Do Lieutenant Uhura and Commander Spock Have a Love Interest in Star Trek: The Original Series?

Introduction

In the original Star Trek series, Lieutenant Uhura and Commander Spock do not have a romantic relationship. Their interactions are characterized by mutual respect and camaraderie. The series primarily focuses on the professional and friendship dynamics between the characters. While there are instances of flirtation or playful banter, especially in the episode "Charlie X," it is important to note that any romantic tension is minimal.

The Professional and Friendship Dynamics

Spock often serves as a logical counterpoint to Uhura's more emotional and human side, embodying the perfect blend of Vulcan logic and human empathy. Their professional and friendship dynamics are the central focus of the series, with Uhura working closely with Spock to interpret incoming data from the ship's computer sensors and communications systems.

Instances of Flirtation and Banter

One of the most notable instances of flirtation or playful banter is the song from the episode "Charlie X." In this episode, Uhura tries to flirt with Spock, but he dismisses her advances with a comment about Vulcan having no moon. However, it is essential to emphasize that this is a fan theory, and there is no direct canon evidence to support a romantic relationship between the two in the original series.

Fan Theory and Changes in Reboots

In the 2009 JJ Abrams reboot, Star Trek, there was a significant change in the relationship dynamics between Uhura and Spock. In this reboot, Uhura is portrayed as having romantic feelings for Spock, while in the original series, this dynamic was not established. This change was made due to fan demand, with the Star Trek series experiencing some hostilities from fans who strongly identified with Uhura's character.

Questions and Musings

There is a suggestion from a scene in "The Man Trap" that Spock and Uhura had some sort of a relationship. In this scene, Uhura swoons over a romantic moonlight scene, but Spock shoots it down with a comment about Vulcan having no moon. Again, this is a fan theory only, and there was never anything canon that directly stated they were romantically involved.

The Uhura-Spock 'Ship'

Throughout the series, there were discussions and fan theories about a possible romantic relationship between Uhura and Spock. However, the official Star Trek canon has never confirmed this. The push for a romantic storyline between Uhura and Spock was also influenced by the need to address the character's marginalized position in the Jim Crow faction of Star Trek fans. Many felt that the character of Uhura was being sidelined, leading to a romance arc being planned but ultimately scuppered.

Conclusion

While there are instances of flirtation and playful banter between Uhura and Spock, the original Star Trek series does not explicitly show them as a romantic couple. Spock considers Uhura a colleague and collaborator rather than romantic interest. The fan theory that they had a relationship was primarily based on certain scenes and the fan desire for a more romantic storyline. As for the changes made in the 2009 reboot, these were a response to fan demand and expectations, but they were not canon in the original universe.