Summary
After theEnterprise’sfive-year mission,Star Trek’sMister Spock left Starfleet to study Kholinar–and now his reason for doing so has been revealed. In 2021’sStar Trek: Year Five #21, Spock, stranded in Vulcan’s distant past, finds himself face to face with Surak–the founder of modern Vulcan society. Spock’s encounter with Surak greatly affects him, stirring both his human and Vulcan side, setting him on a path that does not involve Starfleet and theEnterprise.
Star Trek: Year Five#21, written by Brandon Easton and illustrated by Silvia Califano, finally explains why Spock left Starfleet. In the previous issue, Spock was thrown back through time to prehistoric Vulcan, to a time before logic. Spock arrives in the midst of a civil war, between those who follow Surak, the founder of the philosophy of logic, and the remaining holdouts. In a clear case of “do not meet your heroes,” Spock grows disillusioned with the historical Surak. Surak points out that Spock has yet to reconcile his two halves, Vulcan and human. These words are burnt deep into Spock’s brain, or as he puts it, “a bruise on my consciousness.”
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He decides there is only one way to solve this: never let his emotions sway him again. Therefore he resolves to return to Vulcan at the conclusion of the mission, to study Kholinar.
Spock’s Departure Trom The Enterprise Is A Star Trek Mystery
Spock’s Decision to Leave Starfleet Is Rooted in His Character
WhenStar Trek: The Motion Picturedebuted in 1979, audiences were stunned to learn that Spock had left Starfleet, returning to his home world of Vulcan, where he was studying Kholinar–the Vulcan ritual that purges any remaining emotion. However, Spock’s studies are interrupted by V’ger’s arrival. V’Ger’s presence touched Spock’s human side, causing him to fail Kholinar. Spock returned to Starfleet, where he served for many more years.Trekfans never saw the end of theEnterprise’sfive-year mission, leaving Spock’s motivations for exiting Starfleet up in the air. It seemed uncharacteristic–Spock had said he feltthe most at home in Starfleet, so why leave? In 2020, IDW began publishingStar Trek: Year Five, which aimed to fill in the gaps between the end of the show andThe Motion Picture.
pock understood the philosophy of logichadto take hold on Vulcan, or else they would be destroyed; however, seeing that Surak himself made questionable choices on the path to logic shook Spock to his core.
Spock’s struggle to balance his Vulcan and human sides has been central to his character, and it was this conflict that led him to leave his home in Starfleet behind. In Vulcan’s distant past, Spock sees the bloodshed and horror his pre-logic ancestors wrecked upon their planet. Spock understood the philosophy of logichadto take hold on Vulcan, or else they would be destroyed; however, seeing that Surak himself made questionable choices on the path to logic shook Spock to his core. Seeing the various sides of Vulcan’s history led Spock to realize he needed to choose a side, and he did. Spock would leave his friends behind and embrace total logic.
Spock Would Ultimately Balance His Two Sides
Spock Learned to Love His Human Side As Well
Of course, fans know that Spock is doomed to fail in this endeavor, and he will be back in Starfleet in a few years. The doublewhammy of the V’Ger incidentand the failing at Kholinar made Spock realize his human side was important as well. Spock would achieve something approaching a balance between logic and emotions later in life, making his studies in Kholinar an interesting footnote inStar Trekhistory.
