FWIW, the TOS McCoy-Kirk vibe always seemed more like big brother/little brother than father/son to me.
I’ve mentioned this in a previous Star Trek thread, but I see no reason why Data, Lore, B4, and (for a brief period of time) Lal were so damn unique.
They had crazy-ass positronic brains that almost perfectly simulated a human brain (and in several regards surpassed human brains.) All other attempts failed, it seems, though I don’t know exactly why. However, the holodeck has shown us time and time again that programming advanced AI, capable of intense thought, problem solving, and even emotions are well within the level of half the damn crew! So why not build a robot shell, and just put a small computer uploaded with a programmed AI from the holodeck?
Perhaps - but he backed down right after that.
I’m coming at this from the perspective of seeing TOS when it originally aired, without the buildup of the knowledge about the Trek universe after. I’m not saying that Earth was more advanced, since Vulcan’s ancient star traveling culture did come up at times. It is more that humans had this sense of inherent superiority. You’d think that there would be Vulcans all over Earth at the time. There are plenty of cultures on Earth with people most of us have never met yet are familiar with. It’s a nitpick, but that’s what this thread is all about, right?
There weren’t a lot of such meetings in 1966. But two things: first, the actual person in charge, Kirk, clearly was on top of the situation, and Spock is no doubt aware that personnel matters need uniform treatment. Lines of command are not clear in TOS. Spock is in charge when he has the bridge, and he seems to be in charge of the Science section as chief Science officer, but I don’t remember him often if ever giving commands on his own otherwise. How much of a human’s reaction to this kind of thing is emotional? Stiles is still doing his job even while being a jerk, and Spock makes a point of agreeing with him about the need to attack. He is clearly mission focused.
I don’t buy this. A guy with such a high level rank has gotten around, and Vulcan is clearly important to the Federation, as seen by Sarek’s influence.
Fascinating. You’d think that Spock would be interested in anything with such a probabilistic element. He didn’t stay in the lab during all his time in the Academy - he knew the meaning of the bit of Academy slang the Admiral called Kirk in The Ultimate Computer after all. He also was on Pike’s ship, and Pike seems the kind of guy to play poker.
Re McCoy’s daughter: IMS, Kelley said in an interview that his “daughter” was supposed to come aboard on a show and Kirk was supposed to “be attracted” to her, w/o knowing who she was (or maybe he would know), and there would have been scenes about Dad Bones vs Hound Kirk. I wish it had gotten on film!
I have no problem with Spock refusing to be baited by Stiles. IMO, he was mission focused and whatever fallout would occur after the danger had passed. I see is as Spock refusing to engage in an emotional issue.
Also, perhaps it gives a slight bit of insight into the prejudice Spock faced every day. We all enjoy Bones needling Spock*, but if Spock were black and not Vulcan, and Bones mocked his features and abilities would it funny? Just a thought.
*the needling does differ in one aspect: Spock clearly has a superior intellect, so there is that element in the raillery.
Well, we can’t be sure that he’s gotten around. I’ve been on ative duty for 20 years and I’ve never been to Korea. Ever. I’ve been to Germany three times though. I have a facebook page full of german friends, but I don’t know much about Austria even after living on the German/Austrian border for years.
Decker may or may not know that Vulcans don’t bluff. The Constellation may have been on a similar 5 year mission like the Enterprise, and not had a lot of contact with federation planets.
Or hey, you could be right and Decker was just placating Spock in order to do what he did after their “talk”.
Theres no reason to think Spock would know much about Poker. We don’t know if Pike even played Poker. I doubt Spock was the kind of guy that other guys went to and said “Hey, we’re having a poker game in my quarters at 1900. Wanna join us?”.
No, he swiped a shutlecraft. 
Decker keeps futilely sending the Enterprise against the doomsday machine again and again, and Spock and the rest of the Bridge crew feel bound to follow his orders. Finally they reestablish contact with Kirk, who finds out what’s going on and says, “Spock, I’m giving you a direct order - relieve Commodore Decker immediately!” Spock steps over next to Decker in the center chair and that’s that. =Whew!= I remember, as a kid, having the strongest feeling of relief while watching that episode. I think I might even have cheered. 
The remastered version of “The Doomsday Machine” is excellent, BTW. See it if you get the chance.
I always felt the Constellation’s original battle with The Doomsday Machine would make an excellent film. We could see a very character driven story about how a competent commander was reduced to the wrecked shell of a man Kirk finds in auxiliary control. How Decker felt when his crew was begging for rescue as the planet they were on was being destroyed. Why did Decker send his crew down to the 3rd planet with a “planet killer” in the area? It seems like the stupidest thing he could have done, was there a good reason? The film could explore this issue. TOS reborn with a completely new aspect of an original episode.
Another nitpick ('cuz hey, why not?), the uniforms.
Starfleet used the red jacket uniforms from the movies for about 80 years, up until just before TNG started. Then they started changing the uniforms every couple years or so. Why did they get so much use out of that one uniform but not so much out of the ones before and after?
Despite that, I thought Captain Picard’s smoking jacket was awesome. I love that thing so much I want to spoon with it.
Some admiral finally noticed that Starfleet’s Uniform Design Bureau had been collecting paychecks for 80 years despite doing no work whatsoever. When they found out their whole department was about to be shitcanned they started pumping out uniforms every couple of years, whether a change was needed or not.
I’m not sure I want to know what that means.
My Mother made clothes for my GI Joes that fit that badly…
The uniform changes always bugged me. Lets be honest, they were just to sell more stuff. Though my favorite is the Voyager style jumpsuit.
I liked the NX-01 coveralls, but is a uni that requires you to disrobe to go pee? Not so great when on duty.
Oh yeah, right, Enterprise. We saw more of Archer in his underwear than Picard in his fetching jacket, thats fer damn sure.
The red jackets with trim determined by department lasted 80 imaginary years because they look like a million bucks. The uniforms used in subsequent TV shows kept changing because they do not look like a million bucks.
No, that was after the second time Spock knocked him down. And don’t get me going on how William Windom could take out a beefy security guard. The first time Spock told Decker that if he continued to attack he’d be insane, and thus could be relieved.
The Doomsday Machine might be my favorite episode ever - it had some of the best music, it had a great space battle (for the time,) it had great lines, and it had a Kirk who was clearly a great Captain, not just a pretty face, being ready and able to help fix the screen himself and do miracles with the helm.
I’d go see a movie in a second.
In the Star Trek wiki, it mentioned how the TNG season 1 uniforms were so uncomfortable because of the tightness and material. So I can understand wanting to update them and I thought the two piece season 2 unis looked better anyhow.
But then only the main characters had the updated outfits for a while and all the background characters and extras had last year’s fashions. Sure you could explain that by saying that the command staff was issued it first or whatever because they’re the command staff and they get it first. But that’s kind of like saying that the fire chief gets bunker gear first because he’s the fire chief. He’s not the one running into a burning building.
Well you can also say that the older style uniforms hadn’t been completely phased out. When the army went from BDUs (the old green camo uniform) to ACUs there was a grace period where you could still where the old ones. As a matter of fact I wore BDUs up until the last possible day they were allowed. Its a bit of a fanwank, but it does have basis in RL. There have been a lot of uniform changes in the years I’ve been in, though non-military folks probably would never notice…and each time theres a grace period. So I can imagine SF command saying “ALCON: All personnel are required to wear the new SFUv3a by Stardate 45683.4.” or something like that.
Here’s a thought that has bothered me for a long time. (since TNG aired, really)
Families on Starships. Its stupid. I don’t buy all of the “Wanting to be close to our children and spouses” and “it makes us stronger” BS. It was a dumb idea, and it really looks so stupid on screen I can scarcely believe that someone thought it was a good idea. Am I alone in this?
No-- I see no reason to have families on a starship, no matter how “practical” or “realistic” it is supposed to be.