Mudd's Passion
Harry Mudd returns, selling a "love potion" to miners. But his latest product turns out to be genuine, and Spock's casts a loving gaze at Nurse Chapel, while their shipmates swoon. What price, love?
It's remarkable to us that TOS fans will seek out obscure "slash" moments in the live action series, and then ignore this eyebrow-raising piece of TV. As in This Side of Paradise, Spock falls in love thanks to a chemical agent, and Kirk fights every way he can to stop this. Can we interpret his anger as anything but jealously, at least for Spock's attention? Lines like " Can't you keep your hands off her?" don't leave much room for doubt. And " Let's get a few things straightened out" might be a poor choice of terms. Now, Mudd states the drug promotes "friendship" between males... what were Kirk and Spock before, if not best friends? We digress. If this is supposed to be a comedy, it's no more or less funny than much of TAS. The potion is stretching plausibility without becoming whacky. Nurse Chapel remains a dolt, but at least keeps in character by not accepting Spock's forced affections. The crew must now be adept at "spaced out": Scotty hums, McCoy gets super-Southern. This is a fun diversion, especially for the slash segment of fans, but fleeting.
Spock Saves the Day: Spock helps apprehend Mudd and rescues his dear Christine from some rock monsters.
Oops: This might be the most dignified incarnation of "altered" Spock. But it's still a rather embarrassing affair.
Developments: This Spock, all lovey-dovey, is much more gentle than in any TOS episode when his emotions are stirred. But it is notable that Kirk and McCoy at no point oppose his will, hinting that there will be trouble if they do. Spock has no need to get angry, therefore. He also has no reflections after the incident, perhaps considering it unimportant. He acts out of character for such arbitrary reasons that it signifies nothing.