells him over the communicator, "Kirk, you do this, they'll never let you sit in a captain's chair again." You can ''see'' Kirk weigh ''exactly'' how much command of a starship means to him versus the life of his best friend, then make the only decision he can. "Warp speed." |
| 257 | * SelfDestructMechanism: Once again, the ''Enterprise'''s is activated. This time, however, it's not cancelled at the last second. [[spoiler: The first set of explosions kill the Klingon boarding party then blow up the bridge dome. Then charges start going off in the saucer section, causing the saucer section to begin breaking apart before another more powerful set of explosions rip off about 3/4 of the saucer section. What's left of the ''Enterprise'' is unable to maintain orbit and is pulled in the Genesis Planet's atmosphere, burning up in the process.]] |
| 258 | -->'''Kirk:''' [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone My God, Bones, what have I done?]] |
| 259 | * SentimentalSacrifice: A doozy of one; the ''Enterprise'' herself is self-destructed so that the Klingons can't get her. This is the same ship that, on [[Recap/StarTrekS1E4TheNakedTime multiple]] [[Recap/StarTrekS3E13ElaanOfTroyius occasions]], has been treated [[CargoShip almost the same]] as a LoveInterest for Kirk. |
| 260 | * SeriesContinuityError: |
| 261 | ** In an early episode of ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'', Spock tells Uhura "Vulcan has no moon" in response to her flirting. However, ''Star Trek III'' shows a massive "moon" in the Vulcan sky. {{Justified|Trope}} in that it's so big, in fact, that [[FridgeBrilliance Vulcan does not technically have a moon;]] Vulcan is a binary planet. [[ExactWords This specificity]] is quite within [[LiteralMinded Vulcan character.]] |
| 262 | ** Admiral Morrow mentions that the ''Enterprise'' is 20 years old as justification for its decommissioning. This is more of an out-and-out error in retrospect, with later entries in the franchise putting the ship's age at nearer 45 years at the time of its destruction. However, Morrow's figure is still incongruous with the bits and pieces of the ship's age that have been implied until this point[[note]](Spock having served under Pike for over a decade, followed by at least one, probably two five-year missions under Kirk either side of an 18-month refit, followed by several years as an Academy training vessel. And that's assuming that, as most people did at the time, you file ''WesternAnimation/StarTrekTheAnimatedSeries'' under CanonDiscontinuity; if you include that series, there's Robert April's captaincy to consider as well)[[/note]], which put the age of the ''Enterprise'' much nearer 30 years than 20. |
| 263 | * SharingABody: Having Spock's ''katra'' in [=McCoy=]'s head amounts to this, until Spock can get it back. |
| 264 | -->'''[=McCoy=]:''' That green-blooded sonuvabitch. It's his revenge for all those arguments he lost. |
| 265 | * SheKnowsTooMuch: Kruge clearly doesn't want to kill Valkris, but doesn't hesitate. Neither does she. |
| 266 | -->'''Valkris:''' Transmission completed... You will find it useful.\ |
| 267 | '''Kruge:''' ''[shocked]'' Then you have seen it?\ |
| 268 | '''Valkris:''' I have, my lord.\ |
| 269 | '''Kruge:''' Unfortunate.\ |
| 270 | '''Valkris:''' ''[{{beat}}]'' Understood. |
| 271 | * ShootTheHostage: The freighter captain probably thought he was safe so long as Kruge's romantic partner was on board his ship. |
| 272 | -->'''Freighter Captain:''' What's going on?! When do I get paid off?\ |
| 273 | '''Valkris:''' ''(coolly)'' Soon, captain. |
| 274 | * ShoutOut: |
| 275 | ** The seedy bar [=McCoy=] goes to is pretty clearly inspired by the [[Film/ANewHope Mos Eisley Cantina]], complete with a smuggler for hire (who [[StrangeSyntaxSpeaker talks like]] a bad Yoda impression). |
| 276 | ** The ''Grissom'' is named after UsefulNotes/GusGrissom, one of the astronauts who died in the Apollo I accident in 1967. Its type, Oberth class, is named for German physicist Hermann Oberth, one of the founding fathers of rocketry and astronautics. |
| 277 | * SmugSnake: The Captain of the ''Excelsior''. That said, he does go out of his way to warn Kirk about what he's about to do. How much of that is respect to Kirk, if at all, and how much his overconfidence in the ''Excelsior'' is arguable. |
| 278 | ** Even more amusing is that, even IF Scotty had not sabotaged its transwarp drive, later materials reveal that it wouldn't have worked anyway. The idea was scrapped and ''Excelsior's'' warp drive was replaced with the standard one by the time Sulu took command years later. |
| 279 | * SpaceClothes: Mostly averted, continuing from the previous film, but there are some glaring exceptions, such as the bar waitress's "Space leotard", and the security guards have outfits so ridiculous they look like intentional parodies of this trope. |
| 280 | * SpaceFriction: When the ''Excelsior'' breaks down, it grinds to a halt relative to Spacedock. |
| 281 | * SparingTheFinalMook: Much to the chagrin of Maltz, the last member of the Klingon crew, Kirk opts to spare him, even though Maltz wishes for nothing more than to die for his failure at that point. |
| 282 | * SpoilerCover: Almost happened. Leonard Nimoy has afterwards told that the marketing department wanted to include a destroyed Enterprise on the film's poster, but he managed to push back on that as the director and leave the scene as a shocking surprise. |
| 283 | * SpoilerOpening: Averted. In the opening credits, there's an extra long pause between Creator/WilliamShatner and Creator/DeForestKelley's names, where Creator/LeonardNimoy's name usually appears. |
| 284 | * SpoilerTitle: The fact Spock is actually still alive isn't confirmed until a ways into the movie; the moment the film's title was announced officially gave away the fact that Spock was returning. |
| 285 | * StaffOfAuthority: Captain Styles of the USS ''Excelsior'' is often seen carrying a swagger stick. |
| 286 | * TheStateless: Kirk fears this may happen to the barebones ''Enterprise'' crew for hijacking the ship. |
| 287 | -->'''Kirk:''' Gentlemen, your work today has been outstanding and I intend to recommend you all for promotion... in whatever fleet we end up serving. |
| 288 | * StealthPun: |
| 289 | ** ''Excelsior'' is a dubious technology prototype--in other words, a [[https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Excelsior_%28Longfellow%29 strange device]]. |
| 290 | ** When [=McCoy=] says he wants to go to Genesis, the alien objects, saying "Genesis allowed is not! Is planet forbidden!", or, in typical syntax, a forbidden planet, a nod to the 1956 sci-fi film ''Film/ForbiddenPlanet'', which Creator/GeneRoddenberry said was one of his inspirations behind ''Franchise/StarTrek''. |
| 291 | * StockFootage: |
| 292 | ** To a much lesser extent than most of the other 80's ''Trek'' movies, natch; all the special effects shots are new for this film, and the stock footage from the previous movie is actually justified somewhat, since Kirk is watching it on a security log. |
| 293 | ** A few shots of the Bird of Prey flying towards or away from the viewer are re-used within the movie itself. The shots are not particularly noticable, except for one where the ship's wings are clearly in attack configuration when in the previous shot they were not. |
| 294 | ** The 2002 DVD release has a rather odd example. For some reason they were apparently unable to get anyone to record an actual DVDCommentary for the film, and so resorted to taking audio clips of Leonard Nimoy, Robin Curtis, writer/producer Harve Bennett and cinematographer Charles Correll from the "making of" documentaries and stitching them together in such a way as to make them sound like a real commentary. If you listen carefully, you'll notice that at no point does anyone in the "commentary" directly reference what's happening on-screen. |
| 295 | * StolenMacGuffinReveal: The bits and pieces that Scotty pulled out of the ''Excelsior'' computer to cripple its transwarp drive. |
| 296 | * StrangeSyntaxSpeaker: The alien whom [=McCoy=] attempts to hire to take him to the Genesis planet. |
| 297 | * SwitchToEnglish: {{Inverted}} when Valkris and Kruge start talking in English before switching to Klingonese. |
| 298 | --> '''Valkris:''' Commander Kruge, this is Valkris. ''qa'vam De' vIje' rIntaH. [=HablI=]', Su': labbeH.'' (I have obtained the Federation data. Ready to transmit.)\ |
| 299 | '''Kruge:''' [[OneLinerNameOneLiner Well done, Valkris. Well done.]] ''So'wI' yIchu'Ha'.'' (Disengage cloaking device.) |
| 300 | * TakeAThirdOption: Kirk and [=McCoy=] on the surface, watching the ''Enterprise'' explode and burn up with all the Klingons: |
| 301 | -->'''Kirk:''' My God, Bones, what have I done?\ |
| 302 | '''[=McCoy=]:''' [[IDidWhatIHadToDo What you had to do]]. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live. |
| 303 | * TakeMyHand: Kirk to Kruge, after kicking him off a cliff. Kruge refuses. |
| 304 | * TakingYouWithMe: |
| 305 | ** The ''Enterprise'' self-destructs on its senior officers' command (don't worry, they beam away from the ship), killing a bunch of Klingons that tried to capture said officers. |
| 306 | ** Not only does Kruge refuse, he grabs Kirk's ankle and earns himself a boot to the face. |
| 307 | * TheTeetotaler: The book has Spock’s Katra playing havoc with Bones early on, as he would really like to get wasted out of grief like everyone else, but any alcohol smell makes him queasy. |
| 308 | * ThemeMusicPowerUp: [[https://youtu.be/mkJ3--2K7yo Stealing the Enterprise]] is accompanied by louder and louder versions of the classic series fanfare, followed by the orchestra going ''absolutely berserk'' once the damn thing starts to actually move. |
| 309 | * ThroughTheEyesOfMadness: The novel has Kirk imagining that the Enterprise doesn’t want to die, trying to tell himself she’s just a machine and not actually trying to stop them destroying her. It’s left ambiguous if this is really happening or Kirk’s fragile mental state. |
| 310 | * TimeshiftedActor: All the young Spocks. |
| 311 | * ToAbsentFriends: Kirk's toast in his apartment. |
| 312 | * TookALevelInBadass: |
| 313 | ** Uhura. Holy ''crap''. |
| 314 | --->'''[=McCoy=]:''' ...I'm glad you're on OUR side! |
| 315 | ** Sulu as well. A towering security guard, who takes exception to Sulu's sarcastic remark about his work ethic (or lack thereof) menacingly growls, "Don't get smart, Tiny." Cut to Sulu easily kicking his ass. "Don't call me 'Tiny'." |
| 316 | * TooDumbToLive: |
| 317 | ** Maltz is SO dumb that even HE realises he deserves to die for his stupidity. |
| 318 | --->'''Maltz:''' I do not deserve to live.\ |
| 319 | '''Kirk:''' Fine, I'll kill you later. |
| 320 | ** {{Deconstructed}} in that, [[IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim while Kruge very well might have killed Maltz, Kirk has no intention to]], [[PapaWolf even though he has every reason to]]. |
| 321 | --->'''Maltz:''' Wait! You said you would kill me!\ |
| 322 | '''Kirk:''' ILied. |
| 323 | *** Maltz's fate is ambiguous. The {{novelization}} of ''Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome'' states that he was able to commit suicide, but he does appear in some expanded universe novels. |
| 324 | ** We get that the Klingons on the ''Enterprise'' don't understand English, but it doesn't take much to realize that there's a ''countdown'' going on purely from ''contextual'' clues: abandoned ship, computer speaking slowly and methodically[[note]]The novelization reveals that Torg thought it was the ship's clock chiming the time[[/note]]. For example, Dutch (and the audience) knew what a countdown in an alien's language looked like in ''Film/{{Predator}}''. |
| 325 | * TrailersAlwaysSpoil: If you listen to the DVD commentary, Harve Bennett mentions that he really wanted the ''Enterprise'' getting blown up to be a total shock to the audience, so he asked the people cutting the trailer together to please, ''please'' omit it from the trailers. What's the first trailer they come back with? "The last voyage of the ''Enterprise''." the FacePalm must have registered on the Richter scale, though it did increase interest in the film from fans who wondered [[LikeYouWouldReallyDoIt if they'd actually do it]], especially following the fake-out of Spock's death. |
| 326 | * TranslationConvention: Bizarrely, the scenes with the Klingons only use it on about half the lines. [[AllThereInTheManual The Klingon Dictionary]] notes that it was fashion for a time for Klingon officers to speak English to each other when discussing things they didn't want their subordinates to hear. |
| 327 | * TrueCompanions: The senior crew of the ''Enterprise''. While Scotty rigs the ''Enterprise'' so that Kirk can man it himself, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov insist on continuing on with Kirk and Bones. This loyalty, while not surprising, visibly moves Kirk. |
| 328 | * TryingNotToCry: When his son dies, Kirk struggles to not break down crying, but he manages because there’s just no time for it, as Spock is down there, Kruge is forcing surrender and they have to blow up the ship. |
| 329 | * TurnOutLikeHisFather: "So like your father, you changed the rules." |
| 330 | * {{Understatement}}: As befits a [[PlanetOfHats race who habitually understates]], Sarek's line, when asked about his intentions to reunite Spock's mind and body, is to say that his "logic is uncertain where [his] son is concerned". Mark Lenard's subtle body language gets the point across that Sarek is grief stricken to the point he is grasping at straws. |
| 331 | * UndyingLoyalty: The remaining senior crew of the ''Enterprise'' assist Kirk in hijacking the ''Enterprise'' without question. |
| 332 | -->'''Sulu:''' The word, sir?\ |
| 333 | '''Kirk:''' The word is no. I am therefore going anyway.\ |
| 334 | '''Sulu:''' You can count on us, sir. |
| 335 | ** Scotty, Sulu, and Chekov take it a step further by insisting on going with him and [=McCoy=] to the Genesis Planet. |
| 336 | --->'''Kirk:''' My friends, [[YouCanTurnBack I can't ask you to go any further]]. Dr. [=McCoy=] and I have to do this. The rest of you do not.\ |
| 337 | '''Chekov:''' Admiral, we're wasting precious time.\ |
| 338 | '''Sulu:''' What course please, Admiral?\ |
| 339 | '''Kirk:''' Mr. Scott?\ |
| 340 | '''Scotty:''' I'd be grateful, Admiral, if you'd give the word.\ |
| 341 | '''Kirk:''' Gentlemen... may the wind be at our backs. Stations, please. |
| 342 | * UpgradeVsPrototypeFight: Implied through the introduction of the Excelsior; a newer and sleeker ship boasting of "transwarp" capabilities that is a deliberate contrast to the aging Enterprise. But Enterprise was in no condition for an actual fight after the Genesis incident, and Scotty was able to sabotage its' engines to give them a clean escape. Excelsior is later established as a friendly sister ship to Enterprise-A in ''Star Trek VI''. |
| 343 | * VehicularSabotage: Scotty "performing surgery" on the USS ''Excelsior'''s transwarp drive. |
| 344 | * VoicesAreMental: Spock's personality periodically takes over [=McCoy=], and during those moments [=McCoy=]'s lines are overdubbed by Leonard Nimoy. To Deforest's credit, he actually does a fairly good impression in the scene in Spock's quarters. |
| 345 | * WackySoundEffect: Several, when the ''Excelsior'''s transwarp drive fails. |
| 346 | * WhatHappenedToTheMouse: And Maltz was never seen again. His fate varied DependingOnTheWriter. |
| 347 | ** He committed suicide, according to the {{Novelization}}. |
| 348 | ** However, in the Expanded Universe he's still around in the 24th century, ninety years later, having spent some time as a Federation prisoner before being released, and atones for his past failure by helping out when someone gains control of the Genesis information. See ''Literature/StarTrekTheGenesisWave''. |
| 349 | ** ''[[AllThereInTheManual The Klingon Dictionary]]'' credits Maltz for assisting in the Federation efforts to translate and to understand the Klingon language. |
| 350 | ** The ''VideoGame/StarTrekKlingonAcademy'' PC game has an entry on Maltz in the library computer. It insists that Maltz died heroically and that [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial there is absolutely no truth to the rumors]] that he survived and is currently assisting Starfleet with Klingon language translation. |
| 351 | * WhatTheHellHero: Saavik's reaction to David when he reveals he used [[AppliedPhlebotinum protomatter]] in the Genesis torpedo, in order to solve problems that might not otherwise have made the project possible. This comes out as a result of their discussion as to why the planet is so unstable (disregarding the fact that the planet was created from the Genesis torpedo detonating [[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan inside a starship, within a nebula, and created that planet and its star from said nebula]], but that doesn't change the impact of this trope). |
| 352 | * WhyIsntItAttacking: After the ''Enterprise'' and the Bird-of-Prey have their initial exchange of torpedo fire, Kruge wonders why the ''Enterprise'' doesn't press the attack as they have superior firepower. He then figures out that his attack inflicted more damage than he anticipated. |
| 353 | * WithholdingTheirName: Kruge refuses to tell Kirk his name. |
| 354 | * WorfHadTheFlu: The jury-rigged ''Enterprise'' is still badly damaged after the last film, only running on a skeleton crew, and Scotty didn't anticipate being in a combat situation, thus the ship is disabled by Kruge's bird-of-prey after its circuits overload. Kruge is surprised when he wins, since the ''Enterprise'' outguns him ten-to-one. |
| 355 | * WritersCannotDoMath: Probably more of a hyperbole, but an admiral mentions to Kirk that the Enterprise is over 20 years old and given the damage from the last battle was to be decommissioned instead of refurbished. While 20 years old is a round number on when Kirk first took command, established lore indicated the ship was previously captained by Pike and April, even at the time of the film the number should have been well over 30 years. The official date that was given is 2245, almost if not exactly 40 years. |
| 356 | * YankTheDogsChain: The last film had Kirk reunite with his son, who he had to stay away from for most of his life (for understandable reasons, as he tried to balance CareerVersusFamily, disappointing Carol too many times). David dies not long after. |
| 357 | * YouCanTurnBack: Once Kirk gets the Enterprise rolling, he tells Scotty, Chekov and Sulu that he cannot bear to have them suffer the same legal fate as him, telling them to please leave the ship. They insist on staying onboard and receiving further orders from him. Kirk realizes that [[TrueCompanions there's no stopping them from helping their Captain out]], so he has them man their posts. |
| 358 | * YouFool: Kirk calls Kruge this for fighting him on a burning planet instead of trying to escape. This makes an interesting CallBack to the original series, given that [[Recap/StarTrekS3E7DayOfTheDove Kang never told him that "only a fool fights in a burning house."]] |
| 359 | * YouHaveFailedMe: Kruge shoots his gunner for destroying [[spoiler: the USS ''Grissom'']] because he wanted prisoners. |
| 360 | -->'''Kruge:''' ''[=Ha'DIbaH=]'' (Animal). |
| 361 | * YouWouldDoTheSameForMe: Between Kirk and the newly resurrected Spock. |
| 362 | -->'''Spock''': My father says you have been my friend. You came back for me. |
| 363 | -->'''Kirk''': You would have done the same for me. |
| 364 | * {{Zeerust}}: |
| 365 | ** When viewing the footage of the engine room, Kirk rewinds the recording, and it looks like a VHS tape rewinding instead of instantly jumping back. |
| 366 | ** The screens, largely (though not entirely) starting with this film, are clearly [=CRTs=]. Great for making screens feature motion, but they look less like modern screens than the still-image projections and backlit photos that came before. On top of that, the countdown on the screens [[OurGraphicsWillSuckInTheFuture looks obviously 8-bit]]. |
| 367 | ** The malfunctioning transwarp drive of USS ''Excelsior'' sounds like nothing you might hear on a spaceship, and but rather a misfiring internal combustion engine. WordOfGod stated ''that'' was purely RuleOfFunny. |
| 368 | [[/folder]] |
| 369 | ---- |
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