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electronickingdomfox · 3 months

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Star Trek TOS slash bits (Season one)

This is my personal rundown of all the slash scenes in TOS season one. Actually, "slash" isn't an accurate descriptor, since slash was born after and because of Star Trek; but I didn't know how to call it otherwise. I've omitted episodes when I didn't find anything remarkable in them. And I've tried to be as objective as possible. Of course, this stuff depends a lot on the "eye of the beholder", so your mileage might vary.

-What I count: lingering touches or affectionate looks, clinginess, actions that show a strong concern/familiarity with each other, suggestive scenes...

-What I DON'T count: friendly gestures (like smiling or looking amused when someone says something funny), scenes taken out of context, physical proximity just because there's not enough space...

I'll try to illustrate some scenes when necessary, though screenshots usually don't do justice to it.

For season two, go here.

The Corbomite Maneuver:

Spirk: Kirk tells Spock his explanations give him "emotional security" with a loving look. Spock appears a bit embarrassed. Not counting the scene where Kirk makes a video call while shirtless (funny as it may seem out of context), since that scene has nothing to do with Spock himself. He's just calling the bridge, not Spock in particular.

McKirk: McCoy surely likes to cling to the Captain's chair a lot. He gets really close for a good chunk of the episode.

Should I count the scene where he hides a red alert in sickbay, so Kirk can keep sweating shirtless in his med bed? On the one hand, it may seem suggestive, but on the other, McCoy is just anxious about finishing his medical exam on the Captain.

Spones: McCoy tells Spock (with a somewhat hopeful look) that he'd love to teach him strip poker. Remarkable because there's no hint of sarcasm at all, and Spock answers with a mischievous smile.

The Enemy Within

Spirk: The scene where Spock enters the cabin and seems so agitated by the sight of shirtless, absurdly sensual Kirk.

Also a bit at the end, when Kirk thanks Spock on behalf of his two... halves. He has the Look in his eyes.

McKirk: McCoy is again pretty close and physical with Kirk (the good one). He stops agreeing with Spock's logical plan to merge the two halves, as soon as they discover that it may put Kirk's life in danger.

The true couple of this episode, however, is Good Kirk x Evil Kirk.

The Man Trap

McKirk: The way Kirk tells McCoy that he's not counting his errors, and how he smiles and approaches him to apologize, comes off rather flirtatious.

Also, though he's joking, Kirk can't help offering McCoy the most shitty bouquet of flowers ever, and calling him by his pet name "Plum" at the first opportunity.

The Naked Time

Spirk: "Jim, when I feel friendship for you, I'm ashamed". Also at the end, when Spock asks Kirk if he's okay, but Kirk asks Spock about his wellbeing instead, with a loving expression in his face.

Balance of Terror

McKirk: The scene where Kirk is lying in bed and he invites McCoy to enter, and then they stare at each other with such fondness. On top of that McCoy makes a heartfelt speech about the uniqueness of all lives, and begs Kirk not to sacrifice himself.

What Are Little Girls Made Of?

Spirk: This may be a stretch, but Chapel implies that she can recognize the real Corby by his voice alone, because she's in love with him. Later, Spock guesses there's something wrong with Kirk just hearing him (actually an imitation of his voice made by an android). Apart from this, Kirk's way of ensuring that his android copy is recognized as a fake, is implanting in him mean remarks about Spock.

Dagger of the Mind

McKirk: Again, McCoy has to be all over Kirk's chair whenever he's in the bridge.

Spirk: At the end, Kirk ponders about loneliness, but then he looks at Spock, smiles, and seems to get better. Spock kind of returns the smile.

Besides this, Spock's mind meld with Van Gelder is rather... well... intense.

Miri

Spirk: A brief moment, but when Spock says "Whatever happens, I can't go back to the ship, and I do want to go back to the ship, Captain", he and Kirk exchange knowing looks, and Spock even smiles a bit.

Spones: Spock is very tender with McCoy while he's unconscious, after testing the vaccine on himself. He holds his hands for a looooong time.

The Galileo Seven

McKirk: McCoy still seems unable to talk with Kirk at a normal distance in the bridge. Granted, he gets so close because he's gossiping about Spock's emotional reaction. But that makes it even more gay.

Spirk: "Mister Spock, you're a stubborn man." In context, he's just teasing Spock like everybody else on the bridge, but in Kirk's case, it seems more affectionate.

Court Martial

Spirk: It's normal that a First Officer would be loyal to his Captain, and testify in his favor when his career is at stake. But Spock's comparison of Kirk's inability to make a mistake, with a hammer's inability to overcome gravity, is way too much, isn't it? Specially for someone who pretends to be as logical as Spock.

The Menagerie

McSpirk McCoy refuses to believe Spock is the culprit, despite damning evidence against him. And he's barely able to arrest him, sending him to his quarters instead of the brig. Kirk is more firm in his duties as Captain, but still considers the court martial against Spock as the most difficult time in his career. At one point, he almost wishes his shuttle failed, so he didn't have to confront Spock.

This episode also shows how crazy Spock can become to protect those he loves and respects (in this case, Pike). Motherfucker just committed mutiny in the Captain's face!

Shore Leave

Spirk At the very start, Spock stands behind the Captain's chair, and Kirk complains about pain in his back. A yeoman, also behind him, starts giving Kirk a back massage. And Kirk seems to be enjoying it quite a lot... until he discovers it's not Spock doing it. Then he orders the yeoman to stop, annoyed. Also later, when the airplane is shooting at Kirk and Spock, the two of them embrace and grab each other a lot. It doesn't help that Kirk has, as usual, his tits out.

The Squire of Gothos

Spirk The best way for Trelane to ensure Kirk's cooperation is threatening Spock at gunpoint. This changes Kirk's attitude to him at once.

There's also something seductive (and masochistic) in Kirk's promise to Trelane to give him all the excitement he wants with a manhunt game.

Arena

Spones "Doctor, you're a sensualist" "You bet your pointed ears I am..." It's not just what he says, it's how he says it.

There's also a little detail, when Spock raises from the Captain's chair, and Bones purposefully follows his hand with his fingers. It's strange. Might be an unconscious action on DeForest's part?

The Alternative Factor

McKirk A similar example as the previous "sensualist" one, but this time with Kirk.

Tomorrow is Yesterday

McKirk He can't stop doing this, can he?

Besides this, McCoy gets very anxious as soon as Kirk beams down to the airforce base, and argues with Spock because he feels the Science Officer isn't doing enough to retrieve Kirk from there.

Spirk Kirk hits a guard and hurts his hand a little, so Spock goes toward him and checks the poor baby's wrist.

However, nothing in this episode compares to the truly lustful looks that Kirk directs to Captain Christopher, when he first meets him.

The Return of the Archons

Spirk At the end, Kirk keeps looking at Spock with silly heart eyes, even though the conversation is a philosophical one, about the pros and cons of a society run by computers.

A Taste of Armageddon

Spirk "Captain, you almost make me believe in luck." "Why, Mister Spock, you almost make me believe in miracles." Bonus points because it comes absolutely from nowhere, since the day was saved by Kirk's power of bluff and special brand of diplomacy. Spock hasn't done anything particularly miraculous (well, there's the mind meld with the wall, but that was a brief moment). Spock also looks confused, and there's that comedic music in the background.

Space Seed

The only thing I can think of, is the tense scene between Kahn and McCoy in sickbay, when he grabs the doctor by the neck and says he likes brave men. Followed by McCoy's statement that Kahn has a certain "magnetism, almost electric". The final confrontation between Kirk and Kahn is also a bit suggestive at times.

This Side of Paradise

Spones MCCOY: That didn't sound at all like Spock, Jim. KIRK: No. I thought you said you might like him if he mellowed a little. MCCOY: I didn't say that. KIRK: You said that. MCCOY: Not exactly. He might be in trouble.

Notice how quick Bones denies having said he might like Spock... Almost as if embarrassed. Does he think often about how Spock could be more to his liking?

Spirk It's possible to see some jealousy from Kirk about Spock and Leila's relationship. In particular during the fight, when he confronts Spock about his courtship of Leila. That came a bit out of nowhere. On the other hand, I disagree with the common idea that his parting from Leila has spirk undertones. On the contrary, he's just talking about his responsibility to the ship and "that man on the bridge" (the Captain; first Pike, now Kirk). And I think there's genuine regret in his abandonment of the simple happiness in the colony, to take care of these responsibilities. His mention of "purgatory" reinforces that.

The Devil in the Dark

Spirk Spock is very protective of Kirk in this episode. First, he invents some bullshit excuse to stay in the cave with him, instead of helping Scotty with the reactor (Kirk sees through his bullshit, by the way). Then he's quite unwilling to proceed separately through the tunnels. And finally, he gets really emotional when Kirk's alone with the horta, and asks him to kill the creature, even though Spock was the one who wanted to protect her first. Apart from this, Kirk supports Spock for a while, after being hurt by the mind meld with the horta.

Errand of Mercy

One name: Kor. Interesting that the episode that introduced Klingons, did so by showing their commander lusting so much after Kirk. Kor checks Kirk out almost from the second he lays eyes upon him, tells him he'll "teach him how to use his tongue", invites him to a drink while Kirk sits suggestively, and both are somehow fascinated by their similarities as commanders (despite their opposite outlooks on life). Definitely one of the most obvious examples in season one.

City on the Edge of Forever

Spirk This exchange:

SPOCK: Interesting. Where would you estimate we belong, Miss Keeler? EDITH: You? At his side, as if you've always been there and always will.

Some people have said that, since Spock's computer contraption occupies one bed, Kirk and Spock would need to sleep together on the other bed. I don't agree though; I see no reason why they couldn't move the thing to the floor at night. It's not that big.

McSpirk How they run to embrace Bones when they finally find him. Even Spock is overcome by emotion.

Operation: Annihillate!

McSpirk Both Kirk and McCoy are very concerned about Spock having lost his sight (much more than Spock himself). Though they react differently. McCoy is heartbroken and blames himself. Kirk reacts with anger and lashes out at Bones, which makes him feel even more guilty. Though later he apologizes. There's also this scene where the three get ridiculously pressed together.

Doesn't count in part, because there's not that much space. McCoy didn't need to come bumping into the other two, though (someone could have moved a bit forward).

Spones McCoy is offended about Spock not appreciating his face upon recovering sight, and complains that he just can't recognize beauty. He's also quite embarrassed because Spock heard him saying he was the best officer in Starfleet.

Summary

Spirk: 16 out of 29 episodes Spones: 5/29 McKirk: 8/29 McSpirk: 3/29

#star trek tos #star trek tos season one #analysis #spirk #k/s #spones #mckirk #mcspirk #and all the others i don't have a name for

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starrycrowsx · 6 months

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Spirk --> Spones --> Mcspirk. pipeline is so real you guys

The life of being a multishipper.

#spirk #spones #mcspirk #triumvirate #star trek

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exhuastedpigeon · 12 days

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I'm going to probably sound old when I say this, but every so often I think about the people (mostly women) who pioneered the modern idea of media fandom.

The people who handwrote fic or typed it on typewriters. The people who took their love of their favorourite show/book/movie to the next level and found other people in real life who enjoyed it as much as they did. The people who started mailing groups. The people who were in fandom before the internet even existed.

People who went to the post office to send their friends the latest chapter of their Spirk fic. The people who lovingly made fan magazines.

The people who created true fandom community.

They probably didn't actually think Kirk and Spock were going to kiss because it was a time when a kiss between a white man and a black woman on TV was groundbreaking, but they saw the chemistry and built a beautiful subculture where freaks and weirdos and queer people living in the bodies of housewives and secretaries and nurses and teachers and everyday people you'd pass on the street could let themselves be freaks with each other.

It really feels like we've lost so many amazing parts of fandom in the last decade or so. It doesn't feel like a community like it was even ten years ago, let alone 50+ years ago when you had to put in work to find fandom spaces and then build community with your fellow fans.

Today you can send someone an anonymous death threat for shipping something. People get doxxed for having a different opinion on a character.

Instead of fandom being a space for weirdos lovingly creating art and writing fic about shows and ships it's become almost an exchange where readers/viewers expect content without understanding the work that went into it. Writing still takes time and energy and work, making fan edits still takes skill and time and energy, drawing fan art takes years of practice and love and patience. We've lost the art of being grateful for that effort. We've lost the community created between writers and readers, between artists and other fans.

Idk, I just miss the fandom community. Sometimes I miss the days of message boards. Other days I miss the tumblr before the porn ban where you could make friends with people by sharing porn and talking about what kind of freaky shit you thought your favourite characters got into.

Maybe I'm just old and not evolving with the times, but I feel like the community part of fandom is the best part of it and it's really missing from a lot of fandom spaces these days. It's no longer about sharing an interest with people, it's about consuming content.

#and this isn't even more jumping into the wild purity culture in a lot of fandom spaces now #that's a whole other can of worms that's definitely tied to this but deserves it's own separate analysis #han rambles #fandom #fandom wank #fandom discourse

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sleepymccoy · 9 days

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A ship manifesto is like an argument defending a ship or providing proof of why it's as good as canon. I think you'd write a good one if you wanted to!

Go on then, I take very little convincing (also thank you that's kind!)

Why you should consider shipping spones

So, genuinely, spirk is the more convincing ship if you like canon. I'm completely with the spirkies on that. They're endlessly supporting, interested in each other's opinion, and just so lovely

But that's kinda dull for me. Where's the grit? Where's the tension?

I do not believe spones should be canon, no show is ever gonna give them the time and complexity they need. That's why it's so much fun in fandom! The second these guys open their mouths they insult each other, both of them.

But like, they don't really insult each other personally much. McCoy insults Vulcan philosophy and Spock insults human ethics. McCoy insults Spock's alien features and Spock insults McCoy's vocation. Tit for tat, but within that is this constant simmering respect and admiration that they never talk about. And as soon as one is attacked by an outsider they leap to the others defence. Like, that's a wild dynamic! There's so much opportunity to make that fun to read by just adding a little bit of sexual desire

Like, why are you so obsessed with Spock's ears huh? You want to lick them? Grow up about it. And Spock's always needling McCoy, always talking about logic being the be all end all even when it's almost irrelevant, just to get a rise out of him! Schoolyard bully with a crush, both of them

It's a great dynamic. So much depth to plumb. And it's pretty hard to get them to get together!

Other fandoms I've been in tend to lean towards couples who are perfectly suited for each other and the world is conspiring to keep them apart. For spones, they're what's keeping them apart. It's like mixing oil and water, without some real attention from the author they'll fall apart. It's hard! It's a challenge! It's fun!

It's so fun, there's so many opportunities for tension with them and you can take tension to make sex or humour and both are so fun!

And the way they challenge each other. You think Spock is going to settle for anyone who doesn't offer him some personal or professional growth? He learns constantly with McCoy, often showing great exasperation, but he's learning and adding to his knowledge. And McCoy, he's had his little picket fence life and needs something completely different. And he needs a good fuck, I think these two would have absolutely spectacular sex

Anyway. Give it a go because it's fun!

Also I've realised all the gifs I pulled off the tumblr search function are from @aenslem so thank you for your service

#spones #this was a laugh #i have fun with this ship and i think everyone should give it a chance

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wulfhalls · 10 months

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remember when spirk met in actuality on our screens in real life fr

#that shit was crazy....... i never not think about it #star trek #snw #strange new worlds #spirk #kirk x spock #art #my art #illustrations #spilled ink

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twinkboimler · 1 year

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spirk fic recs

to mark this blog hitting 125,000 posts I thought I'd throw together a fic rec post of some of my favorite spirk fics! There are so many recommendations I could make, but I tried to recommend ones I don't see recommended as often. Fics are included under the read-more, enjoy!

TOS:

These Hands, If Not Gods by greenforsnow (Explicit, 18,200 words). A post-Amok Time fic where Spock is still experiencing plak tow symptoms, and Jim does his best to help Spock out. One of the first spirk fics I read, and I am such a fan of how Jim is written in this fic. One of my favorite takes on TOS spirk, it's an all-time fave

It's Only Art (if it makes you feel something) by Wrath_of_Bones (Teen and up, 24,231 words). I thought the ending of this fic was really lovely. Jim tries to figure out who's been painting a series of paintings that have been appearing in the art studio on the ship. SO much pining. Perched in the Soul by Betazoa (Explicit, 12,847 words). During an away mission, Spock accidentally bonds them together in an attempt to save Jim's life. There is SO much pining and sexual tension in this fic as they struggle to try and keep things platonic despite the bond needing to be consummated.

The Bond by TheVulcanBobDylan (Explicit, 12,371 words). A post-Amok Time smut & hurt/comfort fic. I really enjoyed the characterization of everyone in this, and there are some moments that really tugged at my heartstrings - Spock has so much anxiety about bonding with Jim, and the feelings Jim feels are incredibly human, so real and complicated. So good.

TOS Movies:

Shakedown Cruise by Rhaegal (RhaegalKS) (Explicit, 23,122 words). This fic has a lot of pining and yearning, all as a result of Spock still missing memories following the fal-tor-pan. Jim longs for Spock to remember, missing the relationship he and Spock used to have. Jim feels a lot of hurt; Spock may be alive again, but Spock is still remembering how to be himself. So, so good.

AOS:

And Then I Let It Go by kianspo (Explicit, 10,632 words). The most popular fic on this list. Post-Star Trek Beyond. The crew has a bit of time on their hands as they wait for the new ship to be constructed. During that time, Spock up and leaves, cutting off all communication, and Jim tracks him down. I really love how this fic explores the post-Beyond version of these characters and what they've all just been through.

kuv kath-vuk fator by AgentStannerShipper (Explicit, 56,475 words). An AOS take on Spock's pon farr. So much smut at the end, really need to underline the explict rating and the tags on this one. This fic also has some good Nyota & Jim friendship content that, let's be honest, is lacking in a lot of trek fic. Jim works with Nyota to learn some Vulcan because he's nosy and is trying to figure out why Spock is requesting medical leave (spoiler alert: it's pon farr), and by the end of the fic, him having put in the time to learn the language pays off and makes the final part of the fic super satisfying. Check the tags on this one to see if it's right for you.

Weekend Lover by ValiantBarnes (Cimila) (Explicit, 30,016 words). Academy-era. AU where they have a one night stand in Riverside, and while Jim expects to never see Spock again, once he runs into him in San Francisco, they start hooking up again. Check the tags; the smut in this story is really what's pushing the plot here. Intense and really good, I'm a big fan of the ending to this one, I've read it multiple times.

SNW:

The 1,000 Hour Sleep by spqr (Mature, 27,227 words). I've reread this fic at least four times already since it was published last year. This fic nails Strange New Worlds Jim despite us having him for only an episode, and it's such an entertaining AU: Espionage with Jim as a spy whose path keeps interweaving with the Enterprise and its crew. Jim gets exposed to some radiation that won't let him fall asleep but sleep is required for the radiation to leave his system - this is where Spock steps in to help Jim sleep via a meld. I find something new I love about this fic every time I read it. Additionally, there's some fantastic "crew as family" content, and it explores the family dynamics between Jim and Sam, too. It's such a well-constructed fic, cannot recommend enough.

#phebs speaks #spirk #star trek #fanfiction #kirk/spock #hopefully these descriptions are fairly accurate-a few of these fics I haven't read in months and idk if they've been perfectly summarized #fic rec #k/s #k/s fanfic

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bardicious · 10 months

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Spock's SNW Human-isms (Apparently an Essay)

This has gotta be one of my favorite parts of the episode. Everyone's already talked about Boimler's polite way of telling Chapel her and Spock's relationship is doomed and not worthy of note in the history books. Versus Spock and Kirk's legendary friendship romance T'hy'la status.

I am on the one hand, upset that Spirk will never be fully canon (because paramount is weak and so are it's homophobic fans), but delighted they're not really banking on the easy "Chapel was Spock's true love all along" because that would be fuckin disingenuous as hell, if you've watched ANY TOS episode or movie. Like, absolutely ridiculous. Beyond insane, and I can understand why it worries fans watching SNW. (though I think the reaction to them having any relationship is a bit much and childish).

Anyway, seeing Spock's early life and his fight between his supposed "human side" and "vulcan side" is such a big aspect of his early character. I get the impression that Spock fought hard to be Vulcan while he was growing up there, but held resentment to not being able to show his mother the "human" affection he thought she deserved. He saw her being ridiculed, her loneliness, his own loneliness when he couldn't fit in, and it broke his heart. A war between his emotions and his duties constantly firing. So enough is enough, he leaves Vulcan, because it's not right for him. And joins starfleet.

Starfleet's motto is accepting all kinds of people and understanding them. But lets be real, starfleet accepts Spock's skill, but not his personality or behaviors. He generally gets along with his crewmembers, but they don't really know him. Barring a few exceptions, maybe Captain Pike? But also not really. Captain Pike loves Spock, but my impression is he doesn't always get him. Not like Jim will.

Chapel gives the same vibes. She says she accepts Spock for who he is. But she likes the idea of the human!Spock inside of him. His human side who understood her better. Who, honestly, I think she would have kept if she was less ethical. But she's not. She's a good person, and that's not who Spock is, so it's not what she wants. But it's still this ideal of Spock she's grasping to. Of course, she doesn't want a more human Spock, that's a cruel thing to say, to think even. But ultimately Spock will never given her the behavior and emotional support she's looking for. It's just not there.

My impression of SNW Spock is that, he likes both T'Pring and Chapel, they're his friends, he loves them like a friend would, he protects them like a friend would. But both Chapel and T'Pring personify his human and vulcan ideals. They're the embodiment of what he should want. Not what he actually wants.

And once Chapel breaks his heart (possibly to "save" his amazing future), he will discard his attempts at "human" behavior. Begin to resent it. Hell, get a little racist with it. LMAO (Thinking of his interactions with McCoy - who's so human, or so willing to show his emotions, it irks Spock, because he tried that!)

It will be the crux of his feelings of shame. With Jim. Who's friendship and love is so important to him. But he just can't do it again. Quite possibly, maybe he should never try to love anyone again, because he's tried, and both options were so obviously wrong. How can he possibly fit in with another being?

But he can, because Jim's actually quite a vulcan human in some ways. Duty is the name of Jim's game. The greater good. The way Jim has decided to look at his own life and his family, and decided to take his experiences in a logical capacity rather than the emotional one Sam has taken everything in. Spock and Kirk are compatible, so naturally, that Spock and Kirk never had to try, they just know each other and understand each other. AND damn, everything about SNW just confirms Spirk, but I wish ffs, that they would "canonize" it.

#Where No Man Has Gone Before and Then Some #star trek #star trek tos #star trek snw #strange new worlds #spirk #snw spirk #tos spirk #This is too long aint no one gonna read this #but I had to write it out for myself #also it's probably riddled with spelling errors #but I do not feel like proofreading lmao #I just love spirk so much

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onwhatcaptain · 9 months

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Spirk Meta: Connecting Star Trek SNW & TOS

I'm going to try to connect TOS and SNW's character arcs for Kirk and Spock's relationship with one another. This is part analysis and part prediction of where the writers are headed in shaping SNW into the TOS narrative.

With the most recent SNW episode, I think it's really fascinating that Spock is coping with the consequences of his attraction to Chapel and infidelity to T'Pring, while Kirk reacts to his attraction to La'an by showing a strong sense of loyalty to Carol.

I've been discussing with friends and they believe the two situations aren't comparable. However, I believe they're not only comparable, the writers completely intended them to be compared.

Spock has always served as a foil to Kirk. If you've seen TOS, you know this is true. Spock is logical, Kirk is unpredictable, and so forth. I don't really need to go into details about this, it's been explained to death. For me, it says a lot that in SNW E9, Spock is uncertain of who he is as a person and Kirk is uncertain of who he's meant to become as a commander.

Kirk has his mind on command, hence his discussion with Una, where he concludes that he needs to connect with people. That's the point of that song. Meanwhile, Spock's takeaway from his song is that he needs to specifically stop connecting with others on a personal level because it was a mistake to do so. It's a very internal-facing narrative, as it should be. But as we know, it doesn't work out that easy. For either of them. Ultimately, Spock does connect to people and finds himself emotionally compromised, and Kirk has trouble getting close to others. But Kirk is looking outward for answers, to other people, while Spock looks inward. To me, this extends to how they cope with difficult relationships, problems, and each other.

Kirk, like Spock, is attracted to someone he's not in a relationship with in this season. He clearly feels something with La'an but explicitly chooses not to pursue it seriously because he's in a relationship (some of the time) with Carol Marcus, who is having his child. Spock, on the other hand, says he wants to feel at this time. He doesn't want to let his relationship get in the way of experiencing something new with Christine Chapel, even at the detriment of his core beliefs. The really interesting thing about this is that these two characters arrive at the same conclusion even by making different choices. They both end up incredibly lonely, a major thematic arc for both men throughout TOS.

How they react at these crucial moments in SNW is a representation of their priorities in relationships, in life, and how they even become with one another. Kirk is married to the idea of command, costing him his relationships to other people. Spock is so deeply internally focused that he only has a few real friends by the time TOS rolls around, and can't accept that he cares about them, always couching it in terms of duty and obligation.

Spock essentially thinks, I need to not get close to people because I'll be hurt by those people. Kirk thinks, I need to get close to people where it matters, for command, but not so close that I'll hurt them. This ends up with both of them being painfully reticent to connect with anyone, to the point where in The Final Frontier, Kirk thinks he has no family.

MCCOY: It's a mystery what draws us together. All that time in space getting on each other's nerves and what do we do when shore leave comes along? We spend it together. Other people have families.

KIRK: Other people, Bones. Not us.

He eventually changes his mind by the end of the film, but you can see that this theme of loneliness goes all the way from SNW to nearly the end of their lives. Kirk's conclusion at the end of the film is that McCoy and Spock are his family.

But we see this idea of loneliness repeat so often that Kirk has a several ex girlfriends in TOS show up, all on good terms with him except one who we won't talk about here. Spock, on the other hand, has mostly closed himself off to relationships of all kinds by TOS, even shaming himself for whatever it is he actually feels for Jim, who is his best friend at that point. And they both fight this loneliness aggressively in TOS and the films. Spock insists he feels shame for his friendship with Kirk, Kirk feels like his ship owns him and he can't have anyone in his life. This excerpt from The Naked Time, which I abridged significantly since there was a lot of interspersed discussion about physics, is revealing:

SPOCK: My mother. I could never tell her I loved her. An Earth woman, living on a planet where love, emotion, is bad taste. I respected my father, our customs. I was ashamed of my Earth blood. Jim, when I feel friendship for you, I'm ashamed. Understand, Jim. I've spent a whole lifetime learning to hide my feelings. KIRK: I've got it, the disease. Love. You're better off without it, and I'm better off without mine. This vessel, I give, she takes. She won't permit me my life. I've got to live hers. I have a beautiful yeoman. Have you noticed her, Mister Spock? You're allowed to notice her. The Captain's not permitted. Now I know why it's called she. Flesh woman to touch, to hold. A beach to walk on. A few days, no braid on my shoulder.

They're both completely focused on their inability to love people. Spock is focused on talking about how he can't because of his identity, and Kirk is talking about how he can't because of his job. We even see Spock turn down an appeal from Chapel, as Chapel turns him down here. These two episodes have major parallels.

Just like in Subspace Rhapsody, Spock is thinking of himself, his faults, his issues, and Kirk is thinking about how he never stays in one place long enough to love someone. I think this sense of inability to experience deep love is actually setting up their friendship arc. Obviously, they eventually do love each other (in some way or the other). But it begins at what is clearly friendship, and notably, Kirk is eventually able to look past his marriage to command for Spock, and Spock is able to look past his reticence to relationships for Kirk (see Amok Time).

What's of interest to me is that we don't know how Spock and Kirk become close in the first place, but we will. It's clear they're very close friends by TOS, but in SNW currently, we haven't got an inkling of how that forms. My take on it is that it forms because of their respective struggles to connect with people. They're both struggling in precisely the same way: neither of them thinks they can or should get too close to people. For one another, they act as the only person they're able to completely let their guard down with. And that's possibly how they get close; that's the basis on which their relationship forms. They trust each other. Because they think they're not allowed to have or experience love, they end up more or less using one another as a stand-in for that need. In doing so, it brings us full circle. Kirk and Carol have a conversation about their relationship briefly in The Wrath of Khan.

KIRK: I did what you wanted. I stayed away. Why didn't you tell him? CAROL: How can you ask me that? Were we together? Were we going to be? You had your world and I had mine. And I wanted him in mine, not chasing through the universe with his father. Actually, he's a lot like you. In many ways. Please tell me what you're feeling. KIRK: There's a man out there I haven't seen in fifteen years who's trying to kill me. You show me a son that'd be happy to help him. My son. My life that could have been, and wasn't. And what am I feeling? Old. Worn out.

Kirk is terrified of aging. In this film, his past has come knocking, the same past SNW is exploring now. He's terrified of growing old and he's terrified he made the wrong decision when he was younger. I'd argue that that's because it's led to him feeling deeply alone, to the point where McCoy says they're treating his birthday like a funeral. Kirk not only feels like he belongs out in space because it's where he's meant to be, but because he doesn't feel so deeply alone, so much like a fish out of water, when he's out there adventuring. So he second guesses himself here: what have my choices cost me? Should I have not gone on to become who I am?

And the answer to that for him is no. This all ties together when Spock dies to save the ship at the end of this film. It's only in a few places in TOS and then finally here where Spock is able to talk openly about friendship and love:

SPOCK: I have been and always shall be your friend. Live long and prosper.

Kirk is devastated but while grieving, he can't help but feel young. And even then, feeling young isn't enough, because he can't stand not being in control, which we see in the next several films. He essentially can't handle life without command or without Spock.

SNW is attempting to bring us full circle on The Wrath of Khan and its cast. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that the character arcs we will eventually be given by the writers of SNW between Kirk and Spock is completely bookended by their feelings of loneliness, self doubt, and connection with others beginning from this episode through the TOS films. It's extremely interesting that they choose to do this on the SNW end by showing us where Kirk and Spock are both failing in their respective relationships with others and how they grow into that with one another, only to experience violent ups and downs throughout the films as they finally try to come to terms with who they really are as people, and who they really are as friends.

I'm interested to see how that will begin from season 3 onwards.

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merrysithmas · 9 months

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spirk shippers deserve an award for inventing modern fandom, inventing shipping, and carrying star trek on our backs for over 60 years only to have to watch the characters continually get paired with others for the blatant purpose of not putting them together as if we are simultaneously straddling two Parallel Realities, one of which insists on asserting dominance but will never be the prime timeline - it's like a real life mirrorverse ep, the ship continues to achieve meta analysis captain 😂

#spirk #strange new worlds #star trek #its funny bc the show isnt as real as the fandom is #which just makes it entertaining instead of maddening #jim kirk #spock #watching it is like watching a cat entered into a dog show #i know thats not a golden retriever binch Lol #dont get me wrong i enjoy the other storylines and ships genuinely peppered here and there for narrative purpose #but we all know the tea

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frogayyyy · 5 months

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(unofficial)

I posted 5,365 times in 2023

That's 2,236 more posts than 2022!

345 posts created (6%)

5,020 posts reblogged (94%)

My Top Posts in 2023:

#10

what a sad little life t’pring

670 notes - Feb 28 2023

772 notes - Jul 1 2023

star trek writers in the 60s: these two guys have a deep loving bond that spans their lifetimes and is inherently tied to being queer, not only because of their own personal character arcs but because of the intentional subtext surrounding their relationship and the real life context at the time

star trek writers in the 21st century: two guys being dudes. they hate each other. you can have a little bit of friendship as a treat.

863 notes - Jun 24 2023

maybe if u stopped playing on ur nintendo u would be a better father

1,112 notes - Jan 23 2023

i love that star trek is trending simply because neil gaiman ships spirk

1,262 notes - Oct 9 2023

🫶

1,290 notes - Apr 30 2023

wyd if u go to spock’s quarters and he answers the door like this

1,540 notes - Jun 3 2023

you mean that you ah talkin about biology? that is, to say, the uh reproduction? of... vulcans?

star trek where everything is the same except jim is benoit blanc

1,828 notes - Feb 18 2023

spleep

6,571 notes - Sep 30 2023

My #1 post of 2023

extra special Amok Time Day this year because it’s been 56 years… happy 9th pon farr spock!

16,379 notes - Sep 15 2023

(stats by TumblrTop10)

#UNOFFICIAL #i’ll do it myself 😤#ngl guys there have been some bangers this year #tumblrtop10 #my year in review #my year in review 2023 #i had to do maths that took me like 20 minutes 😭#thanks to everyone who’s been a part of my year ily 🫶

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your-name-is-jim · 2 years

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My Favorite Kirk/Spock Fanvids on YouTube

There are some fanvids that I rewatch a lot on YouTube, so I decided to make a list of Kirk/Spock fanvid recs for anyone interested!

Of course, this list is based on my personal preferences, so I should probably let you know that my favorite videos always have at least a little bit of Old Married Spirk. I just love them in TOS movies so much!

Anyway, I'll start with the least "famous" ones and end with the most popular, so I hope you'll find something you haven't seen before!

Bring me to life by thesadchicken. Based on The Search for Spock, you can imagine why. The song is probably an obvious choice but it's perfect. :) It's always good to see underrated scenes in K/S fanvids like Kirk fighting Klingons.

Landslide by RhaegalKS. The real OMS! Focused on The Undiscovered Country era mixed with flashbacks from the original series and the previous movies. Very nostalgic.

The Wrath of Khan (Slash Trailer) by EimeoMoon. Just amazing! The creator called it "slash trailer" because it's a fan trailer focused on Kirk and Spock's relationship, but seriously… where is the lie? :)

Kirk/Spock: A Love Story by EimeoMoon. If you want to be emotionally compromised, that's it, that's the right fanvid. No singing, just the music and the characters' voices telling Kirk/Spock story from the very start of TOS to Spock Prime (just a cameo, there aren't AOS characters). Also no Generations because what's Generations? :D Kirk and Spock had a happy life together and it makes me cry.

A Thousand Years by bellizaria. Another great fanvid for K/S fans who want to be emotionally compromised, this time with some AOS too. It shows Kirk/Spock relationship through the years and the universes (again, no Generations). The song gets stuck in my head every time I rewatch this video, so I end up thinking about Kirk/Spock a lot and I have feelings, okay? :(

HAPPY BONUS:

Rock N Roll by xxLornyTunesxx. This is not labeled as Kirk/Spock so I didn't put it on the K/S list, but I'm sure shippers can enjoy it anyway! It's a tribute to TOS movies, so obviously Kirk and Spock's relationship is there among the other things. I wanted to end on a happy note and this video is perfect for that. I don't know what it is that works for me, if it's the combo Avril Lavigne + Star Trek or something else, but this is my comfort fanvid. I rewatch it every time I want to cheer myself up, so I hope it'll work for you too!

Well, that's all. :) Thank you for reading my list! I'd love to know if there are fanvids here that you liked! Did you already know some of them? Did you find something good to watch? I'm curious! :D

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1shirt2shirtredshirtdeadshirt · 2 years

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Mirror Mirror (02x04) Spirk Musings

Aren't Prime Kirk and Spock's reactions to their Mirror Universe incarnations of each other hilarious?

LOOK AT JIM'S FACE.

He is such a shook lil' cinnamon roll: What the what now? Where's my Spock?! BEARD!!! Spoop intensifies

It's also hilarious what a monumental deal that Jim is making over Spock's beard. Immediately. Like why does that matter so hard to him?

A grand total of nobody but Jim is making such a fuss about it. Nobody else is out here popping off over First Officer Spock's facial hair like this except Jim. And it is both Jim's doing it.

Zero chill about Spock's facial hair in every universe confirmed. Apparently Spock's grooming being Jim's business is a universal constant.

Also precious: How quickly Jim Prime just gravitates to Spock, even a Mirror Spock, when he is feeling in over his head in the Mirror universe. He immediately sets about trying to work with Spock - any Spock - to find a solution, because that's just second nature to him.

Spock is his security blanket in any universe, it seems.

Jim Prime even takes it so far as to join Bones in insisting upon saving Mirror Spock's life at the risk of not getting home to their own universe:

Jim Prime believes in his heart of hearts that every Spock - - that every single Spock in every single universe has an ounce of good in them that is worth appealing to and saving.

It amazes me how unwavering his faith in Spock's character is. It actually pays off for Jim Prime to put his faith in Spock, wherever he ends up in any universe.

And then there is Spock Prime back at the ranch with Mirror Kirk, exhausted:

Mirror Kirk : Has the whole galaxy gone crazy? What kind of a uniform is this? Where's your beard? What's going on? Where's my personal guard?

Mr. Spock : I can answer none of your questions at this time.

Mirror Kirk : [chuckling in amusement] All right, Spock. Whatever your game is, I'll play it. You want credits? I'll give them to you. You'll be a rich man. A command of your own? I can swing that, too.

Mr. Spock : Apparently, some sort of transposition has taken place. I find it... extremely interesting.

Mirror Kirk : Spock. What is it that will buy you? Power?

Mr. Spock : [shaking it off] Fascinating.

Aww, Mirror Jim doesn't understand what real love is. He is out here thinking that he can buy or favour his way out of this with Spock Prime.

Meanwhile Spock Prime is like: Wow. I wonder what actually motivates Mirror Spock to help this guy; I just do what I do simply because I love my Jim.

How sad. How pitiful. :( Bet Mirror Kirk is amazing in bed though. SHHH!-What? We are all thinking it, including Spock Prime.

Especially Spock Prime.

Y'all know Mirror Kirk was a handful, and it's kind of tender and sweet that Spock Prime seems happy and relieved to have his own Jim back.

(Also the way Mirror Spock says to Kirk Prime: "I must have my Captain back." Like, no matter which Spock we are dealing with, it applies. Ugh. Ugh. Spock loves his Jim in any universe. Don't even care how broken he is, give him back. Just . . . UGH. Primo.)

Still, cinna- I mean Kirk Prime really resonated with Mirror Spock. So much so that he convinced Mirror Spock to help him and led him to question the entire Empire in the process.

Mirror Spock : The Empire shall be overthrown, of course.

Captain James T. Kirk : The illogic of waste, Mr. Spock. A waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it.

Jim Prime just swooped in out of nowhere and shook up Mirror Spock's entire foundation, identity and life.

So now Mirror Spock is out there like:

Dang, I need to get me a Cinnamon Roll™ edition Jim Kirk of my own.

(P.S.: Do you think that after Jim Prime disappeared into the Nexus that Spock Prime went wild going through every single crackhead possibility, outcome and avenue he could explore in his desperation to try to understand or uncover what happened to his Jim?

And he'd lie awake at night thinking over theories and possibilities and places to look and it just hits him one night like: Merciful Surak. Did Mirror Spock finally come over here and purloin my Cinnamon Roll™ edition Jim Kirk?

. . . I'm gonna stop now.)

Image Sources: TrekCore

Inspired by @shyravenns post.

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