Random Star Trek III Question

Tyler · May 05, 2009, 09:02:28 PM

OK. I've been doing some movie rewatches, and I have a question that's been bugging me for 25 years so it's up to you to provide an answer and put an old issue to rest. I've never read the novelization and, speculation aside, was there anything in "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" that really explained why Kirk and crew knew they had to take McCoy back to the Genesis Planet, rather than just taking him on to Vulcan for the katra extraction? They knew Spock's katra was inside McCoy's head, yes, but why were they and why was McCoy for that matter so hell-bent on going to Genesis? Did they somehow sense that Spock's body was back there and had not burned up in the torpedo tube? Did they get reports about that from the Grissom? What gives? I've never understood this, and it's up to you, the fearless TrekSFers to enlighten me.

Dan M · May 05, 2009, 09:06:03 PM

It's a good question. Saavik and the Grissom crew were surprised that the torpedo hadn't burnt up, so why did Kirk and crew bother heading out to Genesis?

Tyler · May 05, 2009, 09:18:06 PM

Exactly. The audience knew was happening with the regenerated Spock bod but our charaters did not unless Spock's katra sensed it and told them off scene OR Kirk heard a report from Grissom but that seems unlikely. Can any one answer this short of speculation?

Bryancd · May 06, 2009, 05:29:52 AM

Perhaps it was the carriage leading the horse. Spock's katra was compelling McCoy to return to Genesis. Perhaps his katra knew it needed the body of Spock or somehow was aware that the body of Spock wasn't destroyed. That's the unkown. Once McCoy becomes Genesis obssesed, the rest of the crew are simply trying to help him get there, we never really know that they think they are going to find.

Tyler · May 06, 2009, 05:37:29 AM

Yes. that's true. From the first scene with Spock/McCoy in Spock's quarters, "they" were obsessed with going back to Genesis. So Spock's katra must have been the key to knowing there was at least some part of him back on Genesis. Maybe a reference to this was edited from the film. I can see how it would have been easy for the filmmakers to lose track of letting the audience know that the characters know what the audience knows ... if that makes any sense.

Anyone have the novelization? It might clarify this point.

billybob476 · May 06, 2009, 05:37:51 AM

GENESIS IS PLANET FORBIDDEN!

haha, but in reality, I was under the impression that McCoy told them they had to go to Genesis. Though I can't recall off the top of my head.

Rico · May 06, 2009, 05:38:42 AM

I've always felt the line at the end of "Wrath of Khan" answers this quite well. When Kirk says something like, "if Genesis is life from lifelessness, then I must return to this place one day." Also, the simple thing of no body for Spock, then no real way to bring Spock back completely. It's not perfect, but it works for me.

Bryancd · May 06, 2009, 05:38:59 AM

"How can you be deaf with ear's like that?!"