Allow me to explain. Mr. Spock is and always will be one of the most beloved characters in Star Trek as well as one of the most recognizable images to even non-fans the world over. He IS Star Trek in many ways, holding down the logical, rational, even keeled side of the Trek ethos. He is, in a word, beloved, in himself, his part in the ensemble and a symbol of the franchise at large. Likewise, Agent Colson is a beloved character of the Marvel film franchise. Not nearly as established, timewise, in the global pop culture landscape, nonetheless, his cool professionalism, his wry humor, his self affacement and the human, everyman face he adds to a universe of gods, monsters and heroes has endeared him to fans the world over. Both of them, when well established, died in very memorable and well told scenes that reminded fans that stakes can be high indeed and the heroes don't always outrace the grim reaper. Except when they do.
Yet, go back and watch both death scenes. Even knowing that these characters will be back does not take away from the mortal impact of these scenes. We know that they can die and that at some point in their fictional lives, they will. And...it matters.
Interestingly, TSFS, the film that brought Mr. Spock back to the land of the living through a series of miraculous confluences also marked Leonard Nimoy's directoral debut in the franchise. Though the revival of Spock did feel clumsy and contrived at times, our heroes slipped into their roles like well worn jeans and old friends of the saga, like Spock's father Sarek (Mark Leonard) and even cameos like Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) reminded us that this was a long running story that occupied a comfortable, welcome place in many hearts, including those of the players.
I'm not going to recap the story, because you know it. Last movie, Spock died saving the Enterprise. This movie, he came back, with his camrades putting it all on the line, against both Starfleet and the Klingon Empire to make it happen. Their success did not come without cost, either, with another well loved character being sacrificed to bring Spock back. And this character, the Enterprise, though she would be remembered through descendants bearing her name, unlike Spock, that was the end of the trail. And that scene is also a tear jerker.
Kirk: "My god, Bones...what have I done?"
McCoy: "What you had to do, Jim. What you always do. Turn death into a fighting chance to live."
It is said that the odd Star Trek films are bad ones. I disagree. I enjoy them all. And though they may not all be films that can be enjoyed by non-fans, for me, even the "bad" ones always offer something to make them worthwhile.
This, btw, is NOT a bad film. It is a very good film. It just had to follow a very tough act, that being Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan and thread an awkward needle, that being effectively negating one of the greatest death scenes in cinematic history.
But it did that.
Welcome back, Mr. Spock.
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