I figured today should be a good day to rewatch The Corbomite Maneuver

- since this was the first episode produced after the two pilots, and it’s the first episode that introduces McCoy, and Sulu at the helm, Uhura, Rand etc., I consider it the true introduction to TOS, at least as far as I’m concerned lol

- me loves some Spock barking orders and acting like a good ship commander

- it’s fun how the first shot of Kirk is him being naked

- I absolutely love the first scene between Kirk and McCoy. It introduces McCoy really well, and it also shows the audience what kind of relationship McCoy and Kirk have, i.e. they’re close friends

BAILEY: Raising my voice back there doesn’t mean I was scared or couldn’t do my job. It means I happen to have a human thing called an adrenaline gland.
SPOCK: It does sound most inconvenient, however. Have you considered having it removed?
BAILEY: Very funny.
SULU: You try to cross brains with Spock, he’ll cut you to pieces every time.

lolol let Spock be an ass in fics please

“Have the department heads meet me on the Bridge.“ 
“Doctor McCoy is already perching on the railing, sir.” 

- ah, so this is where the “McCoy is the head of life sciences” comes from - which I guess explains why he would be called to the bridge

KIRK: Aren’t you the one who always says a little suffering is good for the soul?
MCCOY: I never say that.
(…)
KIRK: Doctor McCoy, I’ve heard you say that man is ultimately superior to any mechanical device.
MCCOY: No, I never say that, either.

Honestly, if you need a short ‘what do I need to know about Leonard McCoy’ course, this episode should be your go to episode lol

KIRK: When I find the headquarters genius that assigned me a female yeoman
MCCOY: What’s the matter, Jim. Don’t you trust yourself?
KIRK: I’ve already got a female to worry about. Her name’s the Enterprise.

Yeah, Jim, don’t you trust yourself? (I guess not considering the following episodes…)

I wish people didn’t forget that Jim thinks it’s a great idea to have a drink while his men are training~

(also I looked through the tag for this episode and it’s apparently wrong to eat salad leaves with your hands? Like, what’s wrong with it? Jim eating with his hands is completely normal in my world, especially since he isn’t thrilled.)

The look on McCoy’s face. (But I guess it can also be seen as concern for Bailey) In any case, the micro-expressions are great!

- oh yes, another episode that shows that it’s hard for Vulcans to improvise (which is then more explored in The Galileo Seven, and what also caused the Intrepid to die) and that shows how different Spock and Kirk are when it comes to command (not different as people, just different as commanders. In this I can accept that Spock and Kirk are different, even opposites, but not in anything else; on personal level they’re more similar than different and I’ll die on that hill)

- it’s probably very rare for Kirk to raise his voice at anyone on the bridge (because he needs to appear perfect), but especially raise his voice at McCoy (although it will get repeated a few more times in other episodes). Everyone’s like 👀👀 lol (but it also seems to catch McCoy off-guard a bit)

- the faces Spock and Scotty give Kirk though lol But I guess seeing them all poker-faced (but internally judging) made him think of poker

SPOCK: However, it was well played.

lmao Spock can’t be seen giving a praise or what? He got so awkward and started to talk about his father lol (I’m probably wrong, but it seems to me as if Spock actually considered the comparison a compliment)

- Kirk apologizing. McCoy apologizing. So wholesome. Their friendship is so good. (I love that this episode started a pattern.)

KIRK: What’s the mission of this vessel, Doctor? To seek out and contact alien life, and an opportunity to demonstrate what our high-sounding words mean. 

Yeah, you showed that very well in The Man Trap, didn’t you, Jim?

- this episode really does feel that it’s only about Kirk and everyone else, including Spock, is there to support him. It also lacks the trio dynamic, because Spock-McCoy doesn’t exist in this one, and there’s more focus on McCoy-Kirk talking and arguing directly; it’s interesting (a similar McCoy-Kirk argument thing is also in Dagger of the Mind, but it’s followed by a McCoy-Spock scene, so it isn’t so glaring).

- I wonder how does it feel to watch this as the 10th episode tbh (looking at the order it’s even after Miri and Dagger of the Mind. Doesn’t it feel out of place?)

- I really like this episode~