Spock Turns Into Bones (Temperance)

In the season 3 episode "That Which Survives" Spock suddenly turns into Bones, meaning forensic anthropologist, Temperance Brennan.

Of course, he always was rather like her (or she was always rather like him). But in "That Which Survives" he becomes not only dry and logical but the foil for a number of humorous and sarcastic exchanges.

When Scotty exclaims, "That's impossible! Nothing can do that!" about the ship being flung away from the planet, Spock replies, "Mr. Scott, since we are here, your statement is not only illogical but unworthy of refutation." That last line is pure Temperance.

When Scotty tries to tell Spock that the ship "feels" wrong, Spock replies with an apparent lack of interest. However, he immediately begins to perform scans of his own. Like Temperance, he uses a "non-scientific" statement to inspire future research. Spock does reiterate later, "I suggest you refrain from any further subjective descriptions."

Because of course, like Temperance, Spock also continually corrects people's imprecise data. He always has done this but he seems to do it more than usual in this episode--it could be a coping mechanism regarding a stressful situation. It certainly is a coping mechanism for Temperance! (Of course, Spock would never admit it.)

And Spock--like Temperance--becomes quite literal, which he actually isn't so much in earlier seasons. When the ship bounces around on its special effects string, Uhuru asks Spock, "Are you alright? What happened?" He replies, "I'm alright. The occipital area of my head seems to have impacted with the arm of the chair." She gives him a curious stare.

In addition, Spock--like Temperance--is awarded the ultimate compliment of being a standard bearer: "A planet even Spock can't explain!"  

Actually, throughout all of Season 3, Spock gets more and more geeky: he goes off on explanatory expositions of scientific phenomenon, eschews "supernatural explanations," and expresses his "fascination" more often. I felt like I was watching the birth of geek-dom! Fascinating!

Of course, fans will know that Spock does turn into Bones (McCoy) eventually.