Did Uhura have a double entandre?

[LeahBoBo]

in private, when nobody was watching them (and at a moment when he really, really needed some comfort and affection). This is not a person who is comfortable having a relationship. This is someone who is very emotionally repressed. In fact, this scene and the one in the transponder are very much in contrast with each other.

You made good points, each that can be counter-argued with suitable supporting evidence, but I am not going to respond in kind because it will take more time than I have at the moment. However, I will ask this: if Spock had maintained a straight-up proper Vulcan relationship with Uhura, why would there be an appearance of favoritism (and by whom) by assigning a prized pupil to a prized commission? We saw the same scenes but came away with different interpretations of them, so...since I'm not changing your mind nor you mine, I see no point in continuing this debate. But thanks for the discussion.

 

[diftorhehsmusma]

If tears are the only expression of feeling that you accept, I can't help you see more subtle signs of emotion.

oh, ouch.
but i don't believe most people would interpret what i said that way. no need to go getting all insulting. my comment at the beginning was meant in a humorous way, and i just can't believe we have gotten so serious about something so silly.

i have been getting into the novelisation, and tho' i'm not sure what the canon-ophiles make of that kind of thing, i usually take them as a nice fleshing-out of what is going on with characters. it is strongly suggested there that spock's whole journey in this film is learning to show/deal with emotions. therefor the idea that he had any grip on this beforehand really undermines the thing.

but you have your opinion, i have mine, and we are each in the company of others in our respective positions. i wouldn't have replied to this at all, if not for the fact that you tossed off my compatriot so flippantly and came right up to the line of calling me unobservant or insensitive. of course i could see he was upset. we all could. but someone who is accustomed to letting himself experience emotions, in that moment, would have done more than we saw there.

i agree to disagree. please stop being so mean.

 

[Rackon]

OK, I've seen this film 15 times.

I can see points on both sides of the consummated/unconsummated S/U relationship discussion (and let's please play nice, folks, life is way too short for fans to fight about something like this). I've also read the tie-in novel.

However...the way the actors play their scenes on the screen, especially their body language (look at their expressions and eye contact), say to me that these twohave - or had- an intimate relationship. I also don't think this diminishes Spock's inner journey at all - the shape of that story accommodates either premise.

Knowing how Vulcans hate to be touched (as well they would as touch telepaths among non-telepathic, emotional humans), I don't think Uhura would have done what she did in the turbolift, or Spock tolerated it, unless there was a prior intimacy. Also note how attuned Uhura is to Spock's actions (and he to hers) during the Vulcan crisis when Spock learns of the planet's imminent destruction and leave the bridge to rescue his parents and the elders - Uhura doesn't carry out a direct order but jumps up to pursue him to the lift - the expressions in their eyes speak volumes.

I can see either interpretation working...and I note posters have rallied the same facts in support of opposite conclusions - but I have a feeling the screenwriters and Orci have left us all the clues, and perhaps ambiguous ones at that. Whatever you decide works in the context of the story.

My eyes say the evidence on the screen indicates they are lovers. But I'm OK either way.

 

[LeahBoBo]

If tears are the only expression of feeling that you accept, I can't help you see more subtle signs of emotion.

oh, ouch.
but i don't believe most people would interpret what i said that way. no need to go getting all insulting. i wouldn't have replied to this at all, if not for the fact that you tossed off my compatriot so flippantly and came right up to the line of calling me unobservant or insensitive. of course i could see he was upset. we all could. but someone who is accustomed to letting himself experience emotions, in that moment, would have done more than we saw there.

i agree to disagree. please stop being so mean.

Sorry, I really don't know what you're talking about.

 

[diftorhehsmusma]

i had resolved to let this rest as an agreement to disagree, but having just re-watched it i am even more convinced of my original conclusion. something i noticed this time which i hadn't before, and which i don't think has been covered, is how the next time spock and uhura speak, on the bridge when she addresses him as 'captain' he hesitates when calling her 'lieutenant' "thank you.... lieutenant." seems to be an obvious suggestion that he is unaccustomed to the subtext which now exists between them, after the lift scene.
i have some experience with relationships that smoulder under the surface until extentuating circumstances bring them out. this is exactly what this looks like to me. this is all i can see in the initial scene between them before the shuttles take off. even in the lift, when they are alone, he struggles with himself to remain stoic. he fails, apparently largely due to the extra strain from having just seen the carnage of the scene where amanda dies and vulcan is consumed. why does she get up from her post and follow him? because she is a human woman who is terribly concerned for someone she respects deeply and has been through something terrible. she kisses him because she cares and doesn't know what else to do in that moment. that's how humans tend to express feelings of affection and concern.
also, on the transporter pad, he thanks her. what is he thanking her for, other than coming to his aid during this most recent strife? outside of the context of this being a new development between them, i can't see how this line makes any sense.

and again, why would the filmmakers dump us into the middle of something like this? i hope that in the next one maybe they will be more clear on this subject.