Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Gabrielle Ruiz understands Vulcans very well

Star Trek: Lower Decks' Gabrielle Ruiz  understands Vulcans very well

As a seasoned Star Trek enthusiast with decades of fandom under my belt, I must say that playing a Vulcan is no easy feat. It requires a delicate balance of uniqueness and respect for the established lore, all while suppressing any hint of emotion. Leonard Nimoy’s portrayal of Spock set the bar high, and every new Vulcan character seems to be measured against him.


In Star Trek, there are hardly any more challenging roles than portraying a Vulcan. If you land this part, expect a demanding performance. You must create a unique character, deliver your lines flawlessly, and adhere to the series’ established background, all while maintaining an emotionless demeanor. It’s not an easy task and requires great skill to execute effectively.

You look at a fan favorite Vulcan, you think of Spock. Brought to life by Leonard Nimoy, fans loved Spock. They thought he was great. Yet, every time a new Vulcan gets introduced as a main character it becomes harder and harder to get them to stand out. Star Trek: Voyager had Tuvok but he wasn’t the fan favorite many had hoped. Yet, T’Pol on Star Trek: Enterprise, really showed that you could be a Vulcan in future Star Trek projects and not be subjected to the sin of not being Nimoy.

Fans criticized Zachary Quinto for his interpretation of Spock, yet Ethan Peck has been welcomed. It can be tricky to nail the portrayal of a Vulcan, and people tend to notice when things go awry.

In a different phrasing: Despite being less serious like traditional Vulcans, Gabrielle Ruiz from Star Trek: Lower Decks manages to embody the Vulcan persona quite effectively; this is evident in her role as T’Lyn, introduced in the second season. Her character maintains an appropriate balance that keeps fans engaged, thanks to her unique, sarcastic approach to Vulcan behavior.

How does she manage to be distinct while adhering to the traditions of her alien species? By contemplating, she ponders what Leonard Nimoy, the founder of Vulcan philosophy, might have done in similar circumstances.

In a conversation with Inverse, Ruiz shared insights about maintaining the balance required by her character. She said:

My rule is simple. I literally say it’s equivalent to ‘What would Jesus do?’ It’s How would Leonard Nimoy say it? How would Spock say it?

…If T’Pol is wearing sweatpants and flip-flops to school, I’m going to want to wear sweatpants and flip-flops to school. It’s like that. Vulcans are funny because they’re so logical and honest. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

In essence, Ruiz adopts Nimoy and other well-known Vulcan personas, which makes sense given that Vulcans tend to stick with what works. She aptly calls them a “clique,” a fitting term for these characters. They aim for uniformity, preferring everyone to be like them, and they aren’t particularly fond of individuality beyond a certain extent.

It’s quite logical that you would draw inspiration from figures like Leonard Nimoy and Joliene Blalock (T’Pol), when developing your own character.

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2024-11-11 17:23

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