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Just thinking back after I re-watched TOS (sorry can't quote episode names for you), but it seems like Spock's vulcan mind meld was much more versatile and powerful than in later shows.

Spock can "mind trick" (for lack of a better term) a guard THROUGH a stoney wall in their jail cell (in that episode with the planet that has "simulated wars" and the people voluntarily go to their executions), he mind melds with NOMAD (an intelligent machine), and the silicon based "rock" lifeform in that other episode who's name escapes me.

In the episode with the "Yangs" and the "Koms" (parallel earth, complete with the American flag and US constitution) IIRC Spock "hypnotises" a woman from across the room using only his eyes to get her to do something to try to free them.

Not only that, but Spock mind melds with VGER in TMP somehow and with the humback whale in ST 4 (though considering his other feats, this last one isn't quite so amazing).


In later Trek's it seems the Mind Meld is more formulaic. You have to put your fingers in this set patter on a humanoid's face and scan them using a formula of words (and some people with stronger mental powers can resist you, etc).

Maybe this has been brought up before, but I just thought it was interesting. Surely we can chalk this up to the writers in TOS not having everything figured out and using it as a plot device, or could and in-universe explanation be that Spock is exceptional in this regard?

Of course Enterprise would have you believe he was a rare genetic freak, an outcast in his own society just 200 years ago (and doubly so because he was "half human"), but oh well!

Well, the Mind Meld I think is limited to those instances where he specifically joins minds with other beings; in the other instances, I think it's just an application of what Spock described as Vulcans being somewhat telepathic.

Of course, the notion of Vulcans being somewhat telepathic was erased in TNG, since of course the Betazoids had to have a monopoly on telepathy.

Uraniun235 wrote:Well, the Mind Meld I think is limited to those instances where he specifically joins minds with other beings; in the other instances, I think it's just an application of what Spock described as Vulcans being somewhat telepathic.

Of course, the notion of Vulcans being somewhat telepathic was erased in TNG, since of course the Betazoids had to have a monopoly on telepathy.

most Vulcans are touch-telepaths, but can weakly send & recieve mental impressions from other telepaths. Spock's family is suppost to be unusually powerful in the psi-department, as Sybok also had the "hypnosis"/distance-mindmeld power.

Uraniun235 wrote:Of course, the notion of Vulcans being somewhat telepathic was erased in TNG, since of course the Betazoids had to have a monopoly on telepathy.

Not true, since Sarek was telepathically broadcasting his uncontrolled emotions all over the ship in the episode in which it was discovered that he was getting Vulcan Dementia.

Spock may be exceptionally capable in the telepathy department.

BTW, the rock creature was the Horta from "Devil in the Dark".

Horta! Thank you, for some reason I was drawing a total blank on that one (and too lazy to look it up atm, of course)!

Could also be some odd side effect of him being a hybrid *shrugs*

What is a Horta ?

evilcat4000 wrote:What is a Horta ?

A shaggy rock creature that eats other rocks for breakfast. It doesn't like humans either, but that's because miners broke into her nursery and stole her silicon eggs to sell them to people who like balls of ore. It also shits acid, so don't get in the way of it dumping.

I get the Imperession that Spock was rather powerful in the area of telepathy, considering the way he applies pawnage to the traitor in ST:VI. Presumably he is just better than the likes of Tuvok .

So much for the notion that "mixed species" aliens in Trek always have diluted racial abilities!

NecronLord wrote:I get the Imperession that Spock was rather powerful in the area of telepathy, considering the way he applies pawnage to the traitor in ST:VI. Presumably he is just better than the likes of Tuvok .

his entire family's rather powerful. Sybok was able to influence minds just as easily as Spock would do, and Sarek had the capability to (inadvertently due to a medical condition) broadcast his emotions throughout the E-D.