Let’s face it; Saavik really drew the short stick. In Wrath of Khan we’re introduced to a fresh new character, a protege of Spock and a novel Romulan/Vulcan hybrid. She had so much potential. But in Search for Spock, she’s played as a supporting character and romantic interest for David. And then, in the Voyage Home she’s gone within the first ten minutes, never to grace the screen again. So what gives?
Well, the shortest answer is the writers didn’t know what to do with her character and they gave her a quick dignified exit. Okay, fine.
But there have been...other ideas. You might have heard that Saavik stayed behind on Vulcan because she was pregnant with Spock’s child. This comes from the possibility that Saavik helped Spock on Genesis while he was in Pon Farr by...well, doing more than just a mind meld. Personally, this whole idea gives me the creeps, for several obvious reasons. 1) when we see Spock on Genesis go though Pon Farr the first time, he looks like a human adolescent minor, 2) Saavik is Spock’s protege, his student, and 3) even if Saavik was pregnant with his child, why stay on Vulcan? Her home is still likely Starfleet, on Earth. Is she expected to cloister herself off like some 19th century unmarried girl in the family way? Let’s just toss this idea out the nearest air lock, please?
So what does the novelization offer? Vonda McIntyre’s novelization of the Voyage Home offers us some answers, but not all.
Thankfully, there is no mention at all that Saavik is pregnant. *phew* It doesn’t even mention the Pon Farr. In fact, Spock hasn’t even spoken to her, let alone recognized her. So why does Saavik stay on Vulcan? Because she wants to. Remember: Saavik is a unique Romulan/Vulcan hybrid, abandoned by the Romulans as a child on the desolate world of Hellguard. Much like her mentor Spock, Saavik has spent years trying to connect to her Vulcan side. Now finally she has an opportunity, albeit through a series of tragedies, to do just that. This quote stands out in particular: “On Vulcan she felt strong and powerful; she felt completely in control of her life for the first time since she could remember. And this reaction struck her as very strange and wonderful, for she had no idea what the future would bring her.”
We don’t get much in terms of detail but sounds like Saavik will be staying with Amanda, maybe even working on research with her? It’s left open-ended unfortunately. But I can definitely see Amanda, as a mother and teacher, taking Saavik under her wing in some capacity. I can imagine they would have a lot of talk about.
So in closing, is this a good ending for Saavik? Well, it’s thankfully not bad. It feels more like a stepping-off point for the character than an ending. We see her closing one chapter of her life and starting a fresh one. It’s open-ended but hopeful in tone.
