Movies - TV
Star Trek’s Writers Had Regrets About Spock’s TNG Return
By WITNEY SEIBOLD
Before the 1991 two-part “Star Trek: The Next Generation” episode “Unification,” the only classic character to appear in the series was Dr. Leonard McCoy for the pilot.
While “TNG” firmly established its own legacy apart from the original, many Paramount executives wanted a “passing the torch” moment, prompting Leonard Nimoy’s Spock to return.
Per executive producer Rick Berman, Paramount offered Nimoy a deal to appear in “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country,” but the studio wanted him to pass on his legacy to “TNG.”
Berman shared that he worked with Nimoy and “Star Trek VI” director Nicholas Meyer to figure out how to pass the baton. Unfortunately, the actor didn’t initially like their idea.
After some time, Berman said he “made a big change in the room and [Nimoy] loved it.” The episode sees Spock as a diplomat trying to reunite the Vulcans and Romulans.
“Unification” is a low-action, high-intrigue story packed with diplomatic talk. Another executive producer and writer Michael Piller felt the episode was too dry.
Piller wanted Spock’s appearance on “TNG” to be more epic, sharing, “It’s no secret I was disappointed by my own work on it more than anything else.”
He continued, “I don’t think we delivered [...] It was our feeling if you’re going to bring Spock out of retirement, it needs to be something of cosmic significance.”