15 More Things You Didn’t Know About Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)
5. Revived Spock Was Out Of His Vulcan Mind
The Return To Genesis treatment handled Spock’s resurrection in a completely different manner to the final film. Adult Spock is revivified, but no mention is made either way of Genesis being involved. Instead, Sarek rants at Kirk:
"Why was Spock's body not returned to me? What makes you think he was 'in death'? How dare you presume, with your primitive science, to understand Vulcan physiology and the Vulcan ways!" In short, says Sarek, Spock might have been in a transcendental state -- a state in which he may still be.
When finally discovered, Spock is described as a bearded and “primeval” wildman, on the edge between wild animalistic behavior and rationality. When Kirk first approaches his former friend, Spock does not welcome him, instead offering a curse for both the Enterprise crew and the Romulans. “Plunderers, monsters. I will kill you all.”
Spock’s violent madness is also dramatized as various Romulans are killed by having their necks broken. Though not called out by name, Bennett was clearly drawing on the ancient Vulcan method of execution called tal shaya, introduced in Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana’s script for “Journey to Babel” in 1967:
MCCOY: Well, from the nature and location of the break, I'd say the killer knew exactly where to apply pressure to snap the neck instantly.
KIRK: Who aboard would have that knowledge?
SPOCK: Vulcans. On Vulcan, the method is called tal-shaya. It was considered a merciful form of execution in ancient times.