Some of Star Trek's greatest characters are Vulcans. The most logical race in the galaxy, the Vulcans are the seminal alien species of the Star Trek franchise, and they are arguably the most beloved aliens. Although humans in the Star Trek universe can find Vulcans cold, distant, and difficult to get along with, the best among the Vulcans are highly intelligent, loyal, and brave as they use logic to suppress their raging emotions within.
Many of the defining characteristics of Vulcans were created by Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock in Star Trek: The Original Series. Nimoy innovated iconic Vulcan trademarks like the "Live long and prosper" hand gesture and the Vulcan nerve pinch. Vulcans have played pivotal roles in the affairs of the Star Trek universe and in many Star Trek TV series and movies. Star Trek: TOS, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise, and now, Star Trek: Lower Decks boast Vulcan characters aboard their respective starships. Of course, some Vulcans break bad, and among the most notorious are Sybok (Lawrence Luckinbill) and Lt. Valeris (Kim Cattrall). But the best Vulcan characters in Star Trek work alongside the human heroes of Starfleet, and here are the 10 greatest Vulcans:
10 T'Lyn
One of the newest Vulcans in the franchise, T'Lyn (Gabrielle Ruiz) was introduced in the Star Trek: Lower Decks season 2 episode "wej Duj." T'Lyn was a crew member of the Vulcan ship Sh'vhal who became regarded as "unstable" by her superiors for acknowledging her instincts and "gut feelings" aside from pure logic. T'Lyn is a fascinating young character questioning her role and purpose as a Vulcan, and at the end of Lower Decks season 3, T'Lyn transferred to Starfleet's USS Cerritos as a junior Science Officer. The comedic potential of T'Lyn mixing with the Lower Deckers of the Cerritos potentially knows no bounds.
9 T'Pau
Described by Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) as "all of Vulcan in one package," the aged and venerable T'Pau (Celia Lovsky) was introduced in the Star Trek: The Original Series classic episode "Amok Time." However, reintroduced the younger T'Pau (Kara Zediker) a century earlier. In her youth, T'Pau ed with Starfleet's NX-01 Enterprise Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) and T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) to expose a conspiracy between the corrupt Vulcan High Command and the Romulans. T'Pau also restored the logical teachings of Surak to the Vulcan people in Star Trek: Enterprise.
8 T'Rina
Introduced in Star Trek: Discovery season 3, T'Rina (Tara Rosling) is the President of the planet Ni'Var in the 32nd century. Ni'Var is the renamed planet Vulcan, which is now shared by the re-unified Vulcan and Romulan people as well as the sect of Romulan warrior nuns called the Qowat Milat. Wise and prudent, T'Rina was initially skeptical of Ni'Var reing the Federation, but she became a believer in Starfleet, especially as a romance blossomed between herself and Captain Saru (Doug Jones).
7 T'Pring
T'Pring (Arlene Martel) debuted in the Star Trek: The Original Series classic "Amok Time." The vengeful ex-fiancee of Mr. Spock, T'Pring went to extremes to end their arranged marriage so she could be with her new lover under Vulcan law. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds reintroduced the younger T'Pring (Gia Sandhu) in her happier early days with Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck). Despite T'Pring understanding Spock's desire to explore the galaxy with Starfleet and trying to make their long-distance relationship work, the seeds have already been planted for the eventual end of Spock and T'Pring's union.
6 Saavik
Lieutenant Saavik was originally portrayed by Kirstie Alley in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and she was the first major new Vulcan heroine introduced in the Star Trek movies. A protégé of Captain Spock, Saavik served on the USS Enterprise during iral James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) conflict with Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) over the Genesis Device, which resulted in Spock's death. Robin Curtis took over the role of Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, which resurrected Spock, and she cameoed as Saavik in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Saavik remains highly regarded among Star Trek fans and Star Trek: Picard season 3 canon revealed Saavik eventually became the first Captain of the USS Titan.
5 Spock (Kelvin Timeline)
Zachary Quinto portrayed the younger Mr. Spock in the alternate Kelvin Timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies. This version of Spock has different life experiences than Leonard Nimoy's Spock Prime, and Quinto's Vulcan romanced Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and felt rage about the destruction of his homeworld, Vulcan, and the death of his mother, Amanda Grayson (Winona Ryder). Yet Spock heroically rose to save the galaxy alongside his rival-turned-best friend, Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine). Quinto proved Star Trek fans would accept Spock being recast and delivered new dimensions of the beloved Vulcan.
4 Sarek
Ambassador Sarek (Mark Lenard) is one of the most beloved classic Star Trek characters. Spock's estranged father was introduced in Star Trek: The Original Series' "Journey to Babel," and the wise but stubborn Vulcan proved Spock was a chip off the old block. Lenard reprised Sarek in the Star Trek movies, and he later befriended Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) on Star Trek: The Next Generation before his death. In Star Trek: Discovery's prequel era, Sarek was portrayed by James Frain, who adopted the young Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and raised her as his daughter on Vulcan. Sarek remains a pivotal figure in Spock and Michael's lives.
3 T'Pol
Sub-Commander T'Pol (Jolene Blalock) represented the Vulcan High Command in the pioneering voyages of the NX-01 Enterprise commanded by Captain Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula). As Star Trek: Enterprise progressed, however, T'Pol's allegiance switched to her human Starfleet friends, which included her lover, Commander Trip Tucker (Connor Trinneer). T'Pol brought calm, experience, and, of course, logic to the NX-01 Enterprise as Blalock delivered one of the all-time greatest Vulcan portrayals. Despite the T'Pol character being overtly sexualized and plunged into sometimes embarrassing storylines, she maintains her status as one of Star Trek's best Vulcans.
2 Tuvok
Star Trek: Voyager's Lieutenant Tuvok (Tim Russ) was the first major Vulcan character in a Star Trek series since Spock. Tuvok, whose Starfleet career began in the late 23rd century, was a pillar of calm and logic during the USS Voyager's dangerous 7-year journey through the Delta Quadrant. Tuvok is also a Vulcan with a rich family life, and he was isolated from his loved ones while occasionally questioning Starfleet. After Voyager returned to Earth, Tuvok was promoted to Commander and, in Star Trek: Picard season 3's 25th century, Captain Tuvok had the honor of promoting his colleague, Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), as Captain of the USS Enterprise-G. Tuvok is undoubtedly one of the greatest Vulcans in Star Trek.
1 Spock (Prime Timeline)
There is no doubt that Spock holds the status as the greatest Vulcan character, and he is arguably also the greatest Star Trek character period. Proudly logical, Spock is also half-human, and the depths of his emotions have often been explored. Spock's loyalty and dedication to his friends are storied throughout Star Trek, and this continued not just into the 24th century but into the Kelvin Timeline of J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies as well, which is where Spock found his final resting place after over a century of saving the galaxy. On Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, Ethan Peck shines as the younger Lt. Spock trying to balance his Vulcan and human sides. Peck's performance as Spock enhances his legend and honors Leonard Nimoy.