8) “Unification” – Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991)
It made sense that at some point Mr. Spock would appear with the crew of the Enterprise-D, and what better occasion than the 25th anniversary of Star Trek?
In Generations, Captains Kirk and Picard come together for a fight, but in keeping with the man who thought that throwing a punch was too violent an act for a Vulcan, it’s a mission of peace that brings the generations together. The episode chronicles Spock’s attempts to sew peace between the Vulcans and the Romulans, a secret mission that prompts Picard and Data to chase Spock to the Romulan homeworld to discover his intentions. Spock and Picard debate over the merits of “cowboy diplomacy,” while Spock and Data bond over the merits of embracing one’s humanity. It’s an emotional and narrative heavy episode, but Nimoy fits in nicely chemistry-wise with Patrick Stewart and Brent Spiner.
The episode ends with with Spock deciding to stay on Romulus to continue peace efforts, but not before he mind-melds with Picard, who years earlier had mind-melded with Spock’s now-deceased father, Sarek. In a single look, Nimoy is able to convey years of pain, grief and remorse without betraying Mr. Spock’s composure. Regret is not a uniquely human phenomenon, and “Unification” deals with it as an emotion that’s not completely alien to Spock.