alt title(s): Spock
"I realize this is a hard choice, Captain, but the needs of the many must outweigh the needs of the few."
A character who has a supergenius-level intelligence, but from a culture, alien or otherwise unusual, of strict mental discipline based on pure logic, that prevents him from standard, normal emoting (contrasted with traditional emotionless aliens, who were either inferior or evil).
The Spock's relationship with his crewmates/
comrades is often tense, because this character type is willing and able to ruthlessly consider ethically troubling situations without batting an eye — especially situations where
people might be ordered to die. The Spock maintains audience sympathy by being willing to
Take A Third Option (sometimes with advice from
The McCoy and
The Kirk), and also by being as ruthless about his own life as the lives of his crewmates, if not more so.
Typically, the character enjoys good relations with the other characters who understand the quirk. In fact, other characters value
The Spock's utter unflappability in the face of serious problems or danger; he's a morale boost for being a comrade who will never show fear or despair in the gravest of situations and will resolutely be working on a solution. When put in a
Power Trio with
The Kirk and
The McCoy, he becomes what in psychology is called the superego.
The Spock will at times become a
Tin Man, though this varies with the writing. When he has emotion, he may sometimes express it with a
Fascinating Eyebrow and nothing more.
Closely related to
Agent Scully,
Emotionless Girl and
Deadpan Loli. Often becomes a
Straw Vulcan, but ocasionally ends up on the winning side of
Emotions Vs Stoicism. See also
Spock Speak.
Named (obviously) for Spock from
Star Trek. Compare with their eternal opposite,
The McCoy.
Examples:
Anime and Manga
Comic Books
Literature
- Ivan of The Brothers Karamazov.
- Death in the Discworld series. Is attempting to understand the human race, but is finding it...difficult.
- At times he seems to know a bit more about human nature than he lets on though, so maybe it's just an act.
- Voort "Piggy" saBinring from Wraith Squadron. He's a Pig Man from a species more known for violent aggression and stupidity, but brain tampering made him into a Genius Bruiser, Good With Numbers and tending to be logical and calm. We see a bestial side exactly once, and it takes getting gut-shot to bring it out.
Live Action TV
Video Games
Webcomics
- Chou Yaru in Unicorn Jelly.
- Vaarsuvius from Order of the Stick tries to be this in order to become more effective and overcome a great obstacle, but seeing as how the elf is anything but emotionless and is in fact haunted by the memory of a great failure, the result is disastrous.
Western Animation
