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Sexism in TOS: Worst Offender, or Progressive in Retrospect in Comparison?
I see a lot of folks claim that TOS was the most sexist of the Star Trek shows by a landslide -- and while I agree that it definitely suffered from the sexism of the times, I also have other perspectives to share to give some food for thought.
I am of course not insinuating that TOS isn't sexist -- it is, but I have to ask folks to consider the breadth and depth of Berman's sexism in his run and ask yourself: Was Gene Roddenberry genuinely more sexist in his storytelling and delivery than Rick Berman?
I'm not telling you to feel one way or the other, but all I ask is that you hear me out and consider some perspectives and make your own balanced assessments. Nobody is obligated to share my opinion, but it means a lot just to have folks hear it and see their thoughts on the subject. So here is what I was originally responding to:
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Someone's response to this photo:
"Devil's advocate. This was a part of the popular form of cardio during the production time of TNG. Yes, it was heavily sexualised by men, but so is literally every other way women work out. Men have been caught taking pictures of women while trying to do dead lifts, running on tracks and working on sled machines. They post them online to share too. The fact is, there is no way a woman can be shown working out without it going there. And yeah,t hat includes the combat forms of workout they do in Star Trek. Just look at how Dax dresses when she spars with Worf. Yes, they're dating, but still, same goes when 7 does and any other female.
Aerobics routines like this were made dirty and cringy. This was what women wore then by and large. This is how the workout was done. We make it cringy."
My response to them:
"I respect your take, but I disagree on a few fronts.
The miniskirt was chosen by the TOS female cast, not the male cast, specifically requested by Grace LW and affirmed by Nichelle and Majel who would go on to vehemently defend the miniskirt over the years as comfortable and embraced by them.
Grace said it was comfortable and seen as a symbol of female sexual empowerment during the 60s and thought it would be a progressive garment (and turns out that it was, as it was later adapted and worn by male crew as a skant on TNG) -- FYI those were designed by a gay man and Gene approved them.
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This was also supposed to be Spock's TMP outfit:
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Literally lingerie.
We saw both Uhura (who saves Kirk in from Marlena Mirror Mirror) and Yeoman Landon (the first to initiate combat with a classic Kirk-esque kick to help the Captain being attacked in The Apple) carry out their combat training in their Starfleet uniforms without ever being made to change into any ridiculous workout gear.
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In fact, I'd argue Jim Kirk was sexualized even more than the ladies of the week on the show and I saw his naked body more than anyone else's on a fairly regular basis. He wore red yoga tights while topless in Charlie X while the women wore full length gymnastic suits that covered their entire body. If anything, it went out of its way to avoid sexualizing women practicing fitness in those scenes and instead focused on Kirk.
Gene confessed that he asked to have Shatner filmed in suggestive/provocative ways to "give something to the ladies", so he -- as he said -- liked to "film him walking away" or have him conveniently busting out of his shirts in just about every episode as it were, because Shatner apparently had great assets. LOL
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Gene made an effort to at least sexualize both if he was going to sexualize one, and he carried that attitude forward in wanting the m/m and f/f scenes in the background on Risa for TNG. He also insisted that the men and women wear skimpy outfits on THAT TNG planet. You know the one. LOL I mean the dudes even had on less than the women:
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Gene also gave permission to K/S shippers to have their conventions back in the 70s when he was asked for permission. Gene and Nimoy felt with all the skimpy outfits they had the ladies wear, why not let the ladies and gay men have their fun, too? It's how we ended up with moments like this:
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Yes, those are two people dressed up as Kirk and Spock's penises doing interpretive dance. Gene didn't give two damns. LOL
In my eyes, that was a very progressive take on Gene's part for the 60s. It was actually PARAMOUNT STUDIOS who had the big problem with K/S stories and vehemently tried to shut them down. Gene literally hired slash authors on his payroll and even had several slash stories/writers published in his official Star Trek books (The New Voyages & The New Voyages II).
I feel I saw Uhura and women in TOS engaged in more physical combat/altercations defending themselves that Troi or Bev were shown holding their own.
In fact, Kirk used to get furious when someone would "dress up" his female crew members without their consent (Trelane episode, Shore Leave episode) because like his male crew members, he wanted them to be treated professionally and to also have his male crew act professionally.
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Berman brought some of his own personal biases into Star Trek that in some ways regressed it. While TOS had blatant sexism and was called on it time and again, that show was made in the 60s -- a solid 21 years before TNG. We as a modern audience understood why some of it was cringe/sexist due to the time period -- look at any other media coming out in the 60s and Star Trek was miles ahead of what other shows were doing.
Compare that to Berman who was churning sexist stuff out when women like Starbuck and Scully were simultaneously on screen on other programs airing, and we had already had Sigourney Weaver and other strong women in Holywood playing respectful roles.
In my eyes, there was no need of the sexism seen in TNG but especially VOY and ENT. There was no excuse for it when other shows were writing women far better and a number of those weren't even set in the future like Trek was, making it age even faster due to having those dated perspectives frequently highlighted.
In the Center Seat documentary as well as "The Fifty Year Mission" book you will find cast members, writers and other studio alumni who attest to this. Some discussions from "The Fifty Year Mission":
"First, Berman was supposed to have been a real sleaze ball . . . According to Terry Farrel, he would go on constantly about how her breasts weren't big enough, how she should do something about it, and how his secretary was a good example to follow as she had huge breasts. She even had to have fittings to get larger bras, and that was all done at his behest.
Later Berman and Braga developed a name for Jeri Ryan's character prior Seven of Nine. They originally called the character "perineum" which if you look it up it is the area between the anus and the scrotum. Later they floated the name "6 of 9". I mean, what does it tell you about where these two were coming from in the development of this character if they had names like that put forward in all seriousness for her?"
Gene Roddenberry also had some of his own more progressive ideas for TNG cut or watered down by Berman. Roddenberry agreed TNG should have homosexual relationships and representation at a con in the 80s and insisted on it in a meeting with his writers -- something Berman later would not honor. Gene wanted the AIDS episode, showing m/m and f/f in the Riza scenes -- these were some of Roddenberry's requests to include in TNG that Berman later stonewalled.
Berman's era was sadly dated by his own misogynist bias, IMO, to the point that it can somewhat hurt the shows he worked on through his cringe egoism and blatant disrespect toward his female cast.
There is a reason why Gene could keep female actresses working with him and Berman had a revolving door of women that he couldn't seem to keep working for him -- he was abhorrent to women, on and off set. Gene wasn't perfect at all, he had a lot of issues himself -- but Berman was a whole other level. Just look at what he did to poor Jolene Blalock, Marina Sirtis and his toxic commenting on her body weight which exacerbated her struggles with eating disorders, or how he treated and talked to Terry Farrell.
Anyway, just some food for thought. I'm not saying anyone is wrong regarding a take like that, but there are a variety of ways to look at this. Gene Roddenberry isn't a saint by any means, but it definitely bothers me how folks will tote the Berman era as if it were the lesser of two evils or the more progressive depiction of women when I felt there were far more concerning portrayals of women in his era with far less justification.
(P.S: I don't event want to go near the sheer amount of "creepy old dude/villain preys on innocent/naïve/scared young woman or little girl" stories there were in Berman's era, either. But that's a whole other can of worms I can write about in a part 2.)
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Still not over the devastatingly vulnerable, tender expression on Jim's face before the "not in front of the Klingons" moment in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.
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Tell me they ain't catching feelings hard.
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The way Jim is looking at Spock.
Oh my God.
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He is so caught up and just plain lost in Spock in that moment. Husband energy.
That human has got it bad, bad, bad for that Vulcan.
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Image sources: My own photo edits
GIFS by @reffitt-blog1 and @nervousspacerobot
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I was crunching some numbers about TOS with other fans re: the twelve ships that originally launched during Kirk's era as Captain of the Enterprise for that first five year mission.
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It made me really appreciate the TOS crew and the wild frontier era that they managed to survive -- not only survive, but became the staple and measure of success for the Starfleet that took shape after them.
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Folks forget that Kirk's crew were one of the few of the original 12 Starships launched that actually returned from their assigned mission with some semblance of crew and ship intact.
A lot of information was gathered and established during that exploratory time -- the reason the TOS crew findings are often mentioned in TNG onward is largely due to them being among the lucky few crew who made it back to share their findings during that time.
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This benefited every crew afterward who built upon their findings as they revised based on experiences. Things that happened in that time were addressed in regulation later as a lesson learned.
Regarding the 12 ships:
- The Immunity Syndrome (USS Intrepid)
- The Doomsday Machine (USS Constellation)
- The Tholian Web (USS Defiant).
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Considering only 12 flagships were in the OG launch during Kirk's time, that is a solid 1/4 of the ships and crews that never made it back.
But those aren't even the ones that were partially destroyed with casualties, or all of the ships where 100% of the ship and crew did not return. There are more:
- The Excaliber was crippled and lost all hands in The Ultimate Computer, and severe damage was dealt to the Lexington, Potemkin, and Hood.
- The Exeter lost almost all hands in The Omega Glory.
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So that's 8 of the 12 ships/crews that were launched circa Kirk's Enterprise 5 year mission that were either entirely destroyed, or severely damaged.
When you consider those odds and how so many extraordinarily capable and well trained crews never made it back, it makes the original series crew all the more remarkable.
Not only did they return with the flagship and crew relatively intact, but they literally became the standard on which Starfleet measured and trained others moving forward.
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TLDR: They're kind of a big deal.
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Kirk & Spock: Thicker Than Blood
Folks can say what they want about Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, but this moment where the gauntlet gets thrown down and Spock is forced to choose between his brother and Kirk? It keeps me fed for a lifetime:
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Spock: I cannot go with you.
Sybok: Why not?
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Spock: I belong here.
Sybok: I . . . don't understand . . .
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Spock: Sybok . . . You are my brother, but you do not know me. I am not the outcast boy you left behind those many years ago.
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Since that time, I have found myself; and my place. I know who I am. I cannot go with you.
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Shout out to Jim’s extremely smug, smarmy, self-satisfied expression after Spock tells Sybok “I cannot go with you”.
Spock stands firmly by Jim's side without question, essentially choosing James T. Kirk over his own blood brother. And Jim's face is just:
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Jim: Yeah you heard right. He loves meeeeee (you can't step to this but cute try, bless your heart.)
Sybok: Oh it be like that, huh? *Excited his little brother has actually learned to make peace with and love himself, knowing he is genuinely embraced for who he is by people that love him*
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I digress. it makes me absolutely feral that Kirk and Spock repeatedly choose each other without hesitation over their blood family.
How they were closer to each other than they ever were their biological brothers, or “anyone in the universe.”
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It kind of cuts to the core of me in the most beautiful way every single time I see their loyalty for each other tested, yet they never waver. 
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They've always got each other's backs unfalteringly. After TMP they don't care what anyone else thinks about them, they just love each other without question or fear. Unequivocal devotion in a heartbeat. Ugh, it's precious. Space husband loyalty on fleek.
Bonus: Sam Kirk out here to Sybok like: Get used to it, bro. Get in line.
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I HATE THIS what is wrong with me? So cursed. How very dare. Much wtf.
Photo credits: My own screencaps, TrekCore
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Can we take a moment to talk about the fact that 
Lieutenant Uhura is the first non-Vulcan character to learn how to play the Vulcan lute?
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Star Trek TOS: Deleted scene from “Elaan of Troyius” 03x13 and a feature from the song “Beyond Antaris” in the episode “Conscience of the King” 01x23:
The first clip depicts a deleted scene of Mr. Spock discussing the Vulcan lyre with Lieutenant Uhura, who expresses a curiosity in the instrument and an interest in learning it. 
Spock reveals that no non-Vulcan individual had yet mastered playing the instrument. (It is a shame we were robbed of this scene in the canon; what a gem!)
The second clip shows Lieutenant Uhura performing the song “Beyond Antaris” upon the Vulcan lyre, proving she is the first non-Vulcan individual to master the instrument:
“In a 2008 interview, Nichelle Nichols said: “I created a relationship between Uhura and Spock as being her mentor, and the person she looked up to. Uhura was the only one who could play the Vulcan lyre and the only one who had the audacity to sing a song teasing Spock. 
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. . .Uhura is the only non-Vulcan shown playing an instrument of this type." [x] Snippets taken from "Star Trek: Inside the Roddenberry Vault"
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I mean . . .
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What else are we expected to do with this information?
Look at the way Jim is looking at Spock while he's being all vulnerable.
Look at McCoy being sassy and eyerolling at their mooning bullshit as per usual.
What did they want to convey here? It was put in the film for a reason.
It directly yet subtly juxtaposes Spock's platonic friend relationship with McCoy to what he has with Jim.
WHAT WAS THAT.
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
Cut the bullshit.
We all know it was put in there to signal blast "Spock loves Kirk." That Vulcan is out here feeling it. This simple feeling. He never gets married because he's married to Jim.
We done already done knew, we ain't brand new.
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Source: Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan
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Spock Canonically Trying and Failing to Stop Thinking About Jim Kirk: A Series (brought to you by Gene Roddenberry)
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Spock *Dramatically*: Jim! Goodbye my . . . my t'hy'la. This is the last time I will permit myself to think of you or even your name again.*Arm flung over eyes for brooding effect*
A FEW PAGES LATER
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Spock: *Thinking* But what was it that Jim Kirk had once said?
Vulcan elder: Yo SPOCK. Stop thinking about your human boyfriend. We've been over this. Stop making us call you out like this.
Spock: Oops👀Right right right shit, don't think about Jim - yup, supposed to be completing Kolinahr -
LATER THAT NOVEL
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Vulcan elders: . . . Dude. Seriously? Your human boyfriend is still living in there, rent free. Like he is all up in your headspace, you dudes are legit mind bonded. Congratulations. You own a human.
Spock: Shit shit shit. OK I swear this is the last time. No take backs.
Vulcan elders: Get on up out of here. Get gone. Damn. Human lovin' ass lineage, the works of them; merciful Surak this family . . .
Later in the novel, on the Enterprise:
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So apparently Spock knows this part of the ship as the place officers go when they are dtf and it's this unsaid respected thing that happens on the Enterprise. Canonically.
And it's Spock's favourite part of the ship. Y'know. For "many pleasures".
And then whaddya know, he immediately starts thinking about:
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James T Kirk. And whoops, he also dropped a T'hy'la with that. I mean, hol' up:
"The other physiological changes which beset him on entering the bridge were so shocking that they made him scorn himself (👀). . . on the bridge -- Kirk! The mere name made Spock groan inwardly as he remembered what it had cost him to turn away from that welcome. T'hy'la!"🤯☠
My brother in Christ are you kidding me?
Am I expected to brush this off as "just bro things"?
Is this how other people are out here thinking about their best friends? Did I miss the memo?
Because I do not. Inwardly groan while thinking of my bestie as a friend-brother-lover in the make out spot on the Enterprise as people have sex in the background (canonically).
Just as an FYI.
And I need a break to take my inhaler bc I'm wheezing and laughing-
Ok we're back. Ahem.
Spock's favourite part of the ship is also the place people come to get it on. And he immediately starts thinking about Jim Kirk again while he's there, listening to people have sex.
I'm-
(ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
LATER THAT NOVEL
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Now Kirk and Spock are all unabashed about it.
It's out there, cut it, it's done, pack it up we are done pretending, we are married, we are in love here people, deal with it.
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Spock's absolutely feeling himself like:
Fuck yeah, I'm thinking about Jim Kirk. And what? Love is the best thing in the whole damn galaxy and I'm done being mad about it.
Jim: "Let the church say amen."
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(I can't believe the man Gene Roddenberry wrote this. Right in front of our faces. Like this book exists? It's canon? How is there even any room for debate anymore? Spock is obsessed with Jim Kirk and vice versa. It is written. WE HAVE RECEIPTS.)
Source: Star Trek The Motion Picture Novel, Gene Roddenberry, Dec. 1979
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Jim Kirk’s Bisexuality: A Thesis
I mean, how could anyone ever think this. 
How could we ever possibly arrive at or believe, that James T. Kirk, swaggering space captain, might be a bisexual character.
Like where are the receipts though? It’s such a massive 56 year old mystery?
You'd think if that were the case, there’d be some kind of proof by now. Like, oh I don't know, this:
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or this:
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Or outfits like this:
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Or all that looking at Spock constantly like this:
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Or other substantiated canonical evidence like, you know, allusions right from the creator of the characters and the show. He knows what’s good, he made them, right? He’ll set the record (not so) straight.
Like that time Gene Roddenberry invented a whole new Vulcan word just to thoroughly describe Kirk and Spock’s unique and close relationship as (from TMP novel):
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Or upon seeing Spock return to the bridge for the first time in TMP novel, how Jim Kirk mentally describes his relationship with Spock as follows:
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I mean, sure. Y’know. Just bro things. Being mind bonded and whatnot. 
Or things posted on official Star Trek social media accounts like this:
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Or y’know, returning to the book by creator of Star Trek Gene Roddenberry (TMP) where they interview Kirk about his sexuality and he says, referring to rumours about him and Spock:
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So OK. Let’s just.
Let us just give pause here.
Take a moment, my child. 
This is Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, writing as James T. Kirk, who is describing to the world his sexuality:
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People.
I don’t ask for much in this life.
Can somebody please.
Please.
PLEASE EXPLAIN, how they got a 100% straight interpretation out of that.
WHAT PART OF THAT was not James T. Kirk getting up on a table and screaming to the world(s):
Jim: “HELLO UNIVERSE, JUST AN FYI, I’M DTF WITH ANYONE. Like A,NY,ONE. IT’S COOL WITH ME. JUST THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT. I’M GONNA GET DOWN FROM HERE NOW.”
Spock: Jim I am standing right here. The table display was unnecessary. (I also didn’t have to go ham on ‘em all like that. Damn. But I ain’t sorry.  Thank you for coming to my Ted X Talk about ficitonal space queers and for reading my Jim Kirk Bi-Ble. IDIC. Don’t forget to try the plomeek soup-)
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For story writing and Star Trek canon timeline purposes I was perusing the official Star Trek website and the character biographies.
Talk came up about a second five year mission set after TMP.
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Apparently there was a second five year mission even though we didn't get to see it on screen.
Phase II? Novels? Was I mixing it up with something? I admit I was boggled as to whether it was real or hearsay.
Anyway, research ensued.
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Wait what?
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Am I crazy?
Have I missed some posts? Years? Hot deets?
Have we been talking about this legendary hush hush second five year mission this whole time, or am I a thick dunce just rolling in late to this party here?
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Sure enough upon checking:
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Wtf? Genuinely asking because I feel like we don't talk about this 2nd five year mission much albeit being canonically mentioned in Kirk's official Star Trek page.
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How was I today years old?!
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Tag me in your posts, give me the deets, the tea, any info you have about this second five year mission.
Because I am gooped, gagged, the wig is in orbit.
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Have . . . How . . . How have I not heard about this? Should I be embarrassed?
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What happened on that second five year mission? Inquiring minds need to know.
And even better, creative minds, fill in the gaps.
A blog entry from 2012 re: The 2nd 5 Year Mission
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The Infinite Vulcan | TAS 01X07 | Spock Vulcan-Gushing at Kirk
AGMAR: No! Our dream must not be allowed to die!
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(Stavos smashes the glass box)
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KIRK: Murderer! You've killed Spock!
G SPOCK: To persist in this behaviour, Captain, is to negate the eloquence of your previous argument. May I suggest a more constructive way?
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(The giant places a huge finger on Spock's head)
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G SPOCK: My mind to your mind, my thoughts to your thoughts.
SULU: The Vulcan mind touch.
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SPOCK: *Regains consciousness* I am pleasantly surprised at your capacity for deductive reasoning, Captain. When you are not being bellicose, there appears to be no end to your arsenal of formidable talents.
KIRK: Spock. Spock, you old --
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Ok I barely see my mans Spock give a compliment beyond "you have served adequately" or "it was satisfactory".
Now he out here falling all over himself for Jim Kirk hittin' him with that "Well, when you ain't throwin' hands, your eloquence and brilliance is endless."
Or, you know, "there appears to be no end to your arsenal of formidable talents."
What?
Arsenal of formidable TALENTS?!
Did any other crewmember within hearing range just stop, look at each other, and go "are you f**king kidding me?"
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Please God tell me Bones latches on to that and never lets it go.
You get your katra back in your body for five seconds and first order of business? Flirt with Jim Kirk. LOL
I ain't never heard someone get such a raving, blatantly flattering compliment like this outta Spock in my life besides Jim Kirk.
Screencaps: TrekCore
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Star Trek: The Motion Picture Script + Novel; Spock Comes Aboard
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Spock's POV about returning, TMP Novel:
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Kirk's POV about Spock returning, TMP Novel:
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(Source: Star Trek: The Motion Picture Script, Star Trek: The Motion Picture Novel; AKA The Slash Bible AKA The Sacred Text).
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Search For Spock: Love, Family and Friendship
“Let me help.”
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The City on the Edge of Forever - TOS 01X28 (Source: kirknspock)
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Operation: Annihilate!  - TOS 01X29 (Source: kirknspock)
Star Trek III: The Search For Spock is not only an exemplary film about love in the romantic or familial sense, but also the profound capacity of love there is to be found in friendship and found family. 
It is a film that truly encapsulates how powerful IDIC is in practice:
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Every single character comes together to achieve their goal, which is ultimately the goal of coming through for a loved one. It is quite simply a story about the power of love in its many forms.
Star Trek III: TSFS is a testimony to loyalty. 
The film has so many beautiful examples and varieties of love in one film; it highlights so perfectly the power of connection and “let me help”. 
IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations.
Image sources: Memory Alpha
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I love that this is a thing that happened.
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I mean, can you imagine how awesome it was at the Spock parade?
Everybody there loves Spock as much as we do. Like:
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Homeboy looking like he just saw the Lord.
Hard mood if you just saw Spock drive by in a convertible. Same, kid. Same.
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Anyone else out here thinking about how in TOS Jim is all smooth and hairless like some kind of Greek statue aesthetic, but then he switches it up in TMP?
He is a character who enjoys switching up his aesthetic, style and wardrobe. We love to see a diverse queen. Jim can rock a lot of different looks. 
Exhibit A: TOS (Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry believed men of the future would have “little or no body hair”):
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Then in TMP he has arm hair. He also abruptly busts out a v-neck once Spock comes aboard to show off a lil' chest hair . . .
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Legit. He is in a full body long-sleeved jumpsuit up to his Adam's apple when he first boards the Enterprise:
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Spock is on board for a grand total of ten seconds before Jim busts out his gun show and tiddies:
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Oh. This sudden wardrobe swap coincidentally just so happens to happen right before inviting Spock to a private meeting in the Captain's quarters with McCoy.
Jim is the only one who does a wardrobe swap btw, Spock and McCoy are still in the same garb. So it couldn’t even be justified with a “passage of time”, this is just Jim being extra. 
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He goes from feetie pajamas: 
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to Gawddayum-as.
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Like FYI Spock, this is the appetizer. There's been some changes around here since you been gone.
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) Wanna see?
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Image sources: Brought to you by TrekCore, the amazing @plaidshirtjimkirk​ and my own terrible homemade screencaps.
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Back at it again at the Krispy Kreme The Motion Picture Novel. AKA The Slash Bible.
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The first (canonical) mention of Spock being mind bonded to Kirk occurs when Spock is getting called out by the Vulcan Elders during Kolinahr.
Elder T'sai mind melds with Spock to begin the ceremony, but she uncovers Jim's thoughts running through Spock's mind in the process. She can hear Jim's thoughts on Vulcan from Earth through their bond.
Hence the discovery that Spock has a canonical mind bond with James T Kirk:
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Later on the Enterprise, Spock finds himself having to confess the mind bond when confronted by Jim.
It makes sense why earlier in the passage, Spock makes a terse comment about McCoy being there and wishing to have some privacy alone with Jim. (Oh my God).
Spock relents, talking in private with Jim and Bones. Jim won't leave him alone and is adamant for answers, so Spock is internally going "FUCK! I can't lie to him. Here goes it, then".
He ends up having to come clean and reveal to Jim (in front of Bones) that they are indeed Vulcan mind bonded.
The gag of the century.
Bonus: Them revealing to each other (and Bones) that they were nonstop thinking about each other and Jim is all "Yeah, so I guess I sort of got used to not having to function without you and got to needing you. Whoops LOL my bad":
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Double Bonus: McCoy serving "how dare you come crawling back here after devastating our boay, he's desperate for God's sake just look at him" sassy Southern Doctor and 100% threw Spock under the bus for failing Kolinahr because of Jim Kirk.
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Spock: We're mind bonded fyi, totes casual just thought you should know, not like it only happens to soulmates or anything, no big deal just keep it chill OMG Stay OUT of my PERSONAL LIFE, CAPTAIN.
McCoy: Why couldn't Spock respond to him? Kirk could hardly risk begging . . .*McCoy, salty on behalf of Jim*  "Emotion, Spock? . . . Is it possible you failed?"
(Goddamn Leonard Horatio McCoy you didn't have to smoke our guy so hard)
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McCoy really snapped off and called Spock out on his feelings when talking to Jim like, "this is what you get for hurting our boay. Don't let me catch you slippin' again."
Heard your Jim Kirk boner got you kicked out of the Kolinahr there, brother. Don't get to acting big like it didn't. McCoy absolutely slaps Spock down a peg for Jim and I live.
In conclusion: James T. Kirk and Spock are canonically mind bonded and came out in front of Bones, who was a sassy bitch about the whole affair as usual.
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Source: Star Trek The Motion Picture Novel by Gene Roddenberry.
(AKA the Sacred Text AKA Receipts AKA The Slash Bible AKA no really, Gene Roddenberry just BOOM invented slash because he felt like it and dumped it on us all like that in one gigantic mic drop.)
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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(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:
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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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