Star Trek's original Gary Stu

[sunnyskywalker]

The TOS episode "Requiem for Methuselah" has got to be one of the best examples of giving the designated "smart" character random knowledge for plot purposes. Okay, Spock can play the piano--that's fine. He already plays the Vulcan lute, and it's not uncommon for musically-inclined people to play a second instrument

Comments

[4thofeleven]

There's also:

- Stone Knives and Bearskins Primitive electronics

[sunnyskywalker]

Based on "All Our Yesterdays," Spock has certain skills on actual bearskins as well... Ahem. I mean, of course nothing but snuggling happened, it was such an innocent hour of television. Expert snuggling! This impression is reinforced by the hand-holding incident with the Romulan commander. (Touch telepathy must be very useful in such situations.)

Oh, and detailed knowledge of cults and splinter groups that feel like aliens in their own cultures, down to the peculiar slang one particular group uses ("The Way to Eden"). Spock reads you! (But he can't handle swearing in a naturalistic fashion.)

I think you're onto something with only showing a couple of out-there skills at a time and not encroaching into other characters' space. Whenever he and another character share a skill, it tends to be something they'll do together as a hobby (chess with Kirk, music with Uhura), not something where they compete.