Where does one even start to discuss the slashiness of this particular episode? The story is simple a disease is brought aboard the Enterprise, the effects of which is to bring on a state of mind where the person's inner emotions and/or fantasies are brought to the surface. Combine an almost non-functional crew with a planet that is about to collapse and a decaying orbit and we have a tension filled episode with everything at stake.Rather than go through the story I will look at the most important scenes and clues that abound for the K/Ser.
Firstly we will jump straight to Spock contracting the disease. He picks it up when Nurse Chapel ("my name is Christine" - she has to keep reminding Spock of that!) declares her love for him. See the photos below, Spock is horrified by Christine's declaration and although he is very sorry that she feels that way, he is literally backed up against the wall trying to get away from her. Since this disease takes away one's inhibitions, it is clear from this scene that Spock has zero interest in Christine, if he did he would have responded, taken her in his arms and let his feelings take flight; so sorry Christine, no coconut. But the physical touch between them leaves Spock almost instantly effected. He hurries from Sick Bay to find somewhere alone where he can try to control the emotion that is overwhelming him. And that emotion is...shame. What is he ashamed of? Well we are soon to find out. As it is we see him broken-hearted; what is he so broken up about? On his way to the conference room, he (and we) are given a not so subtle clue. Daubed on the wall in vivid red paint are the words 'Love Mankind'. This is a message about Spock desperately wanting to embrace the human part of himself, but feeling nothing but shame and guilt about abandoning his father's ways: Spock feels emotions very deeply indeed and is filled with self-hatred. He loves his mother and is angry that she and he had to live in an environment that frowned upon the emotion of love. He is guilty that he wants more than what his father's culture offered him. He cannot please himself and his mother and his father at the same time, and in the end, no-one is satisfied. It is intensely painful for us as the viewer to watch Spock go through this.
In the meantime, another affected crew member has turned off the engines of the Enterprise, and Scotty states it will take 30 minutes to re-start them, but the ship's orbit is decaying and they have only 5 minutes to save the day. Kirk goes in search of the missing Spock in the hope that his Science Officer will have a formula that will allow them to re-start the engines in time. He finds Spock, inconsolable and emotionally compromised, unable to focus upon the crisis that is unfolding. All Spock wants to do is confess his sins and discuss his feelings. Kirk has no time for this right now. He shakes and strikes Spock to break the spell and re-focus his First Officer. Spock just wants to tell Jim how terrible he feels and how he has feelings for his Captain and friend. Jim still doesn't have time for this; it's not the right time or place to discuss BIG issues about who feels what for whom. In the ensuing battle between them, Kirk contracts the disease also and finds himself descending into depths of despair about how he has no time for his feelings and that the ship and his command demand everything from him.
After the catharsis of admitting his feelings, and the shock of Jim slapping him repeatedly Spock, starts to come to his senses and realizes that he does in fact have a formula that may save the ship. Mr. Scott arrives on the scene and he and Spock hurry to Engineering to implement the plan. Kirk is left alone to swear to the silent walls that he will never lose 'you'. Who is this 'you' to which he refers? It could be the ship, but we are left unsure, if it is the Enterprise or Spock to which he refers. Jim pulls himself together and makes his way back to the Bridge. On the way he is given a not so subtle clue to his feelings - 'Sinner Repent' is painted on the inside of the turbolift that he rides to the Bridge. Who is the sinner, who needs to repent? Is Jim being told to have remorse himself, or is he being told to take pity on the the other 'sinner', Mr. Spock?
The formula works, the engines re-start, the orbit is saved and the Enterprise manages to warp away to safety at the very last moment. In so doing the ship goes into a time warp and is taken back three days; a very symbolic number of days is it not? The number of days that it traditionally takes to die and be re-born. So there is a rebirth that is taking place aboard the Enterprise.
I see this episode as what is the precursor to Kirk and Spock becoming emotionally involved with each other. I feel certain that after this the physical side of their relationship begins. By the time we are another two or three episodes along, they are lovers (which I will discuss in later posts).
Even with this very long post, I have really only scratched the surface of all the slash material contained in this episode. Watch it for yourself and count the ways...
To recap, when affected by a disease that brings out inner feelings and fantasies, neither Kirk nor Spock chases after a women, but they do spend a long time alone in a room together confessing their feelings and belting the crap out of each other. They are each given a message to love and repent, and they are given three days to live over again as a sure sign of a rebirth. This episode is all about them and their feelings for each other. Christine and Janice do not even enter into the equation. This episode demonstrates how troubled, passionate and conflicted these two men are and how they really love and trust each other above anyone or anything else. In the final scene Spock returns to the Bridge and immediately checks that Jim is okay, Jim asks the same of Spock and they take a few valuable seconds to look lovingly into each others eyes and re-assure each other that everything will be alright.
I don't know how many times I have seen this episode, but it never ceases to move me with it's powerful action and profound implications.
