"Captain?... JIM!"
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Season One
- Spock's smile at Pike when they are looking at the singing plants is terribly sweet.
- The Talosians creating an illusion of Pike to keep Vina company.
- While also a Tear Jerker, the moment near the end of the second pilot when Doctor Dehner sacrificed herself to help Kirk fight Mitchell.
- In his Captain's Log, after all is said and done, Kirk has Dr. Dehner and Mitchell declared as dying "in the performances of their duties", so as not to tarnish their official records. Mitchell might have gone mad with power in the last days of his life and tried to corrupt Dr. Dehner but Kirk clearly still sees Mitchell as an old friend who succumbed to circumstances that he didn't ask for.
- After Uhura apologizes for getting snippy with Kirk, he apologizes for being snippy with her first. It takes a big man to apologize like that.
- Kirk's Anguished Declaration of Love for the Enterprise.Kirk: Never lose you... never.
- After their foe is revealed as a lonely child-sized alien who'd just been running a Secret Test of Character so he could decide whether to try to befriend them, Kirk and McCoy affectionately hold Balok's hands as he leads them on a tour of his weensy ship.
- After Kirk spares the Gorn captain. A representative of the Metrons tells Kirk that the Metrons would like to be allies with the Federation in the future.
- Spock's unwavering loyalty extends beyond his friendship to Kirk. The entire episode dealt with his loyalty to his first CO, Captain Chris Pike. The episode ends on a massive Heartwarming Moment when the Talosians give their "gift" to Captain Pike. Also Vina finally gets to reunite with the real Pike.
- And when Spock explains his need for deception instead of revealing everything from the beginning.Kirk: Even though regulations are explicit, you could have come to me and explained.Spock: Ask you to face the death penalty too? No, one of us was enough.
- Kirk suspects that Karidian is Kodos the Executioner, responsible for the mass-execution of 4,000 colonists. There were only nine witnesses to the event, and seven of them have turned up dead. The other two are Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Kevin Thomas Riley. In order to try and keep Riley safe, Kirk has him transferred to Engineering where he'll be harder for Kodos to find.
- Riley, feeling bummed out about being stuck on watch alone in Engineering, calls down to the rec room and asks Uhura to sing him a love song, so he knows he's not alone in the universe. While Uhura singing to keep her friend company is sweet on its own, it turns out that this saves Riley's life, as he's able to call for help over the open channel when someone poisons him.
- Spock immediately pegs onto Kirk's strange behavior since the actors came aboard, does some digging, and puts the pieces together. He badgers Doctor McCoy to convince him that Kodos may be alive, and while Bones thinks that Spock is wrong, he doesn't seem to mind the Vulcan bothering him during his down time, even offering Spock a drink. If anything, the Doctor seems amused by how animated Spock is over the matter.
- Riley learns that Kodos is aboard, and goes forth to avenge himself on him, but Kirk stops him from becoming a murderer and convinces him to hand over the phaser.
- Late in the story, Scotty reports that the control room for the ship's phasers is being manned by one person. Lieutenant Stiles, the navigator, volunteers to assist as his first assignment was as a phaser controller. Kirk agrees and asks Uhura to take his place at navigation. What is not stated, or even commented upon, is that with Sulu already at his station, this means the Enterprise is now being operated by a black woman and an Asian man. Nobody comments on this, nobody wonders about that, they just accept it as perfectly natural. With no dialogue or a heavy handed message, the show features just a natural acceptance across gender and racial lines.
- This conversation McCoy has with Kirk.McCoy: In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that... and perhaps more, only one of each of us. <beat> Don't destroy the one named Kirk.
- After Tomlinson is killed, Kirk goes to the chapel to find Tomlinson's fiancee praying. He tries to comfort her as best he can. Finally, she looks him in the eye and says, "I'm all right," before leaving. Kirk sighs and head back out to the corridor; time to go back to work. It's a Tear Jerker, a Heartwarming Moment, and a quiet Moment of Awesome.
- "In a different reality, I could have called you 'friend.'" Kirk and the Romulan Commander having sincere Worthy Opponents and similar respect. And, while it may have taken much longer than with the Klingons, the Romulans and the Federation also eventually become friends.
- Despite the pretty lady music, when Christopher is weirded out by a woman on the ship, Kirk casually draws him away from her, saying she’s a crewman.
- When Christopher muses about being in line for the space program but not making the cut, Kirk replies, "Take a good look around, Captain. You made it here ahead of all of them."
- When part of the roof caves in and Spock hears, he tries to contact Kirk. When there's no reply, he instantly moves faster and even drops the formality of calling him "Captain," instead calling out "Jim!" Spock may hide his emotions, but anyone can tell that for that moment, Spock was worried his friend had been killed.
- McCoy successfully curing the Horta, despite being a doctor, not a bricklayer.McCoy: My God, Jim, I'm beginning to think I can cure a rainy day!
- Kirk and Spock resolve the situation by Shaming the Mob with the revelation that the Horta Monster Is a Mommy, and then propose a solution to resolve the situation — the hortas are really good at mining and should help the human miners. They can go on living peacefully eating the rocks, and the miners can get access to more deposits that they couldn't reach on their own. It works perfectly, with both populations ending the story living and prospering together in peace. The head of the operation even calls Kirk to tell him how well they're getting along.
- By the end of the episode the Organians speculate that someday, the Federation and Klingon Empire will become allies. Despite Kor's protests, the Organians would eventually be proven correct.
The City on the Edge of Forever
- Edith Keeler's speech to the homeless people at her soup kitchen about why they must persevere:Edith: Now, I don't pretend to tell you how to find happiness and love, when every day is a struggle to survive. But I do insist that you do survive, because the days and the years ahead are worth living for!
- When one of the homeless men starts making sexual comments on Edith, Kirk tells him to shut up. Edith and Kirk also have a very sweet if doomed romance, him acting like a gentleman all the way through.
- Following her observation that Kirk and Spock seem not to belong there, Edith comments that Spock seems like he belongs by Jim's side, wherever that is.
- Kirk and Spock finally find McCoy, who they'd been separated from for the duration of the episode. Jim and Bones shout each other's names and hug—and Spock runs forward at the same moment, shooting his arm out as if to join in the embrace. In the next shot, he's shaking the doctor's hand quite earnestly. It's heartwarming, even if it gets worse the next several minutes.
- Spock answering McCoy's "Do you realize what you've done?", because Kirk is too broken to respond at the moment.Spock: "He knows..."
- When one of the parasites attacks Spock, Kirk instantly turns to help him. This leads to a brief moment where Kirk cradles Spock, whose wide eyes and rapid breathing clearly indicate how hurt and/or afraid he is.
- Most of Kirk's and McCoy's interactions with Spock after he's been attacked. Even better in that the effect is communicated through Facial Dialogue in some unusually subtle acting by William Shatner.
- After Kirk’s brother dies, and Kirk slumps against the wall, Spock makes an attempt to comfort him before Kirk cuts him off, just wanting to get on with the job.
- Spock asking Kirk to “let him help”. Kirk replies that he needs him, but he has to rest.
- When Spock seems to have been blinded by the effort to destroy the parasitic beings, and McCoy realizes he needn't have used the full light spectrum to kill the creatures, Spock is the first to offer the Doctor reassurance over his guilt, saying that he was aware of the risks going in and had chosen to do so. And the Doctor seems elated, not just relieved, that Spock ultimately comes out unharmed.
Season Two
- Kirk's gentleness when trying to make Spock open up about what's causing his bizarre behavior. As he tells Spock later, he’s not going to judge anything because Spock “has been most patient with my kinds of madness”.
- After being refused permission to detour to Vulcan, Kirk declares they're going anyway. Whatever the cost to his career, no other choice exists in his eyes if a delay would cost Spock his life. He admits that he doesn’t understand a word of Spock’s urges, but declares he’ll get him to Vulcan.
- Spock asking Chapel to make him plomeek soup. Having vehemently (and very publicly) repudiated her for the same gesture earlier in the episode, knowing she has feelings for him that he can't share, he still sees that his illness is upsetting her and is able to accept her mercy and call her by her first name.
- Spock explains that the groom's 2 best friends are allowed to witness the wedding, and invites Jim and McCoy to come along. Really shows how much he considers McCoy a friend. And Bones, ever the Southern gentleman, answers with a sincere, "I shall be honored, sir."
- Early on in the wedding, T'Pau gives Kirk and Bones the option to back out of their participation in what is sure to be a very gruesome ceremony. They opt to stay and support Spock instead.T'Pau: Spock chose his friends well.
- Spock's Please Spare Him, My Liege! moment when T'Pring selects Kirk as her champion. He wasn't even supposed to be capable of coherent thought at the moment. It gets better when T'Pau demeans him for his human behavior and Spock doesn't stop. As much as he fears being humiliated in front of "his" people, he feared more to let Kirk die without attempting to save him. It's even more heartwarming if considered as an echo to Kirk's earlier decision. Spock gives up a chance of being accepted as a Vulcan, something he's wanted and worked at for years. What has Kirk been working at and wanting for years? The captaincy — the same thing he's potentially given up for Spock. Not only does the Vulcan have someone he cares about more than his heart's desire, but also that person returns that friendship deeply enough to be worthy of it.
- After Spock believes Kirk was killed, his farewell to T'Pau truly shows how much he cares for Kirk:T'Pau: Live long and prosper, Spock.Spock: I shall do neither. I have killed my captain and my friend.
- Nimoy says this was his all-time favorite line and the one that perfectly exemplified how Spock felt about Kirk. Fans call it one of the best lines in the series.
- The emotional outburst that Spock nearly had after learning that he didn't actually kill his captain is possibly the biggest Heartwarming Moment in the entire show. (Watch!
) It was the one and only time in the entire series where Spock smiles of his own free will and volition. Of course, it was the best.Spock: Jim! - Even Leonard Nimoy, who originally hated the scene and called it out of character for the very private Spock, came around to it. (His explanation for originally disliking it was that he had been looking at it from Spock's point of view, and Spock, of course, would hate having his emotions revealed that way.)
- Although she does end up becoming the Girl of the Week, and it is a little cheesy, there's something about Chekov and Yeoman Landon together in the moonlight being all loving with each other is a little aww-inducing, especially when it leads to two snooping aliens to imitate them and introduce them to love.
- When Kirk has a Heroic BSoD about three red shirts dying, feeling like it’s his fault, and then later, scared that the Enterprise crew will die because he had to follow orders, Bones and Spock take turns trying to reassure him. Bones even nods to Spock the first time, like “you go, I’ll take the next breakdown”.
- The Companion giving up its non-corporeal self to become mortal, just to be with Zefram.
- Sarek and Amanda's two-fingered embrace is Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other. Mark Lenard really sells it - without breaking Sarek's Vulcan stoicism the look in his face makes it clear he's still completely smitten with his wife.Amanda: I love you anyway. [Sarek looks mildly exasperated] I know—it isn't logical.
- Spock and Sarek teasing Amanda. That it's played so deadpan makes it even more Heartwarming.Spock: Emotional, isn't she?Sarek: She has always been that way.Spock: Indeed—why did you marry her?Sarek: At the time, it seemed the logical thing to do.
- When you love someone so deeply that you never want to be apart from them, well, marrying them is only logical.
- Kirk and Spock’s Undying Loyalty to each other, Spock refusing to leave command until Kirk is healed (he was stabbed), and Kirk pretending to be better (while clearly suffering) so Spock will go help his father.
- A young ensign Garrovick freezes upon seeing a hostile alien that subsequently kills the rest of his landing party. Even though Garrovick already blames himself, Kirk comes down unusually hard on him, but only because Kirk himself faced the same creature eleven years before and also froze, getting many of his own crew mates killed. When Kirk discovers that the creature is immune to phaser fire, he seeks out Garrovick to deliver absolution:Kirk: I'm asking for your military appraisal of the techniques used against the creature.
Garrovick: Ineffective, Captain. I realize, Captain, you did everything you could do. I know that. It's just that nothing works against a monster that can do the things that thing does.
Kirk: And Ensign, what is your appraisal of your conduct on the planet?
Garrovick: I delayed firing.
Kirk: And If you hadn't delayed firing?
[Garrovick shakes his head and looks away]
Kirk: No difference, Ensign. No weapon known would have made any difference. Then... or eleven years ago. Report for duty, Ensign.
Garrovick: Yes, Captain. [Beat; smiles] Thank you, sir!- Kirk also tells Garrovick to seek him out if he wants to hear some of Kirk's experiences with Garrovick's father (Kirk's former captain, killed in the previous encounter).
- Spock, of all people, goes out of his way to try and console the young ensign after Kirk has been uncharacteristically harsh to him. Of course, being Spock, he goes about it in a really awkward manner, but he tries. And of course, when the vampiric alien attacks, his instinctive reaction is to shove the young man out of the room and stay behind to try and stop the creature.
- In a subtle way, this episode confirms that for how Redshirts are usually seen, they're still people, with friendships and lives. Ensign Garrovick here is a prime example (that doesn't die), as he's the son of a former captain/mentor that Kirk knew - even specifically saying he doesn't expect special treatment on account of that - and was friends with one of the few who died in the prologue. And even in the depth's of obsession with the creature, Kirk acknowledges this when they overhear the report and offers, not orders, the ensign a chance to avenge his friend; Garrovick immediately takes him up on that offer.
- Kirk is far too deep in self loathing and guilt to appreciate it, but Bones does his usual Big Brother Instinct best friend duty to remind him what happened on the Farrugut wasn’t his fault.
The Trouble with Tribbles
- What most irritates Chekov is not the insults directed at the ship or at Starfleet in general, but the the ones directed at Kirk. It's sweet to see him being so loyal to his captain/mentor.
- Even though she's being an Unwitting Instigator of Doom, Uhura practically melting from the tribble's cuteness is utterly adorable. And that smile◊!
- Spock and McCoy are having another discussion before Spock leaves. Spock suggests that since McCoy can't accept his way of dealing with the situation, he could "Wish me luck." McCoy doesn't. Then, when the Vulcan is out the door and can no longer hear him, he says, "Good luck, Spock."
- Spock and Kirk both praising the crew of the Enterprise in their personal logs.
- The exchange between Spock and McCoy near the end. May double as a Funny Moment.McCoy: Shut up Spock, we're rescuing you!Spock: Why, thank you, Captain McCoy.
- Also McCoy's visible excitement when he realizes Spock is alive, and the ear-to-ear smile on his face when the Vulcan asks to come back on board.
- Kirk tells Scotty to take the conn so he can go check on the injured Spock.
- When Sargon stealing Kirk’s body (and showing it off) nearly kills him, Kirk comes back and claims it’s alright, understanding and not being scared, but unintentionally comes off as suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Bones is, as ever, the Tough Love friend getting mad on Kirk’s behalf.Kirk: Spock, I remember. When Sargon and I exchanged, as we passed each other, for an instant we were one. I know him now. I know what he is and what he wants, and I don't fear him.McCoy: That's the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard. An alien practically hijacks your body and then corks you into a bottle and...
- Sargon makes sure that Spock isn't injured during the plan to destroy Henoch. While that in and of itself is more common decency, his explanation to the guilt- and grief-stricken Kirk makes it heartwarming. He says that he couldn't allow Kirk to sacrifice someone so important to him and reveals that he transferred Spock's soul to Nurse Chapel's head before the containers were destroyed.
- Captain Tracey tells the natives that Spock's lack of a heartbeat (in his chest) proves that he's a demon, almost getting them to cut his throat. McCoy is the first to jump to his defense, protesting that Spock's heart simply has a different position and his difference shouldn't serve as grounds to kill him.
- This scene, when Captain Kirk reads out the preamble to the US Constitution. It doesn't matter if you're not American; the scene, Kirk's absolute intensity and honest belief in the words and most of all the music that plays makes it so very heartwarming.
- When Kirk thinks he's been rendered superfluous as a captain, Spock and Bones, each in his own way, rally round him. First Spock tells him firmly that "a starship ... runs on loyalty to one man, and nothing can replace it or him," then McCoy brings him a drink, and when Kirk bitterly toasts to "Captain Dunsel," the doctor puts a hand on his arm and quietly corrects, "To Captain James T. Kirk." What follows is an iconic Kirk speech that's a Heartwarming Moment in its own right:Kirk: Do you know the one: "All I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by..."? You could feel the wind at your back in those days, the sounds of the sea beneath you. And even if you take away the wind and the water, it's still the same. The ship is yours, you can feel her... and the stars are still there.
- This is followed up years later in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier as they approach the Enterprise-A in the shuttle, where Spock and Bones, bickering couple that they are, argue over who the author of the poem was. It's called back even later in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as the dedication plaque of the USS Defiant actually bears the same John Masefield quote.
- Kirk's extraordinarily brilliant smile when Spock tells him the M-5 could not replace him.
- Flavius and McCoy's reluctance to hurt one another in the gladiatorial arena.
- Also counts as Awesome, but Flavius runs in to stop the Romans from executing Kirk, ultimately buying the seconds needed for Kirk to get away (and by extension, for them all to get away). Kirk clearly appreciated this as well, as McCoy explicitly mentions that his death was recorded in Kirk's official report of their escape, even as it's implied Merik's was.
Season Three
- For all the episode's reputation, Kirk looks so soft and delighted (think the first and third movies when he sees Spock again) when Spock says there's pleasure in hearing his voice.
- Spock giving Kirk a Cooldown Hug in the privacy of the turbolift.
- The way Kirk and McCoy rush to Spock when he stumbles through the door, half-catatonic from looking at Kollos. They might not have been allowed into Sickbay, but they were holding a vigil anyway.
- Dr. Jones’ calm, happy demeanor at the end of the episode. After forty minutes of seeing her insecure, frosty, or angry, it’s incredibly satisfying to watch her come to terms with herself.
- There’s a blink-or-you’ll-miss-it moment while the gang is fiddling with the tranq grenade. Bones is grouching about the outdated materials and how even someone from the time, familiar with them, couldn’t do this. Without looking up from his work, Spock comments, “I doubt the natives had your ingenuity, Doctor.” Even better, McCoy stares at the utterly oblivious Vulcan for a second, half-smiling. It’s a nice reminder that no matter how much they bicker, Spock and McCoy genuinely respect, trust, and admire each other.
- On a lighter note, the way Bones looks at him is grade-A Ho Yay. He just looks so damn happy that Spock complimented him.
- Watching the Enterprise crew and Commander Kang's group of Klingons willingly work together to drive away the non-corporeal alien. They do so by everybody laughing in a show of good spirits.
- The reason for the titular web: Spock refuses to turn the ship around and escape hostile territory because Kirk might still be alive.
- Kirk's taped orders were pretty sweet, too. He knows his friends so well he was able to predict their actions and mediate between them even from beyond the grave. Well, sort of.
- This line from Spock after McCoy, who between Kirk's death and the effects of the space they're in, has gotten snippy with him and had to apologize:Spock: I believe [Kirk] would have said, "Forget it, Bones."
- After having rescued Kirk, both Spock and McCoy deny having reviewed Kirk's final taped orders to them.
- Bones reassuring Uhura that she’s not crazy, and her Tears of Joy that Kirk is still alive.
- McCoy’s fierce devotion to Kirk, calling him a hero in every sense of the word.
- Uhura tells Kirk that anytime she felt afraid, she would calm herself by reminding herself that Kirk was in charge so things wouldn't go completely wrong. Then he's forced to kiss her.
- Kirk tells Alexander, who had been picked on and enslaved by the Platonians for being a dwarf and lacking telekinesis, "Alexander, where I come from, size, shape or color makes no difference." Later, Kirk keeps his promise and takes Alexander with them when they leave the planet, where he can finally live his own life as a free man.
- The scene directly after the first torture. Bones, Kirk and Spock are all feeling deeply angry and humiliated, but they all swap trying to reassure the other guys while pushing their own feelings down.
- After McCoy has drugged an injured Jim to sleep, Gem watches Spock, who is looking worriedly at his sleeping captain. Not quite understanding the emotion, she reaches out and touches Spock's shoulder, before finally realizing why. The smile on her face afterwards says it all.
- After the landing party has been told that one of them will be subjected to torture that will leave them either near-death or insane, McCoy knocks out both Kirk and Spock so that he will be chosen.
- While McCoy actually gets to perform the Act of True Love for this episode, it's implied or outright stated that Kirk and Spock would have done the same thing if they hadn't been knocked out.
- This episode was just filled with heartwarming. First there's McCoy rasping "You've got a good bedside manner, Spock," as Spock tenderly cradles his face. Then when he regains consciousness to find Gem absorbing his injuries, he tries to push her away, physician to the last:Bones: Don't let her touch me. She'll die. Jim... I can't destroy life, even if it's to save my own. I can't. You know that. I can't let you do it.
- Bones and Spock go from gentle annoyance when Kirk and Elaan are making out, to immediate concern when they realise her tears touched him, making the whole thing non-consensual on his part, and he’s dizzy when away from her.
- It’s a Wounded Gazelle Gambit, and it ends badly for him, but it’s a testament to Kirk’s compassion that for all the talk on giving orders, he softens as soon as Elaan tells him she just wants people to like her.
- This exchange:Kirk: They had a dream, a dream that became a reality and spread throughout the stars. A dream that made Mr. Spock and me brothers.
Garth: Mr. Spock! Do you consider Captain Kirk and yourself brothers?
Spock: Captain Kirk speaks somewhat figuratively, and with undue emotion. However, what he says is logical, and I do, in fact, agree with it. - Another example from the same episode. Kirk tries to talk down the maniacal Garth by reminding him of what a hero he is to the Federation and to Kirk, personally, for being the model for all other starship captains. For an instant, Garth looks and sounds normal. "I do remember that. It was a great responsibility, but one I was proud to bear." Unfortunately it does not last, but after Garth is subdued and cured of his insanity, he acts as if he is waking from a dream and the first thing he does is offer a handshake to Kirk.Garth: Should I know you, sir?
- It's small, but when Kirk stumbles, still feeling the effects of the torture and Marta pawing him, Spock instinctively gives a steadying hand. Yes it's actually Garth, but clearly still what Spock would have done.
- Spock's extreme Vulcanness is implied to be a sign that he's worried about Kirk. Then, later in the episode, he refuses to take Scotty's The Needs of the Many offer to jettison a malfunctioning part (and him with it).
- After Kirk is emotionally devastated by the events of the episode, Spock and McCoy come to his quarters. McCoy, after delivering his final report, proceeds to upbraid Spock for his lack of "love". As McCoy departs, Spock leans over his captain's sleeping body and performs a mind meld with just one word: "Forget." Truly, this is the moment where we see just how deeply Spock cares for his captain... and his friend.
- Also, fun with Ho Yay!
- As cheesy as the episode is, Spock delivers a wonderfully uplifting line near the end:Spock: Miss Galliulin. It is my sincere wish that you do not give up your search for Eden. I have no doubt but that you will find it, or make it yourselves.
- Uhura and Abraham Lincoln shake hands.
- The I Will Only Slow You Down/No One Gets Left Behind moment between Spock and McCoy. What makes it even more heartwarming is that the person on each side wasn't who you would think.McCoy: I can't go on. Go without me.
Spock: We go together or not at all.
McCoy: Don't be a fool! My legs and hands are frostbitten; I can't feel my feet. Alone, you have a chance. Go, try to find Jim.
Spock: [pulling McCoy to his feet] We go together!
