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dejadrewI've been on a classic Trek kick lately, watching some old favourites and reveling in their Spock eyebrow-quirking McCoy cranky-pantsing Kirk space-babe-seducing goodness. And I was watching Journey to Babel, because Spock's parents ROCK, when I was struck by a profound contrast between fantasy and reality.
See, in that episode, Kirk gets stabbed in the gut when the bad dude brings a knife to a fistfight. And Spock donates like all his blood for his dad's life saving operation. And maybe an hour later, Kirk and Spock are both totally clamoring to get out of bed and get back to work.
Kirk: Honestly, I'm fine! It's just a scratch! Who really needs TWO kidneys? I've always thought that two was excessive anyway. And that other organ that just fell out, I don't know what it's called but I'm sure it's not important, just put it on ice and I'll deal with it later.
Spock: Indeed. As for myself, unlike humans I am fairly certain we Vulcans do not truly require blood. I can perform my duties perfectly adequately on the 250 millilitres remaining to me plus a pot of strong tea.
McCoy: God help me, if I have to SEDATE THE STUPID OUT OF YOU, I will.
Kirk and Spock were both being That Guy, you know? The one who never admits he's sick. The one who sneaks out of the hospital through the second story ward window using his own IV as a rope. That Guy is everywhere in fiction. Starfleet consists almost entirely of That Guy. I don't think any man in any anime I've watched has ever stayed in the hospital long enough to actually be released.
I have never actually met That Guy.
I don't deny he could exist, I've just never met one personally.
I have only met This Guy.
I was in fact raised by This Guy. In fact, the particular This Guy who raised me is sick right now, and moping around convinced he's dying. (My mother, by the way, finds the above sketch hysterical.)
Me: I just find it so interesting that nearly all the men in fiction are so stoic in the face of illness, and most of the men in real life are... not.
Dad: (moans something in the background about what he wants on his tombstone.)
Mom: Maybe the men writing Star Trek were using Kirk to fantasize about who they wish they could be.
Dad: (mumbles something vague about a tunnel and a warm white light.)
Me: Actually, this episode was written by D.C. Fontana, a woman.
Dad: (coughs and hacks wretchedly)
Mom: ...Well, maybe she was doing a bit of fantasizing, herself. Was she married?
Dad: (groans)
See, in that episode, Kirk gets stabbed in the gut when the bad dude brings a knife to a fistfight. And Spock donates like all his blood for his dad's life saving operation. And maybe an hour later, Kirk and Spock are both totally clamoring to get out of bed and get back to work.
Kirk: Honestly, I'm fine! It's just a scratch! Who really needs TWO kidneys? I've always thought that two was excessive anyway. And that other organ that just fell out, I don't know what it's called but I'm sure it's not important, just put it on ice and I'll deal with it later.
Spock: Indeed. As for myself, unlike humans I am fairly certain we Vulcans do not truly require blood. I can perform my duties perfectly adequately on the 250 millilitres remaining to me plus a pot of strong tea.
McCoy: God help me, if I have to SEDATE THE STUPID OUT OF YOU, I will.
Kirk and Spock were both being That Guy, you know? The one who never admits he's sick. The one who sneaks out of the hospital through the second story ward window using his own IV as a rope. That Guy is everywhere in fiction. Starfleet consists almost entirely of That Guy. I don't think any man in any anime I've watched has ever stayed in the hospital long enough to actually be released.
I have never actually met That Guy.
I don't deny he could exist, I've just never met one personally.
I have only met This Guy.
I was in fact raised by This Guy. In fact, the particular This Guy who raised me is sick right now, and moping around convinced he's dying. (My mother, by the way, finds the above sketch hysterical.)
Me: I just find it so interesting that nearly all the men in fiction are so stoic in the face of illness, and most of the men in real life are... not.
Dad: (moans something in the background about what he wants on his tombstone.)
Mom: Maybe the men writing Star Trek were using Kirk to fantasize about who they wish they could be.
Dad: (mumbles something vague about a tunnel and a warm white light.)
Me: Actually, this episode was written by D.C. Fontana, a woman.
Dad: (coughs and hacks wretchedly)
Mom: ...Well, maybe she was doing a bit of fantasizing, herself. Was she married?
Dad: (groans)
