14. Smiling Vulcans - Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Paramount PicturesThis one likely ticks off diehard fans more than anybody else because it generally has to be pointed out to the casual viewer before they'll notice it, and even then they'll likely say, "So? Spock did that all the time, didn't he?" Sigh. After their visit to the 20th century, Starfleet must determine whether Kirk and his crew should be punished for stealing their own ship, blowing up said ship, and basically being a bunch of bad officers (albeit without swagger sticks). Because they have just saved Earth, however, and because this is the Star Trek universe, where no one really gets punished for doing anything wrong, the punishment falls on Kirk alone, and he is demoted...to Captain, which is what he always wanted all along. Justice is served, such as it is. Anyway, the various representatives of the Federation come down to congratulate the captain and crew for sticking it to the Man one more time, and
oh my god is that a Vulcan smiling as he shakes Kirk's hand? This could be happening for any number of reasons. Spock has of course smiled many times in Star Trek, but that was always because he was experiencing a breakdown of his emotional control. Except for that one time in "The Cage" - that was just the writers not knowing any better. Is
this man experiencing an emotional breakdown? As a prominent member of the Vulcan delegation to the Federation (and we assume he must be, else why would he be there?), he had better hope not - and if he were, he'd be bustled out of that room with all the haste a bunch of embarrassed Vulcan can muster. Is it possible he's Romulan and not Vulcan? No, indeed - not only would a Romulan delegate very definitely
not be present, such a person would
not be happy that Kirk and crew got off with a wrist slap...and he most certainly would
not be wearing Vulcan garb, as we know this to be. (Perhaps a Romulan agent in disguise? If so, he's really bad at his job if he's smiling in front of Kirk
and Spock, both of whom we assume would shout "J'accuse!") The most likely reason - though we can find no verification of this - is that said extra was one of those mega-fans that are sometimes invited by directors to do a cameo, and his joy at getting to shake Shatner's hand on camera was such that he simply couldn't contain it. Either that, or said extra was a professional actor who simply didn't know and wasn't told that
Vulcans don't smile. Once this has been seen, sadly, it cannot be unseen - kind of like Uhura's naked dancing, which we will be talking about soon. Oh, yes.