20 Things You Didn't Know About Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984)

4. Robin Curtis Was Embarrassed So Saavik Looks Down

Star Trek Saavik
CBS

For the final scenes of the film, set on Vulcan, Spock has returned to life. As he passes through his friends, he stops at Saavik. At this moment, she looks at him, and then, in an uncharacteristic moment, she averts her gaze and looks down.

Before filming, Nimoy and Robin Curtis discussed how they would frame this scene. Both the Wrath of Khan and the Search for Spock established that, in her Vulcan way, Saavik had feelings for Spock. This is perhaps most clear in the single tear that falls on her cheek during the funeral scene, though in this film, she has helped him through Pon Farr.

Nimoy approached her, got very close, and asked her how she would react if she bumped into an old flame, one with whom she had had a passionate affair, years later on a busy city street. He pulled back and she looked up at him, wanting to answer but instead found herself blushing deeply, embarrassed by the question. She, Robin Curtis, averted her eyes and looked down.

Nimoy pounced on this, saying that this was the perfect reaction, and that was how they shot the reunion.

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"