# Do Romulans undergo pon farr? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036 "2008-12-29T04:23:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/1 "2008-12-29T04:23:23Z")
Do Romulans undergo pon farr like Vulcans (after all Romulans _are_ Vulcans afterall)? Or is pon farr a side effect of Vulcans repressing their emotions all the time? If so then pon farr would’ve been unknow before the time of Surak and Vulcans who reject Surak and don’t supress their emotions (like Sybok or that Vulcan group on Enterprise) wouldn’t expriance pon farr at all. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/2 "2008-12-29T04:41:23Z")
Romulans have sex all they want, and so are presumably immune from the effects of galactic blueballs. In any case, there’s never been any canonical mention of Romulans with regard to pon farr. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/3 "2008-12-29T04:51:14Z")
Presumably not, but young Spock in _Star Trek III_ underwent pon farr, which would indicate there’s more to it than just suppression of emotion. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/4 "2008-12-29T17:44:54Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > Presumably not, but young Spock in _Star Trek III_ underwent pon farr, which would indicate there’s more to it than just suppression of emotion. And fortunately he was in the company of a half-Romulan, so the fact that it wasn’t her time of the decade didn’t come up. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/5 "2008-12-29T17:58:37Z")
I always presumed not. The Romulans feel and savor their emotions to the fullest, it seems. If I had to fanwank (oh, all right, if you insist), I’d say the young Spock underwent _pon farr_ on the Genesis planet because his people have so fully internalized their emotional controls over such a long period that it’s become physiologically ingrained. Or Saavik had already instructed him in emotional control a few minutes earlier, as he rapidly aged, so that _pon farr_ followed “naturally.” Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/6 "2008-12-29T18:45:44Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I always presumed not. The Romulans feel and savor their emotions to the fullest, it seems. If I had to fanwank (oh, all right, if you insist), I’d say the young Spock underwent _pon farr_ on the Genesis planet because his people have so fully internalized their emotional controls over such a long period that it’s become physiologically ingrained. > > Or Saavik had already instructed him in emotional control a few minutes earlier, as he rapidly aged, so that _pon farr_ followed “naturally.” > > Or something. The important thing is–did Saavik do him, or not? Assuming they did do the need, what exact deed was done? Was a simple handjob sufficient, or perhaps a brief oral intervention, or was the full-bore, down and dirty, who’s-your-daddy, beast with-two-backs involved? Did she stay behind on Vulcan in Trek IV because she had a little green-blooded bun in the oven? ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/7 "2008-12-29T18:52:22Z")
I’d like to think that she simply mind-melded him into submission. As for _Star Trek IV_, [the writers supposedly did intend for her to be pregnant when she stayed behind on Vulcan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saavik). This storyline never made it into the final script, though. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/8 "2008-12-29T18:58:01Z")
I know all about the fanon and the first-draft-never-filmed stuff about Saavik. :: shrugs :: Personally, I presume they had sexual intercourse but not necessarily that she got pregnant as a result. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/9 "2008-12-29T19:01:59Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I know all about the fanon and the first-draft-never-filmed stuff about Saavik. :: shrugs :: Personally, I presume they had sexual intercourse but not necessarily that she got pregnant as a result. I’m sorry, can you phrase your answer with a little more silliness, as befits the inanity of the question you’re answering? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/10 "2008-12-29T19:17:06Z")
But, was that actually the young Spock on the Genesis Planet, or a blank slate? In TWOK, Spock had placed his katra inside McCoy’s mind, with the intent that McCoy would take it to Mount Selaya to be placed in the Hall of Ancient Thought. So, the young Spock was physically Spock, but had none of Spock’s intellect, his memories, or anything that made him the half-Vulcan/half-human that sacrificed himself for the ship and his friends. He was not the same Spock that was bonded with T’Pring at an early age. Presumably unbonded Vulcans were not subject to pon farr. Once T’pring had broken the bond with Spock in “Amok Time,” did he ever experience another pon farr? ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/11 "2008-12-29T19:19:46Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > But, was that actually the young Spock on the Genesis Planet, or a blank slate? In TWOK, Spock had placed his katra inside McCoy’s mind, with the intent that McCoy would take it to Mount Selaya to be placed in the Hall of Ancient Thought. So, the young Spock was physically Spock, but had none of Spock’s intellect, his memories, or anything that made him the half-Vulcan/half-human that sacrificed himself for the ship and his friends. He was not the same Spock that was bonded with T’Pring at an early age. Presumably unbonded Vulcans were not subject to pon farr. Once T’pring had broken the bond with Spock in “Amok Time,” did he ever experience another pon farr? But of course. How else do you explain Kirk’s growing… no. I just can’t do it. One of you guys will have to do it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/12 "2008-12-29T19:25:18Z")
Trying to keep as much in canon as possible, Romulans are responsive to some extent with the finger-touching sensuality of Vulcans, as shown by the hornification of the Romulan Commander (Joanne Linville) in _The Enterprise Incident_. They’re not otherwise familiar with more elaborate skills, hence being fooled by the fictitious “Vulcan death grip.” All I know is if the Romulan played by Dina Meyer ever needs satisfying, I will go to town on her to the very limit of my abilities. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/13 "2008-12-29T20:18:35Z")
Slight hijack for fans of both ST and comic books: Anybody else happen to notice the similarity between the Vulcan/Romulan split and the split between the Guardians of the Universe (the little blue guys who founded the Green Lanterns) and the Zamorians (who produced Star Sapphire)? Vulcans/Guardians: Complete emotional suppression/control Romulans/Zamorians: Giving free reign to emotion In both cases, the two opposing groups were once united. I’m not saying one copied the other; this kind of divide goes all the way back to Greek mythology with Apollo and Dionysius. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/14 "2008-12-29T20:28:29Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > the hornification of the Romulan Commander I have been seeking that term for years… ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/15 "2008-12-29T20:49:51Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Anybody else happen to notice the similarity between the Vulcan/Romulan split and the split between the Guardians of the Universe (the little blue guys who founded the Green Lanterns) and the Zamorians (who produced Star Sapphire)? Also note the similarity between how incredibly obtuse the Guardians are in dealing with the GL Corps, and how boneheaded the Vulcans were in dealing with the Federation in ST: Enterprise. Meanwhile, there’s that hornified Romulan Commander in TOS who goes after Spock much like Star Sapphire goes after GL. Fascinating. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-romulans-undergo-pon-farr/479036/16 "2008-12-29T21:08:23Z")
I figure there’s no reason why the Romulans shouldn’t also experience _pon farr_, unless they got rid of it via eugenics at the same time they gave themselves those big Alabama foreheads. I tend to doubt it though. Since they rejected the rigorous philosophy of rationality and emotional control that made _pon farr_ such a big damn deal to the Vulcans, they may well regard the cycle with greater equanimity. To Romulans, it’s probably just another excuse for an orgy. No doubt the old “pon farr” ruse is a hoary and venerable tradition among Romulan adolescents on dates.