Ethan Peck is just trying to be the best Spock he can for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Spock is an icon in Star Trek. A legend so large that even trying to recapture the magic that was created with the character and the man who first brought him to life, Leonard Nimoy, may be a mistake. After all, how do you recapture the magic? It’s nearly impossible, let Trek and Paramount keep trying. First with Zachary Quinto in the Star Trek films that started in 2009 and more recently with Ethan Peck in Star Trek: Discovery and now Strange New Worlds.
To say that not everyone is on board with recasting the character is fair, but when you’re telling so many stories across so many time periods, sometimes it’s a necessity. I have no issue with Peck playing Spock, and mostly that comes from the fact that everyone who has ever played a Vulcan always talks about how easy it is to do so. It’s not a role that has a lot of depth to it. So it’s really hard to screw up.
Peck, however, has done more than not screw it up, he’s played Spock well. Say what you will about the writing or the direction of the storylines, Peck has been a fine Spock.
Ethan Peck talks about playing Spock on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
So when he spoke to a group of reporters about playing Spock and evolving him towards the “full Nimoy Spock”, Peck made sure fans understood that all he was trying to do was the very best he can. (Quotes courtesy of TrekMovie.com)
"Dude, I have no idea. I’m just doing my best."
He was also asked about deconstructing Spock from Nimoy’s portrayal;
"It’s just been a very delicate and thoughtful process. I don’t think I was able to be the Spock that you see in The Original Series a couple of years ago when I first got the role. I think even now I might be, in my opinion, touching on the more full spirit of that version of Spock. But I myself am in a place of development in my own life that I think really lends itself to this iteration of Spock."
Peck is doing a good job as Spock and he clearly cares about putting his best foot forward as the iconic character. Here’s hoping Strange New Worlds gives us the best possible version of Spoc imaginable.