ur analysis is really incredible. i congrats ur dedication. k/s is a thing but now i realize how a BIG thing they're.

but i'm having a hard time reading bc u're misogynist n u don't hidden that. u're also very racist. boma has a name, he has a role in this episode n u deshumanize him. it's cruel n barbarous!

Hi there! I know it's been . . . Oh my goodness, it has been MORE than a decade since you posted this, that's crazy! So the likelyhood of you actually reading this review is slim, but I wanted to let you know that this work is absolutely amazing. I totally remember seeing it way back in 2009 but not clicking on it because I thought it would be boring (sorry!) But going back through the fics of this era to reread some old favs, I took a chance on this. I'm only on chapter 12 so far, but it has blown me away. It's absolutely hilarious, I keep grinning and ACTUALLY laughing out loud, so much that I have to read this in private so people don't give me looks. It brings up so much K/S supporting arguments that I've never thought of, and honestly it has relieved me of the worry I had that I was reading to much into it and forcing Kirk and Spock together for my own enjoyment.
Anyway, I could sing your praises for a long time, but I wanted to weigh in on the last scene of this episode, where Kirk is clearly contemplating something unknown. I didn't read past this or any reviews on this chapter so if it's been said before I apologize. I think Kirk is upset about Kodos's death. He has a lot of conflicting feelings here. On the one hand, he obviously agrees that Kodos is an insane evil dangerous monster, so it's good that he has been eradicated, but perhaps bittersweet because he basically got away with murdering 4,000 people Scot-free, and got to spend a good two decades playing pretend and getting paid. However, there is also the issue that he expressed regret for his actions. But why? It could have been remorse; 20 years is plenty of time to rethink your past. People change. Or, maybe he regrets only being found out, and having to face the consequences. Then there is the big issue of Kodos sacrificing himself to save Kirk. This man is easily Kirk's greatest enemy, the man he hates above all others, the man responsible for what is arguably the most traumatic experience in Kirk's life, and yet, he sacrifices himself to save him. That kind of thing really messes with a guy's perception of good and bad, which carries us to one of the (if not the most) central themes in this franchise; defining the line between good and bad. This very episode creates a conflict that Kirk doesn't quite resolve . . . ever, because there is no right answer. We eventually come to understand that Kodos believes he was doing the right thing. He didn't see it as killing 4,000 people, he saw it as saving 4,000 other people (it's basically the whole Thanos issue in MCU). WE know it was wrong, KIRK knows it was wrong, but . . . did Kodos?
ALSO he is dead now so they can never truly know what he was thinking.
ALSO ALSO he was clearly upset about his daughter's murder spree, and didn't want her to follow in his footsteps, which could implicate several possibilities.
TL;DR: This piece of writing is absolutely amazing, and at the end of the Conscience of the King, Kirk has a HOLY HELL LOAD to think about
P.S. I apologize for any spelling mistakes, I write this on my phone.

After years, I have stumbled on this again...lemme tell ya, when I was a closeted demi/pansexual, the breakdown of these episodes and humor helped me get through my life and my budding romance with my then girlfriend who had also happened to have been my best friend. She was as to Spock as I was to Kirk. And now many years later, these writings of yours still help with crippling depression and remind me of the fond memories I had then before. Thank you for everything and thank you for not taking these posts down.

tfw there’s no ‘Next’ button :(
But seriously, I love everything you’ve done for this fandom. The Ship’s Closet is one of the main reasons I ended up watching Star Trek in the first place, and I ended up marathoning all three seasons in like a month.
Also if my math is correct, Kirk was 14 when Kodos happened and 23 when the honey mist thing happened.
Also (again) Netflix has all three seasons with subtitles so you can tell what they’re saying because they do mumble a lot. Also spellings!

I find it interesting that Rand (whom I actually love, I know I’m the minority here) specifically has the crewmen fetch Spock. Not just a cry of “Help!” Or “Get security!”

McCoy should have imagined Brave Sir Robin instead of the knight he did imagine.

You're a misogynist. I don't care what your gender is. The way you write about most of the women on this show is atrocious. They're little more than inconveniences to you. They get in the way of your precious ship, and so you feel the need to tear them down, reduce them to unintelligent objects in order to show to everyone that Kirk couldn't possibly be interested in any of them. I ship Kirk and Spock too, but I would never talk about the women on the show the way that you do. I defend them from others who've watched the show with me, people like you. The ambassador who was sick on the planet with the companion? When she overheard that the companion was forcing them to stay there to keep "the man" company? "Why is she screaming? Why's she being so hysterical?" She was literally dying and had just found out that there was nothing anyone could do about it. Your commentary makes me sick.

Hi !
I got into TOS very very recently, (as in last december, I'm currently mid-season 3) and have been utterly obsessed with K/S since. I spent the past couple of days reading your commentary, and let me just say this :
You're amazing. You started this project TEN YEARS ago and even though you took a break from it you were still updating it last year, which is incredible. Such dedication is really stunning. Now, I just finished reading your Amok Time review, and just like the other ones, it's enlightening. You (and the other people in the comments section) have brought to light some very obvious metaphors and interpretations, that somehow managed to completely fly over my head when I watched these episodes.
Since you mentionned The Search for Spock quite a few times, I'm now impatient to watch it, and I hoped to find the review on here.
Take all the time you need, it's perfectly okay to drop this project if it's not on your mind at the moment, but know that a lot of people, myself included, would love to see it finished someday.
I hope you have a great day, or night (whatever time it is where you are), thank you for all the time you've put into this project.

Live long and prosper,
-Massi.

PS : Do you have a tumblr account ?

Hi-

Just wanted to say that I adore this analysis. I have read through it several times and I usually have trouble stopping, so I tend to read well into the night.

You, together with quite a few other people have made me hate the word bromance with a passion, where people/viewers tend to confuse male-male actual romantic love with deep friendship affection. Current examples of what I watch are Hawaii Five-0 (the reboot, I don't know the original) and Sherlock (season 4 is one of the biggest let-downs in TV history, because they were not brave enough). Now, what makes TOS so special is that here we see the contrast between two romantic partners (KS) and two very close - best - male friends (Jim & Bones).
However, it's funny how fast you can shut down doubters by saying: Imagine a movie where a guy says that to woman and vice versa (so thanks!)... You always win the argument, thankfully, because in movies, they never have to share a room in their first scenes and yet you know, they end up together. One proud Hollywood movie maker should just run with that by introducing two guys or two women and do that exact same thing... Even today, people would freak. Female homosexuality tends to be shown more prominently, but often as a joke or a 'female is bored' or very big drama kinda way; male sexuality is usually the latter... *sigh*... Enough of that, let's go to the fun stuff.

Not sure if you're still working on this or reading reviews, I just wanted to point something out (that I am sure you've noticed or somebody else commented on):

I am by no means a regular watcher of TOS (I know, shame on me), so I can really only go from the transcript, but there is one thing you didn't point out:

In this last conversation between Kirk and Spock, Kirk mentions

that the computer did not have "(his) wisdom, his compassion, his understanding, his soul"
Then Spock says "I prefer the concrete, the graspable, the provable"
And Kirk says "You'd make a splendid computer"

Ergo, Kirk just says what the computer lacked were the best features of humanity (in a nutshell): wisdom (intelligence, kindness, maturity, understanding), compassion (empathy, kindness, love), understanding (both on the level of intelligence but also in terms of the 'less graspable'), his soul (not getting into this one) and Spock brings up logic, stone-cold science and in extension, progress.

Then Kirk says Spock would be a splendid computer.

Ergo, in Kirk's mind, Spock unifies all of that (Or only what Kirk said if you think he just finishes his own thought), basically: Kirk thinks that Spock has within him the very best of humanity, is such an outstanding being that Spock's character/soul could make the whole concept that failed here work... That is one hell of an opinion to have of someone. Kirk thinks that Spock personifies the highest of virtues (I'm pretty sure that we can speak of virtues here).

Whoa...

Also, it's a nice mirror to Spock comparing Kirk's goodness of character to freaking gravity as you so wonderfully point out. And I know you love pointing out the mirrors in TOS.

In summary:

Spock about Kirk: My trust in Kirk is only equalled by my belief in the laws of nature and physics (his highest ideal from a purely logical standpoint) - Logic
Kirk about Spock: My trust in you is equalled by my faith in the very best of humanity - Heart

They both equal the other to their highest ideal. I'd say that's pretty big.

What do you think?

Hello!

I just wanted to say I really admire this work, you're doing an awesome job of it!

I'd like to mention two small things I've noticed.
First, you wrote a question mark after "braid". I think it means the rank braid, usually on the sleeves but in some versions of the green wraparound uniform it's on his shoulders. Jim just wants to be away from being a captain for a little while.
Second, and more importantly, I saw a connection with "Amok Time". Therein, it is stated that the Vulcan male is accompanied to the wedding by his best friends. Therefore, friendship is perfectly normal on Vulcan. It is, after all, logical to have another who will help in times of need and who is there to have your back. There's no reason for Spock to be ashamed of being friends with Jim, it's acceptable. It seems to me as though Spock bit back another word, yes, 'love' indeed, and replaced it with friendship because he's fighting the disease that makes him lose his inhibitions, for he doesn't dare admit his love yet. That's mostly speculation though.

Thanks again for this wonderful work, I look forward to more chapters.

I really love your commentary, it's the whole reason I made an accout. However i'm still new to this site, and frankly still a little new to this fandom and was wondering if your still posting commentary on episodes. I would be quite sad if that were the case, but I understand that life suprises us all sometimes and priorities go other places. If that's the case you may never even see this comment. Though if you happen to stumble upon it I would be greatful if you replied.
Live long and prosper: IIIFire~

Your job is amazing! I've been following you for the last six months, and now I feel like binge - watching Star Trek again... after nine years I kinda forget a lot of things!
P.s. about Amok Time... in Italy (I'm Italian) "in a pig's eye!" is translated as "in a BLIND MAN's eye!". Just telling :)

Hey! Love, Love, love the commentary. I can’t wait for the next episode. I have been looking forward to it. I hope you will post again really soon. I see it has been a couple months but you are probably busy.

I'm soo glad you keep doing more episodes, your commentary was hilarious, I laughed at so many moments. Plus I was like darn I should really watch the episode again whilst reading.

OK, Brittany-

I am a bad person b/c I've only made one comment on this fantastic roll you're doing and when I comment I'm too lazy to log in. Plus I have two stories on here that I more or less abandoned to write books (and actually selling) but someday I Will Return.

Anyway Journey to Babylon is my hands-down favorite episode. And when Star Wars was released back in 1977, my first reaction to that wonderful bar scene was: It's ripping off the Ambassadors Reception scenes in Star Trek! I mean the similarities are amazing.

I remember reading reviews about all the amazing special effects in the Bar Scene and I'm like huh, didn't' you critics watch Star Trek? Especially since this episode was on ALL THE TIME in the 1970s golden era of ST reruns. And had a fraction of the special effects and makeup budget.

I can't be the *only* person who had that reaction!

Fast-forward 1993 and I'm watching Seinfeld. George is trying to get a hospital to reimburse him for damage to his car when a suicidal patient landed on it. (OK poor taste, and this was also the episode with Shaky the Mohel that pissed off a lot of my Tribe. Plus there have been suicides in my family so this joke was kind of disturbing. But I still love Seinfeld.)

So, if you recall, Kramer goes with George to hunt down a hospital administrator and somehow gets on the psych ward where he discovers "Pigman," a being who he's certain is the result of mixing human and pig genes.

And again, I'm back at that Ambassadors' Reception scene. Pigmen! And one of them gets killed! And again, I can believe no one out there noticed? Of course there are Pigmen! (And not all of them are just ugly little mental patients).

I'm looking forward to the Nazi episode where both our boys are shirtless! One shaven, one not...