Commander Spock is the first officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise in the Star Trek: The Original Series of 1966, and overwhelmingly one of the franchise's most universally known protagonists. He is famous for his pointed ears, angled eyebrows, and "Live Long and Prosper" split-finger salute which has become the unofficial greeting sign of Trekkies everywhere. With Spock's trademark image so ingrained in his fans' minds, it is hard to believe his iconic Vulcan ears were almost nixed due to the discomfort they caused the actor, Leonard Nimoy.
Romance is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of a sci-fi production like Star Trek, especially when it comes to the ever-serious and unemotional Spock. Spock has drawn comparisons to The Next Generation's robotic Lieutenant Commander Data for his even demeanor and logical ways. However, it is important to remember that unlike androids, Vulcans don't lack deep emotions, they simply become experts at governing and concealing them.
Although Spock certainly doesn't share the same proclivity for womanizing possessed by his closest colleague, Captain Kirk, the solemn-faced character has seen a fair smattering of amorous entanglements across his Star Trek story. Let's look back at all of Spock's romances, in chronological order.
8 Christine Chapel: First Appears in "The Man Trap" (Season 1, Episode 2 of TOS)
Originally Portrayed by Majel Barrett, and Later by Jess Bush
Christine Chapel, originally portrayed by Gene Rodenberry's wife Majel Barrett, is a nurse onboard Captain Kirk's Enterprise. She is recognizable by her platinum locks, and for being enamored with Spock. Early in the original series' first season, she reveals her feelings for Spock in "The Naked Time" when the crew's inhibitions are lowered by a strange affliction that acts upon humans similarly to alcohol. In the revealing moment, she grips Spock's hands and daringly proclaims her love for him. Chapel's feelings go unreturned, and she continues to have a one-sided infatuation with the first officer throughout the show's three seasons.
Why Was Nurse Chapel In Love With Spock?
Although it had the potential to set up some entertainingly awkward scenarios, Chapel's obsession with Spock was ultimately underdeveloped and had the unfortunate effect of flattening her character. For one thing, the underlying reasons for her affection are not adequately explained. What does Chapel admire about Spock?
"The Naked Time" is the fourth episode of the series, a time when audiences have barely gotten to know the characters, and the characters have likewise barely gotten to know each other. This makes Chapel's sudden lovesick confession seem rather random and forced for the sake of a plot. A slower-growing attraction after the two characters have had more interactions might have made more sense.
Star Trek: Discovery toys with timelines to explore a world in which Spock returns Chapel's affection and the two date. This version of the relationship proved more popular, with many "shippers" cheering for the new Chapel/Spock tryst, and praising the strong chemistry between Jess Bush and Ethan Peck, who offer a contemporary portrayal of the pair.
7 Leila Kalomi: Appears in "This Side of Paradise" (Season 1, Episode 24 of TOS)
Portrayed by Jill Ireland
In Which Episode Does Spock Fall in Love?
Leila is a native of Omicron Ceti III, one of the sci-fi genre's most luxurious and inviting fantasy planets. She is a botanist who Spock has met on Earth six years prior to the mission where he beams down to Omicron and they reunite. Leila, played by the stunning late Jill Ireland, has fallen in love with Spock during their initial acquaintance, but Spock, staying true to his Vulcan form, refused to tap into any romantic inclinations.
Spock's Magical Love Spell Peeks at What Might Have Been
Viewers were likely bewildered to see Spock get so uncharacteristically swept away by his emotions as to disregard Captain Kirk's orders in favor of evacuating the colony when he finds himself head over heels for Leila on Omicron Ceti III. It is later revealed that the spores of an enchanted flower have placed him under a botanically induced love spell.
By briefly showing Spock joyously in love, the story uses the love potion plot device as a "cheat code" to offer a wistful glimpse of what could have been if Spock had taken a chance on Leila's love years before. Spock's brief whirlwind romance with Leila is punctuated by his contemplative comment to Captain Kirk that his mesmerizing trip to the planet had been his first time to feel true happiness.
6 T'Pring: First Appears in "Amok Time" (Season 2, Episode 1 of TOS)
Originally Portrayed by Mary Rice and Arlene Martel, and later by Gia Sandhu
T'Pring is Spock's betrothed, having been officially "bonded" to him as a child in the Vulcan tradition. As an adult, Spock returns to Vulcan and attempts to marry her, but she rejects him for another Vulcan named Stonn. In the J.J. Abrams series Star Trek films, which chronicle the original characters' adventures in an alternate universe, Spock's life is very different and a wrinkle in time seems to have prevented T'Pring from ever crossing his path.
Who Was Spock Supposed to Marry?
The only person to whom Spock has ever been engaged, many fans consider T'Pring to be his true match and soulmate, praising their interesting dynamic and the richness of their long-running story. T'Pring doesn't get much focus in the original series, but takes a much bigger part in Strange New Worlds. She, Spock, and Nurse Chapel are the subjects of a love triangle which T'Pring seems to be winning. T'Pring proves to be a strong character in the updated series, working as a rehabilitation counselor for Vulcan criminals and bringing a funny realness to her relationship with Spock.
5 The Romulan Commander: Appears in "The Enterprise Incident" (Season 3, Episode 2 of TOS)
Portrayed by Joanne Linville
Temporary insanity, though an oft-used theme in Star Trek, is always entertaining for the calamity it causes. It strikes Captain Kirk in "The Enterprise Incident," inducing him to order his crew to drive the Enterprise into enemy territory. The ship becomes vulnerable to the Romulans, giving Spock occasion to meet their infamously beautiful female commander, whose name is never revealed in the script. She attempts to lure Spock to join the Romulans, and, though he declines, he acknowledges their secret mutual attraction.
Did Spock Ever See the Romulan Commander Again?
Canonically, Spock never reunites with the Romulan Commander. However, fans can easily imagine that he might have met her again at some point in the future. In the later part of his career, after the conclusion of his Enterprise adventures, Spock's work becomes heavily focused towards the Romulans, as he attempts to save their planet from a supernova.
An episode of The Next Generation features Spock promoting a truce between the Romulans and Vulcans. Some fans have speculated that lingering affection for his almost-fling could be partially responsible for influencing him in this direction.
4 Droxine: Appears in "The Cloud Minders" (Season 3, Episode 21 of TOS)
Portrayed by Diana Ewing
Droxine is a character who becomes obsessed with Spock, after he meets her during a mission to the planet Ardana where the Enterprise crew is trying to acquire a valuable mineral. Spock seems similarly impressed by Droxine, who lives in a cloud city above the planet, calling her an example of "extreme feminine beauty." She embodies privilege and status, contrasting with the people living on the planet's surface who are treated as slave laborers.
What Happened With Spock and Droxine?
Droxine was never again seen on Star Trek, which is unsurprising due to the episodic nature of the show. Her flirtation with Spock was more of a side plot, as the "The Cloud Minders" central theme and message was about the social injustices occurring between Ardana's oppressed miners and pampered cloud dwellers. However, fans still took note of the interaction and praised the ever-quotable Spock's entertaining smoothness while serving his lines.
3 Zarabeth: Appears in "All Our Yesterdays" (Season 3, Episode 23 of TOS)
Portrayed by Mariette Hartley
Zarabeth is a humanoid alien from the planet Sarpeidon whom Spock encounters during an accidental bout of time travel. As a result of her family members trying to kill a tyrant on the planet, she has been sent back in time and banished to an ice age. Spock's journey to the ice age alters his personality, causing him to fall in love with Zarabeth and nearly abandon his mission. When he makes it back to the present time. Spock must forget about his former flame, as he mournfully acknowledges she has now been dead for over 5,000 years.
Zarabeth and Spock Almost Didn't Happen
Many fans have called Spock's attraction to Zarabeth random and bizarre. The explanation might lie in the fact that the episode "All Our Yesterdays" is actually a rewrite of an earlier concept titled "A Handful of Dust." In this version, the time travel takes Spock and Kirk to San Francisco instead of an ice age, and Spock doesn't have any romantic forays. Author A.C. Crispin took an interest in Zarabeth's character, fleshing out her story in the non-canonical novel Yesterday's Son.
2 Saavik: First Appears in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982 Film)
Originally Portrayed by Kirstie Alley, Replaced by Robin Curtis
Saavik, originally played by the late Kirstie Alley, is introduced during the opening scene of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan when she must decide how to best face death during an unwinnable training exercise. She is a smart, fierce Vulcan officer who was formerly mentored by Spock at Starfleet Academy. She is notable for her work on the unsuccessful Genesis project. For subsequent Star Trek movies, Robin Kirstie replaced Alley to play Saavik, a strange move considering Curtis looks nothing like the other actress.
Who Did Spock Mate With?
Of all the people involved with Spock, Saavik is one who definitely deserves a comeback onscreen. Not only did she mate with Spock in Star Trek III, but she is also considered by many fans to be the mother of his child. Although the plotline of Spock having a son was ultimately canceled, interviews with the screenwriter appearing in a special featurette reveal that this was indeed the plan.
Spock and Saavik's relationship is unique in that it began with mentorship and then morphed into camaraderie before taking a romantic turn. Rapidly aging on the planet Genesis, Spock is in the throes of pon farr, a Vulcan affliction where the person must immediately find a mate. Saavik mates with Spock out of a logical instinct to save his life. This turn of events sets up an interesting dynamic which should be further explored.
1 Uhura: First Romantically Linked With Spock in Star Trek (2009 Film)
Originally Portrayed by Nichelle Nichols, and Later by Zoe Saldana, Celia Rose Gooding, and Kim Stinger
Although Uhura is among the first characters ever to appear onscreen with Spock, she is technically his "last" love interest, going by the order in which the Star Trek projects were released. Uhura is the Chief of Communications in the original series, and has a friendly but platonic coworking relationship with Spock. In "Charlie X," Uhura notably makes the typically stone-faced Spock smile by singing as he plays a harp-like instrument called a Vulcan lute.
Who Is Spock's Girlfriend in Star Trek?
Spock and Uhura date in director J.J. Abrams' trilogy of films which brought Star Trek back onto the big screen after a seven-year absence, and fan opinion on this romantic adventure is split.
Some fans feel the Spock/Uhura pairing is too far-fetched even for an alternate universe, while others think the new angle is a harmless bit of timeline play. Others have opined that while the original Uhura's professional and level-headed demeanor might have matched well with Spock, her tempestuous personality in Abrams' films makes her less well-suited for her Vulcan colleague.
