Was TOS S/Mc sexual tension intentional?

[zerrah]

So Kirk/McCoy is my otp, hands down, but after watching TOS episodes I've really started liking Spock/McCoy as a pairing. This could just be that Nimoy/Kelley and Urban/Pine have great chemistry, but there is something more I pick up from Kelley, especially in later episodes in TOS

Comments

[lindmere]

hmmm... maybe you're right. I know that, since coming to Ireland, men are much more affectionate and touchy-feely here, and it's easy to make assumptions because I'm not used to that in the States. I kinda wonder if it was that way in the 60's, if men were more openly affectionate with their male friends, or felt more comfortable doing so.

I think that's very much the case. I've been meaning to write a post about why I think the '60s and '70s were the golden age for slash. First, the country was coming out of the repressed '50s and realizing that being sensitive to the feelings of others could actually be a sign of a good, ethical person. Then there was the conviction of TV writers that female viewers would hate it if the hero had a long-term love interest. That meant that all of the emotional connections had to be between the male protagonists. That lasted well into the '80s, until shows started featuring female professionals in decent numbers.

There followed the dark days of homophobia, when guy friends would sit a seat apart in movie theaters so strangers wouldn't think they were queer. I think we've finally turned the corner on that one--"bromance" is all the rage, an there are shows like Torchwood and Supernatural that openly explore slash themes. And that, kids, is your slash history lesson for today :) !

[zerrah]

That's REALLY interesting. I had no idea that was the intention of TV writers, although it makes sense; I know that I, at least, follow episodes religiously if I'm interested in a particular pairing that almost but not quite get together or have unrequited love, but sometimes lose interest if they actual start a relationship (Lois & Clark, etc.) So they DID have at least part of it right.

I'm sure it didn't help that ST had an almost entirely male star cast. lol Rand was Kirk's only constant potential love interest, and she left the series early on. Chapel seemed on the fringes with her unrequited love for Spock, and I wonder if Roddenberry wanted to keep it that way. ; ) I think they might have explored romantic themes with Uhura (there was flirting between Uhura and Spock in earlier episodes) but unfortunately, the 60's still had a lot of racial taboos in film and television. : (

Bromance is here, and don't forget man-crush! Pine admitted to having one for Urban. ; ) Strangely, homosexuality seems more open and accepted in Europe; I was watching a British soap opera with my roommates and they didn't even bat an eye when two of the guys on the show started making out. And Ireland is still pretty religious, mind you.

I hope you do write that! Golden Age of slash. heh