Why end the bond?

[WarpGirl]

Oooh I am going to be in so much trouble for saying this... But I thought the "no big deal" line was the absolute worst thing the man could have said. To a human it would have been fine, but to a Vulcan, mating is the biggest most irreversible thing in their lives. Logic and family are the foundations of Vulcan society. IT IS A BIG DEAL.

OK this is when I become Frankinstine's monster and you all come after me with pitchforks. HELP SOVAL!

[Aquarius]

Trip and T'Pol could've made it if they tried. It's so obvious. All they needed to do was talk to each other.

I totally agree, and I think that after he came back to Enterprise they must have had SOME conversations addressing their feelings. After all, couldn't they sense each others feelings toard each other - wouldn't that lead to talking about them a little? When she kissed him she should have known right then and there that he was in love with her, and his goofy "This ain't no big thing," line was just a line. Maybe that's why she had that self-satisfied little look on her face afterwards?

Precisely! The "We've got a lot of work to do" line suggests that he wanted a relationship and was willing to work on it. The bit about the bond not being a big deal I took to mean that he just wasn't so freaked out by the idea any more, that he didn't see it as an obstacle or a burden or any kind of intrusion, that he'd adjust as necessary.

T'Pol's reaction suggested to me that she got a better outcome than she anticipated, and possibly that maybe she was starting to "get it," that regardless of what she thinks, sometimes he needs to HEAR what's on her mind, in terms of him making her say she wanted him to come back even though he already had every intention of doing so. All he needed was to know that she wanted him, and everything was gonna be alright.

[Aquarius]

Oooh I am going to be in so much trouble for saying this... But I thought the "no big deal" line was the absolute worst thing the man could have said. To a human it would have been fine, but to a Vulcan, mating is the biggest most irreversible thing in their lives. Logic and family are the foundations of Vulcan society. IT IS A BIG DEAL.

OK this is when I become Frankinstine's monster and you all come after me with pitchforks. HELP SOVAL!

No, I totally get it. In a relationship that's already fought with misunderstanding due to poor communication and culture clash, that can be VERY bad--and possibly fodder for future storylines, had the show continued.

But then, you never know, after being around humans so much, she got what he was saying any way.

[WarpGirl]

True. Look I know I'm a bit over-passionate about T'Pol's not being human. I just got so annoyed about the lack of respect for Vulcans that I just spaz out. My favorite female ST character is B'Elanna Torres because I'm just so darn passionate. So please bare with my rants.

[mjimeyg]

ETA: Actually, that begs some interesting questions. Like, how old was SPOCK by the time he was serving with Kirk? T'Pol could theoretically still be alive to see Kirk's time, or at least Pike's. Sarek is very likely to be born soon, if he hasn't been already, in Archer's time. Hmmmmm....

Wasn't T'Pau the one who over saw the fight between Kirk and Spock in TOS?

Is it even possible to BREAK or dissolve a bond? Most of the implied parts of the bond suggest it is a permanent "'Till death do us part" deal.... otherwise T'Pol wouldn't have worried so much... they could have blamed it on Trip and said he spent too much time around her and bugged her too much... the old "pulling of pigtails"!

One of the things that bugged me about ENT was that they didn't even attempt to try and emulate what they came across in TOS... My Pa was watching the TOS ep with the Gamesmasters (and yes, Kirk AGAIN looses his shirt)... at least in there was something similar in TNG at first... the ep where they first meet the Ferengi... they get into a fight... and a superior being turns up... not to mention Q!

The closest they came in ENT was Daniels... and even that was explainable scientifically... you can't explain Q!

[WarpGirl]

Yes T'Pau officiated at Spock's Koon-ut-Kalifee. Which means she's about 50 years too young in ENT. And yes it is possible to sever a mating bond if both parties wish it. it's called p'pil'lay. But this is nearly unheard of.

[mjimeyg]

Yes T'Pau officiated at Spock's Koon-ut-Kalifee. Which means she's about 50 years too young in ENT. And yes it is possible to sever a mating bond if both parties wish it. it's called p'pil'lay. But this is nearly unheard of.

Bet B&B never even thought to look up "p'pil'lay"!

Of course they probably thought Star Trek was created by a guy named George.

[WarpGirl]

They used to be quite good at what they did. Some of the best episodes of TNG were theirs. What I would like to know is what the heck happened???

[Elessar]

They used to be quite good at what they did. Some of the best episodes of TNG were theirs. What I would like to know is what the heck happened???

You know all that "franchise fatigue" they talk about? They were talking about themselves .

I honestly think a big part of it was ego. It's a natural human instinct to stop trying as hard when you don't think you need to. They stopped trying b/c TNG was such a hit.

[WarpGirl]

Your logic is flawless. Honestly I would have had an easier time accepting Trip's death if they hadn't broken him and T'Pol up. I mean it would have been even more sad yeah, but it would have showed respect for the relationship. I knew it was going to be Trip and T'Pol from the minute that fought in decon. The same way I knew it was going to be Tom and B'Elanna when he dragged her to the surface of the Ocampa homeworld. They just meshed. B-B Stupidly tried for an Archer thing but there was no chemistry. You know why? Because they kept telling you there was chemistry. Jeri Taylor probably was like "I should have never left those idiot boys alone." They tried to fix it and we got the bond, but to throw it away like that was just cruel. So why break the bond? Because boys are idiots who put Borg girls in Catsuits and pair them with the wrong guy. Forget their Vulcan, and their Star Trek history and have way to much creative control.

[Aquarius]

They used to be quite good at what they did. Some of the best episodes of TNG were theirs. What I would like to know is what the heck happened???

You know all that "franchise fatigue" they talk about? They were talking about themselves .

I honestly think a big part of it was ego. It's a natural human instinct to stop trying as hard when you don't think you need to. They stopped trying b/c TNG was such a hit.

It also wouldn't be the first time in Trek that ratings declined so they just started doing really stupid stuff with the show. (Has flashbacks to "Spock's Brain"...)

[WarpGirl]

When I was little I used to TRY to play chess and I was awful! Everyone I played could beat me, and I hated it. One day my sister beat my in less than ten moves. I knocked the pieces off the board and across the living room. I think that's what *the_abomination* was. B-B knocked the chess pieces across the room. No bond, no Trip, and a weird holo-program that helped Riker make a decision he made years ago. Talk about a temper tantrum, I got sent to my room for mine.

[Asso]

When I was little I used to TRY to play chess and I was awful! Everyone I played could beat me, and I hated it. One day my sister beat my in less than ten moves. I knocked the pieces off the board and across the living room. I think that's what *the_abomination* was. B-B knocked the chess pieces across the room. No bond, no Trip, and a weird holo-program that helped Riker make a decision he made years ago. Talk about a temper tantrum, I got sent to my room for mine.

I love you, WarpGirl!

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

And yes it is possible to sever a mating bond if both parties wish it. it's called p'pil'lay. But this is nearly unheard of.

While I've always believed severing a mating bond was possible, I've never heard of the term "p'pil'lay". Where is that from? Fanfic? Novels? I know it's not in canon. Googling I've now seen it in online Vulcan dictionaries, but where is it from originally?

[Asso]

Please, do not take wrong my words, but, someway, I think we are giving too much importance to this Bond. Actually it almost sounds as contrived , at least to my mind.
Maybe I'm making a mistake, but only T'Pol talks about it, only in "Bound" we can hear that it exists, and do not forget that T'Pol speaks of it almost like it were a Legend.
And that this Bond is a thing which can happen uniquely when Vulcans "Mate".
Could you find a better definition of "Love"?
Ah... these Vulcans!