Funny Scene From TOS! Kirk Embarrassed ByHis Yeoman
- Thread starter TRON JA307020
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Yeah, that doesn't sound like anything supported by TOS to me. Heck, Nimoy was the one who suggested that the Vulcan culture be very hand-centric, which is how we got the Vulcan nerve pinch, the "live long and prosper" salute, and Sarek & Amanda's finger-touch.
The closest thing to the "no touching" thing that I can think of is the assertion in an early ENT episode that Vulcans don't touch food with their hands. I recall T'Pol being hesitant to eat popcorn by hand and her stubbornly cutting a breadstick with a knife and fork.
How did she eat it then? By telekinesis? 
JB
JB
As touch telepaths, physical contact with other beings could be a very personal, intimate issue for Vulcans. I was disappointed that NuUhura was snogging Spock on the transporter pad in ST09. A bit of finger rubbing would have been far less overt, seemed less unprofessional, and would have made Kirk look smarter for figuring out what was going on.
ChopsticksHow did she eat it then? By telekinesis?
JB
Oh right! Thanks, Nerys!
JB
JB
I think they probably wanted to do something that would be more easily understood by general audiences not versed in Trek. "This is not your father's Star Trek" and all that.
Yeah I understand the sentiment but i just think it was misguided to think that general audiences would be bamboozled by an alien show of affection, particularly if it was established earlier in the movie, say with Sarek and Amanda. Casual female viewers would most definitely pick up on cues about who fancied whom and casual male viewers are not even paying attention until the woman are in their underwear (apparently).
My obvious question would be: Why would a young but experienced yeoman feel that it's both allowed and appropriate to put her hands on her commanding officer in such a familiar way? And on the bridge in front of the First officer and the entire bridge crew.
Perhaps one of her other duties is as the ship's masseuse or a physical therapist. And it would be a expected part of her job.
Perhaps one of her other duties is as the ship's masseuse or a physical therapist. And it would be a expected part of her job.
Just to play Devil's Advocate here, what you're proposing would require a scene to somehow establish the finger-touching gesture between Vulcan couples, even if it's done without dialogue (and IIRC, I don't think Sarek and Amanda share much screentime together in the finished movie). Everyone knows what a kiss means without any explanation. And in a motion picture, if you have an option that allows you to dramatically establish information in a shorter period of time, you take it.
If you were writing or directing ST09, which audience reaction would you rather have?
"...Huh? Why are Spock and Uhura touching fingers? What the heck does that mean?"
or:"Oh my GOD! Spock and Uhura are kissing!"
Spock and Uhura kissing is just more surprising and impactful.
It seems like there was something that went on between Kirk & Helen Noel at the Christmas party mentioned in "Dagger of the Mind," but I think that even that could be explained. The theory I read was that Dr. Noel was in civilian clothing at the party, and Kirk mistook her for a passenger when he was flirtatious with her. They didn't do anything more serious than dancing and talking about the stars, but as soon as Kirk realized that Noel was actually a new crewman serving under his command, he got very embarrassed and strove to remain appropriate. That explains his discomfort around her at the beginning of the episode.
The problem is, I can no longer remember if this was something explained in an early draft or if it was just a fan theory that I really liked. Anyone know for sure?
Whichever it is, it's part of my TOS headcanon now.
It was bugging me that I couldn't remember where I first came across the theory of Kirk mistaking Helen Noel for a passenger at the science lab Christmas party, so I did a little searching, and I found an excerpt from the final draft script of "Dagger of the Mind" that Maurice posted in this thread from July 2014:
Apparently that scene, or something like it, made it into James Blish's novelization of the episode as well.
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All my main issues with the numovies could be dealt with using small tweaks to scenes and dialogue so yes, Sarek and Amanda might have needed a brief moment together lasting a few seconds. Your same argument could be laid against Sarek and Amanda in Journey to Babel and yet somehow the audience manages to suss that finger-touching is a cultural term of endearment. We only have that and oomax in Trek. I'm sick of all the kissing lol.
Joking aside, I have no problem with Spuhura kissing in the turbolift - it was a private moment and it was the WOW moment you are talking about. They could also have done a lingering finger touch as he left the lift.
Also playing Devil's Advocate in the context of this thread, when Kirk hugs Rand, they don't have to be sticking their tongues down each others' throats to imply to the audience that there is something between them. I'm confident the actors could have conveyed that same emotion in NuTrek with fingers. We get it. Watch Faye Dunnaway and Steve McQueen play chess in the Thomas Crown Affair - it's hilarious and we get it.
I just think it's interesting to observe the TOS version of propriety (guys going nuts at their stations but no hanky panky) compared to NuTrek where Uhura leaves her station without permission to chat to her boyfriend, she's snogging him mid-mission when they have to make a split second transport, and they're having a domestic while on a shuttle mission. Belay that sh*t Lieutenant (I blame her not because she's a chick but because she's the human pushing the emotional agenda - pshah women are so illogical)!
True but Kirk would have been ok if Spock were giving him a back rub. That would have been even more inappropriate.
Not according to the slash fic people out there! 
JB
JB
Blame Entertainment Tonight. They did it first: Brangelina, Bennifer, etc.
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