I was recently considering why, exactly, I’ve been so obsessed with characterizing Sopek specifically as such an over-confident and secure character, as well as an incredibly outwardly flamboyant and visually expressive one, at that. While part of it is, of course, his attempts to emulate his idol, Spock, (albeit with a bit of a skewed perception of him haha), I think it’s also been partially influenced by a counter reaction to the way Nu Trek has been dealing with Vulcans as a whole lately.
It often seems to me that Nu Trek shows want to push this narrative that Vulcans almost inherently all have the same struggle with their culture and sense of selves at large that Spock did. It kind of paints this picture that Vulcans are ingrained with self-loathing due to their own societal norms of emotional repression?
It often seems they are trying to suggest that the Vulcan way is clearly inferior to just being human and adhering to archetypal (or even stereotypical) human behaviors and ways of life, overall, and that most Vulcans wish they could be more like humans, super super secretly of course, on the inside– and for the ones who don’t, it’s almost like suggested that it’s a sad thing to conform to their own culture and natural behavior, like it’s their loss. Or they just straight up push a narrative of all Vulcans being inherently racist or having a superiority complex if they do act and live like– well, Vulcans, and follow logic and Surakian principles (which is weird, because racism isn’t logical or Surakian! And it can’t be the whole planet of them that thinks that way, it just wouldn’t be reasonable to have such invariable views and thought processes! But it certainly seems to be suggested to the audience like that, sometimes, with only a select few outliers, aka ‘the good ones’…)
That being said, I think I was just drawn to the idea of showing a Vulcan who really is quite comfortable with himself, and doesn’t shun the Vulcan way just because he chooses alternative paths in his career and relationships. Maybe he doesn’t follow the plans his parents laid out for him, but that doesn’t mean Sopek hates being Vulcan or rejects his culture upon choosing to go to Starfleet Academy!
As far as Sopek is concerned, he’s perfectly content being Vulcan, and as he chooses to learn more about human culture during his time at the Academy, it isn’t for the sake of being more like humans, but the goal of experiencing the connection that comes through learning about others and meeting them where they’re at (in a largely human-majority community), which to him, is just another way to practice IDIC. He’s expressive with his aesthetics and with his dialogue– not like a human, but like a Vulcan, and that isn’t something he compromises no matter how long he spends with humans. He isn’t going to change himself for anyone’s comfort.
I think nuance is always good. He’s got his character quirks and flaws, peculiarities, etc. He’s learned things that he then needs to unlearn during his career on the Eridani, but at the end of the day he’s written as an individual. He’s got a bit of an ego, but not because he’s Vulcan and therefore superior by default– no, he thinks he’s the shit because he’s Sopek and he’s nineteen and already head of a department on a starship. But, he also knows, logically, that too much pride can lead to a distorted view of reality and constrain growth/learning from others, and this tempering of ego is something he has to practice (and sometimes, he has to learn the hard way, via mistakes.)
Overall, he loves his culture, and he does try his hardest to follow Surakian principles, and it’s written as a positive thing. (And by Surak will he serve cunt as he does so.)
“Intellect without discipline is empty – devoid of wisdom. The calm mind is the one that truly knows.” —Kir’Shara 🖖
