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Tear Jerker / Star Trek: The Motion Picture

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  • After losing his intended science officer in a transporter accident, Kirk is completely lost on the Enterprise. It doesn't help Decker witnesses this.
    • The novelization adds to this: The other officer who died in the accident was Vice Admiral Lori Ciana, who Kirk had a relationship with.
    • Not to mention Rand's horrified reaction as the accident unfolded, and turning away devastated, leaving Kirk to console her briefly.
      Kirk: There was nothing you could've done, Rand. It wasn't your fault.
  • Spock's initial aloofness towards his former crew mates. He even gives Kirk the cold shoulder at first, only discussing pertinent information regarding the V'Ger crisis.
  • When the trio are talking on their own for the first time in years, both Bones and Kirk try and get their old rapport with Spock back, Bones with jokes and Kirk with a puppy-eyed "I need him". Spock falters for a second, but is still cold, and Kirk looks hurt before going clinical himself.
    • When Bones and Chapel first see Spock, showing their joy at having him back, Spock’s expression is utter confusion. His decision to try for Kohlinar and purge himself of all emotions was a serious mistake. Now, amongst friends, Spock is more lost than ever.
  • The normally serene Ilia looks terrified out of her mind as the V'Ger probe scans and kills her.
  • When Ilia is killed, Decker's angry retort at Kirk, "This is how I define unwarranted!" doubles as a Gut Punch.
  • Decker and Ilia's relationship is moving, especially during Decker's "I Know You Are in There Somewhere" Fight and Probe!Ilia struggling with What Is This Thing You Call "Love"?
  • There's something about Probe Ilia/V'Ger pleading, "Kirk Unit! Kirk Unit, please!"
  • You can't help but feel sorry for Decker, having his command removed through no fault of his own. Especially when you know he's the son of Commodore Matt Decker from the Original Series episode "The Doomsday Machine", and this was his (turned out to be last) chance to redeem the family name.
    • You could say that he does exactly this; he alone ends up providing the crucial link for V'ger to complete what it sees as its mission, and in doing so, saves Earth, at the cost of his own life. Kirk making a point to refer to him as Captain in his report to Starfleet gives hints that history will remember Decker favorably.
    • Indeed, in this movie, it's easy to see (apart from V'Ger) KIRK HIMSELF as the villain, as being every bit the same as the various Admirals and other officials who show up to wrest control of the situation, even the Enterprise herself, from Kirk all through the series - a man who hasn't flown a starship in the better part of two years, hasn't familiarized himself with the ship and its functions, and even openly makes decisions that can and would have destroyed the ship, had Decker not intervened. Two years of admiralty, and JAMES T. KIRK has become the kind of meddling official he once complained about.
  • As selfish as Kirk is acting, the series was pretty clear on how he feels about himself with no command, and when Bones leaves, having told him what he thinks and can actually listen to his advice if he wants, there’s a shot of him with the doors closing in where he’s in the dark alone.


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