#call me captain kirk the way i love the enterprise and all her crew

[inkedberries]

it was such a bad idea to watch star trek the original series on a whim because man i am in it

[trekmupf]

Introducing Disco Gorn 🪩🐊

Pro

Everyone's close up's look so sharp and good; Sulu's eyeshadow and McCoy's eyeliner in the second half of the ep are the winners

McCoy's smile in the opening scene thinking he's going to get some nice food could light up an entire room (so could Kirk fondly smiling at his and Spock's antics)

The banter between Spock and McCoy really feels like they're getting to know each other better and find their dynamic

Kirk worrying about the Enterprise – not because he doesn't trust Sulu or the crew, but because he feels responsible, and he's always putting her and the crew first

Me, while Kirk is running across the exploding field: Mr Spock, is that worry I spot in your face, sir?

There's so much crawling and rolling around the dirt in this episode

Kirk's and Spock's conversation about how to proceed and the storytelling until the Metrons arrive is interesting

usually Kirk is more rational in decisions - in the past we've had plenty of scenes of him contemplating all angles and possible consequences before deciding, but here it's clear that the survivors story generated heavy emotion, especially anger, and he's deciding based on that, which is really rare

it's also a great decision to focus on Spock's face while Kirk takes action

Also the way Spock approaches Kirk again afterwards – and calling him Jim, pointing out their actual mission (and ethics) to preserve sentient life

Yet Kirk, fueled by anger and righteousness (we are the only police around) sticks to his destructive decision

Even when the pursuit actively endangers the ship due to continuous warp

Even when the other ship is dead in space

the narrative gives Kirk several opportunities to turn away, but he doesn't

The Metrons really caught Kirk on his one irrational murder day didn't they

This marks also the episode were Spock and Kirk are the furthest apart from each - Spock cannot reach Jim at all, and it has consequences

I mean the Gorn is one of the most iconic aliens in TOS; the glitter outfit, the disco eyes, the dinosaur design

also love giving Kirk a voice over to explain how advanced and dangerous the Gorn is because they knew the costume … did not radiate these qualities

I love the way Kirk deals with the situation: he's so resourceful

The way McCoy and Spock worry about Kirk together; Also Bones standing behind Spock in the captains chair again!

The way the crew is glued to the screen while Spock is narrating Kirk building the weapon feels like a tense moment in Attenboroughs nature documentarys

The Metrons as the second powerful race to test humanity; direct contrast to Kirk being his very best from start to finish in the Corbomite Maneuver and showing humanities great qualities (ingenuity, intelligence, compassion, respect for life) compared to this episode: giving into baser human emotions like anger and vengeance – which is still part of the human experience

Kirk's behaviour also contrasts his reactions in Balance of Terror, which had an almost identical set up, yet his reactions were thought through, rational and calm. Kirk is just a very human character with flaws.

Despite this ending up as a test for humanity this is an interesting idea of a more powerful and philosophically advanced species fucking up due to their own arrogance:

they judge an entire species based on a single decision by one being, which a) cannot represent the species and b) cant even represent the being (Kirk is a good man, we know this)

they then make a decision based on very limited information (they don't even know why they pursuit the Gorn and why there's a fight)

The arrogance in the end when their “pet” shows good behaviour

(there's probably more but you get the idea)

Kirk finding his way back to his morals and ethics when directly confronted with the injured and helpless Gorn is, once again, so Kirk of him

Kirk's booty in this scene deserves it's own Pro Point friends

Con

Not technically a watch con, but I can't not think about Shatner and Nimoy having hearing issues later in life due to the close explosives during the shelling scenes; Early TV show filming truly was wild

The pacing is off: the first half of the episode, in hindsight, feels really short because the fight scenes with Gorn drag and feel a lot longer

Even for 60's sci fi and Star Trek the Gorn is not a very believable physical foe

Us watching Kirk through the viewscreen with the crew feels strange; It's like they knew how long and boring the fight is so they brought in the crew to comment to keep us interested (a bit like mystery science theatre 3000)

The arena area itself is boring compared to the earlier sets

Counter

Powerful Beings test humanity

Brains over brawl

Quote: "We're a most promising species, Mister Spock, as predators go. Did you know that?"- Kirk "I've frequently had my doubts" - Spock "I don't. Not anymore. And, maybe in a thousand years or so, we'll be able to prove it" - Kirk

Moment: reveal of the evil dangerous Disco Gorn! Summary: A famous episode with a famous alien-enemy, Arena combines an action heavy beginning with interesting character work regarding Spock's and Kirk's relationship and Kirk's darker side without him loosing any appeal as the leading character. Even though the second half has less ideal pacing Kirk's emotional journey carries the viewer through the episode and leaves us with a richer and fuller picture of our captain.

Bones smiling at Kirk. That's all.

Previous Episode - Next Episode - All TOS reviews

[curator-on-ao3]

I'd love to hear the Director's Commentary on Chrysalis 🧡

Bless you, anon. ❤️

Confession: I have no idea what a “fanfic director’s commentary” is supposed to be, so please let me know if I mess this up or if you wanted something different.

Okay, here we go …

I wrote the first 6,000 words of Chrysalis in 24 hours after the season one finale. (I went back and edited later.) It was like — you’re going to show me a multiverse? I’ll show you a multiverse.

But here’s the thing. At first, I was mad because I thought “A Quality of Mercy” diminished Pike by saying Pike wasn’t up to the job Kirk did. But then I realized that’s part of it, but not the full story. Spock gave Pike the same advice Spock gave Kirk. But Kirk took Spock’s advice when Pike didn’t. Kirk trusted Spock’s wisdom as first officer when Pike didn’t.

That factor, plus Pike’s upset when Spock answered the call for Number One, plus Pike asking repeatedly what happened to Una … well, it’s clear. The episode isn’t just about a captain’s choice. The episode is about captains and first officers and the trust they need to have in each other to be at their best. And I truly believe that’s a form of love (Riker’s face when he first saw Picard as Locutus — damn, gets me every time).

From there, it was an absolute joy to dig into how Pike would process returning to his own time only to see Una about to be taken away from him again … except oops, now they’re accidentally guilty of murder and on the run from Starfleet. So now Chris has to unpack everything — his feelings about seeing the future version of himself, the drinking he had been indulging in on Enterprise, the implications of his behavior both in a timeline in which he was away from Una and his behavior once he returned. Meanwhile, Una has inadvertently become even more of a criminal than she was before and she has to figure out who she is without Starfleet, without her fear of getting caught ... and why the hell Chris freaked out in the transporter room the way he did.

So they both need to let go — of preconceived notions about each other, of their own stubbornness, of the service that brought them joy but then turned against them. Throw in a little “best crew in the fleet” assistance, Disco canon, and Chris’ test piloting skills (plus a visit from a future Una with whom I am half in love) and we have a story.

(A note about future Una — she’s the future self I wish for all of us. She’s so kind to her past self, understanding, almost generously maternal. That’s in part to contrast with future Pikes who follow what Dr. Boyce said about Chris being too hard on himself. But it’s also because I like to think we all would find it in our hearts to be lovely to our past selves who are in the process of becoming who they need to be … hence the name of the fic pertaining to the shuttle Chris and Una enter floundering and exit three days later with surety.)

My favorite part as far as comments might be reactions to the reveal of what Chris was about to say when he said, “I don’t care what she is. That’s my f—” in the transporter room.

My favorite part for writing might be the various escapes from Starfleet.

Oh, and the sex. Because l like character revelations through sex and also these characters are both very pretty.

Want more information about a fic I wrote? Send me an ask.

[littlemaatta]

Changes - Jim Kirk x Reader

Anonymous said: Ok so, I don't know if you're taking requests or if this is even considered an imagine, but... And stay with me on this one.... Can we have a kirkxreader (I thought of her being Bones' little sister but I give you free rein on that) oneshot based on this audio (https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYh7hY6b/) ? I just think it fits really well and I love the  previous fics you have done for star trek 🥺

a/n: link to audio mentioned- https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYh7hY6b/ I changed it a little bit because in the audio they’re married and that didn’t work with what I went with. and tweaked a line or two at the beginning as well.

warnings: swearing, trapped/trying to escape, arguing, talking about death and injury

reader is described as: female. no size, skin, or hair descriptors used :)

James Tiberius Kirk. Otherwise and often referred to as the biggest pain in your ass to ever grace the universe.

You couldn’t even count on your fingers anymore the amount of times that he had gotten into trouble and you had had to bail him out.

He was constantly being reckless with not just his own life, but others as well. It drove you absolutely insane. Add to that the fact that you were hopelessly in love with the man, and it made things a lot worse.

Any time he went on a mission without you, you waited with bated breath. Unknown to you, he did the same.

If you were being honest with yourself though, Jim had saved you just as many times, if not more. It just so happens that both of you had a tendency to get into  bad situations.

The most recent occurrence of this had been a mission on a planet mostly made up of oceans. You had been sent to explore the surface of the oceans in a shuttle, accompanied by some science crew members. 

You had flown the shuttle a little too close to the water at the request of one of the scientists who was trying to get life form readings, and a creature breaching the surface had knocked into the ship. As a result the shuttle ended up crashing into the water.

You sent off mayday signals immediately, hoping they reached the Enterprise before the shuttle lost function. 

Jim had personally suited up and dove into the water to attach a line to your shuttle and pull you out. 

The time before that, the roles were reversed and you had had to lead a small crew to beam aboard a ship that had taken Jim hostage and break him out. You beamed back to the Enterprise supporting most of his weight as he limped beside you with a fractured leg and covered in bruises.

Your brother was the one most irritated by these tendencies of yours. His best friend and his younger sister, always showing up in the medbay to be his problem.

You would mumble a “Sorry Len,” every time he sighed at the sight of you being carried into the medbay.

Despite your constant irritation with Jim, you did love him. Though you kept that to yourself, not even revealing it to your friends. Afraid of what it would mean to speak it into existence. Another level to your relationship with him that would inevitably cause changes. Change is scary, something you knew all too well. 

So you continued on, saving him, begrudgingly thanking him when he saves you, keeping your feelings to yourself, and being bio-bed neighbors in the medbay.

__

What had begun as just a typical away mission to investigate a planet, quickly dissolved into chaos, as it usually did with James T. Kirk in your experience.

Jim had called your name and you joined him on the transporter along with a few other personnel.

The planet seemed normal, as they always do at first. On your way through a town that seemed to have been abandoned, Jim ordered everyone to split into pairs to get a look around.

You rolled your eyes when he paired himself with you but followed your captain as he entered a building.

Now, you wish you had done anything else.

The exploration had led the two of you downstairs and gotten you trapped. The door had swung shut upon entry and no matter how much you pounded on the metal, it refused to yield.

And as your frustration built, you turned it on the only other person in the room with you.

“This is just fantastic, Jim. Absolutely fantastic.” you say, venom coating your words as you shoot a glare in his direction.

“I don’t know what I did to deserve the blame!” Jim responds indignantly.

“Are you kidding? I never knew pain until I met you!”

“Oh please, and I suppose you’re the one that’s keeping me together.”

“It would seem so,” you answer through gritted teeth, trying in vain to pull the door open.

“Oh is it now?”

“Yes!” you respond, throwing your arms into the air.

“Proving my point!” Jim scoffs, as he looks around the room for any other exits.

“Yes, yes, helping man kind, helping friends. But the framework revealed the truth. It’s all ego.” 

“Oh, ego?”

“Yeah!”

“I would love to deal with ego.” Jim says.

“Would you?” you respond, matching his sarcasm.

“Guess why? Your ego likes to pretend that you’re Jane Goodall saving helpless little creatures like me.”

You scoff, “I do not think I’m saving you!”

“Oh, of course you do!”

“Listen, if anything it’s always you saving me!”

“Alright, don’t start that.”

“Yes, yes because you saved me in the future, you saved me on Vulcan, and you saved me when we were trapped at the bottom of the ocean.” You finally step away from the door with a final bang of your fist echoing against the metal. “Well, I guess we’re stuck in here together.” 

“Yeah, well. That’s what happens. Get stuck and almost die, just a normal day for us. Hopefully this time you don’t injure yourself trying to save me.”

“I’m allowed to want to save you!” you shout.

“And I’ll save you every time or I’ll die trying! I don’t care!” he matches your yelling.

“Me too, because I love you!”

“Yeah, well I love you too!”

“Well then why are we yelling?”

“I don’t know!!” he yells back and with nothing left to yell at one another, you stand staring at each other, both breathing heavily.

A loud noise startles the both of you and breaks your staring as you both turn to face the door. It swings open to reveal the rest of your team.

Your first thought, however shallow, is a vain hope that none of them had heard your screaming match with the Captain. 

The sympathetic look you get from one of the security ensigns dashes that hope quickly. 

You take a deep breath and steel yourself as you march past the team and out of the building, giving them a curt nod as thanks for freeing you, and ignoring Jim’s soft call of your name.

Once back outside you don’t wait for the others to join you before you open your communicator and ask Scotty to beam you back to the Enterprise.

Scotty is visibly confused when it is only you and tries to ask you what happened but you brush him off as gently as you can in your current state before rushing to your quarters.

__

Hours of thinking over your argument with Jim have lead you to his door. Standing in the hallway and grasping at whatever courage you have.

Your words die in your throat as you meet Jim’s eyes.

“You love me.” you finally are able to croak out, barely a whisper, a stark change from the shouting you did earlier.

Jim’s eyes soften, “And you love me.” 

“We’re very bad at this.”

“I know.” he says with a short laugh.

“I’m still gonna get mad at you when I have to save you.”

“I would expect nothing less. Can’t have too much change, can we?” he steps forward and reaches out a hand to you.

“No, not too much.” you place your hand in his and let him pull you closer. “A little bit won’t hurt though.”

[mozart-the-meerkitten]

Random Star Trek thoughts now that my parents and I are a decent ways in to the first season of the original series. (none of us has ever seen the full show from start to finish, despite them being born in the 60's)

How many godlike alien races who want to watch the human race struggle for funsies like a twisted TV program are there in this universe

How do people dislike Enterprise when season one of the original series exists? Like how do you justify that? Kirk makes more ridiculous mistakes than Archer ever did and Kirk is around when humans have been in space for 100+ years! Enterprise was the FIRST, of course they were naive and made stupid mistakes and offended random aliens. What's Kirk's excuse? (I know out of story it's because the ~lore~ and ~worldbuilding~ were still in the process of being created, but seriously. what is people's beef with Enterprise and how DO they justify it when ssn one of the original exists?)

I love that the godlike alien races who keep kidnapping the crew have been absolutely ridiculous. Like we had the guys who wanted humans to be an attraction in their zoo and were gonna breed them as slaves to fix up their planet for them, only to finally check out Earth's history and go "wholy crap you guys are VIOLENT when in captivity you know what never mind we are afraid of you now plz leave". And then the guys who owned the planet that made whatever you were thinking of real (including, but not limited to, Alice in Wonderland characters, a tiger, a medieval knight, Kirk's Irish nemesis from college, and a WW2 plane that started a strafing run on the poor souls who accidentally summoned it) but neglected to tell the humans what was going on until after Bones DIED. Allegedly. But they brought him back to life, so it's good, right? And then there was the dude who kidnapped Kirk to hunt him for sport based off ancient Earth customs he thought he knew and turned out to be a celestial kindergartner whose parents intervened and grounded him for not playing nice with the people he brought to his planet. And THEN there are the people with the AUDACITY to call humans primitive and violent when they arrested Kirk and the captain of the ship he was pursuing (this is the Gorn episode btw) and plonked them down on the planet to fight to the death and watched it like a tv show because Enterprise and the Gorns dared to enter the part of space NEAR their SOLAR SYSTEM. Not near their planet, their SOLAR SYSTEM. And that's only like, half of them, maybe, I can't keep up with this.

The objectively and unironically best part of every episode is the intro with the silly music and Enterprise flying at high speeds directly at the screen in the most 60's cheesy special effect way possible. I laugh every time.

So very very glad I have watched the movies because the character development is taking a LONG time to get anywhere (I know this is partially due to the fact that the episodes were filmed and aired at different times but wowie).

We found the story about how Martin Luther King Jr. convinced Nicole Nichols to stay on the show and it melted all our hearts and I love her character so much more now.

It took so long for actual ALIENS to be in this space show, seriously, the first like 10 episodes are just How Many Ways Can Humans Sabotage Themselves ~in SPACE~?

Love that humans are so unhinged in this. We cannot be stopped, we WILL improvise adapt and overcome. 10/10 space orc energy.

Actual conversation: My mom: I didn't know if maybe you needed a break from Star Trek. me: mom I used to binge watch classic Doctor Who. I'm fine.

Okay, I'll stop, I am really enjoying it for the most part, especially as the characters personalities start to come out more. As far as I can tell it only gets more enjoyable from season 1 so I'm looking forward to the other seasons!

[tinderbox210]

Compilation of parallels and connections between La’an and Spock

I made this list mostly to keep track for my gif sets, but it’s also a list of all the reasons why I love this ship so much. There are some headcanons inbetween but all based on established canon. 

I will add more (or make a 2nd list) if I find more, especially when S2 airs. Feel free to let me know in case I have forgotten something.

Also I apologize for the ridiculous length of this post, but when I started to actually write down everything that came to my mind, I realized how much these two characters truly have in common. While they are different on first glance, they share too many core qualities and experiences and too many parallels in their character arcs to ignore or dismiss them as coincidence.

Heritage/Childhood:

1.      Both are not entirely “human” with unusual genetics with Spock being one of few human/Vulcan hybrids and La’an being an Augment descendant.

2.      Both had a difficult childhood, including traumatic experiences, which shaped and still reflected in their personalities and behaviors.

3.      Both suffered from being bullied and excluded by other children, being considered as “abominations” due to their unconventional heritage.

4.      Though they dealt with this in the opposite way (nice anti parallel here!) with Spock repelling his human side while La’an made herself an expert on her Augment heritage.

5.      Both struggle with their identity in regards to the duality of their nature - Spock with being a hybrid and La’an with being an Augment/Khan descendant (which will apparently get more delved into in S2).

6.      They both come from considerably unconventional families and have experiences with foster care - Spock due to having had a foster sister and La’an due to having most likely been in foster care herself after being orphaned (I hope we’ll learn more about this in S2).

7.      Both had an older sibling which was very important to them and who they lost in a very traumatic way with the older siblings sacrificing themselves for their younger sibling.

8.      Both have experienced a time when they have been “lost”/lost their way – Spock felt lost, torn between his Vulcan and human path, while La’an was both literally lost in space as well as emotionally lost after losing her family.

9.      Both were “saved” from being lost by someone (Michael/Una) showing them a new path/helping them find their way back which ultimately led them to join Starfleet.

Work/Starfleet:

1.      They both hold the same (or similar?) rank with both of them being Lieutenants and senior officers / bridge crew members on the Enterprise.

2.      They’re usually sitting at their stations on opposite sides of the bridge, reflecting their roles of being opposites and representing “both sides of the equation”, often voicing contrary information/advice so that the Captain can make the best possible decision (very apparent in the pilot with their back and forth).

3.      Both value being part of Starfleet very highly, calling it a “dream” with both of them feeling like they have finally found a place on the Enterprise where they belong and are accepted for who they are.

4.      Both are very devoted to their duties (workaholics pretty much), expecting people to give their best and mostly follow rules and protocols very intently, but also know when to bend/break the rules.

5.      Both are firm teachers, expecting full dedication, to take work seriously and to give nothing but the best, but they also give credit where credit’s due and encourage growth when they see the potential (as shown with Uhura).

6.      They both have a close mentor/ward-like relationship with one of their superior officers – Spock with Pike and La’an with Una.

7.      Both have been Acting Number One in Una’s absence - La’an in the pilot/1x04 and Spock in the Illyrian Enigma comic.

8.      Both are James Kirk’s first officer at one point - Spock in the prime timeline on the Enterprise (obviously) and La’an in the alternate future timeline on the Farragut (it was not explicitly stated in the episode, but there’s enough evidence to back this up).

9.      Contrary to this, neither are fans of Sam Kirk (understandable!).

Personality:

10.   They both share a lot of similarities in their personalities despite the differences at first glance - La’an is described as “direct, looking at outcomes, not emotion” which are also the most prominent traits of Spock (seriously, that description could be applied about Spock just the same!).

11.   La’an’s attitude to not get emotional, her level of control over her feelings and her bluntness bear great resemblance to Spock’s Vulcan spirit of mind.

12.   Still they are different in their views and approaches to not be copycats of each other, resulting in their tendency to bicker intensely with each other even across the bridge (which could be hinting at unresolved tension and may or may not be some sort of foreplay).

13.   Both attach great importance to professionalism.

14.   Both keep a cool head even under the most tense circumstances.

15.   Both tend to hide their true feelings - Spock with his stoic logic and La'an with her aggression.

16.   Both experienced intense grief over losing their sibling which still haunts them.

17.   Both are capable of feeling intense rage. 

18.   Both needed psychological help at one point - Spock’s stay in the Starfleet psychiatry and La’an’s appointments with the Starfleet shrink.

19.   They both possess a high capacity to control their emotional reactions and pain threshold.

20.   Because of their rough childhood experiences, both are emotionally reserved, socially awkward and find dealing with people often “challenging”, keeping most people at a distance.

21.   Neither are very fond of childish behavior mostly due to their childhood experiences – Spock doesn’t like hijinks and La’an’s no fan of Enterprise bingo.

22.   Nevertheless when they do engage in “childish behavior”, they are both very dedicated and quite good at it.

23.   Both get confused at Pike’s jokes and phrases.

24.   Neither are the most fun though they both have a mischievous side as shown with Spock’s teasing with Chapel and with La’an teasing of Spock when he wore shorts.

25.   Additionally, they both experienced a rare moment of fun/letting loose, both times encouraged by Una – Spock singing/laughing while being stuck with Una and La’an playing Enterprise bingo with Una - and notably both experiences included a turbolift.

26.   Both are bad at pep talks, rather telling the truth instead of sugar coating it, but are willing to learn and acknowledge the importance of providing hope and lifting the crew’s spirit under dire circumstances.

27.   They both are very tactically skilled and quick thinkers, coming up with a new plan very quickly when the situation requires it – like La’an faking fainting and Spock faking the affair with Chapel to deceive their opponents.

28.   Because of these similar qualities, they have been shown to work very naturally and efficiently together, making them actually a very good team - like when they worked together to reanimate Sam Kirk.

29.   They are both very skilled in physical combat and use similar techniques to fight in the most efficient way. They have been shown to use the same sequence of moves to beat opponents and it’s reasonable to assume that La’an is one of few people on the Enterprise matching Spock’s level of physique/strengths.

Physical aspects:

30.   Both tend to use the same formal stance with their hands clasped behind their back, rarely standing at ease even if formality is not required.

31.   They often sit or stand side by side during briefings.

32.   They have also been shown moving in sync.

33.   The colors of their uniforms are opposites, mirroring their complementary characters and relationship with each other.

34.   They possess the perfect height difference (yes, this is very important to me!)

35.   Both seem to prefer their uniform instead of casual clothes.

36.   Both rock the rogue looks (DISCO Spock and S2 promo La’an, am I right?).

Story/character arcs:

37.   Both get a “second chance” on the Enterprise to live up to their true potential after being through a rough time - Spock’s experience with the Red Angel, La’an’s experience with the Gorn.

38.   La’an noticed Spock’s distress after fighting the Gorn, reminiscing of her own past confrontation and making her take over his role in the plan (Spock was the one supposed to join Hemmer).

39.   All the visual parallels between Spock and La’an making the Gorn angry.

40.   The epic mind meld and its importance of being the first mind meld shown on SNW (and La’an actually being the only crew member to be shown mind melting with Spock until the finale).

41.   They both had important knowledge to save the day buried in their heads which was brought to light by telepathy – Spock’s memories of deciphering the signals of the Red Angel recovered with the help of the Talosians and La’an’s memories of figuring out the signals of the Gorn recovered with Spock’s help.

42.   They both have been shown connecting with a “mini” version of themselve – Spock with the genius boy from Majalis and La’an with Orianna.

43.   In the alternate future they both stepped into the footsteps of their mentors and taking on their place/fate – La’an being No.1 like Una (and even looking like her!) and Spock getting  injured like Pike.

44.   In the alternative future their character development is actually another anti parallel with both of them differentiating from their current selves – while La’an got more “human” (open and approaching), Spock got more “Vulcan” (distant and closed off).

Other important points:

45.   They both have a signature greeting – for Spock it’s the Vulcan salute and for La’an the eye swap gesture seen in the pilot (I assume the gesture’s related to La’an since M’Benga only greeted her like that and no one else).

46.   They both sang at one point (and I still hope for a karaoke duet!)

47.   The mind meld (again) and its importance in the impact on both of them by creating an emotional connection and mutual understanding for each other's loss based on the shared memories and feelings (sadly not as explicitly shown and explored on the show as it should have so far).

48.   La’an’s adamant refusal to let a shrink in her head only to let Spock enter her mind without thinking twice, showing how much she really trusts him.

49.   The huge visual differences between how the mind meld between Spock/La’an and the one between Spock/Pike were displayed – the meld of Spock/La’an appearing very intimate/ emotional (and arguably even a tint romantic) while the one with Pike’s clinic like a tool (also interesting that Spock used a different hand to perform the melds).

50.   Spock literally going down on one knee for La’an during the mind meld (which honestly gave me more goosebumps and feels than all his kissing scenes combined!)

51.   Their very flushed and sweaty state afterwards! (really, there was no reason for them to look that sweaty even with the experience being very intense!)

52.   La’an being one of few people knowing about Micheal and even more, she’s probably the only who knows the true extent of his grief (not stated on the show, but I think he hides this from T’Pring because it’s too emotional/illogical).

53.   Their similar deep gratitude for the Captain and the way they both called him “Chris” once while thanking him.

54.   They both have been shown sharing a lot of looks and sometimes even sneaking glances at each other which could indicate some level of underlying attraction (grasping at straws? I don’t care, they shouldn’t look at each other like that if they don’t want me to get ideas!)

55.   The way La’an checked Spock out and teased him when he wore shorts (and him waiting for her to check him out when he wore that apron. That was what happened, right?).

56.   La’an’s adorable annoyance of Spock’s tendency to use too many too complicated words.

57.   Their hilarious ways of eating (nom!) 

58.   Their unusual attachment to pets - Spock with his old Sehlat and La’an/Thalia with Runa (I firmly believe Thalia had the puppy due to La’an being secretly very fond of cute little animals despite her pretending she doesn’t like them).

In conclusion: I just love them, your honor!

[lilbreck]

ST:TOS 103 - Where No Man Has Gone Before

Yes, we did skip an episode. No, we will not be reviewing Charlie X. While we found both Charlie and Mitchell creepy, Charlie’s age and his ability to control people made both of us too uncomfortable to enjoy even watching the episode.

We open the episode with Spock and Kirk wearing ugly sweaters and Spock without his eyeshadow. Though, Nimoy’s makeup almost matches his sweater. This scene also brings us another bit of Early Episode Weirdness in that Spock claims that one of his ancestors married a human female. He neglects to mention that said ancestor was his father and the woman was his mother. I’m thinking that they didn’t have Spock’s full backstory fleshed out when they started filming. At least his eyebrows are closer to being in check. Yes, I’m endlessly amused by this.

I can only assume that Spock and Kirk are currently still on duty in uniform, because we do see people out of uniform in the back. I can’t remember, do we ever see the main crew out of uniform on the ship? (Daughter’s note: Why don’t they have badges if they’re in uniform? Did they fall off without them noticing?)

I know it’s nitpicky, but they don’t have any sort of quarantine procedure for things they beam onboard? I’m pretty sure they address this in Strange New Worlds, IIRC, and possibly in some of the other Star Trek series, but it really does seem like a major oversight. No decontamination or anything. It’s really surprising there weren’t more outbreaks of strange viruses or radiation sickness on starships.

As much as I love the touch screens of the later shows, there is something I just adore about all the toggles, switches, and physical buttons of the old Trek. One thing I never loved? When a superior would come over and hover as if he actually knew what you were doing and was making sure you were doing it right. I refuse to believe Kirk could actually operate the transporter controls unless they had been pre-prepared for him and he only needed to touch one button.

I know it’s kind of hard to tell because he’s wearing the wrong color shirt, but there’s our first Scotty sighting! Now just to figure out the first time he and Uhura are in a scene together. And you thought your pairs were rare. Also, the disaster recorder (which I keep mistakenly calling a probe) looks like some sort of filter drum from an industrial AC unit.

When they talked about its tapes being intact, my daughter got a big laugh. I told her that “In the future, we’ll like things retro.” Retro apparently also means downgrading back to the previous big screen TV/view screen. Side note: there is no need to have someone hovering over the captain’s shoulder like that. At one point he even directs her to stand in a different place. What was even the point of this character?

At this point I become very confused. Where exactly are they heading? They can’t be following a signal, because the signal is coming from the recorder. Just, they randomly start heading somewhere and run into what is probably the same strange field.

Now, we have two other new characters, and you can tell the woman (Elizabeth Dehner) will be sexually repressed because she’s wearing pants. This is confirmed when Mitchell inappropriately tries to flirt with her, and she basically rejects him. He then calls her a walking freezer unit and my daughter and I decide he needs to die painfully. Side note: there is no real point to her character. She doesn’t even get any real part to play until very near the end, and it was not all that necessary.

I know it was the 60s, and it’s possible that those kind of things were taken more seriously, but the way they talk about ESP and things like that as if they’re Very Scientific™ just makes me giggle.

Another issue I have with this episode is that they took the ship out of the galaxy instead of sending some sort of probe to gather information. Apparently, Starfleet and/or The Enterprise are run by Kerbals.

Given that both actors who had to wear the contacts kept their heads tilted back and seemed to be looking down toward what they were trying to see, I wonder if that’s the only way they could actually see out of them. I can’t imagine they were terribly comfortable.

Later on we get needless and uncomfortable interactions between Mitchell and Dehner, Mitchell being creepy and ominous, and Spock jumping right to “Kill him, Jim.” Of course, then we get undeniable proof that Mitchell and Kirk could never have really been friends:

He couldn’t even get Kirk’s middle initial right. Or, you know, they hadn’t actually worked on Kirk’s full bio at this point.

In the fight scene, the first where we get a ripped Kirk shirt, we never actually see what rips the shirt. We have Shatner’s body double do a flying tackle and then, when we cut to Shatner getting up (please forgive the blurriness):

It ends with Mitchell being buried in a grave (that I don’t think could have held him) and Dehner dying from… Emperor Palpatine style lightning bolt fingers. Kirk records that they both died in the line of duty. I choose to believe both bodies were left there, and they recovered. They learned to get along and remade the planet to be very hospitable… or they moved to a one far away. They’re gods, they can do that shit.

End of episode tallies (details by daughter)

Unprofessional Behavior: 01 (Mitchell, who was still himself at the time, harasses Dehner. After the zapping, however, I consider him under the influence and as such, none of his interactions with Kirk afterward count.) Total: 05

Starfleet Are Cheapskates: 01 (Kirk’s shirt got ripped and we don’t know why. RIP.) Total: 02

Reasons Why Enterprise Needs a Counselor: 01 (Kirk had to kill his friend.) Total: 02

Early Episode Weirdness: 04 (Spock? Why are you wearing yellow? And downplaying your human heritage? And you too, Scotty. Minus the human heritage. Spock also suggests killing Mitchell sooner than he probably would have later on.) Total: 05

In The Future, We Like It Retro: 01 (Tapes. They use tapes.) Total: 02

[lonesomedreamer]

SNW Liveblog: “The Elysian Kingdom”

This episode? Messy af. Spock in a wig? Sexy af.

The scene with M’Benga and Rukiya is precious, as always—though the subtext of it (her desire to change endings and rewrite stories more to her liking) is a little on-the-nose, considering that the writers of SNW are basically rewriting a classic television show to suit their own whims.

If Rukiya is running out of time, in theory all M’Benga has to do is stop materializing her so frequently…assuming that, while her pattern is in the transporter, she’s not conscious/aware. If she IS, that’s an entirely different (and horrifying) can of worms.

The exchange about superstitions between Pike and Spock is nice.

“Drinks are on me.” This is why Pike’s crew seems so undisciplined, imo. We know that Kirk would, and did, drink with his crew. But he wasn’t casually offering to buy them drinks from the captain’s chair.

“You gonna say the thing?” “Hit it.” Thanks, I still hate it.

I miss TOS’s buttons and tactile controls so much. They’re just more visually appealing (and frankly, more practical) than touch screens.

“Perhaps you did, indeed, jinx it.” I love Spock, lmao. (Also, as someone who calls out sports announcers and coworkers for jinxing things regularly…Pike totally jinxed it.)

People falling out of their chairs during turbulence is a real Trek classic!

Great, M’Benga is what, hallucinating?

These kinds of zany episodes on TOS/TNG took place either on a strange planet—like in “Squire of Gothos” or “Shore Leave”—or on the holodeck. Setting this on the Enterprise instead was…well, a choice.

La’an’s princess costume is delightfully ridiculous and sparkly.

It’s kind of a bummer to see that Christina Chong has real acting chops (even if “Princess Thalia” is intentionally way over-the-top), but is denied the chance to do much acting thanks to how flatly her character is written.

Ethan is hot. No notes.

“Maybe I can get us out of here with the help of some powerful magic called science.”

I vastly prefer hammy/possessed Kirk to hammy/possessed Pike. Sorry ’bout it. (Maybe it’s just the actors, or maybe it’s because regular Kirk comes off as so much more sincere than Pike to me?)

Why is Hemmer, an alien with inherent telepathic abilities, immune to whatever’s happening on the Enterprise, whereas Spock, an alien (well, half-alien) with inherent telepathic abilities, succumbed to it? I can hand-wave most plot holes…this one’s just lazy writing, though.

Worth it? Worth it.

I would watch THIS show.

“Truthfully, I should have known it as well…since that’s what he does in the book.”

“Don’t beat yourself up about it.”

“There’s no such place, my queen, he’s bluffing.”

All those lines were funny and delivered well!

Even though classic tricorders look pretty out-of-place on this redesigned Enterprise, I still love seeing them.

The resolution of the Rukiya subplot reminds me a lot of the end of The Motion Picture.

The moral quandry of it is enormous, way bigger than “storing your daughter’s biological pattern in the transporter to keep her alive,” which raises plenty of ethical questions of its own. M’Benga tells Rukiya that “it’s up to you”—but how can such a young child make such a huge decision: to exist in space as a disembodied consciousness for an infinite amount of time or to wait in stasis for a cure for her human body?! It’s uncomfortably reminiscent of the “willing” sacrifice made by the little boy in Episode 6…not really the comparison you want viewers to be drawing, given how that one ended. Children that age can’t give meaningful consent.

Besides, what does M’Benga know about this entity? How do either of them know that they can trust it? It’s been using the Enterprise as a dollhouse for hours out of boredom/loneliness! What might it do to Rukiya’s energy? And how will becoming said disembodied consciousness impact a nine- or ten-year-old human girl? There are actually a number of great science fiction (horror) stories about this, the premise being that human minds are ill-equipped for that kind of existence. For all M’Benga knows, he could find the cure next week. It was teased in Episode 6. All he needs to do is keep Rukiya safely the transporter—which really shouldn’t be a problem unless she is, in fact, conscious in there. But the writers obviously just wanted to wrap this problematic subplot up and move on.

A grown-up version of Rukiya appears to comfort M’Benga and tell him about her many “adventures,” because it turns out time exists differently for her now even though it’s been ~30 seconds of real time…? It cheapens the scene before and makes me feel belittled as a viewer. I’m okay with feeling uneasy about M’Benga’s choice! I’m not okay with being cajoled into thinking that it was the correct choice. When Kirk let Edith Keeler die, her ghost didn’t reappear to assure him that she understood why he had to! He—and by extension, the audience—just had to live with it.

“She’s safe.” He doesn’t and can’t know that for certain. He let an alien consciousness he neither studied/analyzed nor communicated directly with spirit his daughter away after two minutes of deliberation! Anything could be happening to her out there. Though, to be totally fair, she’s not going to die, so…there’s that?

So yes: this episode is messy. I rewatched it after seeing the ending and reading a lot of reviews/commentary and actually revised this liveblog. It’s not as bad as I initially thought! However, I’ve come to think that the Rukiya subplot itself was a poor choice, one full of troubling implications, dubious decision-making, and questionable ethics. I understand why the writers scrambled to get rid of it. And conveptually, this episode wasn’t even a bad send-off for Rukiya! The execution was just lacking. It could’ve been so much more.

But hey…at least we got La’an’s princess dress, Uhura’s evil queen ensemble, and Spock in that wig.

The Good: Gorgeous costumes—the actress playing Rukiya was a delight; I’ll miss her—Spock in general—some very funny lines/delivery—Christina Chong gets to act!

The Bad: The writing, pacing, set design, and some of the acting was all pretty clumsy—for an episode that turned so heavy, the campy fairy tale stuff was too light and took up too much time. Too much of Ortegas and Pike; not enough of La’an and Spock. (I think there’s too much Ortegas on the show, period. She just doesn’t work for me. No judgment towards other people who may feel differently.) Some truly WTF parenting choices made by M’Benga—huge unresolved questions/plot holes by the end.

But the beauty of SNW returning to Trek’s episodic roots is that it’s a standalone episode. Hoping for better (and more Spockstine!) in the next installment.

[lenievi]

snw #10 (rewatch)

- why does Spock refer to himself as Number One? Wouldn’t that hurt both him and Pike?

- “that’s La’an’s ship” is such an interesting way to put it when Kirk is the captain LOL (yes, I know they didn’t want to reveal the captain)

- no, I still hate how Sam talks about Jim because what’s said is what people will remember and the way he described Jim is just not true and very pop-culture-y. “He bends rules all the time” no he doesn’t, and it’s especially wild when it’s used in a reimagining of Balance of Terror. So my initial “I guess Sam doesn’t know his brother” still tracks, because he also only knows what Kirk wants him to see. He doesn’t know about his struggles, his doubts, how seriously he takes all of his decisions... “Bones, what if I’m wrong?”*

- I really dislike they made Ortegas take Stiles’ role. Unless they show something in s2 that would explain her behaviour, it’s just so ??? (maybe they tried to hint at it with her “blue meanie” thing with Hemmer during the funeral?) Or like if they just showed some animosity between Ortegas and Spock in previous episodes...

- they should have used Sarek’s actor for the commander. They should have gone all out.

* I know they used Sam’s words to put some doubts in Pike’s mind about Kirk, but it’s like - this brash, young captain. Is he the reason a war starts? - when Kirk is so far from being brash in his dealing with Pike. In some way, he’s way more collected than Pike, coming up with better options. (I really did not appreciate this episode the right way the first, and even the second time, because of Sam’s words. 

- attack pattern Tiberius four is sooo stupid. 

- “All this because of a second’s delay?” Well, of course. Kirk’s reminded of his failure, of his hesitation, on the Farragut every single day. And now, because someone else hesitated he lost the ship, and probably a lot of his crew as well. Love the acknowledgement. 

- “I’m an engineer, not a miracle worker.” .............. not a fan. I also really dislike that the episode after Hemmer’s death has Scotty’s voice. You don’t have to try so hard to milk the nostalgia, especially since it’s McCoy’s line... I guess there’s not much hope for s2 to be less about nostalgia when Kirk’s around, is there? I mean, I like when the lines from the show are used, but I also need them to be used by the characters or is some kind of a reverse - it would be fine if Scotty said this line to McCoy, for example. It would be fine if McCoy existed and it was an inside joke between Scott and Spock because they both know McCoy. Like this, it’s just cheap as is Scotty’s presence. It was AU, he didn’t need to be there. 

- I kinda love that Pike and Kirk just met and they just immediately started to call each other “Jim” and “Chris” lol

- it’s funny how easily Spock is like “you’re important to me too”. He’s always so soft and open with Pike.

- I really do like this Kirk. I know I’m gonna see different Kirks in s2, but I like this one. (I don’t like how Sam introduced him though lol)

- but I really wonder what will Pike do differently to save Una and why didn’t it work out in the other future. If it literally happened a few moments after he sent the letters... will his journey to the future change something in his actions? I also wonder what will make the Farragut and the Enterprise cross paths before 2266. It’s not like they didn’t (because of La’an... but also did La’an never return to the Enterprise? Or did she go to Farragut after she was promoted to a Commander), but Kirk didn’t meet Spock in that timeline... 

like I just hope that some bits from the future will be reflected......... because it’s so weird putting La’an on Kirk’s ship and then not doing anything with it ever again

ranking (based on my personal enjoyment; I changed it from the previous posts a bit): 5 - 10 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 4 - 7 - 9 - 8 - 6

[green-fifteen]

YOTP January: First Kiss, Fake Dating

Title: emotional rollercoaster (of love)

Fandom: Star Trek AOS

Pairing: Kirk/Spock

Word count: 3,761

Written for: @yearoftheotpevent

read on ao3

Jim woke up in a good mood. The stars outside his window were bright. His uniform fit him like a glove in all the right places. He was on the greatest ship in the 'Fleet and his crew were the best in their fields.

It was just that kind of day.

His mood didn't sour throughout the first part of his shift, even when they recieved an urgent communication from the local diplomats of Horace Twelve.

"We cannot beam aboard today," said the attache to the Chief Matriarch. "The Matriarch is not well. I'm afraid you will have to join us on the planet. We apologize for the inconvenience, Captain."

Jim didn't feel inconvenienced. He was looking forward to seeing the place.

He had Spock send him a data packet on surface conditions, then went to fetch his Starfleet-issue parka. He met the rest of the away team on the transporter pad. Uhura, Sulu, Kilroy, and Benison stood waiting for him. He laughed at their puffy coats and furry hoods, then they all beamed down together.

The team from Horace Twelve was supposed to come to the Enterprise to finish negotiations. This was the final day of talks surrounding their admission into the Federation. There was very little left to do and Admiral Komack had already given Jim leave to take any legal action required to come to an agreement. Jim had read the briefing they sent about this little world and thought Starfleet might actually overlook any action taken to secure that much raw dilithium, legal or otherwise. It felt good to have that kind of creative freedom.

They were led to a podium inside a building that reminded him of a breezy open-air temple. It was freezing and the humans (plus Kilroy, a Betazoid on his father's side) instictively huddled close like penguins. Strangely, no one emerged with any paperwork or a list of concerns, as Jim had been expecting. There were really only formalities left to cross off the list.

Instead, the Chief Matriarch herself appeared, towing a younger female Horatian behind her. She led her to stand in front of the podium and then took Jim's hand in her own.

"If you will come with me, Captain Kirk," she intoned gravely. Jim went where she led him, right next to the girl. He quirked an eyebrow at her, but she only cocked her head in a curious movement.

"Captain, the negotations have proceeded well. We are grateful for the work you have done to facilitate our entry into your Federation of Planets. Therefore, before we finish these negotiations, we have decided to give you a gift." Her attache took something from the Matriarch's hand and came toward Jim and the young girl.

Jim was beginning to get a strange feeling about this. He felt the same generosity of spirit and lightness he had upon waking, but now he thought he might need to call Spock.

The attache lifted Jim's hand to place it atop the girl's. Before he could manage, he heard Uhura's voice snap through the silent hall.

"Wait," she called, voice bright with authority. Jim looked at her, smiling a question. She looked back at him with a concerned expression.

"The Captain must consult with his command team before accepting your gift, although it is very generous," she said politely. Jim was tugged away from the podium and a few steps away. "Let us take some time to discuss it."

The Chief Matriarch looked upset. The girl at the podium simply smiled at Jim as he was manhandled away by a grimacing Uhura.

She waited until they were out of earshot to round on him.

"Respectfully, Captain, what do you think you are doing?"

Jim looked to Sulu, whose boggled expression plainly said, No, actually what the hell is wrong with you? Jim almost laughed at the way his eyebrows pinched in like that. Sulu had a very expressive face.

He said, "I was trying to finish up negotiations. So we can all go home." As he said it, it didn't feel quite true. After all, why should he be in a hurry to leave Horace Twelve? Horace Twelve was lovely.

Wind from the open stone doorway dragged his hood away from his face and he hissed at the biting cold.

Uhura wasn't finished. "They were marrying you. Captain. I'm sure you noticed."

Jim had not, in fact, noticed. He looked back at the podium and saw that the attache was holding a pale blue ribbon in one hand. He remembered seeing one just like it in the dossier on Horatian cultural norms and mores. It was protocol for each member of an away team to be familiar with basic things like 'how to avoid getting married by accident' before interacting with a new civilization. Jim laughed to himself about the near-miss. What would he have said to Spock if he'd let himself get hitched on a diplomatic mission? A distant part of his mind remarked that he probably wouldn't find it very funny.

He said, "I think we should call Commander Spock."

+++

The away team stayed on the planet and made reassuring remarks to the Horatians as Spock consulted the admirality on board the Enterprise. Approximately two Standard hours after he recieved Uhura's transmission, he appeared in the doorway to the temple.

He greeted the group with a nod, then said, "Captain."

"Commander," said Jim. He tried to push his pleasure at seeing him into his voice. "Report?"

Spock's eyebrow twitched. "Admiral Komack requests that we use any means necessary to conclude negotiations and secure access to this planet's mining operation. He is aware of the situation, as it stands."

Uhura made an outraged noise. "Is he saying the Captain should go through with this?"

"Perhaps it might be best to discuss the matter with the Horatian Matriarch before making decisions," he remarked, dry as ever.

Discussions did not go well.

They were led to a wide stone table in a different chamber within the temple, where the Enterprise team sat on one side and the Horatians sat on the other. Jim said things like "Terran customs dictate..." and "...happy to find a suitable alternative..." but each time the Matriarch replied with a rebuttal (I'm sure it's the only way. and You insult my fair daughter, Captain. and Shouldn't we unite our cultures for real intergration?) he found himself seriously considering her argument. If he weren't feeling so damn good, he was pretty sure he would be alarmed by that. It was too confusing. Why was he so disoriented?

Not even 10 minutes into talking, he wordlessly pleaded for Spock to take over. Spock caught his look and took control of the conversation. Gratefully, Jim tuned out the Matriarch to watch his First Officer command the attention of the room.

That old feeling bloomed in his chest. The one he'd been very good at ignoring. It was difficult to remember why he hadn't liked feeling it, as he looked at Spock now. Spock was cool, confident, in control. Having him around made Jim feel safe and supported. It didn't make sense to resist him.

Something must have shown on his face, because Kilroy was looking at him strangely. Actually, Kilroy was half Betazoid, right? Maybe he could sense his sudden outpouring of fondness for Spock.

Spock was trying to get his attention by tapping his foot under the table. Jim tapped back, delighted.

"On that point, you are misinformed," Spock said to the Matriarch's attache.

Every head turned to look at Spock, and then at Jim.

In a slow, deliberate movement, Spock lifted Jim's hand to his face and pressed his wrist just under the hinge of his jaw. The air exited Jim's lungs. The rest of the table seemed to be having a similar reaction as Spock placed his own wrist near Jim's left jaw.

He knew what this was, of course he did. Just as the away team knew how to avoid being married, they also knew how to avoid intimate and romantic gestures. This was to prevent anyone getting into the alien planet equivalent of a good old-fashioned bar fight over somebody else's girl. It was not so that first officers could perform them on their unsuspecting captains in the middle of negotiations.

Spock was definitely misusing the cultural dossier. Jim's heart beat much faster than normal.

The Matriarch went an interesting shade of violet.

"This was not disclosed to us in the personnel briefing."

Spock lowered their arms, but didn't let go of Jim's hand.

"Our relationship was deemed irrelevant. We acknowledge the oversight," he said, primly.

Uhura had a resigned expression on her face. Sulu was clearly trying not to laugh. Benison was stoically gazing at them and Kilroy's mouth was doing something strange.

The Matriarch looked stubborn, but her features softened minutely as Spock pulled two fingers across the palm of Jim's captured hand. Jim thought he might faint from bewildered happiness. There was somethng wrong with him. Then again, maybe there was something wrong with Spock. He'd just been Vulcan kissed.

The Horatian Matriarch relented easily after that, allowing them to close discussions the standard way, with signed agreements and such. Her face was back to its usual healthy crimson.

Jim knew that smiling like a love-struck idiot was inadvisable, so he attempted not to. It was very difficult. He could feel Lieutenant Kilroy's eyes on him.

Finally, after what left like an eternity sitting at Spock's side and holding his hand, it was over and they could beam back aboard the Enterprise.

When they reached the transporter room, he removed his parka and pulled his clothes away from his skin where'd he'd sweat into them. It was weirdly quiet when he finished and he looked around to see that no one had done the same. They all still wore their heavy coats and they were all staring at him.

"What?" he asked. He'd been having muzzy thoughts about taking a water shower in his quarters and then passing out, as his shift had ended more than an hour ago. He could see from their faces that he might have to reschedule.

"Spock to Medical," Spock said into his communicator. "Captain Kirk is showing signs of abnormal behavior. I am bringing him to Medbay. Spock out."

Jim blinked and he was being herded toward Medical by Spock.

Bones yelled when he saw him and he knew they were both asking him questions. The lights of Medbay seemed intolerably bright. He didn't remember them being that bright, before.

"Can you say that again?" he said, maybe slurring a little.

Bones scowled in that way of his. It meant I am concerned about you and it's your fault. Jim smiled to see it.

"How do you feel, Jim?" Bones asked. It sounded like it wasn't the first time he'd asked.

Jim thought about the question. How did he feel? Well, he was happy to be with Bones, his best friend. He was happy that Spock had come with him because he was always happy to be around Spock, even if they were just standing around in the Bridge on duty. Especially then. He loved to watch Spock work-- he was brilliant. And he liked it that Spock backed him up whenever he had to make Captain-y judgement calls.

"Great," he said truthfully. There had been some unpleasant business on Horace Twelve, he was pretty sure, but Spock had helped him to take care of it and now they were home on the Enterprise. His eyes were heavy, so he closed them.

He heard Bones and Spock discussing something, maybe asking more questions. He heard a different voice speak up from the door to Medbay.

"Commander Spock. Lieutenant-Commander McCoy," it said. It sounded like Lieutenant Kilroy.

Jim heard "strange reactions" and "projecting all over the place, I didn't mean to invade his privacy." He wanted to tell Kilroy he didn't do anything wrong. Probably. It was Jim who was wrong, right? Something was wrong. His hearing was going wobbly.

Unable to fight the sudden dizzy feeling in his head, he decided to just stop listening.

+++

Jim woke up in a terrible mood. He was in Medbay, which was already awful. On top of that, his head was pounding.

The machines picked up his brain activity and Bones was next to him immediately.

"Gur," Jim croaked. "What the hell happened?"

He checked a readout and shined a light into both of Jim's eyes before answering.

"You were drugged," Bones said tersely. "Flooded up to your eyeballs in happy, suggestible chemicals. I couldn't get you to stop smiling and then you almost cracked your fool head open on the floor in front of me. We're lucky Lieutenant Kilroy was able to tell me your symptoms."

Jim started to remember. They'd beamed down to the planet because the Matriarch said she wasn't well. They'd worn those ridiculous puffy coats. Jim had stood next to someone who he didn't recognize and almost held her hand. Was that a Horatian marriage ribbon? Oh no. The rest of the afternoon played behind his eyelids in perfect clarity. He covered his face.

"Please tell me I'm not actually married to anyone." He could hear how pathetic his voice sounded. He was too busy being embarassed to care.

Bones snorted in an unfriendly way. "Nope. Not married."

Jim dropped his hands from his face to look at him, relieved. Bones only smirked and jabbed something in his neck.

"Your boyfriend is waiting outside to talk to you, however."

Jim hissed and jerked away from him. "Damn it, Bones! Wait, who... Spock?"

The doors opened to admit his first officer, who strode to stand next to the biobed.

"Captain," he said. "Are you well?"

He thought about it for a moment. "I feel like hell."

Spock gave a quick nod. "I am gratified to hear that."

Bones laughed, because he was an asshole.

+++

Obviously, they had to launch an investigation and renegotiate the terms of Horace Twelve's admission into the Federation. Jim was pissed off and already tired.

He let Security deal with the first task and stared gathering crew members to help him with the second. When the Horatians beamed aboard, they were greeted by Jim, Spock, Uhura, Sulu, Kilroy, and Jana, a science officer from Betazed. Spock had instructed Jana to notify Doctor McCoy immediately if she noticed any abnormal changes in mood among the Enterprise group. Kilroy was told to monitor Captain Kirk, specifically. Jim rankled and ordered him to also include Spock in his observations.

They'd had a moment of eye contact after that, Jim thinking I'm right at him and Spock giving nothing away, as usual. Jim had looked away first, unable to stop remembering the feeling of his fingers on his palm whenever he saw him. If he wasn't careful, he knew it would distract him all day, and they needed to be alert. He resolved to keep a careful distance and to minimize eye contact with Spock. For his own sanity.

His plan was promptly ruined when the Matriarch took one look at them, standing stiffly next to the transporter pad and said, "Ah, the lovers." She sounded sardonic. Jim could hear Komack's voice in his head saying "The dilithium, Kirk. I want you to woo that planet." Resigned, he smiled at her and moved closer to his First Officer.

Jim's mood only got worse as discussions progressed. There wasn't much to be learned from them that Security hadn't already gleaned in their initial interviews. Apparently, the drug they'd given Jim was always given to a bride or groom the night before a wedding to ease their nerves. According to the Matriarch, wedding celebrations on Horace Twelve could last anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 Standard months. The dose they'd given him would have lasted a Horatian an entire week and would not have affected them so intensely, but they hadn't accounted for Jim's human metabolism. It was that kind of carelessness that earned planets fourteen extra contract clauses.

Spock was keeping up their romantic charade admirably, but Jim knew he was making it difficult. Spock stayed by his side at the table during each session of talks. He touched his wrist when he referred to him. As they filed out of the room during breaks, Spock ostentatiously lifted his hand for Jim to rest two fingers there. If it weren't so painful, it would be sickening.

There was a weird tightness in his chest as he thought about Kilroy sitting on his other side, listening in on his emotions. Could he sense the way Jim's heart kicked up when Spock looked at him? Did he know that Jim's skin felt electrified just before Spock put his fingers on him? That feeling he had been unable to supress on the planet-- it was back. It was like letting it loose had only made it stronger. Like letting himself feel it only made it more difficult to stop. He did his best to push it away and out of reach of empaths and touch telepaths. Oh God, could Spock feel it? Jim was sure he wouldn't violate his privacy on purpose, but that wasn't as reassuring as it should have been. What had Kilroy said the day before? He'd been 'projecting all over the place.' Was that just because of the drug? Was he still projecting now?

When they resumed the discussion after the midday break, Jim couldn't stop himself from flinching away every time Spock reached to touch him. He didn't meet his eyes. Spock must have noticed, because he stopped finding Jim's wrist on the table top. When the final session ended and the Horatians had beamed back down to the planet, he only put a hand briefly on Jim's shoulder before he strode away.

Jim clenched his eyes shut and told Uhura he had a headache. Kilroy said nothing.

In the evening, after his shift, Jim decided to work through his goddamn emotions. He considered taking a page out of Spock's book and meditating in his quarters, but he was a restless kind of upset. He didn't think he would even be able to start the breathing exercises before he was up again, pacing. Instead, he walked to the observation deck.

+++

Seeing the stars like this always made him feel weirdly at home. It hadn't made sense to Bones when he mentioned it to him. He'd just named ten different kinds of viral infection he could catch in space and called him an idiot.

But maybe being born in space meant he belonged there. Then again, maybe he just inherited it from his mother.

He wasn't alone for long before he heard someone sidle up to him. A quick glance showed him Spock, buttoned up and straight-backed. He was looking out the window.

"I apologize," he said. Jim's whole body twitched and he started to protest.

"I apologize," Spock said, holding up a hand to quiet him. "For my actions on the planet."

Jim stopped, confused. His actions on the planet?

"I wish to be honest with you, Captain." He knew Spock well enough to see the tension in his muscles. "There was a 73.7 per cent probability that the situation involving the Matriarch's daughter could have been resolved satisfactorily in another way. However, I chose the most efficient option, not anticipating that it would cause you discomfort. For that, I apologize."

Jim's eyebrows bunched together. "What's done is done, Spock," he told him. "It's probably for the best that you lied to them. I was just a few minutes away from having my fainting spell."

"Twenty-one point two one minutes," Spock corrected.

"Exactly. Any longer at that table, I might not have been able to make it back to the Enteprrise by myself."

"I would have carried you back."

Jim blinked. "But I'm glad you didn't. That would be too embarassing, especially on a diplomatic mission like this."

Spock looked even more rigid. "Indeed."

They stood together and watched the darkness outside the hull. Jim could feel the balloon of emotions rising to the surface and held it down desperately.

"I know it probably made you uncomfortable today, having to touch me so much. Vulcans aren't big on PDA, right?"

Jim saw Spock incline his head out of the corner of his eye. "In general, no, Vulcans do not engage in affectionate displays."

There was a moment of silence.

"I was not, however, uncomfortable."

Jim looked at Spock and Spock turned toward him. "I'm--" Jim started.

Spock interrupted him. "I had no indication that you would lose consciousness on Horace Twelve and thus there was little need for haste, when I made the decision to decieve the Chief Matriarch."

He looked down. Jim stared at the top of his First Officer's head.

"I am a touch telepath. According to every precept of logic, I should not have chosen to touch your hands or kiss you in the Vulcan manner. Nevertheless, I did." He gazed at the observation window again.

"It did not displease me to touch you, Captain."

Jim couldn't say anything. He didn't want to leave Spock hanging after what was clearly an emotional confession, but he was having an internal crisis. The balloon was rising faster than he could stop it and he held onto it for dear life, trying not to blurt something stupid before he fully understood what was happening.

"Do you--" he cleared his throat. "What do you mean, exactly?"

He hoped he knew. He didn't think he could hold on very much longer.

"When you fell to the ground in Medbay, before Lieutenant Kilroy informed us of the situation, I was... emotional. I was reminded of your most recent loss of consciousness."

The last time he'd, what? Passed out? That must have been after... oh. Had it really only been a year since Khan? Jim remembered the feeling the cold glass warming under his and Spock's hands. He remembered Spock had called him his friend. His friend.

"Although it was illogical, I felt regret, that I had not told you of my regard before I kissed you on the planet. I was determined to rectify the situation when you woke."

Jim was losing his grip. "Regard, Spock?" he asked, softly. "What are you telling me?"

His eyes lifted to find Jim's. "I am in love with you."

Jim's smile felt like instinct. He moved closer to Spock and took his hand. The feeling in his chest started to leak out and he didn't stop it. He kissed him instead.

+++

The next morning, during the first break in meetings, Kilroy submitted a warning to Doctor McCoy.

It read:

Notice-- CPT Kirk and CDR Spock way too happy. Please advise.

[littlemaatta]

Personal Protection Squad - Jim Kirk x Reader

Anonymous said: Prompt: Kirk having a huge crush on the reader, who is close friends with many on the bridge and on the enterprise. Due to his womanizer reputation (and because they fear Kirk might break her heart) the crew, specially Bones, Spock, Chekov and Sulu (honestly, the man has a sword and knows how to use it), run interference in what Scotty has dubbed "the cockblock brigade"

a/n: let me just say how much I LOVE this request, been working on this for SO long and I’m super in love with it and I hope you are too!!

warnings: some language, some threats made

reader is described as: female. no size, skin, or hair descriptors. 

Jim Kirk knew he was in deep as soon as he laid eyes on you, the day you joined the crew. He would pass you in the corridors of the ship and you would smile politely, he would see you in engineering, or in medbay.. Now, he watches as you throw your head back with laughter pouring from your mouth, a few tables away in the mess hall of the Enterprise. 

His gaze doesn’t go unnoticed by his friends as they join him at the table. Bones turns his head towards you, sitting with Sulu and Chekov, laughing at something Hikaru had said. He shares a look with the Vulcan beside him before they both turn back to their Captain across the table.

The two officers distract Jim long enough for Chekov and Sulu to leave the mess with you. Jim and Spock make their way back to the bridge and Bones back to medbay to go on with their days. Though Jim doesn’t stop thinking of you, just like every other day.

His feelings for you have grown, despite someone seemingly always interrupting your short but lovely conversations. One time, he had been sitting with you in the mess, having a wonderful time together when Scotty had come and quite literally pulled him away.

Another time, you had been sharing a turbolift and as soon as the doors opened, Bones had come in and whisked you away, muttering something about needing to do your annual check-up. 

Little does Jim know, this is all intentional. Ever since they realized Jim had a crush on you, the crew of the Enterprise has been working hard to keep the Captain away from you.

Jim wasn’t the only one who took an immediate liking to you when you came aboard the ship. You made fast friends with almost every member of the crew, which is why some of them have now taken it upon themselves to protect you from their Captain. 

Scotty has even taken to calling their little group the “Cockblock Brigade”. 

They all cared for you too much to let Jim break your heart, so they became your own personal protection squad, and they hoped neither you or Jim would become wise to their actions.

But they weren’t very subtle, and you weren’t stupid; so it only took a few weeks of certain people always popping into your conversations with Jim for you to notice the pattern.

As soon as you realized, you sent Jim a message to meet you at a time and place none of your friends would know about.

He arrived on the deck named in the aforementioned message, looking down at his PADD to confirm the location, then glancing around in search of the person who had sent it. 

As he takes a hesitant step down the corridor, a sudden tap on his shoulder makes him jump in surprise.

He turns to find you standing behind him, an amused smile on your lips at his tiny jump, and a matching smile replaces the shocked look previously on his face. 

“Hello,” he says with a smile, before you place your finger to your lips and shush him. He raises an eyebrow at your action but obliges as your hand finds his wrist and you pull him into a storage room. 

“Okay, I think it’s safe here.” you say after looking around the room. 

“Safe? Are we in an old spy movie?” Jim asks with a laugh.

At the semi-serious look on your face, his laughter stops. 

“What? Why all the secrecy?” he asks.

You sigh, gesturing for him to sit down beside you on a crate of supplies. “We’re being watched. I didn’t know if you had noticed.” Jim still looks confused so you carry on, “Scotty, Bones, Sulu, Chekov, Spock. They’re trying to keep us away from each other. Haven’t you noticed them constantly interrupting our conversations?”

Jim opens his mouth to speak but stops and thinks back on just a few occasions in the past few weeks. He gasps when the realization hits him, “You’re right!”

“I know!”

You share a look before both bursting into laughter at the thought of your friends scheming to keep you apart. 

You quickly shush him though, still on high alert and concerned that your nosey friends may find you before you get to say what you need to.

“So I think I’ve figured out why our conversations conveniently are interrupted by the same set of people,” you start, pausing to gauge Jim’s reaction, hoping for some sign that he gets where you’re going with this.

“Go on..” he prods.

“I think they figured out I have a slight crush on you.” you muse, looking anywhere but your captain’s face as your face and neck get hot with embarrassment and anxiety.

Jim inhales so fast that he chokes on the air and starts coughing. You turn to him with wide and slightly amused eyes as he hacks away, slapping his own chest a few times.

“You alright there?” you ask, a joking tone to your voice as he finally catches his breath.

“Yep. Yep.. I am great. One lung short now but that’s fine.” he answers. You laugh softly as his face turns even redder. He clears his throat, “I just didn’t expect you to say that.”

“I hope you’re not about to make fun of me Kirk.” 

“No, no. Of course not.” he rushes out, “I just... I didn’t think that you... I thought that you wouldn’t like me back.”

“Well why wouldn’t-” you start defensively before realizing what he said. “You’re not... you like me too?” 

“From the first time we met.” he says sheepishly with a dopey smile on his face. 

You return the smile and your confidence finally comes back, “Well, I think you better ask me on a date then.”

__

The next few weeks are spent going on secret dates with Jim, sneaking around the ship and avoiding your protection squad at all costs.

When you’re finally comfortable with telling them about it, you and Jim decide to have a little fun.

You find them all sitting together in a near empty mess hall and join them at the table. They all greet you warmly and you join the conversation.

As planned, Jim arrives 5 minutes later and suddenly the empty seat to your right is taken by Scotty who moved from across the table, faster than you have ever seen him move.

Jim is not deterred and taps Scotty on the shoulder. Scotty turns to him, trying and failing to keep his expression neutral and act like he hadn’t just randomly sprinted to get to that seat. “Yes, Captain?”

“Could I sit there Scotty?”

“Oh is it your seat now? I suppose since you’re the Captain you think you just own everything on the ship aye? Well let me tell you something laddie-”

“I’d just like to sit next to my girlfriend Mr. Scott.” Jim says with an innocent smile.

Scotty ignores this as he continues his tirade about Jim thinking he is “hot shit”. 

“I maintain this ship with my blood, sweat, and tears-” Scotty suddenly stops. He gulps before turning to look at you and then back to Jim before looking at Bones, “Did he say what I think he said?”

“I think he did.” Bones replies, glaring at Jim.

“Geez Bones, if looks could kill…” Jim smirks at the doctor.

“Looks might not be able to but my sword sure can.” Sulu answers, giving an equally menacing glare to Jim.

You let out a laugh at that and the cockblock brigade seems to remember you are there as they all turn to look at you with sad expressions.

“Y/N darlin’-” Bones starts but you cut him off.

“Listen, as adorable as I think it is that you all wanted to look out for me like this, I am actually capable of making my own decisions. And I have decided that I want to be with Jim. We’ve been hanging out for a couple weeks now and I think it’s going really well..” you trail off, looking to Jim for confirmation to which he smiles and nods, “So thank you all but.. we’re okay. The cockblock brigade can retire.”

You give Scotty a teasing look when you mention his name for the group, he sheepishly smiles in response.

“Alright, we’ll leave ya be lass.” Scotty gets up to move back to his original seat and stops to glare at Jim, “But you listen here.. if you ever hurt her, we’re all coming for you. Aye?” he gestures to the others and Jim receives a glare and nod from each one.

Jim smiles, “I promise you Scotty, if I ever do hurt her, I will gladly let you hurt me. Because that is the last thing I ever want to do.”

The group nods, seeming satisfied with his response, and finally you are allowed to have a conversation with your friends and Jim at once. 

And once they see you together, your friends realize they may have done more harm than good by keeping you apart for so long.

[cheer-deforest-kelley]

This is the amazing day I met DeForest Kelley on the set of Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

My boss was friends with a woman who worked on a few of the Star Trek movies. He introduced us and told her of my love for DeForest and she invited me to the set when De was filming.

I could not take photos as it was a closed set, but it didn’t matter as everything I saw was burned into my soul.

In late December 1988, I drove through the gates of Paramount Studios and parked right by the Star Trek Production trailer (Trailer 12). My head spun as I walked inside and was surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the making of a Star Trek movie. While sitting in my friend’s office, a voice on the walkie-talkie said that Bill and De were in their dressing rooms. My head exploded.

My friend walked me to the stage that was the Enterprise bridge and I got to sit in Captain Kirk’s chair (my feet didn’t touch the ground—literally and figuratively). I saw Director’s chairs with the names William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelley embroidered on the backs. I would have loved to sit in De’s chair, but all I could do was touch the arm as we walked by.

The Stage Manager told us that Bill was on the New York street set, so we left the stage and walked to an outside set with a high stage. When we arrived, Bill was being strapped into a harness (which fit around his torso, waist and crotch and which would allow him to be lifted into the air). His legs were bare and very white (he was wearing gym shorts). He was making jokes and talking in a very high pitched voice as they tightened the straps around his nether region.

I forgot all about Bill when I heard a voice on a walkie-talkie say that De was stepping out of his trailer and would arrive in a moment. My heart started pounding and I started feeling very warm (it was 49 degrees outside— which by the way, is considered freezing for Southern California). I turned around and saw DeForest Kelley ambling towards me. He was wearing dark blue jeans, a dark green sweatshirt, a light blue jean jacket with a fleece collar, black cowboy boots and a multicolored scarf around his neck.

Tears welled up in my eyes. De said hello to a few people, hugged my friend and she then walked him over to me. She told him my name and said where I worked. De shook my hand for a very long time (eventually just holding my hand rather than shaking it) and called me a spy because I worked at different studio than Paramount. He commented on how cold it was and lifted his sweatshirt up to his chin to show us a fleece-lined shirt that a fan from Seattle made him. He was very charming and chatty; I said a few sentences but was mostly mute (just call me Gem).

After a few minutes, he said it was great to meet me, shook my hand again and went to talk to Bill (who was now wearing sweatpants with yellow stripes and a blue uniform tunic that was unlike their usual uniforms). They talked for a while, laughed a lot and then hugged goodbye. Bill (being the Director) had to leave to watch a previously filmed scene— he was driven away. Suddenly all the commotion on the set just stopped and much of the crew left, however De stayed.

He came over to talk to us again (OMG!!) and said “It’s always hurry up and wait.” I responded “That’s showbiz.” He laughed (thank God) and said “That’s right, you know it!” I found my voice this time when he asked about my job. We talked for at least 10 minutes— discussing the cold weather again, his being a little sad that production on the film was almost done (You’re sad De? Let me hug and console you.) and what we were respectively doing for New Year’s Eve. For De, it was was “Absolutely nothing except kiss my wife before midnight since we don’t stay up that late.”

A man holding a humungous binder came over and said he needed De. De said “Bye now” and left (sob!!). Of course I kept my eyes glued on him. After he conversed with the binder guy, he talked to some crew members, but when they left, he stood alone for about 5 minutes, during which he smoked two cigarettes (he had a very nice lighter). He looked around and found a random Director’s chair and plunked down in it (he first pounded the chair with his fist, to make sure it was sturdy-- it was an old looking chair).

Bill was gone for over an hour (lucky me). I was free to wander around the set, but I mostly stayed close and kept an eye on De; he talked to the crew, left once (potty break?), read a magazine and smoked-- sad to say he constantly smoked. He once looked over at me and gave me a big smile.

When Bill returned, they were ready to film the scene when Kirk falls from Yosemite’s El Capitan and McCoy berates him. There was a publicity photographer taking pictures of everything, including this scene (which happened to be printed in a magazine and is my first picture posted here).

The Assistant Director called for De, who stood up and unbuttoned his jacket. A woman appeared and De closed his eyes as she touched up his make-up and combed his hair (I wanted to comb his soft hair). Two big burly men then lifted De (by his outstretched arms and butt) onto the elevated stage; they lifted him so high and hard, he literally flew into the air before landing on the stage on one foot-- he caught his balance and then turned back to them laughing with his eyes wide. They both laughed nervously and said “Sorry De.”  He told them they were very strong.

On the stage was the bottom part of El Capitan made out of fiberglass. At the time, not knowing anything about the story, it just looked like a huge rock surrounded by dirt, boulders and trees. There were screens surrounding the stage that looked like blue sky with clouds.

They connected wires to Bill’s body harness. He was lifted just off the ground and then quickly hung upside down where he swung around loosely. De came over and bent down with his face very close to the upside down Bill and they spoke quietly between themselves; De then stepped back and Bill called “Action!” Kirk said “Hi Bones, mind if we drop in for dinner?” and laughed like he was a little drunk. De took a step forward, bent down and McCoy started yelling at the slightly twirling Kirk. Kirk patted McCoy’s ears and squeezed his cheeks, laughing and making little noises. They quickly filmed the scene twice. The first time went fine, but the second time, they both began laughing and De said to the upside down Bill, “Kiss me.” They quickly kissed on the lips (I know, I know!!) and the entire crew cracked up. Bill called “Cut!” and someone else yelled “Lunch—45 minutes.” De said goodbye to the crew, got into a car, lit a cigarette and was driven away.

I had to get back to work. I walked (floated actually) to my car and drove out of the studio gate, ecstatic that one of my wildest dreams had come true.

A month later, my friend gave me my very own Final Frontier cast & crew jacket (similar to the one McCoy wore in the campfire scene), a photo of the cast & crew (Leonard’s and De’s smiles are absolutely adorable), some Star Trek notecards and a cast publicity photo.

Sorry this is so long. It’s taken from a note I typed up when I got back the the office that day. I didn’t want to forget a thing.

[worfs-fabulous-hair]

It's time for the famed episodes I've heard alot about and to meet my favorite boy!

Series I'm currently on : the original series

Episodes watched: 02X01-02X02

Episode names:

Amok Time

Who Mourns for Adonais

Thoughts:

Amok Time

Ok so right off the bat they get into the fact that Spock's been acting strange , not eating , ect.

Chapel coming in with the plumeek soup ( please I don't know how to spell it it's a made up soup )

I wonder who had to throw that soup across the hall seems fun

Also it's kinda brushed over they Spock threatened to snap bones' neck and McCoy seems very amused by this threat

Screams at you like it's a violent threat (and by all means might be ) " I'M NOT FEELING WELL AND I WANT TO GO HOME"

Slightly new intro , this is the intro that I'm used to from childhood

He's not even getting reprimanded for being violent towards chapel he's just like " you never take a break , that's how I know something is wrong " , really Jim that's how you know something is wrong ?

Also the comment about how a woman shouldn't bring a man who isn't her husband lunch and that is inherently sexual somehow is just brushed over like it's nothing the 60s were wild

Why does he start shaking so bad the second that Jim leaves ?

CHEKOV !!!!

also the event that they were supposed to go to and took a detour from is now a week earlier then before

They decided to not detour to Vulcan

Spock changed the course back to Vulcan

Spock is yelling at Kirk to lock him in his room

Spock's getting a physical

Jim's gonna get the pon farr talk

" Spock's not gonna tell anyone what's going on not even you" " I'll make him tell me "

" the birds and the bees are not vulcans captain "

" haven't you wondered , how vulcans choose their mates ?" Jim looks so much like he's trying hide excitement and curiosity at that , like shatner played this man to be so gay

These little tidbits between Sulu and Chekov about the course constantly being changed is so cute

Kirk is really risking everything to keep Spock alive

Chapel's happy little smile when Kirk says they're going to Vulcan

" your face is wet"

Spock is flirting with chapel

Spock asking Kirk and McCoy to be his best men at his wedding

T'PRING

Imagine working with this guy for like years you consider him a close friend and then one day there is like video call in the middle of the conference and this woman comes on the screen and says hey to the guy and you ask him who that was and he just goes "my wife " like you should know that already but he's never once told you he has a wife like this shit is so wild

Marriage or battle to the death

All of those fucking bells

I love Vulcan wedding fashion all of the metallic clothing

T'pao talks like and looks like my grandma

Damn imagine showing up to a wedding and the bride rejects the groom before it starts and tells him he has to fight someone to the death or he'll die

Spock sounds like an edgy teenager while he's saying that Kirk doesn't know what he is getting into

Why is stonn always making that face it makes him look so stupid

Weapons wrapped in purple velvet

" oh so no one was gonna tell me this was a fight to the death ?? Until I already accepted that bullshit "

Oof the way he fell on his arm I know that's gotta hurt

Pulled that medicine out of now where

Kirk being handed different weapons and having the face of what the fuck is this , what is this for ?? Is the best

Kirk's dead

" tell Chekov to find the nearest prison so I can turn myself in "

Man t'pring is kind of a bitch

" I shall do neither "

Jim's alive

Look at that smile

And then he immediately pretends like he's not happy and excited

Ay ! T'pao coming through with helping the enterprise crew from being reprimanded by star fleet for going to Vulcan

" I don't know what your talking about I didn't have an emotional reaction when I thought I'd killed the captain not at all "

Who Mourns for Adonais?

Scotty's got a crush

Hey it's crazy hand and master hand

The giant hand has grabbed the enterprise

Does the hand belong to a giant phantom space baby ?

What's the name of that movie where they all have the flower crowns ?? Is it midsommer?

This floating head entity looks like he's from that

He's gonna crush the ship because they wouldn't listen to his bible reading

" you and your officers are invited but not the one with the pointy ears he looks like this one guy that I used to know who was sooo boring "

Man this lady hasn't slept in over 24 hours and they brought her along for this shit , I'd be so peeved off

" I am Apollo " " and everyone in Russia thinks I'm incredibly attractive , yeah sure bud"

" Chekov please not right now "

"earth women mmmmm"

Just , just this :

He's also not letting them leave because he wants to be worshipped

Apollo is doing some Cheshire cat shit

He's also basically throwing a temper tantrum

Chekov and Scotty are ready to shoot a bitch but can't

Damn Scotty just got back handed so hard he was sent flying

Apollo kidnapped Caroline

Wait how do they know that he's Apollo on the ship he only said so to the landing party after they got there

So according to this dude all of the gods left the planet rather through death or in search of new worshippers

" Spock's contaminating this boy jim "

Apollo shocked Scotty with lightning and is force choking Kirk

" like that cat in the Russian story "

"We're gonna sacrifice one of us so the just of us can jump on the off handed chance he doesn't disappear "

The plan has failed because Caroline jumped between them and basically did what those high school couples do when the boy gets into a fight and then the girl jumps in the middle and holds his face going " this isn't you babe , you don't need to do this , look at me babe I'm all you need "

" how old are you ? " " I'm 22 sir" " then I'll handle it by myself "

Like what does that have to do with anything

At this point the lieutenant probably thinks this is all a dream she hasn't slept in over 24 hours and hasn't had any coffee either

" your a human you need to help out your fellow human "

Why do they keep having the women of the ship falling in love with a very obviously terrible person they have known for only a few hours

" Tell me more about yourself " " what more is there to tell I am Apollo " " yeah but like tell me about your childhood , your hobbies there's got to be more to you then just what your name is " " but ... I'm Apollo??"

" I've been studying you this entire time , your nothing more then a test subject" lmao get wrecked

They destroyed his shit and now he's real mad

He became so depressed from rejection that he died

I like how gods just exist in star trek like that's just a thing

[daraoakwise]

We love Uhura! Star Trek rewatch, continuing with 2x15, The Trouble with Tribbles. This one is always on top best episodes lists, and has some delightful Uhura scenes.

Uhura appears in the opening scene on the viewscreen, interrupting a briefing to report that she has just picked up a Priority One distress call from Space Station K7. This is the highest distress signal, and given the proximity to Klingon space, they can only assume an attack. The Captain grimly orders her to take the ship to warp 7, and Uhura calls the ship to red alert.

She’s on the bridge as they come within range of the station, everyone tense, assuming they are about to be in a battle. Again, the events of Star Trek: Discovery give us insight. There was a war, not long ago, and a lot of people died. And now they are rushing in, weapons at the ready. When they arrive, though, all seems peaceful. Kirk has Uhura break subspace silence. The sheepish station commander apologizes and asks the irritated Kirk to beam over: it turns out that that the Asshole of the Week Federation Undersecretary in Charge of Agricultural Affairs (or FUC-AA, which amuses me) has called in the ship to guard new genetically engineered wheat seeds, suspecting Klingon sabotage. Kirk reacts about how you would think. He calls Uhura to secure from general quarters and tells her to send over two guards, and authorizes shore leave for the crew.

Uhura gets shore leave! Hooray! She beams over in the first wave, which the Captain teases her about. “And how often do I get shore leave??” she asks him archly. Oooh!! She wants to shop. Chekov is there to “help.” (Anyone else get the impression that he’s hoping for a date?? Sorry Pavel, she is way out of your league.) Kirk pours some of the wheat seeds into their hands, which they look at with scientific interest. Uhura and Chekov walk over to the bar where a bumbling con man is trying to sell his wares. He doesn’t have any success until he pulls a fuzz ball out of his pocket—a tribble. Uhura is immediately charmed and wants to hold it. She declares it adorable. No, Uhura, you are adorable! Seriously this is a completely delightful scene. The bumbling con man gives it to her for free, because everyone (rightly) loves Uhura. It eats some of the wheat that Chekov had been carrying around.

The timing on the next scene is weird. Uhura calls Kirk and Spock, who are in the briefing room; message from Starfleet. Wasn’t she on shoreleave?? Maybe it’s the next day, idk. We’ll go with that. A few minutes later she calls Kirk again — a Klingon warship as arrived, she reports urgently. She’s on the Bridge when Kirk and Spock arrive, and puts through a call from the Station commander. She cancels red alert when he learns the Klingons are not wanting a battle but shore leave.

We next see Uhura in the rec room on the Enterprise. She is surrounded by a big group of crew, and a bunch of tribbles. Her tribble has had babies. Everyone is enjoying stroking and holding them. Once again Uhura is a center of life on the ship, someone who knows everyone and loves to be with them. (As opposed to, say, Scotty, sitting in the corner reading technical journals.) The Captain asks, a little irritated,where she got them. Spock discusses their soothing effect, stroking one lovingly while claiming to be unaffected. We all know better, especially Uhura, who turns to give him this fantastic look when he claims to be immune. She gives the tribbles away to her friends. She is just so lovely in this scene, with her warm friendship and wonderful smile.

She’s on the bridge a few scenes later, with the tribbles spreading. Kirk asks her how they got all over the bridge; she doesn’t know, she answers ruefully. Spock notes that they are consuming supplies while giving nothing. She disagrees, they give love! Even too much love in bad, the Captain says, and loads her up with an armful of them and instructions to get the tribbles off the bridge. It’s a hilarious scene, with her “aye-sirring” with an armload of tribbles and her stylus between her teeth.

That’s the last of her in this delightful episode, other than laughing along on the bridge when Scott explains how he beamed to tribbles to the Klingon ship.

[lonesomedreamer]

SNW Liveblog: “Charades”

In which Ethan Peck gets to have some fun, the writers also prove they know nothing about Vulcans, and the last fifteen minutes redeems the whole episode.

What exactly is “sub-impulse speed”?

God dammit.

The fellowship only lasts for two months? What’s even the point?

I hate to complain about a female character working out on-screen—life in space would definitely necessitate some kind of exercise regime! For everyone!—but at what point in her TOS appearances did Christine Chapel strike these writers as the type of girl who spent a lot of time beating on the Enterprise’s punching bag? Maybe if we hadn’t just seen La’an in this exact same scene two episodes ago…

This…this outfit is almost mod! Earrings and all! I’m shocked. Give it some color and you’d be onto something.

In fact, all three girls (La’an, Christine, and Ortegas) are wearing black here. Why do SNW the costume designers HATE fun?

“Oh, things are kind of weird between them.” I don’t use this word lightly, but between her being mean to Spock for no reason last week and now casually betraying her friend’s confidence like this with a little smirk (while Christine is visibly uncomfortable): Ortegas is just a bitch.

Do Vulcans consider their emotions to be “suppressed”? And would M’Benga, Vulcan expert or not, really be able to teach the native Vulcan how to better control his emotions (when he’s been learning that his whole life)??? Do they ever think before writing, or…?

Or: canon only matters when the SNW writers want it to.

“My mother felt this would be best.” A lot of Vulcans on this show throw that verb around awfully lightly. It’s almost like the writers don’t understand Vulcans.

If T’Pring’s mother doesn’t approve, why were they ever engaged in the first place? (I know that this show’s never going to acknowledge that they were betrothed as kids for an arranged marriage. But that’s the canon.)

Bitch, please.

A sweet reversal of her sneaking a glance at him in the Turbolift earlier.

Them.

Spock, please don’t look at your girlfriend when you’re supposed to be steering the shuttle away from the “rupture in space-time”.

Oh, his hair is so much better this way.

Why is everyone calling Uhura “Nyota” all of a sudden? I get that she’s just an ensign, but it’s weird.

This sounds like a casual phone call rather than the first contact between the Federation and an unknown species. Up the professionalism a few notches, Pike.

He does not.

“Mixed instructions? You don’t mean Spock.” I’m no scientist, but it’s obvious they’re talking about his DNA—keep up, Mr. Starship Captain!

“Uhura, get ‘em back.” Maybe if Pike hadn’t stumbled over his words and had gotten straight to the damn point, this wouldn’t be a problem! Kirk and Picard would both have said, “Excuse me, but the way you ‘fixed’ my science officer was not correct” rather than mumbling and stuttering until the call cut off.

He is adorable. You can pry human!Ethan!Spock out of my cold, dead hands.

“My fiancee’s mother? She hates me.” My fiancee? She hates me. Fixed that for you!

“I’ve already spoken to T’Pring and to your family.” That is really crossing a line! Kirk—Spock’s undisputed best friend of all time/brother/soulmate/true love (however you see them)—didn’t know about T’Pring or even that the Vulcan ambassador and his wife who were coming aboard were Spock’s parents until he met them on the Enterprise. But Pike is just casually contacting Sarek, Amanda, and T’Pring without consulting Spock first?! It’s not like he’s in a coma! He could easily have waited and let Spock tell his family himself. Accidents happen in Starfleet all the time. It’s a dangerous job.

Spock always seems to be played by men with the best smiles. ♥

Not Spock drinking alcohol and eating meat! He’s going to feel awful about that when his genetic code is “fixed”! (His dietary habits are cultural, not biological—why would he want to change them with or without his Vulcan DNA?)

If this was a TOS episode, Bridge crew would still be working on getting back in touch with the aliens who did this to Spock…but we have to show Spock enjoying some crispy bacon instead.

Again, I think control is a better choice of words.

“You just need to work on impulse control.” I don’t think taking his Vulcan DNA away would invalidate/negate his years of intensive mental training. He had to work extra hard as a mixed-race child to be a “real” Vulcan, so in theory he should still have access to about emotional control. If not, he should have been stripped of his memories of childhood and whatnot, too.

Spock’s sass is coming out so strongly in this script, which is great, but he should always be sassy! (“Gentlemen, I am in command of this vessel, and we shall continue on our present course…unless it is your intention to declare a mutiny.”)

I’m sure Christine enjoys seeing a more demonstrative version of the man she loves, BUT I hope they also show that she’s mourning the loss of the true Spock. She’s one of the few who really sees him for what he is—half Vulcan, half human, wholly himself.

To culminate his total lack of respect for Spock’s privacy/boundaries, Pike announces that his mom is on board in the middle of a busy hallway.

This Amanda is a babe (though there’s no way she’s old enough to be Ethan Peck’s mom).

I love this nod to the classic “Spock wearing a funny hat to hide his ears” trope.

Could they not get a costume to fit this actress? Not shaming her at all—I’m intimately familiar with the struggle of finding clothes that look flattering with a larger chest! But this ain’t it.

Why is Pike even still here? At this point, Amanda’s business is with her son. Pike can butt out.

“The engagement dinner has been moved several times due to your Starfleet schedule, a fact which they are not understanding about—” A few issues here: a) It seems, well, illogical that a family of Vulcans refuses to understand why Spock’s professional schedule would postpone personal obligations; b) this is the first time we’ve ever heard about this engagement dinner, 15 episodes into the season. That wouldn’t be an issue if (as in TOS) T’Pring had just been introduced—but she’s now been in numerous episodes including the pilot. Yet somehow this has never come up before?

Also, bold of this show to expect me to care that their engagement might get broken when they’ve already faked the audience out about that once and when I know T’Pring’s ultimately going to dump Spock anyway…

Incompetence.

So T’Pring’s family disapproves of Spock’s career (and we know from previous episodes that T’Pring isn’t thrilled about it, either), but they agree to hold this traditional and (apparently) super-important engagement dinner on the starship where Spock works?

I don’t think “Spock, you’re human” would be a human mother’s natural first reaction here. Idk. I know Amanda’s been on Vulcan a long time, but we know she’s still very warm, very human, and seeing her son so changed would have to be shocking/upsetting/concerning, right?

“I couldn’t even fool you.” That’s kind of funny.

First of all: Spock can lie with the best of them. Secondly, I don’t think you can learn to be a genuinely good liar in a few hours. Finally (and again): his years of Vulcan discipline/training shouldn’t have been erased (he obviously still has all his memories and knowledge), so he shouldn’t have to lie at all.

Seriously, Spock doesn’t have amnesia! He was raised by Vulcans—he knows how they speak!!!

Okay, but…Spock can’t perform the mind meld, and Amanda would know that. I feel like she should be saying, “My son was in a serious accident and is in no state to socialize” but then someone else—maybe even Sarek—overrules her. That would still leaves plenty of room for drama.

Just contact the aliens for help! I’m begging you! This is Star Trek!!!

“We can’t do it, but we already know who can” Thank God someone on this show can keep up.

I kind of hate her. :) At least she didn’t make a snarky comment, too.

I am weak (even if this is the least-flattering Vulcan look I have ever seen on any version of Spock).

T’Pring has some funny lines re: her difficult relationship with her mother, and I guess it’s a nice parallel to Spock’s difficult relationship with Sarek. I can sympathize with her, but I refuse to like her.

There’s no way a conservative Vulcan couple would be satisfied with a human preparing the traditional food for their daughter’s engagement dinner.

The majority of Vulcans in this show continue to look like a parody.

T’Pring’s dad being a foodie is funny. Him being obviously subservient to his scary bully of a wife is unoriginal and not so funny.

They stole a shuttlecraft and no one even alerts the captain?

Christine being willing to do anything for Spock: canon in every universe. ♥

I get that they’re in “interdimensional space” and in a state of semi-shock as a result (understandably!), but why can no one communicate effectively in this episode, including Uhura of all people???

Christine’s straight-talk with the aliens is just making me angry that Pike didn’t speak up about their mistake when he was communicating with them earlier.

She’s stunning.

Spock being protective of/afraid for Christine is precious.

“During the accident, the other being diverted the shields away from himself to protect you.” Even though I’m unsure how that would work (isn’t the shield around the entire shuttlecraft?)—that is SO Spock and so adorable.

“Are you so obtuse that you don’t even see that [you have feelings for Spock]?” It’s always one step forward, three steps back with Ortegas…

The writers were kind enough to grant my wish: Christine acknowledges that a wholly human Spock isn’t really Spock at all. The writing is less than phenomenal, but Jess Bush really sells it anyway, and it alludes nicely to Christine’s heartfelt confession of love in “The Naked Time” about seeing Spock as being greater than the sum of his genetic parts.

I’m tearing up.

The scene where Spock tells T’Pring’s mother off and praises his own isn’t super believable/in-character, but it’s satisfying!

Once again: the Vulcans on this show use that word way too much…

They really have wanted T’Pring to always be the victim/wronged party in this relationship ever since the first episode. But why?! She’s going to leave him! In canon, she makes him fight his own best friend to the death to have her when she doesn’t even want him! No matter how they resolve the relationship in this show, it’s all drama I don’t care about!!!

T’Pring’s mother was overtly racist towards Amanda and Spock during the entire dinner; she doesn’t approve of him; and she told him that he deserved to be disowned by Sarek/didn’t deserve to marry T’Pring. She would probably continue behaving that way towards him for the rest of her life. But after he endured all of that for her sake and after she repeatedly warned him not to mess the dinner up, T’Pring expresses neither concern for Spock’s ordeal nor relief that he’s been healed/that the dinner was a success nor gratitude for what he put himself through. She expresses only disappointment that he didn’t confide in her.

Crying in the club.

There’s a lovely reciprocity to Spock and Christine’s dynamic so far—he kissed her in Season One; this time, she kisses him. He risked his life to save her earlier; then she goes back and risks hers to make him whole again. I know these writers are going to screw it up eventually, so I’ll enjoy it while it lasts.

Overall, this episode was way too long (a full hour!) and was bogged down with a bunch of nonsense in the middle in the name of comedy. Its dialogue in particular was just as poorly-written as most SNW scripts have been (i.e., “you look constipated,” “you messed him up,” numerous crew members mumbling and stuttering in the heat of the moment…these aren’t Starfleet professionals, they’re high schoolers!) BUT there was an extra helping of heart in this episode. Between Amanda Grayson’s tenderness towards her son, Spock’s protectiveness towards Christine, and Christine’s fierce loyalty towards Spock, I almost cried more than once. And since Spock/Christine is THE reason I started watching this show in the first place, it’s nice to finally see some payoff fifteen episodes in!

The Good: Ethan’s face without Vulcan make-up + his gorgeous smile!—a surprise Amanda cameo—Spock and Christine mutually being protective of each other/risking their lives for each other—some funny moments—Jess and Ethan both acting their socks off—really cool visuals during the “interdimensional space” scene—a few excellent costume designs—finally, the big kiss!

The Bad: Childish/unprofessional dialogue throughout—Ortegas being a bitch even to her friends—writing human!Spock like a teenager who forgot everything he knows about being Vulcan (even though his memories are in tact)—Pike’s total incompetence—name-dropping Roger Korby (ugh)

I can’t wait to see how this show is going to disappointment me in the Spockstine department going forward.

[lenievi]

SNW #3 (rewatch)

- I love Una so much~ I forgot lol

- it’s still so weird to think about Khan as “Captain America” and not a product of selective breeding...

- hm, did they change La'an Noonien Singh to just La’an Noonien (like they literally changed her introduction in the recap) or is it just because it’s shorter...(or to make the crew more comfortable?) Chapel calls her just Lieutenant Noonien

- it’s probably just because it’s different times, but Pike and Spock’s relationship is portrayed and feels so much more like them being friends; it almost doesn’t feel like a professional relationship at all. I guess it was actually Kirk’s fault that the one between Kirk and Spock maintained the professionalism throughout (Don’t grieve, Admiral.)

- I dislike that SNW made the Enterprise into a flagship. Under Kirk, it was just a ship. (the same way as Kirk and the rest were just people doing their job. It just happened to be a job in space lol) Like, it wasn’t more important than the Lexington or the Potemkin or whatever - this is something that’s actually hard to reconcile, unless it’s just Pike’s influence (because he’s Captain the best of Starfleet, we gotta protect him from war Pike) and when Kirk gets the ship, the ship loses its status.

- ohhh, I guess Una didn’t get a chance to meet Rukiya, did she? I can’t remember...

- hmm, so, the AU in the finale was an AU where Una was never saved after she was arrested. So does it mean that Pike never fought for her? Didn’t fight hard enough? And his trip to the alternate future will change that now? Who knows... I just hope the resolution won’t be too easy since in the AU, Una stayed imprisoned and you’d assume that Pike would do everything in his powers to get her back...

- I hope s2 will give me more La’an and Una’s scenes

- for now, this is my favourite episode (until I rewatch Amok Spock lol but who knows, maybe I’ll feel differently)