Amok Time is so important to me as an aspec person because not only does it explore compulsory heterosexuality, but compulsory sexuality, full stop. Spock describes his logic—which he identifies with on the deepest level—as being ripped away from him. His very sense of self is being violated by these sexual urges. This is something I’ve had to reconcile with myself as well, as someone who identified as ace for so long, but occasionally does experience sexual attraction. It can feel like losing your identity, your logical sanity.
Spock says he hoped he would be spared having to go through Pon Farr. Interestingly, he doesn’t imply this would be because he’s half human. I think Spock genuinely thought his lack of interest in sex with women, and sex in general, would prevent him from experiencing this compulsion. He really thought he could logic his way out. I feel that, buddy.
Theodore Sturgeon probably had no intention of creating this kind of relatability when he wrote the episode, but that’s the power of queer characters. The queer is gonna jump out whether you want it to or not.
