#also a bit of a shot at McCoy lmao

[lichqueenlibrarian]

…feelings

[zaraevee]

Zara watches Trek: TOS Episode 1:

The Man Trap

I’m going to do a new thing!

I originally wrote this down for my Trek-obsessed bestie @clinttbartton and didn’t intend to post it but I saw @noitsbecky127 do a similar thing and realized I could share it with everyone here even tho i’ve never done something like this before (and even if no one else cares, its a cool record for me)

To preface this let me say: before starting this I had a vague idea of who Kirk & Spock were because of pop culture and knew the names of some of the other main bridge crew. I knew almost nothing about the format of the show. I grew up watching Doctor Who (including some of the older stuff when my Dad persuaded me) so a lot of the obvious “60’s” stuff wasn’t completely alien to me (pun intended) but a lot of the Trek stuff was completely foreign as you will see

This is pretty long but here we go!

Point 1? What kind of date is that?

Spock’s in charge? Huh that’s unexpected

Ah Kirk narration~

Do all of them start with exposition? That’s a tried-and-true plot device and its kinda cool

Damn ok Kirk the ladies man

Who’s the third guy? (I was referring to the red-shirt)

I hate the shirt uniforms they look so flimsy and ugly

The music is definitely giving weird vibes to everything lol

Wait tf the lady looks different? For all of them?? Or just him?

Well the third guy’s probably going to die

Yess the iconic intro!

Ah so it is all 3 of them seeing a different one (edit after finishing the episode: this is a weird misleading thing because it implies its in their minds instead of a physical change that the others would also see… maybe its both? I could give it the benefit of the doubt)

Well he’s salty! (edit: LMAO perfect word choice)

He’s hiding something…

She definitely killed him

Lmao she’s (Uhura’s) flirting? with Spock? or just teasing him

Wow he just shut that right down

I wonder how long the crew’s been together

Is McCoy southern? I thought I heard a little bit of accent

They needed SALLLT!!

Bones is his nickname right?

Yes he CAN “just beam down” that’s his job

Was that prop supposed to be bread? Lol looked very fake

Oop he disappeared quick

“I’ve got salt” wtf

Its like he’s calling a wild animal

Oh shit more dead starfleet people

Oh fuck its *their* men

Why bring more people down?? Why would you do that??

SHAPESHIFTER???

Well answer them, you’re gonna get caught if you don’t act the part!

The little smirk that was actually good, I could see the female actress making that face

Well now its on the ship good job Kirk

Welp everyone in the elevator’s dead

Oh guess not

That poor blonde lady (Yeoman Rand) these guys are all creeps!

Ooh this room is fun

Its Sulu!!

I like this pink plant lol

Nooo Sulu be careful don’t let it get you!

Oh it just wants the salt lmao

Pink plant to the rescue? Or just scared?

“Gone Space happy”?? Lol

I like her she’s just got a powerful presence (referring to Uhura)

Ah creepy changed again!

Very presumptuous kick his ass girl!

Ooh speaking in a different language I like that

Gurl you in danger get awayyyyy!!

What’s her name? Ohura? Ahura?

These actors for the shapeshifter are doing a great job tho

Lol he snacking (my first thought was it looked like a sour patch kid lol)

Ooh what’s that uniform? Very spacey

Be carefulllll guys

Nooo leave Bones alone!

Oh yeah smart just let her in

Yeah because putting the doctor to sleep in the middle of a crisis where people are dying is a great idea!!

Referring to yourself in third person- very alien entity

Is she going to pretend to be him???

Ahhhh she didd

That’s actually really smart because as the doctor you can explain any death and make it not your fault!!

Kirk and Spock on a mission together here we go~

The professor’s just letting them find out??

Oh shit he shot at them… that was a lot

“Phasers on stun” is from Star Trek??!

Yep the ship is secured … EXCEPT ITS IN THE CONTROL ROOM NOW

Kirk belly crawling lmao

Ok Spock IS kind of attractive I guess I get it

Oh YES boys good job!

He just let the creature who killed his wife stay with him and protected it because it was the last one?? What the actual fuck

Kirk’s got that smart face on

I feel like he knows Bones well enough to know something’s up

Ooh Kirk’s intimidating I like it! He’s an angrier boi than I expected

Yes Spock is smart- don’t leave them alone!

But ofc now its him against two yikes

Yep that’s what I thought

Aww he ran there

Green blood! that’s right!

Oh wow it killed him too

Welp that’s that its just the creature now

Yay for Spock not being human

Kirk vs Bones oooh

“Oh shit!” (I actually said this out loud when they started fighting physically, I didn’t expect Star Trek to have physical violence for some reason)

Yeah she isn’t done CLEARLY

Jeez second instance of grabbing someone’s hand that has a gun in it that’s so DANGEROUS guys come on

Protective Spock!!

Oh SHIT he’s actually using violence! I didn’t expect that!

I know its a genderless creature but smacking a woman like that is giving me some Yikes vibes

I think you’re traumatizing Bones

Ooh she smacked him back!

But.. you proved your point

Ooooh real monster revealeddd

AUGH its ugly and fake looking

Oh jeez you ok Kirk?? That was quite a scream!

Aww poor Bones :(

I wonder what the different colored shirts mean?

Fondly comparing a killer alien to buffalo is just weird. Are buffalo extinct in present day? I should know this.. I hope they’re not

Do their windows look out the back?? That would be trippy af to ride backwards at Warp

End thoughts:

Yeah ok that wasn’t a fantastic episode but it was tolerable and i’ve seen worse

Introduced the gang!

tho had a few quite questionable scenes with the ladies (almost all of them now that I think about it) except with Uhura and even she was hit on creepily)

Is Spock the only man on this ship who respects women?? Come on! But he just seems respectful in general

Relatively simple plot, but drawn out like old Who always was

Script was ok, not noticeable either way (bad or good)

Tbh I think the creature looked better than early Who monsters so they get credit for that!

~~~~~~

So there you have it! My first forray into Trek documented! At the time of writing this, i’ve watched a few episodes of DS9 (the first few + Distant Voices because I love Bashir) and TNG (I think i’m in love with Data) and a few more of TOS (2-4 and Piece of the Action) as well as half the episodes of Star Trek Continues (White Irises made me fucking cry so hard and I haven’t even seen the episodes it was based on!)

(I didn’t do this for 2-4 or the others but I could absolutely go back and watch those in a while and i’m sure I’d remember what I was thinking!)

If you read this far you’re crazy and thank you! This is honestly mostly for me :)

[lenievi]

Just saw the snippet from your Farragut story and it looks so good

Thank you!!!

The current wip is just a simple one-shot where Kirk and McCoy talk the day Kirk gets the Farragut and they start their mission (but it's also more like Obsession info getting to McCoy earlier), but it also has some cool (imho LMAO) Kirk&McCoy backstory - i.e. it's just something a bit different than what I usually have when the fics are based only on TOS.

[kinetic-elaboration]

February 10: 2x06 The Doomsday Machine

Took a nap after work and really discombobulated myself. Then got a bit of a second wind watching Star Trek.

I believe I have seen this episode before but I had no memory of it going in and no memory of seeing it before even now that I’ve finished, so, who knows?

Where’s Uhura? Hopefully on shore leave somewhere having fun!

I feel like this other Communications officer walked over to the Captain’s chair hoping Kirk would acknowledge her lol. Then when he doesn’t, she doesn’t really know what to do with herself.

Some of the shots in this opening are really weird: the angle of Kirk and Spock at Spock’s station; the camera suddenly randomly dropping right before Kirk starts walking down the step.

DECKER?? Rev. Spice Boy’s father perhaps?

Hmm so the Constellation is another Constitution class like the Enterprise and the Intrepid. I always get a kick out of seeing other space ships of that same shape for some reason.

Mr. Spock in command.

Poor ship! In an aesthetically pleasing disarray, completely abandoned.

Kirk is a very good detective. “They didn’t leave any random mess, so they must have left on purpose.”

Spock in the chair!

Found Decker!

I know he has to be a Commodore to outrank Kirk later but... why is a Commodore in space? Or in other words, why isn’t the Constellation captained by a Captain?

Does Jim know everyone in Starfleet? He’s just that guy, isn’t he? He has a lot of acquaintances and he’s very friendly and easily charming so he just kind of collects people (especially Starfleet people since it is his WHOLE adult life) but he doesn’t have that many close friends or lasting romantic relationships; he’s hard to get really, properly close to.

Well that’s the mystery of the crew solved :( That’s like tragically sad.

I like when Kirk is smart and understands star ships.

Decker is not being very helpful here in actually explaining what the Threat is! Still, that’s a very classic horror trope: an evil so terrible that it is beyond description. (Alternately, he could have just said “giant windsock dipped in cement,” which is what it was.)

Robot weapon!! Giant ancient alien robot weapon just floating around space, following its orders mindlessly because it is just a machine, a tool set loose by people no longer around to control or restrain it... I love that. That’s so cool and scary and weird all at once.

A space legend!! The Doomsday machine... The most terrible of all weapons, never meant to be used... it destroyed its makers and continues to destroy still...

Really into the visual of towing a ship through space.

We must deactivate the robot!

Now Kirk will repair the ship.

The Commodore is recovering, I see... at least nominally.

“Logically our primary duty is to save Captain Kirk.”

Spock is getting outranked!! Awkward lol. Not a good idea to try to outmaneuver Spock in any way, rank or no. He is Savage and he WILL bring up your dead crew. He is Pissed. The subtlety.

McCoy is soo the audience in this scene. “So are you.. Sir.” That patented rocking motion. Trying to get over, under, around, or through the regulations to do what’s right.

Is the Commodore chewing on one of the floppy disks? That seems pretty weird to me. You can’t EAT them.

Mmm, Kirk working on the ship; sexy. Yet again he must fly the whole constitution class ship BY HIMSELF.

The thing is that Spice Boy Sr. IS unfit for command; anyone who saw him 10 minutes earlier on the Constellation would know that.

I love that not!Uhura doesn’t even try to tell the Commodore the status report; she talks to Spock because she knows who the real boss is here.

Spock, always on the lookout for how to use regulations to get himself back in the chair. Also foreshadowing the suicide.

Now Kirk will distract the evil robot to save Spock!!

Got that ship doing with only Scotty’s help, working all the controls, flying the whole damn thing himself like the bamf he is. Gotta zig zag around to tempt and confuse the robot.

“Scotty you’ve earned your pay for the week.” They get paid lol? In what?

Now the robot machine is eating.

Love Spock’s little, subtle eyebrow raise when he hears Kirk’s name.

This scene is gold lol. Kirk’s not going to let Decker speak for Spock. “Where’s Spock? Give me Mr. Spock. What happened to Spock?” Like good news is that it wasn’t Spock being reckless with the ship but bad news is where is he??

Another regulations show down. “You can file a formal complaint but for now.. out of the chair. Or I shall snap my fingers and have security escort you out.”

Vulcans bluff all the time lmao.

Ah ha, now to get him officially declared unfit.

And now for the required hand to hand combat scene. This ep really does have everything.

The shuttlecraft is escaping!

I love that when Sulu announces that the shuttlecraft doors are opening, Spock’s just like “Well...close them. Duh.”

RIP Decker... The inevitable end of that character.

Spock wants Kirk back on the Enterprise immediately.

I know Kirk is slightly annoyed when Spock corrects his math but like...you know he also finds it sexy.

“Jim, you’ll be killed.” / “Don’t worry bb I don’t intend to die.” Is that not the dialogue?

Now Scotty has to solve literally everything himself.

The tension!!

“Gentlemen, beam me aboard.” That tone, though. That’s such a Kirk tone, like he’s got to be the Cool Boss even and especially in moments of high stakes. That subtle humor Shatner brought to him.

I knew they’re going to save him and I also knew they’d do it at the laaaast possible moment but I was still really scared.

Spock is so in love. The way he looks at Kirk at his return and welcomes him aboard...  Such relief.

And then some classic end of episode dialogue: Spock thoughtfully points out the larger implications of their adventure--that they might have only destroyed one of many planet killers still out there--while Kirk, all relaxed and happy now that the current problem has been solved, and still riding the high of his recent adventure, just makes a funny, minimizing remark. “I found one quite sufficient.” Little flirty smile for no reason.

And so the space legend lives on...

I loved this episode. It really had everything: great sci fi concept; K/S content; Starfleet regulations; a fist fight; aliens; a connection to the current events of its time (with the comparison to the H bomb, asking people to think about the long range/unintended consequences of our extreme weaponry); Kirk being heroic and good at his job; a tense finale.

I feel like this episode seems on its face to show the Kirk and Spock dichotomy that STID and the other AOS movies were trying to depict but like... AOS didn't get it. Like yes Spock quotes all the regulations and ultimately listens to Decker's regulation citing, and Kirk's like "yeah whatever screw those regulations,” but Spock is obviously making strategic decisions and he's always on the lookout for how to use the regs to his advantage--it's not just obeying for the sake of obeying. And Kirk isn't just cavalierly not caring about the rules--he's in an emergency situation and he reads it for what it is, a test of will, where regulations are being weaponized. And he weaponizes them, too: he knows Spock is his direct subordinate and not only will obey him but NEEDS to, per those same regulations.

All 3 of them, including McCoy, know both the regulations and their own morality; they're not that different, but they have different levels of power and different abilities with regard to how they use regulations and how they can interact with other people of other ranks. They ALL want to do what’s right and they will ALL either use or discard regulations as they see fit, to the best of their ability.

AOS just flattened it, in STID in particular: Spock likes rules and doesn't care about anything else and Kirk hates rules and never listens to them.

Of course Kirk in TOS is a decade older and has a lot more experience. Episodes like this make me think about how that experience is one of the huge differences between TOS and AOS Kirk (STXI and STID in particular). You can't fake 15 years of Starfleet experience. you just can't. Could AOS Kirk get down on the ground and fix the Constellation himself and fly it by himself? Probably not.

I get why the AOS verse ran itself into that corner, and in fact it doesn’t matter in STXI, where the narrative is a contained, emergency situation, and Kirk’s command is a field promotion for a discrete and limited purpose, but I do think the movies struggled with that conundrum later. No one has the time to grow and mature in a normal way. How do you build them up over time when you skipped over that development period they logically should have had, both as professionals and as people?

I appreciate STID in theory for trying to address that issue, I just think it did it badly. Like its Kirk narrative was supposed to be about "earning the chair" but it didn't keep Kirk IC while doing that, nor did it address the real problem: he's not just A Rebel, but he is verrrry inexperienced. (I know you could make arguments about his AOS background changing his personality blah blah blah I’ve seen STID recently and in my opinion it just doesn’t feel right.)

Then STB tried to skip over the issue by just pushing the narrative forward to mid-5YM. Well they’re magically experienced now! And that was even worse. So, what can you do?

Anyway that was a big AOS tangent lol.

Next ep is Catspaw. A little late for Halloween but always great nonetheless!

[coping-via-clint-eastwood]

[Adding the box to the rest of his packages,]

👀👀👀 Is that chocolate?

[McCoy cocked an eyebrow. “Only two dates this year?”]

He's right and he should say it XDDDDDDD

[“How limiting for you.”]

XDDDDDDDDDDDDD

[“Locked away until later. Drink juice, it will be good for you. Though your abused body may go into shock at the rare ingestion of a fruit,” McCoy grumped as he opened a bottle of water.]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[“I have a daughter, remember? I know how to hide things from a master.”]

Very true lmao

[For heaven’s sake, slow can be good. Slow can be sensual with all that pent up desire. Slower than turtle is not.”]

Jim...considering that all the "dates" so far have been interrupted by you and Spock...

[“I’ve forgotten more techniques than you will ever know,” McCoy shot back.]

Forgotten?

[The doors swished open again. Spock entered, his fingers clutching a bouquet of a dozen red roses, flower ends pointing down and almost dragging the ground. “Human females are illogical,” he announced and plopped into a chair.]

Aaaawww poor Spock

[“I’m branching,” Jim replied.

Spock’s expression remained skeptical, but he accepted the untasted drink.]

XDDDD

[“We’re a perverse lot at times,” Jim replied,]

Yeah

[“I have been thinking of my father all day. And how much he must miss my mother.” Spock quickly added, “If Vulcans engaged in such emotions.”]

YOU ARE LITERALLY DATING UHURA

[McCoy answered nonchalantly while arranging the flowers in water. “They’re already here.”]

Oh! :D

[“Saurian brandy? This is illegal.”]

HOLY SHIT LEO-

Also, Jim is literally the captain but of course he doesn't care XDDDDDDD

[“I treated the young son of a smuggler. He finds me a bottle or two every year,” McCoy answered. He handed a small, corked beaker to Spock.]

Daaaaaaaamn

[The Vulcan opened the container and delicately sniffed its contents. “Andorian Shiana juice. Also known as ambrosia for the gods. This is very rare …”

“I heard through the grapevine it’s similar to what was the Vulcan equivalent of a pear,” McCoy said.

Spock tilted his head down, hiding moist eyes. “A bit … of my home that was.”]

Aw...

[Jim sorted through the food. “Steak sandwiches … the meal you always took me out for when we were at the Academy after my Valentine’s dates cancelled.”]

Oh- oh wow! Hfchvuufufhfhft

I love this triumvirate fic! I love that you went with their friendship over any romantic occupations for Valentine's Day! And as always your characterisation is beyond perfect. I love this story very much. Thank you for writing and sharing it with us.

Dating Advice: Valentine's Day

Previous Chapter | Beginning of Story | Masterlist

Pairing: McCoy x Reader

Rating: Teen, mild references to sex

Word Count: 1.5k

Taglist: @meganlpie @cobe76 @ocfairygodmother @coping-via-clint-eastwood

Summary: It's Valentine's Day and McCoy has special plans.

ooooo

Enterprise’s chief medical officer entered the last shop on his list of errands. Approaching the Ferengi owner he said, “Leonard McCoy, I called ahead.”

“Ah, yes Doctor. I have all you requested.” Quasan motioned to the back room. “Given the cost of importing these items, you must be planning a very special evening for someone important.”

“Uh-huh,” McCoy replied as he sorted through the stasis box. He smiled. “You even found … “

Quasan nodded. “Yes. It took some doing, and, shall we say, a bit of extra persuasion.”

“As we discussed earlier that’s not a problem; the extra credits are worth it.”

The Ferengi gingerly brushed fingertips across his earlobes. “I must say, I did not believe males of the human species understood the art of setting an atmosphere, of employing clothing and nibbles for enhancing the … erotism of a liaison, much less practiced it. This will be an evening worthy of the enticing addition to your harem. Or so I assume.”

“Ah … yeah … well, some of us are gentlemen. And imaginative.” Adding the box to the rest of his packages, McCoy left the Starbase promenade and returned to his ship.

ooooo

McCoy spent the rest of the afternoon finalizing his preparations. He was carefully tucking the last item away when the doors to his quarters swished open. He’s early.

Jim Kirk strode into the room and flounced down on the sofa with a harrumph. He said without greeting, “My dates canceled; both of them. The Yorktown was abruptly dispatched on a supply run to New Vulcan.”

McCoy cocked an eyebrow. “Only two dates this year?”

Jim flashed a grin, “We’ve only been in port a day.”

“How limiting for you.”

“Indeed,” Jim agreed as he stood and walked to the bookshelf that doubled as a bar. “Where’s the good stuff?”

“Locked away until later. Drink juice, it will be good for you. Though your abused body may go into shock at the rare ingestion of a fruit,” McCoy grumped as he opened a bottle of water.

Jim shuffled through a cabinet. “It’s not in here.”

“I have a daughter, remember? I know how to hide things from a master.”

The Captain, who still had the voracious appetite of a teenager, shuffled through another cabinet. “No snacks either?”

“You’ll spoil your dinner,” the physician reminded.

“A sandwich and a movie.” Jim said with a hint of bravado. He then muttered to himself, “Solo. There’s not much to spoil.”

Jim then continued, “Did you hear? Our resident teenager finally put on long pants, put on his big boy pants and asked out the object of his affections. He hasn’t talked of anything else while on the bridge this past week.”

“Pavel?”

Jim nodded. “Said he was inspired by you. As you have yet to get to the … metaphoric third date activity, despite having had six dates so far, I suggested our navigator seek advice elsewhere.”

McCoy rubbed his chin and smiled. “You and your euphemisms. Since we are adults, we could say the word out loud. Besides anticipation enhances all good things and patience is a virtue.”

“You’re like a walking Halmark vid-card,” Jim observed in a dry tone. He sighed. “As I am now unexpectedly free, thought I’d help you get ready for your date this evening.”

“Unexpectedly?” McCoy queried. “When is the last time you had a date on this day? Or rather a date that showed up?”

“Well,” Jim drawled, “I may, here and there, experience poor luck on Valentine’s Day. But more importantly, with the change in my plans, I am here for you before this auspicious date, my apprentice. Tell me you have special plans for tonight. Please. For heaven’s sake, slow can be good. Slow can be sensual with all that pent up desire. Slower than turtle is not.”

“As a matter of fact, I have. Made plans that is.”

Having abandoned his search for food, Jim, on the way back to his seat, slapped the doctor on the back. “Excellent. Finally. Anything you want to review in preparation for the big moment? For, hopefully, multiple climatic events?”

“I’ve forgotten more techniques than you will ever know,” McCoy shot back. “Besides, Everything needed for tonight is in hand.”

The doors swished open again. Spock entered, his fingers clutching a bouquet of a dozen red roses, flower ends pointing down and almost dragging the ground. “Human females are illogical,” he announced and plopped into a chair. Looking around he added, “I’m not interrupting anything am I?”

“Not at all,” Jim reassured. He held out a bottle to the Vulcan. “Have some juice.”

“That is an unusual beverage choice for you,” Spock observed.

“I’m branching,” Jim replied.

Spock’s expression remained skeptical, but he accepted the untasted drink.

“As you and Nyota had the day off, I expected the two of you would be half-way to nirvana by now,” McCoy said.

“Or making a return trip,” Jim added.

Both men caught the hint of a frown from the Vulcan who said in a tense voice, “As did I. However, I was unaware of the additional required protocols on this day.”

“It’s not your first rodeo,” McCoy pointed out hiding amusement. “You and Nyota have been involved for several years.”

“This is the first year one or both of us were not occupied with an assigned duty shift, or midterms.” Spock explained.

“Dismissing you because of forgotten chocolates doesn’t sound like our communications officer,” McCoy interjected.

“She kept the box of candy before locking her door,” Spock admitted.

“So what did you do wrong?” Jim asked.

“I did not err,” Spock said with a hint of annoyance and firmness.

Jim and McCoy traded knowing smiles. “Un-huh,” they replied in unconvinced unison.

“Which I pointed out to her,” Spock continued.

McCoy snorted. “Uh-oh.”

“Never a wise move, especially on today of all days. It’s a day fraught with expectation and emotion,” Jim said. His shoulders slouched as if deflated. “For many.”

“I am learning that,” Spock echoed in a tone that sounded melancholy. “Why did humans adopt a remembrance feast day for martyrs as a holiday symbolizing romantic love? That is … fascinating. But not is a complimentary way.”

“We’re a perverse lot at times,” Jim replied, his tone now melancholy as well. “I could never make Mom feel special enough on Valentine’s Day for her to stay home with me rather than hang out with her man of the moment. And usually he was a jerk.”

“I have been thinking of my father all day. And how much he must miss my mother.” Spock quickly added, “If Vulcans engaged in such emotions.”

Jim shook his head as if clearing it. “All the more reason we help our boy here get it right.”

Spock’s expression perked up. “Yes, we are at your service Doctor.” He handed over the flowers. “Perhaps these will be of use.”

“I’ll get a vase. But, otherwise no, no help is needed.”

“Come on now,” Jim prompted.

Their CMO smiled enigmatically.

“I agree. Perhaps you have overlooked an important item. Do you possess an adequate number of birth control devices?” Spock inquired.

“Seriously Spock … we have to work on your subtlety,” Jim responded with a sputter. “So Bones, when does your date arrive?”

McCoy answered nonchalantly while arranging the flowers in water. “They’re already here.”

He retrieved several bags and stasis boxes out of a closet and began placing items on the low coffee table. Jim picked up a bottle housing blue liquid. “Saurian brandy? This is illegal.”

“I treated the young son of a smuggler. He finds me a bottle or two every year,” McCoy answered. He handed a small, corked beaker to Spock.

The Vulcan opened the container and delicately sniffed its contents. “Andorian Shiana juice. Also known as ambrosia for the gods. This is very rare …”

“I heard through the grapevine it’s similar to what was the Vulcan equivalent of a pear,” McCoy said.

Spock tilted his head down, hiding moist eyes. “A bit … of my home that was.”

Jim sorted through the food. “Steak sandwiches … the meal you always took me out for when we were at the Academy after my Valentine’s dates cancelled.”

“Why argue with tradition?” McCoy asked rhetorically. “Spock, for you, ratatouille.

They dug into the meal, sharing anecdotes as they ate and drank, including several embarrassing stories. Sitting back in his chair, sipping his brandy, McCoy smiled, a grateful smile, a satisfied smile warmed by camaraderie. The evening and night passed celebrating affection and caring just as important and worthy of remembrance as romantic love … friendship.

[lenievi]

I figured today should be a good day to rewatch The Corbomite Maneuver

- since this was the first episode produced after the two pilots, and it’s the first episode that introduces McCoy, and Sulu at the helm, Uhura, Rand etc., I consider it the true introduction to TOS, at least as far as I’m concerned lol

- me loves some Spock barking orders and acting like a good ship commander

- it’s fun how the first shot of Kirk is him being naked

- I absolutely love the first scene between Kirk and McCoy. It introduces McCoy really well, and it also shows the audience what kind of relationship McCoy and Kirk have, i.e. they’re close friends

BAILEY: Raising my voice back there doesn't mean I was scared or couldn't do my job. It means I happen to have a human thing called an adrenaline gland. SPOCK: It does sound most inconvenient, however. Have you considered having it removed? BAILEY: Very funny. SULU: You try to cross brains with Spock, he'll cut you to pieces every time.

lolol let Spock be an ass in fics please

“Have the department heads meet me on the Bridge.“  “Doctor McCoy is already perching on the railing, sir.” 

- ah, so this is where the “McCoy is the head of life sciences” comes from - which I guess explains why he would be called to the bridge

KIRK: Aren't you the one who always says a little suffering is good for the soul? MCCOY: I never say that. (...) KIRK: Doctor McCoy, I've heard you say that man is ultimately superior to any mechanical device. MCCOY: No, I never say that, either.

Honestly, if you need a short ‘what do I need to know about Leonard McCoy’ course, this episode should be your go to episode lol

KIRK: When I find the headquarters genius that assigned me a female yeoman MCCOY: What's the matter, Jim. Don't you trust yourself? KIRK: I've already got a female to worry about. Her name's the Enterprise.

Yeah, Jim, don’t you trust yourself? (I guess not considering the following episodes...)

I wish people didn’t forget that Jim thinks it’s a great idea to have a drink while his men are training~

(also I looked through the tag for this episode and it’s apparently wrong to eat salad leaves with your hands? Like, what’s wrong with it? Jim eating with his hands is completely normal in my world, especially since he isn’t thrilled.)

The look on McCoy’s face. (But I guess it can also be seen as concern for Bailey) In any case, the micro-expressions are great!

- oh yes, another episode that shows that it’s hard for Vulcans to improvise (which is then more explored in The Galileo Seven, and what also caused the Intrepid to die) and that shows how different Spock and Kirk are when it comes to command (not different as people, just different as commanders. In this I can accept that Spock and Kirk are different, even opposites, but not in anything else; on personal level they’re more similar than different and I’ll die on that hill)

- it’s probably very rare for Kirk to raise his voice at anyone on the bridge (because he needs to appear perfect), but especially raise his voice at McCoy (although it will get repeated a few more times in other episodes). Everyone’s like 👀👀 lol (but it also seems to catch McCoy off-guard a bit)

- the faces Spock and Scotty give Kirk though lol But I guess seeing them all poker-faced (but internally judging) made him think of poker

SPOCK: However, it was well played.

lmao Spock can’t be seen giving a praise or what? He got so awkward and started to talk about his father lol (I’m probably wrong, but it seems to me as if Spock actually considered the comparison a compliment)

- Kirk apologizing. McCoy apologizing. So wholesome. Their friendship is so good. (I love that this episode started a pattern.)

KIRK: What's the mission of this vessel, Doctor? To seek out and contact alien life, and an opportunity to demonstrate what our high-sounding words mean. 

Yeah, you showed that very well in The Man Trap, didn’t you, Jim?

- this episode really does feel that it’s only about Kirk and everyone else, including Spock, is there to support him. It also lacks the trio dynamic, because Spock-McCoy doesn’t exist in this one, and there’s more focus on McCoy-Kirk talking and arguing directly; it’s interesting (a similar McCoy-Kirk argument thing is also in Dagger of the Mind, but it’s followed by a McCoy-Spock scene, so it isn’t so glaring).

- I wonder how does it feel to watch this as the 10th episode tbh (looking at the order it’s even after Miri and Dagger of the Mind. Doesn’t it feel out of place?)

- I really like this episode~

[kinetic-elaboration]

November 8: 1x22 Space Seed

I’m really tired right now for some reason... I mean it’s definitely the hour a normal person would start to feel sleepy (or already be asleep) but not me lol. I probably didn’t pay enough attention to this episode, which is a shame because it’s a good one, but I tried.

That’s a weird opening shot, from the back of the bridge. It makes the space look really small.

Uhura reading Morse Code!

“An emotional Earth weakness of mine”

I can’t believe Kirk and Spock are having a nerd competition.

The 1990s!

“Or an old earth ship being used by aliens”--this is such a cool idea!! That should have been a story line at some point.

I love when they find old space stuff.

Great shot of the two ships together--the Enterprise is so beautiful!

“The records from that era are fragmentary.”

Kirk hearing Spock and Bones banter: “uh this is great and all but we have stuff to do.”

Kirk hates that there’s a historian on board like ugh, useless historian.

Bones and his hatred of transporters again. “This gadget.”

“You’re an old-fashioned boy, McCoy.”

Scotty’s nerding out about the old ship.

2018!! They had to use cryo sleep before 2018! We were supposed to have warp by now, I’m so cheated.

I can’t believe no one knows what the Botany Bay is a reference too; don’t you know your history at all, nerds?

Then they just push a random button and wake some guy up!

McGivers isn’t paying the slightest bit of attention. This is probably why Kirk doesn’t like her.

Guess the casting department in 2012 didn’t get the part about “Northern India.” Must have thought they said “whitest part of England.”

And after all that work, traveling all that time and space, he’s almost killed by some dust.

McGivers is really distracted by his hotness I guess.

When Kirk needs to think, he goes to stand by Spock. Who happens to be bending over whatever.

Finally someone remembers the Botany Bay!

Earth was on the verge of a dark age...that’s actually pretty true.

Spock is wrong about a lot of things today.

Kirk’s not even mad or frustrated by Spock’s whole ‘I have no emotions, I don’t know what irritation is” thing. He just loves him so much and accepts this about him completely.

“I’m good but I’m not that good.” Oh Bones, yes you are.

Kirk sharing his opinions on men with McGivers. Yet again the gender dynamics in this show are... a thing. But I’m zeroing in on bi!Kirk anyway lol.

“A fair psychologist? Bones, come on--I’d be great.”

“Well either choke me or cute my throat, but make up your mind.” McCoy is the BEST. So brave.

Kirk isn’t fooled at all by this “I’m tired” crap. Tired? I thought you were a superman.

I find Khan fairly annoying but I do admit he has a certain gravitas...

The events of 1993... only 90′s kids would understand.

I feel like Kirk’s hand is sitting all the way over there just begging to be held by Spock.

So the 80-90 escapees weren’t even everybody?? How many supermen did they create?

McGivers is an interesting character but she makes me really uncomfortable.

Khan did a really bad job styling her hair lol. He just pulled out a few strands of her hair and then said he was done. Also I don’t know what she’s talking about, that hairstyle is not “comfortable.” (A man wrote this.)

Lol where did Khan find those clothes?

Spock comes to formal dinner, ready to start shit.

Ironic that Spock is so against the idea of a singular ruler for all of Earth when every last person on his planet follows the same quasi-religion/philosophy.

“You have a tendency to express ideas in military terms, Mr. Khan.”

This scene with McGivers and Khan has more intrigue and tension than ALL of STID. He makes STID!Khan look like a little boy. That version was always declaring his strength, but this one just projects strength. The way he manipulates McGivers is so succinct and so creepy and so effective.

Absolute ruler from 1992-1996.

It’s weird how so much of this episode seemed to be allegedly built on this “who is this person” mystery but like....did anyone ever NOT guess he was one of the strongmen they keep referring to?

Spock does not like the romanticization of dictators.

Kirk is so strong, too, though. His demeanor is really powerful. Another mistake of STID was pitting such a young Kirk against Khan. There’s no interest in that.

“They’ve thrown away their own worthless vessel.” Someone’s angry that the Enterprise got stolen from him--again.

Plus side, he gets to dramatically give commendations while struggling for air.

This fool trying to give Uhura orders lmao nice try.

This is such a classic super-villain error: “oh I am so confident he must be dead, I’m not even going to check.”

McGivers wants to play both sides.

I can’t believe that for all that, Khan was defeated by a bit of plastic.

“I’ve regained control of the Enterprise, nbd, now time for the actual hard stuff.”

Of course Kirk has not only read Milton, he IMMEDIATELY know exactly what part of Paradise Lost Khan is referring to.

The ending of this ep is, of course, classic... Truly wild. I mean weirdly I remember it as like a compromise, kinda, like Kirk shows mercy at the same time as he exiles Khan to a barely habitable planet, but actually in the context of just this ep--kinda seems like Khan got what he wanted. Like he didn’t get a population to control, but he was set free on a planet all his own to conquer so...

I mean obviously it went badly but still.

Weirdly, I remembered some stuff wrong about this ep. I thought that the Botany Bay criminals were exiled on purpose, probably because of the name of the ship, but the ep implies that actually they escaped and went off on their own, on purpose. What with the “unaccounted for” language and Khan as the leader.

Also, I remembered criticizing STID for stating that the other criminals were Khan’s friends, even as close as family, when really what I remembered from Space Seed was that all the supermen were out for themselves. But he does go through the effort of waking them and so on. That said, I don’t think they’re friends. I think the others are useful to Khan, and he’ll keep them around as long as they’re useful and deferential to him. I think he wouldn’t hesitate to kill any of them if they stepped out of line.

Anyway. I am so exhausted right now. I wish I’d been more... into and aware of this ep tbh. Next up is A Taste of Armageddon, which I remember being a very good ep.

[scaredandbored]

these are not in chronological order because i didn’t take notes (how dare i) and i’m just writing these down as i think of them lmao

spock really said “no emotions. but fucking WRECKING mccoy with a verbal smack down within an hour of turning up on the ship is allowed”

seriously he was refusing to even acknowledge everyone but he went straight in there with the your statements are illogical an unnecessary as usual schtik.

also his emo outfit was 10/10

bones’s disco outfit was... something else wow

why is everyone in a v neck

only sulu, uhura, and bones can pull off the plunging necklines everyone else looks odd

were we supposed to be rooting for will decker? because it seemed to me that no one gave a shit about him except maybe jim

jim and decker fucked

chapel and ilia fucked

bones turning up randomly on the bridge then leaving once the action was over without having any lines was HILARIOUS and i loved it

“they drafted me” “they didn’t draft you” i thought bones was gonna kill him i really did that’s unfortunate

that simple feeling

THAT SIMPLE FEELING

also it was unrealistic that spock was talking about a world full of sentient machines and bones was RIGHT THERE and DIDNT SAY ANYTHING i call bullshit

spock can apparently do both scotty’s job AND uhura’s job? wack

reminded me of that really cute comic where bones n spock meet for the first time and bones is like “oh what’s your field?” and spocks like “science” then bones goes “no, what’s your specialty?” and spock goes “science.”

mini skirts shorter than my temper

on the other hand i wanted to see decker in an ensemble to match ilia’s

also did i hear right??? did ilia preface her duties on the ship with “my vow of celibacy is on record”???? like,,, before she even assumed duties??? unprompted??? why did jim need to know that?????

this whole film is just the aftermath of the messy breakup of mcspirk once spock left for kohlinar (i cant spell i’m doing it phonetically)

bones mispronouncing kohlinar yet knowing the intricacies of the ritual SCREAMS “i was really beat up when you left us so i did intense research on why but now i’m pissy so i’m gonna annoy the shit out of you by mispronouncing shit”

DR CHAPEL

D R C H A P E L

A M B A S S A D O R U H U R A

A M B A S S A D O R U H U R A

r.i.p rand’s hair, stardate i don’t fucking know

the computer was a man? wack. didn’t like it.

lenses flares almost as bad as j j *br*hms, idk why y’all are complaining when he does it

my favourite character was whoever the fuck was floating around in space for the first twenty minutes of the movie during the bit where we got glamour shots of the enterprise being fixed up they were having a good time

they also waved everyone off which was nice

so, uh, i watched tmp. it was a Fun Time, but idk what the fuck all the prolonged shitty cgi shots were for lol hang on i have more thoughts (most of them good)