Fan Theory: Spock is related to a famous detective

Could Spock really be related to a fictional, famous human?

Fans have speculated often about Star Trek characters both past and present, and some of those speculations have been really out there or ones we don’t even want to think about like Wesley Crusher being Captain Picard’s son. But one theory that was brought up by WhatCulture in its list of crazy Star Trek fan theories connects Spock to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional creation, Sherlock Holmes.

It seems, though, that this theory does have some merit and even Leonard Nimoy got behind it as, in character, he quoted a line in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Territory that was almost straight out of Doyle’s 1890 story, The Sign of the Four. Spock mentioned that the quote was something said by an ancestor of his.

"“An ancestor of mine maintained that if you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the solution”."

There are similarities between Spock and Sherlock Holmes, but…

Spock’s human half was never really explored much beyond the introduction of his mother in The Original Series. Perhaps that’s why fans create connections of their own. In the absence of information, it’s easy to create theories, especially when it concerns characters that are somewhat alike.

Both Spock and Holmes relied on their keen observational skills and are firm believers in logical reasoning. They have solved mysteries that wouldn’t have been so simple for the average, everyday person to resolve. And, of course, they both love the word “fascinating.”

But to counteract these similarities are a slew of harsh differences like Holmes’ penchant for untidiness and his tendency to get excited during an investigation. He also had a flair for the dramatic and was willing to lie and/or break the law if he thought it would help his client. Spock, on the other hand, had a sound respect for rules and the chain of command. Of course there were times when he strayed, but Holmes’ deviations from the truth were more normal for him.

In some instances, the Vulcan and Holmes might be similar, but there are also enough differences to surmise that an ancestry between the two might be stretching things.

What do you think? Are Spock and Sherlock Holmes related?