Private moments

[Trekfan12]

I always wondered what Kirk and Spock discussed with each other when they were off duty. Both men were private, but I always thought the longer they served together, the closer they would become as friends. I was watching "Journey to Babel" tonight and thought it was kind of odd that Spock never mentioned to Kirk that Ambassador Sarek and Amanda were his parents. Especially since they were going to pick up the Vulcan delegation to Babel (it was their last stop on their way to Babel)

And in "Operation Annihilate" ep, did Spock know Kirk's brother was on Deneva? McCoy mentions it to the Captain when he says "Your brother Sam lives on Deneva." (after Kirk tries to get Uhura to contact his family via a private channel)

I just wondered what they would discuss over a game of chess or when sharing a meal together. Or perhaps working out in the gym. Or maybe over a mind meld?

 

[FormerLurker]

McCoy calling him Sam always bugged me. In What Are Little Girls Made Of? Kirk's duplicate says "Only you call him Sam." McCoy isn't any part of "only" Kirk. It smacks of an altered premise by an inattentive writing staff.

 

[The Old Mixer]

But if McCoy only knew of Kirk's brother from Kirk, then he'd know him as "Sam".

 

[Warped9]

People talk all the time without revealing details of their personal life.

 

[Trekfan12]

People talk all the time without revealing details of their personal life.

True, but I figured he would have said something to Kirk especially since his parents were about to board the Enterprise. It made for a rather awkward moment for Kirk when he told Spock they had 2 hours before they left and he could beam down and spend time with his parents

 

[Warped9]

Spock, guarding his privacy, might simply have said (earlier) his father was a diplomat and his mother a teacher and left it at that.

We do know that in WNMHGB he alluded to someone in his family having married a human female. And in "The Corbomite Maneuver" he openly states his father married an Earth woman.

In both instances the references are made without any overt reaction from others present as if such mixed marriages were not that uncommon. So Kirk and company upon seeing Sarek had a human wife might not have rung any bells for them until Spock identifies Sarek and Amanda specifically as his parents.


This ties into how we see the Kirk/Spock friendship develop over the course of the series. In WNMHGB we get a sense of two men somewhat familiar with each other yet still learning. As the series progresses the two begin developing a close friendship, but not exactly as two human males might. Spock, perhaps overcompensating to some degree in seeking to be a "complete" Vulcan, might not be as readily forthcoming as a human male might be in a similar situation.

 

[FormerLurker]

But if McCoy only knew of Kirk's brother from Kirk, then he'd know him as "Sam".

Unlikely. When discussing family members with others, do you tend to call your family by their family nicknames, or by the names the others would otherwise get to know them by, from being introduced to them by third parties? George Samuel Kirk is George to the Federation at large. Why would Jim Kirk refer to him by anything else when talking to anyone other than George himself?

 

[The Old Mixer]

I'm thinking the exact opposite...if he calls his brother Sam, then in some offhand reference to him with a friend, he's going to say "my brother Sam", not "my brother George Samuel Kirk". It would be like somebody mentioning their grandmother as their Nana, rather than using her actual name.

 

[Green Shirt]

People talk all the time without revealing details of their personal life.

I find that to be generally true. Except for a coworker or two who always discuss details of their personal lives that should remain unknown.

 

[Marsden]

Also, while it's really not true that Mr. Spock is the first Vulcan in Starfleet, he seems to be the only Vulcan on the Enterprise, certainly the only bridge officer. In that case, he may not want everyone knowing him as "the son of Sarek" Sarek is a pretty big deal in the Federation, people know him by reputation and just like T'Pring didn't want to be the wife of a legend, he may not want to be known as the son of one, either.

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

Only Kirk calls him "Sam" to his face, I'd imagine. McCoy calls him that for expedience.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

A small item I always noticed was that in "What are Little Girls Made Of," the Kirk-bot says Sam had three sons. But in "Operation Annihilate" there was only one son. Maybe the other two were off somewhere in boarding school.

 

[Trekfan12]

A small item I always noticed was that in "What are Little Girls Made Of," the Kirk-bot says Sam had three sons. But in "Operation Annihilate" there was only one son. Maybe the other two were off somewhere in boarding school.

Good point. I wonder if there were more children.

 

[Albertese]

Also, Spock never mentioned Sybok. When asked why not, he said that he was not inclined to discuss subjects of a personal nature. So, there's that.

--Alex

 

[johnnybear]

Also, while it's really not true that Mr. Spock is the first Vulcan in Starfleet, he seems to be the only Vulcan on the Enterprise, certainly the only bridge officer. In that case, he may not want everyone knowing him as "the son of Sarek" Sarek is a pretty big deal in the Federation, people know him by reputation and just like T'Pring didn't want to be the wife of a legend, he may not want to be known as the son of one, either.

He's not the first Vulcan in Starfleet and on the Enterprise if you count ENT if you don't count it then he is! And I don't!
JB

 

[johnnybear]

A small item I always noticed was that in "What are Little Girls Made Of," the Kirk-bot says Sam had three sons. But in "Operation Annihilate" there was only one son. Maybe the other two were off somewhere in boarding school.

Strange how they weren't mentioned during the episode isn't it! Either they were killed during the initial attack by the parasites or they were off world somewhere in further education! Although Kirk did say that Sam saw him off on this particular mission in WALGMO with his wife and three sons didn't he!
JB

 

[Warped9]

He's not the first Vulcan in Starfleet and on the Enterprise if you count ENT if you don't count it then he is! And I don't!
JB

I don't count ENT and I never thought he was either the first or the only Vulcan in Starfleet. Spock might be the only Vulcan aboard the Enterprise during TOS.

D.C. Fontana's novel Vulcan's Glory references other Vulcans aboard the Enterprise during the Pike era. If nothing else it may reflect Fontana's ideas about other Vulcans in Starfleet.

 

[johnnybear]

Well that might be as so but it sure ain't canon!
JB

 

[Rollar]

McCoy mentions it to the Captain when he says "Your brother Sam lives on Deneva."

McCoy phrased it more as a question, than as a statement.

 

[Trekfan12]

Strange how they weren't mentioned during the episode isn't it! Either they were killed during the initial attack by the parasites or they were off world somewhere in further education! Although Kirk did say that Sam saw him off on this particular mission in WALGMO with his wife and three sons didn't he!
JB

okay forgive me it's late and my brain can't seem to remember what WALGMO is.