Is it heresy to say “Amok Time” might have had more impact if circumstances were that T’Pring chose Pike to fight Spock? We know that Spock served with Pike for more than 11 years, and it’s developing that T’Pring and Pike are fairly well acquainted, even friendly – at least they are on a first name basis.
Well, it wouldn’t have at the time, because in the show, Spock and Kirk were best friends, and we didn’t know anything about Pike. Even if you had seen “The Cage” or “The Menagerie,” Pike is hardly a character and the Pike-Spock friendship was not something we had experienced.
The champion did not matter - it wasn’t about hurting Spock (or kirk, perse) as much as it was T’pring desiring another man altogether -
T’Pring reveals that she did not want to be the “consort of a legend,” as Spock had become to his people, and instead desired Stonn. She chose Kirk as her champion since every outcome she calculated was advantageous to her: if the human won, Kirk would not wish keep her as his bride, while if Spock won he would probably release her because she had challenged the marriage, and even if he kept her he would quickly return to space. In all cases, T’Pring would be free to have Stonn. Complimenting her logic, Spock relinquishes T’Pring to Stonn, but advises him that " having is not so pleasing a thing as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true. "
I understand and agree. I’m fannishly thinking about what we’re learning now about Pike and Spock’s friendship – hinted at in TOS because Spock was willing to risk the death penalty for Pike.
Agreed. I’m just speculating that if SNW goes on for several more years and we see even more of these relationships develop, the impact on us as viewers might hit harder. In “Amok Time,” we didn’t know anything about T’Pring, which kind of left us thinking of her as just cold and calculating. But now we’re seeing her relationship with “Chris.” Would it be even colder of her to point at Pike and say “I choose him” to achieve her desired outcome?
Such a human point of view. The way it works is, her Vulcan blood burns and her heart flames for another man, and she has a flawlessly logical plan to get what she wants. And if it seems cold that she would sacrifice Kirk or Pike or Spock himself, well, real Vulcans don’t mess around.
Well, now I’m thinking T’Pring’s work colleague should have been Stonn. (Too much fanservice?)
Should have been the guy she was trying to capture/re-educate/reform
Love it
As I posted in another thread, I like the actress who plays Nurse Chapel on SNW, but it would be a stone riot for Rebecca Romijn to play Number One and Chapel (maybe strange glances from the crew, maybe not.)
T’Pau: “Pike…you are an off-worlder…you are not bound to accept. Do you answer no?”
Pike: Beeeep-beeep
T’Pau: “…sooo…”
Now that’s funny.
That would be amusing and consistent. 
Stuck in a box is more like it, if memory serves.
Beeeep!
Well, I’m glad Spock doesn’t hijack the Enterprise in The Menagerie and take Pike here as he beeps “no” all the way. These people are monsters.
This episode really should have had an acknowledgement to Ursula K. Le Guin - they ripped off her story and set it in space.
Anson Mount is such a good actor. I love watching his face.
Whodathunk after fifty years Captain Pike could even hope to be in the running for best Star Trek lead?
Okay another solid episode. About cultural differences and moral and ethical choices. No episode has been like spectacular but just keep writing solid stores and characters and you’ll get there.
This was more Pike and M’Benga centered.
Last week’s episode was a lot of fun, especially the Spock-T’Pring story. Chapel was great in that one. I liked how they gave us more on Number some and La’an.
This one was back to Pike at the center. That’s fine I guess.
The one character I’m not really warming to is Uhura. She’s fine. I have no specific complaints but I just don’t feel delight in her featured scenes. She is competing with a LOT of charisma on this show though—Pike, Number One, Spock, Chapel, Garcias, even Hemmer. Even Pike’s and Spock’s romantic interests have had a lot of charisma. M’Benga is also solid.
Disney please note. When fans demand a something, this is how you give it to them.