The Fandom that's Eating My Brain, Stardate 20-Whatever

[jedibuttercup]

I watched a TOS episode at lunch today: 1.05, "The Enemy Within". It's... really disconcerting, I've found, watching these episodes back now in order, with all the weight of all the Trek I've watched since the last time I looked at the original series, all the novels I've collected, all eleven movies, backed up in my head sparking things at me as I watch. Like my experience with XI in reverse, actually. Weird, watching Shatner play good and evil Kirks, unable to stop myself from reading into the situation insights from all the things that happened in the Trekverse after, imagining where the division of Pine's Kirk might differ. And where it wouldn't.

Also: came across an essay this morning suggesting that Kirk might have some sort of empathic ability; the essay's geared toward a logical (and slashy) explanation of the craziness of "Amok Time", but includes a fascinating amount of other analysis from other episodes that makes me believe he easily could have some kind of non-telepathic ESP. The author isn't the first person I've seen advance that theory, either. So of course I can't help but read that into the episodes I'm watching too; and you know what, it does seem more plausible than otherwise, if never actually admitted. Fascinating.

Also: damn, there's some excellent fanwork coming out of the Reboot. I'll have to assemble a recs list at some point with my favorites. I've stuck my toe in the pool myself (obvs.) and got some excellent reviews and feedback, but I'm positively shallow compared to some of these people, and it's just a bit... well. Seven years writing fic, more than half a million words, and I still feel like an intimidated newbie sometimes. *shakes self* That said: more Pike fic this weekend, I swear, and a Spock-POV conversation with Kirk immediately post-XI movie. I just-- I'm going to see it one last time before I post anything else, I think, to clear my head and regrasp my own interpretation of the characters.
~

Comments

[flyingcarpet.livejournal.com]

I've been watching some TOS eps myself, really just dipping my toe in because I am coming at this fandom from the opposite perspective -- it's all brand new to me. :) :) But it's so fun to watch these old eps and to think about the differences between those characters and the ones in the new movie.

the concept of Kirk as an empath would make a great fic! You know, if someone wanted to write it. :D

[jedibuttercup]

> I've been watching some TOS eps myself, really just dipping my toe in because I am coming at this fandom from the opposite perspective -- it's all brand new to me. :) :) But it's so fun to watch these old eps and to think about the differences between those characters and the ones in the new movie.

I know! These old characters are old friends of mine, but I'm seeing them in whole new ways through the lens of their new portrayals, and it's amazing how faithful they were to TOS while still forging off into their own direction. You can tell that movie really was a labor of love.

> the concept of Kirk as an empath would make a great fic! You know, if someone wanted to write it. :D

I'm probably going to be busy writing fill-in-the-gap scenes for awhile, but maybe. Eventually. *grin*