#st:tvh

[youandthemountains]

omg sick star trek: the voyage home reference

[frogayyyy]

@prettylittlelifeforms your tags inspired me

[himbo-kirk]

THANKS FOR 500!!! Icons for you and your husband while you go back in time looking for whales. Free to use (with credit)!!!!

[frogayyyy]

idk i can’t think of any glaringly obvious parallels here can you?

[picturelyuniverse]

he looks at him like he holds his whole damn universe (he is his whole universe) - part 2

So, the previous post (Part 1) left off at Kirk and Spock disagreeing on whether they like Italian and bickering like an old married couple in front of Gillian. I was kind of disappointed that we don’t get to see the three of them having a meal together (and having more old married couple shenanigans) but that’s alright, because we get this little gem here: 

Like honestly, Gillian’s question is pretty legit from an outsider POV; after all, which sane person would go swimming with whales in an aquarium tank in booty shorts in plain sight of everyone? Kirk’s expression, on first look, may seem like just an instinctive angry response to anyone calling Spock “that ditzy guy”. The unfocused gaze and the slight downward turn of his mouth, however, belie the fact that he is actually forcibly reminded (yet again) of how far Spock is from the man he once was.

And more angst up ahead! In one of the few rare moments on-screen, Kirk is visibly angered by his Vulcan Spock, so much so that he actually swears (at him) when Spock appears to be unaffected by the fact that the failure of their mission would mean the “end of every life on Earth”. Throughout the TOS TV series, we see that Kirk is one of the only few individuals who actually understands and accepts Spock for who he is, and is also instrumental in Spock learning to reconcile his Vulcan and Human sides. Kirk’s frustration here manifests itself at the fact that the half-Vulcan he has grown to know and love seems to have reverted to Super Vulcan™ mode, without a hint of the humanity and the compassion that makes him Spock. 

Can I just say that this exchange has a very similar energy to when two parents are fighting? And after Kirk storms off, Scotty and McCoy in the background be like: oh no Mom and Dad are fighting?! 

Later on, when Spock agrees with McCoy that they should go back and rescue Chekov, the look of Love™ and Wonder™ that transforms Kirk’s face is frankly just unbelievable; actually, what’s unbelievable is how viewers can see Shatner make that same face over and over again, specifically in relation to Spock, and NOT accept that it is a possibility that the two of them are (madly) in love with each other. 

Next on “Spock re-embraces his human side and Kirk is absolutely besotted”, Spock uses human vernacular and Kirk is automatically warp-speed ahead on flirting/teasing mode. 

Like look at that mock-furrowed brow and that slight smirk curling the edges of his lips. Tell me that is not the look of a man hell-bent on teasing the hell out of his SO XO. 

Meanwhile, Spock is still not 100% back yet and he be like: Please Jim… I am trying… Please do not…

Just look at Kirk’s gleeful grin, and the way his eyes crinkle with actual happiness when he looks at Spock! No doubt he’s feeling more hopeful than ever that Spock will find his way back to himself (and to him). Also, considering how much Kirk relies on Spock e.g. emotionally (see, how questioning Spock on things he’s already decided on gives Kirk “emotional security”), this is a pretty big turning point for Kirk because not only does he have his Science Officer back, he now has THE source of (emotional) support back, and that must be the most amazing feeling in the world after feeling so goddamn lost after Spock’s death. They were the Dream Team™, and they will beat nigh impossible odds again. Together. 

Somewhat tangentially relevant: later, in the heat of danger, Kirk tells Spock to “see to the safety of all hands” and dashes off without a second glance; I think it’s little moments and throwaway lines like these that give us a glimpse into the depth of the trust between these two men. 

And now, here’s a pretty self-explanatory shot of the two of them holding onto each other and smiling like there’s no tomorrow. (Honestly, when I first saw this scene and the one where Kirk gives Spock a full-body hug as he body-throws him into the sea as gifs on Tumblr prior to watching the movie myself, I thought they were from bloopers/behind-the-scene shots?! Because it’s just so damn adorable and too cute to be true.)

While that was my favourite scene (both with regard to Spirk and the lovely bridge crew) of the whole movie (because of its pure, unadulterated fluff/cuteness), I must say that this subsequent part, this quiet exchange of gazes, is vastly underrated, and comes in a close second. For a moment, it’s as thought the anguish and loss of TWoK never happened, and they are but two old friends, two halves of a whole, settling comfortably against each other. Here, we have Kirk’s barely discernable smile, and his soulful stare; Spock’s steady, unwavering gaze, an almost tangible source of support.

I’ve always wondered, what’s going through Kirk’s mind to garner such an expression (below) when he watches Spock go to his father? My brain instantly hits me with meme-worthy stuff like: 

Jim: act like a worthy son-in law 

Jim to Jim: gape at your father-in-law, ogle at his son’s ass 

In retrospect, I think this is Kirk once again realising that he’s gone so far beyond what he set out to do at first, when Sarek approached him to talk about retrieving and putting to rest Spock’s katra in The Search for Spock. And that maybe, just maybe, Spock is really home, in both body, mind and soul.

And then we get a wide shot of the whole courtroom, the practically EMPTY courtroom, I might add. The way Kirk leans his weight on one foot, canting his hip to the side, as he waits for Spock is just precious. It feels a lot like when you’re waiting shyly for your crush to finish talking to someone.  

This scene later when Kirk automatically falls in step with Spock, with Spock not even batting an eyelash, like it’s the most natural thing for them to be by each other’s side, however, overrides the “waiting for crush” vibes with “married for many decades with adopted children and grandchildren and two dogs” vibes immediately. 

And finally, when the whole Family is back on the bridge, we are blessed with one last shot of Kirk gazing (unnecessarily) at Spock, just as he used to back in the old days. 

And that is how we know that all is well again. 

[picturelyuniverse]

he looks at him like he holds his whole damn universe (he is his whole universe) - part 1

For purely scientific reasons, I will now endeavour to compile a set of photos detailing Jim’s Gaze of Love™ directed at *drumrolls please* Spock  throughout the course of just one movie, ST: The Voyage Home (mostly also because if I were to include the original TV series and other movies, this post would probably implode): 

And so, barely 10 minutes into the movie, we see Jim gazing into the distance with Longing™ in his eyes; now, what could be so arresting about the Vulcan landscape that could have captured his heart and soul attention?

Well, I wonder who that robed figure in the distance could be?! (Can I just say that this is some epic level Romantic™ shit?)

Anyway, not even 10 minutes later, we get this cute little exchange, with Kirk looking at Spock as if seeing him and falling for him all over again for the first time. (Also, imo, it kind of mirrors the exchange somewhere at the start of TWoK, when Kirk is requesting Captain Spock’s permission to come aboard the Enterprise; it’s an adorable little nod to that, that’s all I’m saying) 

Also, because the movie has obviously been too happy/fluffy thus far, we are ambushed with Kirk’s Hurt Look™ (that we will soon be well-acquainted with as the movie progresses) when Spock calls him “Admiral” and Jim reminds him that he usually calls him Jim. 

And can I just say that it hurts evens more that Kirk is trying so hard to smile for him even when the fact that Spock doesn’t call him by his first name anymore is definitely tearing him up inside? Like he probably thinks himself lucky that he has Spock back alive but he still misses Spock so damn much.

And Kirk’s Look of Longing™ and Soft Wonder™ continues to strike us in our faces, like honestly, man, looking at Spock like he hung the moon when he just uttered a single word? Imo, even as Kirk rejoices at the little bits and pieces of himself that Spock is slowly but surely regaining, I’d like to think that part of him is falling for these little things that make Spock so Spock all over again.

His yearning for Spock to remember everything that they were to each other again is very apparent because as seen below, Kirk clearly has no doubt about the technical details (of science, history, Starfleet duties etc) that Spock has regained memory of because Spock has proven that he does indeed remember the cold, hard facts. That little smile in the shot below, though, is so wistful it hurts because while Kirk is glad that Spock is remembering, he’s hurting because Spock isn’t remembering. 

I am constantly amazed by how much love and fondness Shatner injected into his smile when he’s acting as Kirk looking at Spock. Behold, Kirk’s gaze overflowing with Love™ as he watches Spock tie that cute little headband around his forehead and his ears. 

If that isn’t the mark of a man in love, I don’t know what is. And like, even though sometimes he’s said to be ham-fisted in his delivery (see, scenes in TOS), I think he deserves a lot more kudos for his many minute micro-expressions, notably when it comes to Spock. Like, c’mon, between these two expressions (above and below), it sufficiently conveys all the loss, yearning, guilt Kirk is struggling with, even as he’s still head over heels for Spock.

Okay, the next one is more of just a display of the adorable rapport between them, and like how they are kindred spirits because they are both literally such Parents™ (and like I am so going to do another post on this real soon because Kirk and Spock give off such Team Dad/Team Mom vibes in this movie). I mean, yelling at the punk on the bus to lower the music is basically the equivalent of old dude yelling at kids to get off his lawn, right? (Except Kirk will probably invite them in for some homemade food prepared by his husband) 

How many minutes have passed since Kirk just reminded Spock about calling him Jim? Hmm. Also, somehow my brain dragged up the line (”you used to call me on my cellphone…”) from Hotline Bling as this scene came on; don’t ask me why. Sound like some (jilted) lover shit going on yet? 

And the best bit yet aka Kirk’s face when he sees Spock taking a dip in the aquarium tank to swim with the whales in booty shorts: 

Like is that the look of a man being really horrified or being really turned on (or both)? We’ll ever know. 

Tag yourselves, I’m that woman in the red headscarf, looking utterly entranced. Probably not just because of the whales. Also Kirk’s hand at his mouth is simultaneously adorable and amusing.

And then, the infamous “do you guys like Italian” scene. Makes me wonder about whether Kirk ever took Spock out on a date to an Italian restaurant, really. Maybe Kirk’s appalled that Spock forgot about it (and possibly how much he liked Italian)? 

Anyway, Italian seems like a sweet place to end so more of this in Part 2!

[picturelyuniverse]

the voyage home

st: tvh is the most wholesome movie ever and no one will convince me otherwise bc:

kirk basically looks at spock with stars in his eyes throughout the movie

spock being so confused but trying so hard

spock and kirk automatically being the Team Mom(tm) and Team Dad(tm) of the crew

mccoy being the sweetest grumpy doc ever (and is so flabbergasted at 20th century medicine he wants to help everyone dammit)

sulu being such a navigational nerd???

uhura being sassy and badass like what a goddess (but what's new amirite ;))

chekov being all "innocent" when interrogated and naming "admiral" as his rank when he gains consciousness

scotty's "there be whales here" said with such breathless wonder

gillian the huge whale nerd with the megawatt smile

whales. and gorgeous whale song. saving. the. day!!!!

kirk practically giving spock a full-body hug when he tries to pull him into the water with him (and spock's shy little smile?!)

everyone cheering for the enterprise crew when the verdict is announced

gillian going to be assigned to a science vessel!!!!

kirk waiting for spock to finish speaking to his father in the empty courtroom like it's the most natural thing ever

"my friends... we've come home"

(feel free to add onto this list bc honestly my love for tvh knows no bounds!!!)

[maggiemae873]

I avoid most time travel movies due to second hand embarrassment...why am I watching Star Trek: The Voyage Home...why....ugh