History YMMV / StarTrekS2E1AmokTime

** When Spock tells T'Pau that he will "do neither [live long or prosper]", did he mean he was suicidal or did he expect to suffer DeathByDespair over Kirk's murder?

** T'Pring's XanatosGambit comes off as worse than before once you've read [[spoiler: ''Literature/SpocksWorld'']] and [[spoiler: ''Vulcan's Glory'' by D.C. Fontana]].

* HarsherInHindsight: T'Pring's XanatosGambit comes off as worse than before once you've read [[spoiler: ''Literature/SpocksWorld'']] and [[spoiler: ''Vulcan's Glory'' by D.C. Fontana]].

** The episode tries to wring tension from two main characters possible deaths (and the supposed death of one). Given that the show is from the era of strict StatusQuoIsGod, the ending is never in doubt.

* EarWorm: The infamous fight scene music, which became so well known that Creator/EddieMurphy referenced it in one of his stand-up routines, and also featured in ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', ''Film/TheCableGuy'' and ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''.

** When Stonn says "The woman is --" is he about to say ''mine'', or ''pregnant''? Some fans decided it was "pregnant", by Stonn himself. Years later Arlene Martel revealed that she had been playing T'Pring as trying to conceal a pregnancy (see Throw It In, below).

** Just how oblivious was T'Pau to the "neural paralyzer" scam? While the episode could support the interpretation that [=McCoy=] [[DidYouJustScamCthulhu fooled her]], at least one fan suggested that she knew [=McCoy=] was pulling something and let him get away with it because she was secretly disgusted by T'Pring's scheme.

* {{HoYay}}: Kirk and Spock's infamous fight scene, and the obvious affection. To the point where ''WebVideo/TheShipsCloset'' host Brittany needed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItxlVv_WMbU&feature=bf_next&list=PL92683EB319C8E35F&lf=plpp_video a two-part special]] to cover all the gayness. For the record, [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Kirk/Spock_(TOS)#D.C._Fontana_on_.22Canon_Slash.22 D.C. Fontana hotly denies]] that any of the [[HoYay gay "subtext" seen by viewers yearning for canon slash]] was ever intended or written in deliberately by the dozen or so writers who worked on this episode. She said the conflict was meant to be between Spock's Vulcan and Terran sides, as he struggled to maintain a facade of normality while being [[NightmareFuel torn apart from the inside]] by [[BodyHorror forces he could not control]]. Nimoy was not portraying Spock as battling an instinct to rape Kirk; he was making an effort not to ''kill'' him, seize control of the ship, or ''go into convulsions and die''.

* [[Heartwarming/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]: Oh, ''yes''. This is practically a Crowning Episode of Heartwarming.
** Kirk deciding to sacrifice his command to save Spock.
** After a well meaning attempt by Nurse Chapel to give Spock Vulcan soup turns ugly, Spock later softly requests her to make her some soup, which is clearly his way of apologizing sincerely for hurting her feelings.
** Spock inviting both Kirk and [=McCoy=] to come with him to the ceremony, explaining that it's the place for the groom's best friends.
** Spock putting up with T'Pau's [[HalfBreedDiscrimination verbal abuse]] to try and keep his Captain out of the fight.
** Spock's reaction when he realizes that Kirk is [[FauxDeath still alive.]]

* {{HoYay}}: Kirk and Spock's infamous fight scene, and the obvious affection. To the point where ''WebVideo/TheShipsCloset'' host Brittany needed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItxlVv_WMbU&feature=bf_next&list=PL92683EB319C8E35F&lf=plpp_video a two-part special]] to cover all the gayness.
** For the record, [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Kirk/Spock_(TOS)#D.C._Fontana_on_.22Canon_Slash.22 D.C. Fontana hotly denies]] that any of the [[HoYay gay "subtext" seen by viewers yearning for canon slash]] was ever intended or written in deliberately by the dozen or so writers who worked on this episode. She said the conflict was meant to be between Spock's Vulcan and Terran sides, as he struggled to maintain a facade of normality while being [[NightmareFuel torn apart from the inside]] by [[BodyHorror forces he could not control]]. Nimoy was not portraying Spock as battling an instinct to rape Kirk; he was making an effort not to ''kill'' him, seize control of the ship, or ''go into convulsions and die''.

* [[Tearjerker/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Tearjerker]]: Spock's reaction when he wakes from the ''plak tow'' and realizes that he's murdered his best friend. The episode has its own section on the tearjerker page.

* HarsherInHindsight: T'Pring's XanatosGambit comes off as worse than before once you've read [[spoiler: ''Literature/SpocksWorld'']].

** Kirk is essentially trying to say sex without actually being able to say sex due to the standards of television at the time.

* MagnificentBastard: T'Pring. Spock is quite right in saying her logic is flawless. No matter which way the combat went, she would end up with everything she wanted. And the fact that she ends up as a KarmaHoudini (so far as the episode goes) makes her victory that much sweeter.

** For the record, [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Kirk/Spock_(TOS)#D.C._Fontana_on_.22Canon_Slash.22 D.C. Fontana hotly denies]] that any of the gay "subtext" seen by viewers yearning for canon slash was ever intended or written in deliberately by the dozen or so writers who worked on this episode. She said the conflict was meant to be between Spock's Vulcan and Terran sides, as he struggled to maintain a facade of normality while being [[NightmareFuel torn apart from the inside by forces he could not control]]. Nimoy was not portraying Spock as battling an instinct to rape Kirk; he was making an effort not to ''kill'' him, seize control of the ship, or ''go into convulsions and die''.

* FridgeBrilliance:
** Kirk gets ridiculed for jumping from "biology" to "reproduction", but Spock is obviously embarrassed and what part of biology is half so embarrassing to talk about as reproduction?
** Also, T'Pau says that T'Pring will become "property" of the victor. Presumably, Spock could have treated her much worse than he did and been within his rights... just like T'Pring was in pitting Spock against Kirk. She's lucky he didn't decide to go BewareTheNiceOnes on her.
** At first the "marriage party" that arrives on Spock's land looks nothing like what you would expect from Vulcans. There appear to be armed guards escorting the party and one big tough masked guy who looks like an executioner. Spock mentioned before that Vulcans were a warlike people before they found logic, so why would they still stick to those bellicose traditions when getting married? Also, during the ceremony, just before the fight, the big masked guy seems awfully eager to use his weapon to enforce T'Pau's intentions. Why would a supposedly pacifist logical people behave this way? Listen to Spock talk about the Pon Farr and their behavior makes sense. Vulcan weddings involve one and probably more people undergoing a "blood fever" that literally rips their logic away from them. Those logical people behave like mindless animals until they either MateOrDie. The big burly armed guard is there to make sure that these crazed Vulcans don't step out of line and hurt people.
* FridgeHorror:
** In Spock's final exchange with T'Pau, he responds to the traditional "Live Long and Prosper" with "I shall do neither." Did Spock mean that the civilian courts would execute him, was he contemplating suicide, or did he mean he would die of grief and guilt?
** Also, T'Pring explains that she could do whatever she liked because Spock would be "gone". Did she mean "away on a mission" or "dead"?
** Also, the end. Yes, Spock won't kill himself or [[DeathByDespair die of grief]] now that he knows Kirk is alive, but he'll have the [[WhatHaveIDone guilt]] of having attempted to kill his best friend for weeks, maybe the rest of his life.
** Also, the fact that the most logical, [[StrawVulcan (theoretically)]] sensible and smart people in the Federation only allow people to back out of arranged marriages via fights to the death, and that the woman in such cases becomes the property of the victor - WhatTheHellHero barely covers this!

* {{The Woobie}}: Spock. He's already going through the nasty ''pon farr'' symptoms. Then he's forced to [[InvoluntaryBattleToTheDeath fight]] [[HeterosexualLifePartners his best]] [[TrueCompanions friend]] and [[HeroicBSOD believes]] he has [[WhatHaveIDone murdered him]].

** After a well meaning attempt by Nurse Chapel to give Spock Vulcan soup turns ugly, Spock later softly requests her to make her some soup, which is clearly his way of apologizing.

* [[Heartwarming/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]]: Oh, ''yes''. This is practically a Crowning Episode of Heartwarming.
** Kirk deciding to sacrifice his command to save Spock.
** Spock inviting both Kirk and [=McCoy=] to come with him to the ceremony, explaining that it's the place for the groom's best friends.
** Spock putting up with T'Pau's [[HalfBreedDiscrimination verbal abuse]] to try and keep his Captain out of the fight.
** Spock's reaction when he realizes that Kirk is [[FauxDeath still alive.]]

* ThrowItIn:
** The Vulcan salute makes its first appearance in this episode. Creator/LeonardNimoy came up with it on set. Celia Lovsky (T'Pau) couldn't do the salute and had to arrange her fingers with her other hand off-screen. Hers is the first Vulcan salute viewers saw.
** Arlene Martel (T'Pring) felt that her outfit looked like a maternity dress (it's an A-line with a high, Empire style waist). It occurred to her that T'Pring might be pregnant by Stonn, so she deliberately played it that way throughout.

* CoolOldLady / NeverMessWithGranny: T'Pau is an ''archetype''. Few television shows ''ever'' have portrayed a woman of such advanced age (according to canon, she's 145, with Celia herself 70 at the time) in such an exalted position of power -- aside from QueenVicky or [[HMTheQueen her descendants]]. You're looking at the gal who once told the Federation Council what they could do with their invitation, and who with a simple phone call to Starfleet Command saved Kirk from getting busted down to Spaceman Third Class for his hijacking of the Big E to take Spock home. ''All of Vulcan in one package.''

** For the record, [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Kirk/Spock_(TOS)#D.C._Fontana_on_.22Canon_Slash.22 D.C. Fontana hotly denies]] that any of the gay "subtext" seen by viewers yearning for canon slash was ever intended or written in deliberately by the dozen or so writers who worked on this episode. She said the conflict was meant to be between Spock's Vulcan and Terran sides, as he struggled to maintain a facade of normality while being [[NightmareFuel torn apart from the inside by forces he could not control]]. Nimoy was not portraying Spock as battling an instinct to rape Kirk; he was making an effort not to ''kill'' him, or worse, ''go into convulsions and die''.
* CoolOldLady / NeverMessWithGranny: T'Pau is an ''archetype''. Few television shows ''ever'' have portrayed a woman of such advanced age (according to canon, she's 145, with Celia herself 70 at the time) in such an exalted position of power. You're looking at the gal who once told the Federation Council what they could do with their invitation, and who with a simple phone call to Starfleet Command saved Kirk from getting busted down to Spaceman Third Class for his hijacking of the Big E to take Spock home. ''All of Vulcan in one package.''

* KickassGranny: T'Pau is an ''archetype''. Few television shows ''ever'' have portrayed a woman of such advanced age (according to canon, she's 145, with Celia herself 70 at the time) in such an exalted position of power. You're looking at the gal who once told the Federation Council what they could do with their invitation, and who with a simple phone call to Starfleet Command saved Kirk from getting busted down to Spaceman Third Class for his hijacking of the Big E to take Spock home. ''All of Vulcan in one package.''

** T'Pring -- nasty, manipulative villainess or justifiably angry WomanScorned? Spock has been ignoring her and their marriage for roughly twenty standard years, basically humiliating her in front the entire planet. In the meantime she's found a man who loves her and treats her right and doesn't want to risk his life.
*** Was it actually stated, by any other character, that he was completely ignoring her? Seems possible he was at least maintaining some communication, out of simple courtesy if nothing else.

*** Perhaps he was expecting to be executed for the murder?

* EarWorm: The infamous fight scene music, which became so well known that Creator/EddieMurphy referenced it in one of his stand-up routines.