Comments on: Nyota Uhura: Date Rapist?

By: Matthew Wrather

Matthew Wrather — Sat, 30 May 2009 14:56:12 +0000

I don’t know… he was dressed pretty sexy.

By: mlawski

mlawski — Sat, 30 May 2009 12:53:07 +0000

Having rewatched the film last night, I should offer some concessions. The scene was significantly less date-rapey than I had recalled, but less because of Uhura’s actions (which were still SLIGHTLY too sexy for the occasion) and more because of Spock’s reaction. Upon rewatch, he clearly wanted some Uhura comfort in the turbolift. And who are we to blame him?

So I’m crying uncle. You win. I give up my Overthinking card from now on. Until Monday’s article.

By: jeflee

jeflee — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:35:29 +0000

which you said all above, yes. i’m sleepy.

By: jeflee

jeflee — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:32:11 +0000

uhm. didn’t the kiss scene elaborate on the earlier spock/uhura interaction where spock says he assigned her to a different ship to avoid the appearance of favortism? <—-that scene originally gave me pause because it was highly illogical for spock to care about stupid fleet gossip. but the kiss scene shows us that they were having a relationship, hence why spock would go out of his way to avoid appearing affectionate toward uhura. so no, no sexual harassment in that kissing scene at all. just a lot of emotion and character.

By: Gab

Gab — Wed, 27 May 2009 04:49:28 +0000

I agree that there is a double-standard, but I disagree that she was taking advantage or being intentionally sexual. I lean with a couple other commenters, that she was just trying to comfort the part of him she knew needed comforting by using something humans (often) need: physical, intimate contact. Her status as his lover (or at least girlfriend) made the kind she was capable of giving different than, say, a sister or friend (without benefits), but that doesn’t mean she was doing it because she wanted to do *him*.

By: cornflakes

cornflakes — Tue, 26 May 2009 13:38:34 +0000

@ lizzy
I’m not sure mlawksi accused Uhura of acting like a whore. >.< The observation was that if Uhura had been male and Spock female, many people would have been up in arms faster than you can say ‘sexual harrassment’.

The fact that this scene has passed largely without comment is, imo, indicative that a double standard exists.

By: lizzy

lizzy — Mon, 25 May 2009 14:47:27 +0000

Oh boy, were you UNDER-thinking it.

Dry kisses and a hug WITH TEARS are not inappropriate for two people in a relationship. Especially when one has lost his mother and planet.

It’s your mind going in the gutter with this scene or you’ve never been in a real relationship. Because that was very normal for one.

I swear people act like she offered him a blow-job or something.

Her significant other was hurt. She would’ve been a mighty cold person to not offer some kind of emotional support. And dry kisses, a hug, and some tears are not out of line.

Strange that there are so many sources criticizing Uhura for molestation, acting like a “whore” etc.

And I have yet to fin any about Kirk (who sleeps with anything with a pulse) or Spock, who was in the position of authority here.

Your sexism is showing.

By: Tomomi

Tomomi — Tue, 19 May 2009 03:28:43 +0000

I love brooding men in a world with a strict social hierarchy :) (Darcy in space. mmmm…)

I am in no way a Trekkie and have no real background on Star Trek at all except for this movie, but I gotta disagree with your molestation comment here.

I’m not sure if I’d classify her smooches as sexy. It felt more compassionate to me. If they had been more sexy, wouldn’t they have zoomed in on the kissing? Wouldn’t they have lingered on the kiss instead of cutting away quickly to focus on Spock’s face and his emotional reaction (as he buries his face into her neck)?

Now that gesture right there tells me that there had to have been some hanky panky going on prior to this encounter. If there had been nothing between them prior to this incidence, wouldn’t the logical Spock – her teacher!! – stopped her advances? Also, the other scene between them (right before they beam to Nero’s ship) is far more affectionate and tender. The fact that they interact this way more than once, and also Spock’s wanting to tell Kirk to tell Uhura his feelings if Spock doesn’t make it, seems to suggest there’s more than a flirtation.

Also, from a character development standpoint, this scene was totally crucial. Without slowly building on Spock’s emotional capacity, I wonder to what degree his meltdown scene would have been as convincing.

But man, I’m happy they put Uhura with Spock. Brooding men always need that more aggressive and spunky lady to match them. I heart the new Spock! :)

By: mkd

mkd — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:11:30 +0000

First: Loved new Trek. Unless someone can prove otherwise, it is now the 2nd best Star Trek movie of all time.

That said, from the minute Uhura showed up in the bar I knew we were in for trouble on the whole just HAPPENING to run into people front.

By: mlawski

mlawski — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:41:39 +0000

@Oolt: Glad you liked the article. Now I must counter attack. En garde!

Scotty was not just a random guy. He’s Scotty! The fact that Kirk and Old Spock ran into him proved that the universe/space-time continuum/fate was somehow conspiring to have the original Enterprise crew come together in this alternate continuity. Even Old Spock was like, “Scotty’s here? Well, that’s weird.”

I like your arguments about Uhura but also have to disagree with them, if only because I thought her smooching much sexier than it needed to be for the occasion. Of course, that’s probably due to the screenwriters’ and J.J. Abrams’ desire to play up Uhura’s sexiness and thus get audiences all tingly in their netherparts.

Thanks for the Overthinking!