Star Trek: 10 Times Spock Abandoned Logic
3. Giving Up True Happiness
In the Original Series episode This Side of Paradise the Starship Enterprise is sent to Omicron Ceti III to research the destruction of a colony due to deadly berthold rays. When they arrive, they find that the colonists are not only alive but at the peak of human health. One of the botanists, Leila, is a woman who was formerly in love with Spock but his Vulcan nature and dedication to his work prevented him from reciprocating.
The euphoric colonists claimed that their subspace antenna broke, preventing them from contacting Starfleet. They also claimed that they now embraced a simple life and they refused to leave the planet despite Kirk’s insistent demands. The Away Team succumbs to the euphoria and Leila took Spock over to a planet that sprays him, causing him pain, then joy and he begins kissing Leila. McCoy has several plants beamed aboard the ship and it quickly infects the entire crew.
With only Kirk left aboard, he becomes infected but can’t leave his one true love, the Enterprise, alone. He tricks Spock to return to the ship and insults his friend until he becomes angry and begins beating Kirk. Finally free of the spores, Spock creates a device to create anger in the crew and freed them. Spock is forced to leave Leila and the opportunity for true happiness, albeit chemically induced, for his captain and crew.