Summary
There could behundreds of different species and races in theStar Trekuniverse, but Vulcans have a special place in the lore. They’re the race that famously saw the flight of the Phoenix, and upon confirming that humans had discovered warp speed, brought them into the Federation.
Although the Vulcans eventually became close allies with the Terrans, their relationship hasn’t always been one of friendship and trust.Star Trekhistory includes the exploits of several iconic Vulcans, as both amiable and antagonistic characters, making this a compelling love-hate relationship from First Contact Day.
7Sarek
Vulcan Ambassador To Earth
Sarek and his son, Spock, have always had a tumultuous relationship. That’s the first thing the viewer learnswhen he arrives on the Enterpriseas the Vulcan Ambassador to Earth in “Journey to Babel,” in contrast to the close connection Spock has with his mother.
As the franchise developed, so did the relationship between father and son, and Sarek appeared as a pivotal character in severalStar Trek: The Next Generationepisodes and three of the movies. His capacity was always that of an Ambassador, and it was a vocation that Spock would also adopt later in life.
6T’Pring
First Vulcan Woman In The Franchise
There weren’t a lot of Vulcans inStar Trekinitially, with Spock being advertised as one of the first Vulcan officers to serve in Starfleet, but the episode “Amok Time” flipped that script. Most of the third act of the original episode takes place on Vulcan, at the time of an ancient and mysterious rite, and several historical figures make their appearance along with T’Pring.
T’Pring has appeared again as a recurring character inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, which makes sense because this period correlates to the time when Spock and T’Pring were still engaged. This contemporary show fills out her character by giving her a family, education, and even a career, and to tie up a dropped thread, one of her co-workers is Spock’s rival, Stonn.
5Surak
The Founder Of Vulcan’s Non-Emotional Philosophy
He’s referenced more often than he actually appears, but Surak did have an early role in theTOSepisode “The Savage Curtain” and appears again, at least in Katra form, in theStar Trek: Enterpriseepisode “The Forge.” Surak lived and died hundreds of years before Vulcans came in contact with humans.
First and foremost, he was a scientist, but his philosophy of pacifism, science, and total emotional control is credited with saving his people from self-annihilation. His teachings also provide insights into the philosophy of Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, also known as IDIC, which is often referenced in the franchise as a foundational part of Vulcan identity.
4T’Pol
Sub-Commander Of The Enterprise
Spock might have been the first officer to serve with Starfleet, but almost a century before he stood on the bridge with Captain Pike, Sub-Commander T’Pol joined the crew of Jonathan Archer’s Enterprise. Her reception was not a warm one, and she had to face criticism from both the humans, who thought she was a spy, and the Vulcan High Command, who thought she had adapted too easily to human empathy.
Despite their lack of trust in her, T’Pol saw the crew of the Enterprise through some of the earliest and most precarious times of human space exploration. Her adventures on the Enterprise also include a divorce and the tragic loss of Tripp Tucker, who almost took the place of her husband. T’Pol takes the credit for being one ofStar Trekhistory’s most influential figureswhen it comes to humans as part of the Federation, but she paid a high price on a personal level.
3Tuvok
A Vucan Spy
Tuvok worked quietly behind the scenes inVoyagerto be one of its most important characters. He was always closely connected with Kathryn Janeway, serving as her close advisor and often as a spy or an informant. One of his first successful missions was infiltrating the Maquis crew, which led to Voyager’s successful capture of the Val Jean.
Most of the crew didn’t even know about Tuvok’s quiet and often secretive machinations until they had already been saved by them, so despite his efforts, he didn’t get a lot of credit. Janeway, however, recognized his contributions to the crew’s survival, and this is partly whatmotivated her to return to the Borgand exchange her own life to take 20 years off their travel time.
During their time in the Delta Quadrant, Tuvok was stricken with a debilitating illness that evolved to a drastic and devastating stage because it could not be treated in time. Voyager’s original trip from the Delta Quadrant took 27 years, but Janeway made a deal with the Borg to use their wormhole network to get home faster and save Tuvok.
2T’Pau
A Famous Historical Figure
T’Pring might have been the first Vulcan woman to appear in the franchise, but T’Pau follows only a few minutes later, and her importance in Vulcan society is comparable to that of Surak. She first appeared in “Amok Time” to judge Spock and T’Pring’s kal-if-fe, and in the movieStar Trek 3: The Search for Spock, she oversees the ceremony that returns his katra to his body.
Enterprisefills out more of T’Pau’s earlier backstory in “The Forge,” in which she leads the Syarannite movement and is fiercely dedicated to understanding the true philosophy of Surak. When she officiated Spock’s trial in “Amok Time,” she was 145 years old and was famous for being one of the few Vulcans to refuse a seat on the Federation Council.
1Spock
The First Vulcan Officer In Starfleet
Spock was one of the few characters to survive the transition from pilot episode to regular series. The Vulcan philosophy of stoicism had yet to be filled out, but it would evolve as a foil to the more emotive James Kirk and Dr. McCoy. He declined to join the Vulcan Science Academy and instead opted for a place in Starfleet, a choice thatdrove a wedge between him and his father, Sarek, for decades.
As one of the most popular characters in the franchise, Spock has been present in virtually every movie and television show in theStar TrekIP. If he doesn’t have a part, they reference him or introduce a close friend or relative as a main character.
