By the time of TOS, Spock had embraced his Vulcan side, although his more human tendencies sometimes slipped through. The younger Spock of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has not yet fully embraced Vulcan logic and still finds himself caught between two different worlds. Perhaps no scene represents Spock's struggle better than the nightmare he has at the beginning of Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, "Spock Amok."
Spock’s Nightmare That He Becomes Human In Strange New Worlds Season 1 Explained
Spock Worried He Was Too Human To Be Truly Vulcan
In the opening scene of "Spock Amok," Spock dreams of his wedding to T'Pring (Gia Sandhu), but the dream quickly turns into a nightmare. Spock wears traditional Vulcan garb as he walks to meet T'Pring, who is fully decked out in wedding attire. As T'Pring approaches her fiancé, she stops and points to Spock's suddenly very human ears. Spock then looks down to find himself in his Starfleet uniform, as T'Pring declares that she "will not marry a human" and demands kal-if-fee. Spock asks who he will be fighting in this ritual combat, and T'Pring points to another version of Spock, this one fully Vulcan.
Accompanied by a musical score straight out of Star Trek: The Original Series, the two Spocks proceed to fight one another with traditional Vulcan lirpas. The Vulcan Spock proves to be the better warrior, besting his human self, even as the human Spock protests that he's not human. As the lirpa comes down on the human Spock, the real Spock jerks awake in his bed on the Enterprise, disconcerted by his nightmare. Spock's literal battle with himself symbolizes his struggles to reconcile his Vulcan and human sides, and his transformation foreshadows the events of Strange New Worlds season 2's "Charades."
Later in the episode, Spock confesses to his Vulcan fiancée T'Pring that he is afraid he is "not Vulcan enough" for her. He goes on to point out that Starfleet accepts him for who he is (half-Vulcan and half-human). Although the two part on amicable terms, "Spock Amok" marks the beginning of the end of their relationship and hints at the events of Strange New Worlds season 2, episode 5, "Charades."
What Spock Learns When He’s Human In Strange New Worlds Season 2 Sets Up The Vulcan In Star Trek: The Original Series
The Events Of Strange New Worlds Will Lead Spock To Reject His Human Side
In "Charades," a group of mysterious aliens remove Spock's Vulcan DNA after he suffers an injury in a shuttle accident. Now fully human, Spock grows anxious about an upcoming engagement dinner with T'Pring and her parents. Spock hides his transformation from T'Pring, as his mother teaches him how to disguise his newfound humanity. In the end, Spock's friends convince the aliens to restore both his Vulcan and human sides, but Spock learns a lot about himself in the process. Hurt that Spock concealed the truth from her, T'Pring suggests the two take some time apart.
Later, when Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) comes to check on Spock, he decides to embrace his feelings for her and further explore his own humanity. While this relationship brings Spock happiness, it also leads to a hurt so profound that Spock will consider rejecting his humanity entirely. The events of "Spock Amok" and "Charades" both mark important steps on Spock's journey, which will eventually take him from the confused, more human Spock of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds to the logical Vulcan Spock of Star Trek: The Original Series.
