#leni watches tos

[lenievi]

I think my goal for next year when it comes to fic writing should be to stop being afraid to really put myself into the characters and writing and stop holding back

[thecommrade]

A Not So Lonely Night

Night time was virtually the only time Royal Woods is quiet. With the lack of cars, and people in the street, it was very peaceful. But most importantly, it was the only time the Loud residence was quiet. The only sound coming from the house, was the light snore from the family. And… light russling?

In the room of the middle child and only boy of the Loud children, we find 11 year old Lincoln Loud, tossing and turning in his sleep. Or at least, his attempt to sleep.

Lincoln groaned as he sat up on his bed. Leaning against the headboard as he rubbed his head. Slowly he opened his eyes and looked towards his alarm clock. 12:34. Once more he groaned, and smacked his face against his pillow. He was still up this late. He lifted his head and let out a sigh. “It’s gonna be one of those night, isn’t it?” He asked nobody.

Its seemed to have been a recurring event for him. Every here and there, he would have trouble falling asleep. Not even his beloved bun bun would help. And even though he know the reason, he was a bit embarrassed to admit it. He was feeling lonely. It all started ever since he got his own room. He was very excited at first, but soon enough, he started going to his sister to stay with them. They had to convince him that he needs to sleep in his room, but told him that their doors are always open for when he needs it.

The young boy swung his legs over the side of his bed and stood up, taking a moment to regain his balance. Once he had his stance right, he stretched his back, and grabbed his pillow and bunbun. He took in a deep breath and walked out of his room, closing the door behind him.

Once in the hallway, Lincoln got stumped. He wasn’t sure which room he should try first. “Hmmm. Can’t ask Lisa, i might wake Lili, and who knows what might happen to me if she starts crying.” He whispered to himself.

Looking to his right, he saw Lola and Lana’s room. Lincoln felt his spine shutter. “Never again.”

Walking a bit farther down the hall, he stood in front of Lucy and Lynn’s room. He looked at their door and thought about it for a moment. Whilst Lynn is fine when taking naps, she is a nightmare actually sleeping with. He still has some bruises from her sleep fighting. “I love you Lynn, but im gonna have to pass on you.”

As for Lucy, his only real problem is that she sleeps in a somewhat cramped coffin… Which is creepy now that he thinks about it. But, she was quiet enough in her sleep, and she was kinda cute. Well, it was worth a sho-. “SCREEE!!” The sound of Lucy’s pet bat caught Lincoln's attention. Slowly, he placed his hand on his neck and felt two small scars. Nope. He’s pale enough as it is, he doesn’t need to lose a pint of blood just to top it off.

He walked down to the end of the hall, and stood in front of Lori and Leni’s room with hope in his eyes. Lori maybe have told him not to enter her room, and it may take a bit of convincing, but she has let him take refuge with her more than her other sisters! Though, waking her up this late may not be so good. Be if that fails, Leni would never turn him down!

Leni was the sweetest girl he has ever met, and he was certain she would let him join her. Lincoln smiled as he reached to knock on the door.

“Lincoln?”

Lincoln stopped in his tracks and looked for the one that called his name. Looking to the bathroom door on his right, he saw his rock loving big sister Luna, standing there between the door frame, rubbing her eyes.

Luna blinked a couple of times, fighting off her sleepiness and looked at her baby brother, standing in front of the forbidden room of their eldest sibling, as he looked back at her with slight confusion. “Luna? What are you doing up this late?” He asked.

“Had to use the bathroom. What about you? Why are you standing in front Lori and Leni’s room?” She asked back at him. Lincoln slumped down and looked to the ground. “N-nothing.” Luna picked up on this and noticed the items he help under his arm, and smirked slightly.

Luna walked up to Lincoln and placed a hand on his shoulder. He lifted his head and looked up to her with slight embarrassment in his eyes. “Lincooooln, are you feeling lonely again?” She asked him playfully. He pouted and looked away, much to her amusement. ‘Why do you have to be so cute, Lincoln?’

Luna wrapped her arm around his shoulder and pulled him close to her. “Look, if you wanna ask Lori or Leni if you can bunk with them, that’s cool, but if you wanna save yourself the hassle of bartering with Lori, my room is open. If you want that is.”

Lincoln looked up to her and smiled brightly, and leaned his head against her. “Thanks Luna!” He said slightly loudly. Luna slightly smiled even more at him, and led him into her room.

Inside, Lincoln looked around a bit and tip toed behind Luna towards the ladder on her bed. Luna climbed up first, and Lincoln stopped as he took his first step, and look at his other older sister, Luan, holding a plush of a certain goth girl.

Lincoln looked beside the bed and saw the camera that Luan had filming her. In case she said something funny in her sleep. The young comedian mumbled something in her sleep, and Lincoln leaned in closer. “Hmmm… I was wonder why the ball was getting bigger… then it hit me… hahahaaaaa..” Lincoln actually snorted at this joke. ‘Why are her jokes funnier in her sleep?’ He thought to himself.

Looking back at the camera, he noticed the film was full, and it was no longer recording anything. Lincoln peered around the room for a bit, and found what he was looking for. A box full of tapes. He quietly walked over to it, and snatched an empty tape. Moving back towards the bed, he switched them out, and hit the record button.

He smiled at his good deed, and placed the full tape on the bedside desk. He began his accent up the ladder, only to stop one more time. And once more, he stepped down and leaned closer to Luan. As he leaned in close enough, he placed a small kiss on her cheek.

Satisfied, he finally joined Luna on the top bunk, who was smiling down at him. “You’re too good for your own good, Lincoln.” ‘And too cute’. Lincoln smiled sheepishly as she patted his head.

The young Loud boy placed his pillow beside Luna’s and the two lied down next to each other. Luna closed her eyes, ready for some sleep, only to quickly woken up once more, by a pair a arms wrapping around her. A pair of arms, belonging to her brother.

Lincoln had swiftly snuggled up against his sister, placing his head on her shoulder, with bunbun between them. Luna smiled at her younger brother once more, and pecked him on top of his head, making hold on tighter to her. Both siblings closed their eyes for a final time, and drifted of into sleep, holding onto each other in warm embrace.

Epilogue

Sitting on her bed, with her laptop on her lap, Luan was watching some of last nights recording, and was being let down by the fact there wasn’t much on her tape.Thus far, the best part about this morning was finding Luna and Lincoln cuddling, and taking many pictures.

“I really should have just used a new tape last night. I’m just lucky Luna placed a new tape in here.” She said as she switch out to the newer tape. She placed it in her camera, which was connected to her laptop, and hit play.

Much to her surprise, the video started showing her that it was Lincoln that placed in the new tape. She smiled warmly, know that her brother did that for her.

She continued to watched, only to be surprised again by her brother, as he leaned over him. “Link, what are you-” She was cut off when she saw her brother placing a kiss on her cheek.

Shocked, she slowly placed a hand on her cheek where Lincoln had kissed her, and began to blush furiously. She grabbed a pillow and placed it over her face, and began to scream silently into it. ‘Why do you have to be so cute Lincoln?!’

[lenievi]

I think my decision to watch Les Misérables 1998 was a bad one 😂

anyway, all adaptations are just reimagining. And sometimes, you just... change the characterization. It's fine 😐

[lenievi]

In a way, AOS is such an inaccurate representation of TOS because there were so many things I expected to see in TOS (especially related to McCoy), and they were just never there 😂

[lenievi]

omfg wait they have SNW dubbed and young Kirk is so good. he sounds like the original actor, even his intonation and tone and everything. I’m impressed (at least in the scene in Pike’s quarters. haven’t watched any other) - kinda enjoyed the voice more than the original too lol

Pike would take a lot to get used to though lol

although now I kind of want to watch the whole show hmmmmmm 

[lenievi]

“I wonder if it’ll be more effective from you,” [Rishala] mused. “You managed to change her mind once before. You’re quite the orator, James. Natira places great stock in pretty words and elegant delivery.” “Call me Jim.” Kirk shook his head. “I’m no great speaker. Always… floundering for what to say next. You, on the other hand, are one of the most… captivating speakers I’ve ever heard.”

1. I love their interactions so much. 

2. “Call me Jim” -  can’t believe this became one of my favourite thing. Kirk telling everyone “Call me Jim”~

[lenievi]

McCoy rubbed his hands. It really was astonishing how sweaty they got. I could be a rich man if I worked out an anti-palm-sweat preparation to sell to starship captains. Hmm, aluminum hydroxide… no, too harsh – maybe restructuring the sweat glands; you could take a protoplaser and – No, then you'd only have to do it once, what's the point in that?

wonder how my fanfics readers would appreciate McCoy wanting to make a profit :D

People were so used to certainties most of their lives – death, taxes, pain (...)

(Diane Duane - Doctor’s Orders)

it really is interesting to see that a book from 1990 would still consider that taxes were being paid. There's actually a lot of money related talk/idioms in this book.

[lenievi]

SPOCK: This was three hundred years ago, Captain. KIRK: All the adults are dead. Only the children are left alive. SPOCK: But children become adults. KIRK: At least they have up to now. SPOCK: Doctor, there are certain glandular changes which take place upon entering puberty, are there not? MCCOY: Of course. It changes the entire body system. You know that. Of course you know that. Why? SPOCK: Is it not possible that these children here, as they enter puberty, contract the disease?

I love that this is just another example how Spock sometimes comes to McCoy to just... bounce off his ideas and thoughts. He could just say whatever he was thinking without talking to McCoy because as McCoy pointed out Spock knows that the changes happen, but because Spock is not entirely sure, because it doesn’t seem logical to him, he goes through McCoy first.

(Though, I feel like sometimes things like these are what makes some viewers see McCoy as... just lucky when finding solutions and not as intelligent as Spock...) 

I don’t want to always point at The Conscience of the King, but I will point at The Conscience of the King.

Mostly unrelated, but sometimes people will say that it’s McCoy who often tries to engage with Spock, but I think that the reverse is also true. Spock does look for opportunities to talk to McCoy, maybe not as often as McCoy, but there are moments, and occasionally it’s Spock who starts their ‘debates and arguments’.

[lenievi]

I love this scene so much.

1. McCoy cares for Jim so much

2. McCoy doesn’t know what to do with his emotions, he doesn’t know how to express them without embarrassment, he doesn’t know how to say he cares while looking in the other person’s eyes (in this case Kirk’s). But he knows he can be a bit softer with Kirk because Kirk won’t get embarrassed, because he knows Kirk won’t make fun of him. 

Yet with Spock, he can’t be that way - for his own sake, and for Spock’s sake as well. 

[lenievi]

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

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

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

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

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

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

lolol let Spock be an ass in fics please

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPOCK: However, it was well played.

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

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

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

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

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

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

- I really like this episode~

[lenievi]

I love The Galileo Seven so much. just saying 

- I believe this is the first episode that starts McCoy and Spock’s debate over “It is more rational to sacrifice one life than six, Doctor.” 

- plus it’s the first episode where McCoy really goes after Spock for his cold logic 

- also love this because it’s McCoy and Spock’s different world-views summed up:

MCCOY: Mister Spock, life and death are seldom logical. SPOCK: But attaining a desired goal always is, Doctor. 

- it just has some great character development for Spock, okay

[lenievi]

Just some random thoughts while I rewatch The Naked Time

- and just to make some things clear, the reason why I watch in production order isn’t because I think it’s superior or because I’m some purist or whatever. The reason is actually very simple - in my country, it originally aired in production order, so that’s why I’ve never seen the US broadcasting order.

- the emptiness of space in tos is actually quite depressing - dying civilizations, planets getting destroyed…

- wait, this is also an ep where Spock beams down on a planet without Kirk, so it’s not only The Galileo Seven where he’s on a mission without Kirk. Good, two episodes out of 79 lmao

MCCOY: Your pulse is two hundred and forty two, your blood pressure is practically nonexistent, assuming you call that green stuff in your veins blood. SPOCK: The readings are perfectly normal for me, Doctor, thank you, and as for my anatomy being different from yours, I am delighted.

I still like how this seems to be their thing, since it’s similar to their exchange in Mudd’s Women: “The fact that my internal arrangement differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.”

- I really enjoy the early season 1 because we get to see the crew and what they do in their free time

- oh, look, we are continuing the trend of Kirk losing his cool with his crew and apologizing immediately, this time Uhura version

- I understand that some people don’t agree with Amanda slapping Spock in Journey to Babel, but... how is it different from Kirk slapping Spock? Like, if you feel the same grudge against Kirk, then fine. If you don’t, I want to know what’s different. Especially when in the context of the whole show, physical pain is what brings Vulcans back to their senses (and like, honestly, in some way, it’s only McCoy who can talk Spock back whenever he’s emotionally compromised without inflicting physical pain. I’m probably forgetting an episode or two though, but at the moment I’m only coming up with Kirk hitting Spock or them just ending up fighting)

- the Kirk → Rand in this ep is strong

- but also it’s weird that Kirk equals love for one’s mother with romantic love (unless I’m misreading something? But I don’t think I do)

SPOCK: This does open some intriguing prospects, Captain. Since the formula worked, we can go back in time, to any planet, any era. KIRK: We may risk it someday, Mister Spock.

LOL I may watch STIV someday

[lenievi]

The thing about McCoy in Dagger of the Mind is that he’s perfectly willing to have Spock read (look into) someone else’s mind, someone who at the moment is his patient; actually not only willing, he’s the one who insists. For Jim Kirk.

Like, he has no reservations about it at all. But considering that Starfleet is perfectly fine with allowing truth serums and truth drugs to be used on people, it’s not a surprise.

[lenievi]

I don’t think I’m going to make this a thing (and I definitely won’t rewatch all episodes), but I got a bit curious about something in the first half of season one, so I’m slowly watching the eps again (I might stop with the Menagerie, or I might actually convince myself to give some of the eps in the second half another try. Or finally watch those episodes that don’t have McCoy lol) You can blacklist “leni watches tos”

Mudd’s Women

- this is the second ep after the pilots and Uhura is still wearing a yellow uniform, and like the Corbomite Maneuver the bridge still has a very submarine-like feel (it’s the camera work)

- I’m mostly just focusing on the characters themselves not on the story in these notes

- why is McCoy in the transporter room? 

but also like “curious” lol Because it’s like Spock observing McCoy behaving weird and not being entirely there, since he just answered a question that wasn’t asked

(and Spock is pretty much just amused the entire episode)

MUDD: You're part Vulcanian, aren't you. Ah well then, a pretty face doesn't affect you at all, does it. That is, unless you want it to. You can save it, girls. This type can turn himself off from any emotion.

So, some people can tell that Spock isn’t full-blooded Vulcan?

he. is. so. amused. he’s like look, captain, who I brought (I’m awaiting your reaction)

- Spock is so frustrated with Harry lmao

- Jim is like the Enterprise is more important, and McCoy is like weird things happening/research/my scans going bleep is more important lol (and it is juxtaposed with Farrell who is distracted even when the women aren’t around) [but then again, McCoy was also tempted by labs and research in I, Mudd instead of like beautiful androids]

Spock watching McCoy trying to solve a problem with an amused expression~ 

And it’s just so funny because they still didn’t even properly interact with each other, but I guess it allows us to see McCoy and Kirk talking to each other while Spock observes, which... we don’t really get to see later after Spock and McCoy start to banter because then we just have Kirk being either amused or just completely done ‘gentlemen, please’ lol

SPOCK: Even burned and cracked, they're beautiful. Destroying them was a shame. KIRK: Not at all, Mister Spock. The choice was burning this lithium crystal or the destruction of another man's ship.

Just a piece of dialogue I wanna keep for future reference.

SCOTT: Captain, this is draining our batteries further. If we only had those crystals. KIRK: But we don't! I didn't get any. I should have found a way. Satisfied, Mister Scott?

KIRK: Sorry, Scotty.

Just, it’s not only McCoy. Kirk gets angry, but then he immediately apologizes. 

- but also, McCoy is just... on the bridge lol 

SPOCK: I'm happy the affair is over. A most annoying emotional episode. MCCOY: Smack right in the old heart. Oh, I'm sorry. In your case, it would be about here. SPOCK: The fact that my internal arrangement differs from yours, Doctor, pleases me no end.

(Spock is again so very amused when he says that line)

I didn’t want to go there, but it’s my post and it doesn’t have rules, but you know, it’s like McCoy trying to somehow reach out to Spock with his poker offer in the Corbomite Maneuver, and now he’s also trying to reach out to Spock with this little line, and Spock is giving back, and he was also observing McCoy from afar in this episode, and it’s just fun to imagine these little steps at the beginning of their relationship.

- this episode is still very Kirk is the MC and everyone is just supporting him, and even though the McCoy-Kirk bits are less, there’s still that feel that there’s McCoy-Kirk friendship, McCoy-Spock getting to know each other but mostly staying in their own lane, Spock-Kirk friendly, but professional relationship

[lenievi]

The Enemy Within aka the episode that started the trio dynamic

- the romantic music when Kirk enters his quarters and Rand is there lol But also Kirk not looking at her and dismissing her (because he can’t allow himself to be around her)

- and then having the evil!Kirk go to her quarters.

- so despite Spock and McCoy not interacting much in the previous two episodes, we learn that McCoy goes to Spock to have him deal with Kirk’s weird moods, but also we learn that McCoy teases Spock “Our good doctor's been putting you on again.” - which I assume is another step on getting to know each other

- Janice likes to paint

- please note that I’m choosing not to talk about the evil!Kirk and Janice scene, or the following awkward retelling

- there really is still such a distance between Kirk and Spock, but I also think that Spock watching Kirk struggle reminded him of his own struggles, and in a way it helped to make them a bit closer as friends, even though the professional distance still stays 

- also this

SPOCK: If your power of command continues to weaken, you'll soon be unable to function as Captain. You must be prepared for that. MCCOY: You have your intellect, Jim. You can fight with that! 

aaaaand we’re starting the trio dynamic

SPOCK: If I seem insensitive to what you're going through, Captain, understand it's the way I am.

lol

SPOCK: Survival procedures, Mister Sulu. SULU [OC]: Per your training programme, Mister Spock.

this is actually something that I rarely/never see in fic, Spock’s training programmes (it’s just one line, you say? people tend to do a lot from one line, this one doesn’t have to be different)

- McCoy and Kirk’s scenes are always so good

- is the first “He’s dead, Jim” about a unicorn dog? lol

MCCOY: God forbid I should have to agree with Spock, but he was right.

MCCOY: Animal could have died of some kind of shock.  SPOCK: For once, I agree with you.

LOL

KIRK: The men. We have to take the chance, Bones. Their lives-- MCCOY: Suppose it wasn't shock, Jim. Suppose death was caused by transporter malfunction. Then you'd die. They'd die, anyway. Jim, you can't risk your life on a theory!

I understand that people don’t like to hear that, but Kirk IS the most important to McCoy, more important than the lives of four men who are freezing on the planet. If it’s Kirk’s life in danger, McCoy is willing to break any rules, any beliefs. 

This is basically the episode that starts the McCoy-Spock banter~ But it’s not the fun kind of a banter because it’s about Jim’s well-being and McCoy always gets too protective of Jim, so the nature is influenced by that McCoy’s protectiveness (and Spock’s insensitiveness and apparent indifference)

But it’s also like: I offered you an option, Spock offered you an option, but it’s your decision. (unless you give up command) So I guess, this is also the ep that more or less cemented the trio and their dynamic. [but I feel it takes some time before they come back to this; we’ll see]

Being split in two halves is no theory with me, Doctor. I have a human half, you see, as well as an alien half, submerged, constantly at war with each other. 

I’m actually glad that the dubbing I watch didn’t use any form of ‘alien’ but just went with human and vulcan halves. Because the wording in English is.....

- the smile Kirk gives McCoy before he’s being ‘transported’

- Spock is so relieved that it worked, and that his ‘not theory’ was right.

SPOCK: The, er, impostor had some interesting qualities, wouldn't you say, Yeoman?

this is Spock at his worst. Like seriously, wtf (I understand where they were getting with that (and by that I mean Kirk/Rand), but wtf) 

[lenievi]

The Man Trap

- look, I’m still continuing with this thing lol

- I really like this episode, just so you know. But I also watched this episode like four or five times, so I actually don’t have much observations to make...

- and look, like in the Corbomite Maneuver, we open with Spock in command, while Kirk and McCoy do their own thing, in this case visiting McCoy’s ex-girlfriend. And honestly, it’s the 4th episode after the pilots, and the Kirk-McCoy angle is still so strong

MCCOY: What you want is unimportant right now. What you will get is required by the book.

I guess when it comes to health, McCoy will follow the rules [unless it’s Jim’s life in danger and then he’s like Jim first, everyone else later]

MCCOY: Yes, sir.

- McCoy is always so out of his element when Kirk gets angry at him. 

But, Kirk, you should sometimes listen to others, ok. (but since you apologize so nicely, you’re kind of forgiven. It’s fun, four episodes, two apologies to McCoy and one to Scotty because he got angry at them lol)

KIRK: You could use some sleep, Bones. MCCOY: All right, Jim.

and he like... goes lol

MCCOY: Oh. Well, we could offer it salt without tricks. There's no reason for it to attack us. SPOCK: Your attitude is laudable, Doctor, but your reasoning is reckless.

- and Spock can just recognize when “McCoy” acts weird. I wonder if it was because McCoy didn’t react to Spock’s “your reasoning is reckless” or if it was the general vibe McCoy was giving off [could Spock feel something with his telepathic abilities?]

Also the truth serum is an interesting thing that would be fun to use in fics. I wonder if Spock wanted to use it because he wanted to get “McCoy” alone, though Kirk’s immediately agreement probably means they use it often?

- ok, but were we robbed of fake!McCoy putting his fingers to Spock’s face?

- the thing is that Kirk handled the whole situation in McCoy’s quarters badly. There was literally no reason to bait her the way he did, and from McCoy’s POV he truly acted as a person McCoy didn’t recognize. I understand that Kirk was angry that it killed four of his men, but also 

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

you really did demonstrate that your high-sounding words mean nothing. 

But in the end, it was McCoy’s decision to kill her. He didn’t have to shoot her again, but he did because she wanted to kill Jim, injured Spock, and deceived him. He accepted that it wasn’t Nancy and shot it. [but it stays true to McCoy’s character who only shoots creatures who want to kill Jim, i.e. A Private Little War]

That Spock also doesn’t offer any alternative (and actually finds “McCoy’s” reasoning reckless) is unfortunate because it just doesn’t fit with what they establish later for his character (especially compared to The Galileo Seven)

On the other hand, this episode has such a nice chemistry between Kelley and the guy who plays Kirk (lol) They work so well together.

It’s four episodes with Kelley in, and in all four there were some strong McCoy-Kirk scenes. Spock and Kirk were mostly shown just working together (and it was only the enemy within and this episode where they actively worked as a duo so far), and McCoy-Spock pretty much still don’t have an established dynamic, even though they keep leaving small hints and they did get to banter in The Enemy Within because Jim’s life was in danger. But in this episode, they were still kept apart. But McCoy and Kirk are consistently being shown together. It’s just interesting, that’s all.

This episode is also one of those few that actually show us the crew and I hate they didn’t continue doing so. 

Anyway, I really like this episode for the characters’ interactions.

And I just... like McCoy/Nancy or McCoy/salt creature idk which lol