History Recap / StarTrekS2E10JourneyToBabel

* AssInAmbassador: A whole shipload. And one ends up dead.

!!Tropes for this episode include:

* PartingFromConsciousnessWords: "The passengers are more important." - Spock, just before the anesthetic kicks in.

* SecretStabWound: Kirk pretends to be sufficiently recovered from his stabbing to resume command so that Spock will leave his post and give blood for Sarek's operation.

* WhamLine: "Captain, Ambassador Sarek and his wife are my parents."

* ArmorPiercingSlap: Amanda gives one to Spock for refusing to help Sarek.

* ClearMyName: Sarek is accused of murdering Gav due to his cause of death being similar to [[TouchOfDeath Tel-Shaya]] -- a merciful Vulcan method of execution. Sarek could have logical motive as well as means and has no alibi beyond he was meditating. Actually, he was recovering from another heart attack. He didn't tell Amanda how bad his heart condition was because [[IDidntTellYouBecauseYoudBeUnhappy he didn't want her to worry]]. He has another heart attack as he asserts his innocence.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: After telling Spock to shut up and Kirk to shush, Bones smiles into the camera and says "Whaddya know? I finally got the last word!" Cue end credits. Falls short of outright BreakingTheFourthWall since WordOfGod is that Bones was addressing Nurse Chapel, but it's certainly the nearest the franchise has ever come to breaking it.

* BigShutUp: [=McCoy=] to Spock at the end of the episode.

* LeaningOnTheFourthWall: After telling Spock and Kirk to shut up, Bones smiles into the camera and says "Whaddya know? I finally got the last word!" Cue end credits. Falls short of outright BreakingTheFourthWall since WordOfGod is that Bones was addressing Nurse Chapel, but it's certainly the nearest the franchise has ever come to breaking it.

* ABNegative: Sarek and Spock both have T- blood, a type rare even among Vulcans.

* ClearMyName: Sarek is accused of murdering Gav due to his cause of death being similar to [[TouchOfDeath Tel-Shaya]] -- a merciful Vulcan method of execution. Sarek could have logical motive as well as means and has no alibi beyond he was meditating. Actually, he was recovering from another heart attack. Didn't want Amanda to worry. He has another heart attack as he asserts his innocence.

* ClearMyName: Sarek is accused of murdering Gav due to his cause of death being similar to [[TouchOfDeath Tel-Shaya]]- a merciful Vulcan method of execution. Sarek could have logical motive as well as means and has no alibi beyond he was meditating. Actually, he was recovering from another heart attack. Didn't want Amanda to worry. He has another heart attack as he asserts his innocence.

* MeaningfulName: A rather ironic meaning in this case. In the Bible Babel was where what was left of humanity dispersed because they couldn't understand each other. Here, Babel is where people from different planets go in attempt to understand each other.

* NoodleIncident: Why DID Sarek marry Amanda? "At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do."

* YouLookFamiliar: Mark Lenard also played the Romulan Commander from "Balance of Terror".

Everyone's getting all primped up to greet the ambassadors whom the ''Enterprise'' is delivering to the planet code named Babel for an important Federation conference. The arrival of Vulcan Ambassador Sarek and his Terran (i.e., human) wife Amanda is particularly looked forward to. The awaited arrival comes with a shocking surprise. Sarek is Spock's father!

Tropes for this episode include:
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* AssInAmbassador: A whole shipload. And two end up dead.

* [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything Chekov Does Everything]]: So exaggerated that he fires photon torpedoes from [[ContextSensitiveButton Spock's science station]].

* HeyItsThatGuy: Spock's mom is also the mom of [[FatherKnowsBest James Jr., Betty and Kathy]].
** Then she married [[StElsewhere Dr. Daniel Auschlander]].

* NoodleIncident: Why DID Sarek marry Amanda? "At the time, [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming it seemed the logical thing to do.]]"

* StrangeSalute: The famous Vulcan salute. Bones can't do it and settles for a quick wave. Also, the finger tip touching between Amanda and Sarek.

** Sarek ''does'' ask that his wife not say any more embarrassing stories about Spock's childhood in order to keep Spock's respect among his Starfleet peers, which Amanda takes as a sign that Sarek finally approves of the career path Spock took. Of course, Sarek does this in private where Spock can't overhear...
* [[WhatTheHellHero What The Hell, Son?]]: Amanda gives one to Spock when he chooses his duty to the ''Enterprise'' over saving his father. One wonders at Spock's decision, coldly logical as it sounds. Scotty has shown himself numerous times as being capable of command.
** Possible FridgeBrilliance: Perhaps Spock was trying to prove himself to his father by doing what could be better for more people--a Vulcan thing if there ever was one.

** So much so that the {{Fanon}} name for said commander is [[SdrawkcabName "Keras"]].

* [[TheMainCharactersDoEverything Chekov does everything]]: So exaggerated that he fires photon torpedoes from [[ContextSensitiveButton Spock's science station]].

* PlayingSick: Inversion. Kirk fakes being healthy enough to take over his captain duties so Spock is free to donate the blood his father needs.

** And then played straight [[spoiler:when Kirk has the ship play wounded in order to trick the attacking Orion vessel to swing back into phaser range.]]

* ShirtlessScene: Kirk is topless for no reason (maybe changing out of his dress clothes into a more everyday uniform?) when he is informed of the murder of Ambassador Gav. Justified when he's in the sickbay swathed in bandages from Thelev's attack.