This tread is effectively moot now after SNW S2 E5
Spoilers Is it possible that Chapel and Spock were in a romantic relationship during TOS?
- Thread starter Unimatrix Q
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In light of this week's episode, I think it's safe to say they were in a "friends with benefits" situation, and we have an answer on why Spock never had another obvious pon farr (barring the Genesis thing and Saavik of course). Of course Chapel wanted more than that.
I think we'll have to read Chapel's expression of joy at Spock's return from Kolinahr in TMP and his utter coldness pretty differently in light of SNW now.
I think we'll have to read Chapel's expression of joy at Spock's return from Kolinahr in TMP and his utter coldness pretty differently in light of SNW now.
Still waiting to watch S2 sometime after all episodes have aired, but now with Christine and Spock being a couple, I guess Spock's wedding mentioned in TNG wasn't him marrying Saavik but Chapel 
Think it could alternatively also explain Christine being around Sarek in TVH, if the marriage happened earlier.
Think it could alternatively also explain Christine being around Sarek in TVH, if the marriage happened earlier.
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Finally finished watching the first season of SNW, which is great by the way
One thing i found really interesting was the mutual attraction and deep friendship between Christine Chapel and Spock and how it got ever more intimate during the course of the season.
While in TOS we mostly just saw Chapel admiring and caring for Spock, with him being really aloof, i think it's really likely they both were in a romantic relationship all the time.
Considering how many private things he kept secret even from his best friends, i think this makes a lot of sense
This is breaking the franchise's canon. It's interesting that very few are willing to admit this. Or . . . many are willing to accept this deviation from canon. Yet earlier, many fans had went into a tailspin over the revelation that Burnham was Spock's adoptive sister. Even though the franchise had established Spock's habit of not discussing his family unless necessary, many had raised such a stink over this that the franchise sent Burnham and the Discovery crew some 900 years into the future. Yet, very few have raised a fuss over this relationship between Spock and Chapel.
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It doesn't need to break canon, if they cancel their relationship before TOS.
Iirc there were a few hints in Nimoy's acting in his scenes with Majel as Chapel that could be interpreted as clues that there's more to Christine's behaviour around Spock than unrequited love.
And maybe it's even possible that they got back together at a later point after TOS. Afaik there's nothing in canon that prevents this possibility
Yes, Spock in TOS was not interested in any relationship. He defo had feelings for Leila and blew her off as soon as he was in control. He had a genuine attraction to the Romulan commander but betrayed her in a heartbeat. He went all primal before staying warm with Zarabeth. He was oddly candid with Droxine, probably a writing snafu but it was just flirtation. He had clearly made a decision, based on past experience with whoever, that duty and emotional relationships were not a good mix for him.
Now in TMP, slightly older Spock (early forties) finally learns that he needs to be more at ease with his emotional side. Chapel DID bring his father to the hearing in STIV. There was certainly no intention to suggest she was part of the family but that is certainly something that could now be ladelled on top.
For Picard to attend Spock's wedding, Chapel might have been a bit old to have married Spock during Picard's lifetime but that doesn't mean Spock only married the once.
In TOS, I never viewed them as a good match but SNW has convinced me that it's a maybe. Her line in sickbay in the Naked Time was obviously based on more personal experience. It's all much more interesting.
Now in TMP, slightly older Spock (early forties) finally learns that he needs to be more at ease with his emotional side. Chapel DID bring his father to the hearing in STIV. There was certainly no intention to suggest she was part of the family but that is certainly something that could now be ladelled on top.
For Picard to attend Spock's wedding, Chapel might have been a bit old to have married Spock during Picard's lifetime but that doesn't mean Spock only married the once.
In TOS, I never viewed them as a good match but SNW has convinced me that it's a maybe. Her line in sickbay in the Naked Time was obviously based on more personal experience. It's all much more interesting.
It doesn't need to break canon, if they cancel their relationship before TOS.
Iirc there were a few hints in Nimoy's acting in his scenes with Majel as Chapel that could be interpreted as clues that there's more to Christine's behaviour around Spock than unrequited love.
And maybe it's even possible that they got back together at a later point after TOS. Afaik there's nothing in canon that prevents this possibility
I do not recall any hints of a past relationship between Spock and Chapel in TOS.
It's subtle and nothing that definitely proves things. Look out for Nimoy's body language in the Chapel scenes.
Probably because continuity is not as important as entertainment in the long run. If SNW adds more depth to previously relationships I'm at least willing to give it latitude.
It seems to be all the same people raising a fuss about both those things though. Very few, but so loud about it.
In "The Naked Time" when Chapel confesses her feelings for Spock to him, he says "I'm sorry" several times. It's open to interpretation what he is sorry about.
He’s back with T’Pring,so yeah, he’s sorry.
You can look at every scene in which they are together with a new perspective though, open to interpretation, whereas before we assumed we knew what was going on because we only knew what Kirk knew and what Spock permitted us to see. We know he didn't share a lot of private, personal history with Kirk (despite their friendship), not unless circumstances made it necessary. That's the beauty of the writing for the current show, how they find these narrow slivers in theTOS performances onscreen and stretch them out and fill in the spaces with deliciousness.
My take is the retconned version is more interesting. Chapel isn't pathetically pining for Spock in TOS. She's trying to somewhat not-so-subtly rekindle a preexisting relationship. One that Spock isn't interested in pursuing. Also, clearly, she thought T'Pring and him were broken up but he somewhere (thought) he'd resumed their relationship.
It's actually fascinating to watch this scene after recontextualizing it with what we know about the characters past with each other. It makes Spock's reaction about something specific rather general emotional suppression. Honestly, the new information strengthens both characters.
I wonder if a post TMP series could work using a lot of the SNW cast. Spock and Chapel hook up and Spock just never mentioned it during the movies. Much like his brother or his sister or how cool he was before Kirk showed up.
Sure, I’m for that. In fact a post TMP is my preferred setting for a Kirk lead show,
You know a really easy way to rebrand or (Jesus Fucking Christ) "retcon" Spock and Chapel not being in a relationship in TOS is simply on the grounds that Spock is, by that time, the executive officer of the ship, making any relationship not only unethically problematic but against regs.
Flawlessly logical.
In fact, one might argue it actually puts the Naked Time scene in a new light.
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