Star Trek’s Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) was not always a great father to his son, Spock (Leonard Nimoy), but he became one of themost influential Vulcansof all time. Despite Sarek’s rigid adherence to Vulcan logic, he fell in love with and married a human woman named Amanda Grayson (Jane Wyatt). With a Vulcan father and a human mother, Spock felt caught between two worlds onStar Trek: The Original Series.Ambassador Sarek wanted his son to embrace his Vulcan side and reject human emotion, but this did not come naturally to Spock.
Sarek and Amanda first appeared inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 2, episode 10, “Journey to Babel,” when they traveled to a conference aboard the USS Enterprise of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner).Throughout his long career as a Vulcan Ambassador, Sarek helped negotiate numerous treatiesand aided in the initial peace talks between theUnited Federation of Planetsand the Klingon Empire. In addition to Spock, Sarek and Amanda also raisedSpock’s older half-brother, Sybok(Laurence Luckinbill), and his foster sister, Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green).
Ambassador Sarek & Amanda Only Appeared In One Episode Of Star Trek: The Original Series
Sarek Also Appeared In the Final Four TOS Films
Although Spock’s father was referenced a handful of times, the onlyStar Trek: The Original SeriesepisodeSarek and Amanda appeared in wasTOSseason 2’s “Journey to Babel.” Before Sarek and Amanda’s visit to the Enterprise, Captain Kirk was unaware that the well-known Ambassador Sarek was Spock’s father.Sarek barely acknowledged his son on the Enterprise,much to the annoyance of his wife. When another one of the visiting dignitaries was found murdered, Sarek became the main suspect. While being interrogated, Sarek suffered a heart attack and required immediate surgery.
All 6 Actors Who Played Spock’s Mother & Father In Star Trek
Spock’s human mother Amanda and his Vulcan father Sarek have been played by several actors across the Star Trek franchise.
After Spock donated blood to save his father’s life, the two reconciled and remained on good terms throughout theStar Trekmovies. After Spock’s death at the end ofStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,Sarek traveled to Earth to convince Admiral Kirk and his crew to retrieve Spock’s body from the Genesis Planet.Sarek correctly believed that Spock had put hiskatra(Vulcan soul) into one of his friends,although he believed it had been Kirk rather than Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Sarek later aided in negotiations between the Klingons and the Federation inStar Trek: VI: The Undiscovered Country,encouraging Spock to initiate talks for a Federation-Klingon Alliance.
Spock Spent Much Of His Adult Life Estranged From His Father
When Sarek and Amanda visited the Enterprise inStar Trek: The Original Series,Spock had not seen his fatherin many years. The two had become estranged after Spock chose to attend Starfleet Academy rather than the Vulcan Science Academy.Sarek wanted Spock to follow in his footstepsas he had followed in his father’s footsteps, and he broke off contact with his son around 2250. Spock had much in common with his father, and their stubbornness and pride kept them from reconciling. Still, Sarek cared deeply about his son and later expressed regret for not showing his love more directly.
Sometime before Spock’s birth (and presumably before he married Amanda), Sarek fathered a son named Sybok with a Vulcan princess.
InStar Trek III: The Search for Spock,Sarek encouraged Admiral Kirk and his crew to reunite Spock’skatrawith his body, openly admitting that his"logic is uncertain where [his] son is concerned.“Later in life, Sarek found ways to show his love for Spock, butfather and son could have reconciled much sooner if they had simply talked to one another.After Spock became an ambassador, another rift formed between him and his father over issues regarding the Cardassians andSpock’s dream of Vulcan and Romulan reunification. On his deathbed, however, Sarek reasserted his love and admiration for his son.
Sarek Returned & Died In Star Trek: The Next Generation
Mark Lenard Reprised The Role Of Sarek In 2 TNG Episodes
InStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 3, episode 23, “Sarek,“the now elderly Ambassador Sarek visited the USS Enterprise-D of Captain Jean-Luc Picard(Patrick Stewart). Sarek intended to attend a peace conference between the Federation and the Legarans, but his undiagnosed Bendii Syndrome soon began affecting Enterprise crew members. As his emotions became more unstable,Sarek’s second human wife Perrin(Joanna Miles) suggested that Picard mind meld with her husband to temporarily carry the burden of his emotions. Sarek was then able to attend the conference, while Picard experienced years of Sarek’s pent-up emotions.
Star Trek TOS’ Character Returns In TNG, Ranked Worst To Best
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry wanted Star Trek: The Next Generation to stand apart from TOS, but 5 classic characters still appeared in TNG.
During his mind meld with Picard, Sarek admitted his regret that he was unable to show his love to Spock, Amanda, and Perrin. InTNGseason 5, episode 7, “Unification, Part I,“Picard visited the ailing Sarek while searching for the missing Ambassador Spock.Sarek informed Picard that Spock formed a friendship with a Romulan Senator named Pardek (Malachi Throne) and was working to form a dialogue with the Romulans. Sarek thought Spock’s optimism was illogical and lamented that his son never listened to him. Soon after Picard left Vulcan, he received news that Sarek had passed away.
Sarek & Amanda Both Shaped Star Trek: Discovery’s Michael Burnham
With the premiere ofStar Trek: Discoveryin 2017 came the revelation that protagonist Michael Burnham had been raised on Vulcan by none other than Sarek (James Frain) andAmanda (Mia Kirshner). After Klingons killed Burnham’s parents,Sarek and Amanda took her in as their wardand raised her alongside Spock (Ethan Peck) and, possibly, Sybok, as well. Michael then became the first human to attend the Vulcan Science Academy, embracing the logical ways of the Vulcans.
Every Family Member Of Star Trek: Discovery’s Michael Burnham
Star Trek: Discovery’s Captain Michael Burnham is a member of two families and she has relatives in two different eras of Star Trek.
Sarek chose Spock over Michael to join the Vulcan Expeditionary Group, but Spock later decided to join Starfleet instead. Sarek helped Burnham land a position aboard the USS Shenzhou under the command ofCaptain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh).Unlike Spock, Michael maintained a relatively close relationship with her foster father,regularly seeking advice from the Vulcan Ambassador. While Sarek was working with Starfleet to end the Federation-Klingon War, a logic extremist attempted to assassinate him, but he was later rescued by the USS Discovery.
Sarek initiated a mind meld with Michael when she was severely injured as a child, leaving a piece of hiskatrainside of her mind.
InStar Trek: Discoveryseason 2, Sarek discovered that Amanda had helped hide a mentally unwell Spock on Vulcan and convinced his wife to turn Spock over to Starfleet. After Burnham and the USS Discovery traveled to the distant future, Sarek swore never to speak of her or her ship. again. Since his introduction, AmbassadorSarek has become one ofStar Trek’smost fascinating and beloved characters, only made more interesting by his complex relationships with Spock and Michael Burnham.
