Star Trek IV Made A Huge Change Thanks To Cutting Five Lines
The Star Trek franchise is known for its rich tapestry of characters, each contributing to the story that has captured the imaginations of fans for decades. Among these characters is Saavik, the Vulcan officer whose path is intertwined with Spock’s. However, Saavik’s role in the franchise took an unexpected turn due to the omission of just five lines in the Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home script.
Saavik Reveals She’s Pregnant With Spock’s Child In The Deleted Lines
Per Slash Film, the moment that never made it to the final cut of Star Trek IV was an exchange between Captain Kirk and Saavik aboard the Bird of Prey. In this deleted scene, Kirk asks Saavik, “Have you told him yet?” to which she responds, “No. I’m taking a maternity leave.” The revelation that Saavik was carrying Spock’s child would have undoubtedly been a bombshell in the Trekland.
Screenwriter Peter Krikes shed light on the scene in the book The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years. “That’s why she’s standing with Amanda Grayson when the Bird of Prey leaves,” he said. “Because Amanda knows Saavik is carrying Spock’s kid. All they did was cut out five lines of dialogue, and you lost that whole thing.”
The Massive Impact
The impact of this omission goes beyond Star Trek IV, as it could have significantly altered the course of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. While Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country may have still been necessary to resolve Kirk’s blood feud with the Klingons, the absence of Saavik’s expanded role leaves fans wondering about the untapped potential that could have been explored.Moreover, the film’s dynamic and Spock’s role in the story would have taken a different, possibly more engaging, direction. Still, the most disheartening aspect of the Star Trek IV shift is the unceremonious departure of Saavik from the storyline. It also raises questions about what other story arcs could have been explored for Saavik within the official canon.
Saavik Was First Portrayed By Kirstie Alley
Saavik was first introduced in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, portrayed by Kirstie Alley, as a Starfleet officer serving on the starship USS Enterprise. As a Vulcan, she struggles with balancing her logical heritage with her human half. Saavik is involved in the conflict with Khan Noonien Singh, a genetically engineered tyrant seeking revenge against Admiral James T. Kirk.
Robin Curtis Takes Over In Star Trek III
Robin Curtis played the character in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Saavik plays a significant role in assisting the Enterprise crew in their mission to rescue Spock. Her character undergoes further development as she copes with loss and the consequences of the previous film. Saavik was written out of the series in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home.
Star Trek IV
Despite the omissions of Saavik’s lines, Star Trek IV remains a favorite among fans for its unique storyline and light-hearted tone. Released in 1986 and directed by Leonard Nimoy, the plot picks up where The Search for Spock left off, with the crew of the starship Enterprise returning to Earth to deal with the consequences of their actions in the previous film.
The Earth is facing an imminent crisis as an alien probe causes catastrophic weather patterns, threatening all life on the planet. The crew discovers that the probe is trying to converse with humpback whales, a species that was rendered extinct in the 23rd century. To save Earth, the crew travels to the 20th century to retrieve two humpback whales.
