Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
One word does the work of a speech: it tells you Spock has registered something outside his model of the universe, and that a Vulcan is as close to delighted as he gets. Spock himself says the word is for the unexpected, which is why it carries a faint dry wit. Fans use it to mean 'that is odd and I am intrigued', often with an eyebrow raised.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Star Trek: The Original SeriesShow the scene
Spock's one-word reaction to the unexpected runs through Star Trek's original series, and fans count it among his catchphrases. In "The Squire of Gothos" (first aired 12 January 1967), McCoy teases him by asking whether his logic finds the childish, all-powerful Trelane fascinating. Spock replies that "fascinating" is the word he uses for the unexpected, and that in this case "interesting" would do. In "I, Mudd", he says it as a pair of malfunctioning androids tear into each other with contradictory declarations of love and hate.
Sources (3)
- Wikiquote: Star Trek: The Original SeriesCatchphrases section and The Squire of Gothos sectionReference checked
- Memory Alpha: SpockQuotes sectionReference checked
- Memory Alpha: The Squire of GothosProduction notesReference checked
Context reviewed
