Summary
Spock met an alternate version of himself in Star Trek: The Animated Series, where a giant clone of him was created to bring peace to the galaxy.
Contrary to Kirk's confrontations with his exact copies, Spock approaches the encounter with his counterpart with genuine interest and a willingness to collaborate.
In Star Trek (2009), the elder Spock imparts wisdom to his younger self, stressing the significance of following one's instincts rather than relying solely on logical reasoning.
In J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (2009), two different versions of Spock came face to face, but this wasn't the first encounter for Leonard Nimoy's Spock. Even before that, in the original Star Trek series and its subsequent films, Captain James T. Kirk had met alternate versions of himself on multiple occasions. It may be a misconception for some viewers to think that the first meeting of two Spocks is in Star Trek (2009) when Zachary Quinto's Spock meets the elderly Ambassador Spock from the Prime Universe. However, Nimoy's Spock had actually encountered an alternate version of himself much earlier.
Following the conclusion of Star Trek: The Original Series in 1969, the show gained popularity in syndication, leading Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry to continue the adventures of the USS Enterprise crew in an animated series. Starting in 1973, Star Trek: The Animated Series ran for two seasons, featuring most of the original cast voicing their respective characters. TAS introduced various aspects that became significant in the Star Trek franchise. For instance, it established Kirk's middle name as Tiberius, showcased Lt. Nyota Uhura commanding the Enterprise for the first time, and brought Spock face-to-face with his first doppelganger.
Spock Met His Doppelganger In Star Trek: The Animated Series
In season 1, episode 7 of Star Trek: The Animated Series titled "The Infinite Vulcan," the USS Enterprise embarks on a mission to evaluate the planet Phylos for potential inclusion in the United Federation of Planets. During their exploration of Phylos, the crew encounters an enormous clone of Dr. Stavos Keniclius, referred to as Keniclius 5, who was a geneticist during Earth's Eugenics Wars. Keniclius uses Spock's DNA to create a towering clone called Spock 2 in an attempt to bring peace to the entire galaxy. However, Captain Kirk and Spock successfully convince Keniclius that his plan is unnecessary. Spock 2 ultimately chooses to remain on Phylos to aid Keniclius in restoring the local civilization.
Almost five decades later, in season 2, episode 2 of Star Trek: Lower Decks titled "Kayshon, His Eyes Open," Ensign Brad Boimler and his friends stumble upon the colossal skeleton of Spock 2 while visiting the ship of a collector. The remains of Spock 2, adorned with the remnants of a Starfleet uniform, are displayed suspended from the ceiling, resembling a whale skeleton exhibited in a museum. The circumstances surrounding how long Spock 2 lived and how this collector obtained his skeleton remain ambiguous. Nonetheless, it sparks intrigue and imagination to ponder the idea of a giant Spock leading his own existence somewhere in the vast expanse of the galaxy while the original Spock and the crew of the Enterprise embark on their thrilling adventures.
2 Spocks Meeting In Star Trek 2009 Was Different From Kirk In 1 Way
Whenever Captain Kirk encountered his doppelgangers, whether they were transporter duplicates or android clones, it always resulted in a confrontation. Given Kirk's significant ego and proactive nature, it's not surprising that two Kirks meeting would lead to a brawl. In fairness to Kirk, though, he had the unfortunate luck of his doubles usually attempting to deceive him or take his place. On the other hand, Spock would not resort to violence and instead be curious about meeting someone with a similar logical mindset as himself. In Star Trek (2009), when Spock encounters his older self, he seeks guidance and enlightenment from the experienced Ambassador.
The Ambassador advises his younger self to stay in Starfleet and follow what feels right rather than solely relying on logic. It took Prime Spock many years to understand that "logic is the beginning of wisdom, not the end," but the younger Spock is just embarking on that journey. In Star Trek Into Darkness, Quinto's Spock once again turns to his Prime universe counterpart for help in defeating the villainous Khan Noonien-Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch). The circumstances of Spock's encounters with his counterpart in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films differ greatly from Kirk's in the original series, but Spock logically decides to collaborate with his alternate self rather than opposing him.
