Rajin & Similitude

[Escriba]

I always thought of Koss as somebody who never heard a "no" for an answer. I don't think highly of him, but I don't think highly of T'Pol's momma either, for that matter. Both of them acted in a way they thought was better for T'Pol without telling her a word. As if she was a child.

But the truth is I'm quite scared of Koss too. Because the actor played Ted Bundy (of all people) and... you know, when he approaches T'Pol in "Home" so suddenly... it's scaring. And if you look Jolene closely, she plays scared too

[Asso]

I don't hate Koss, but from here to the point that I can say I like him and understand him... well... it's a long and - maybe - barred road.

[Linda]

Yes, I was afraid that playing Ted Bundy would type cast the poor actor! Ted Bundy was a real person and a monster. He killled so many women and his last victum was a 12 year old girl! But the character, Koss, is not the Vulcan version of Ted Bundy. He is an ordinary Vulcan male who got caught in an interplanetary situation not of his making. I guess because everyone is eager for Trip to be involved with T'Pol (including me), no one wants to see Koss as a decent Vulcan guy and they overlook the actor's subtle expressions that show Koss as a decent guy. Geez, Koss is from a culture that sets up marriages with seven year olds. I for one do not approve of that, but his expectations of a lifetime with T'Pol are not out of place for him. And perhaps he cannot transcend his cultural barriers like Trip and T'Pol can because maybe he is not as smart as they are and maybe he has never left his home world to see how other people live. But from the way the actor played the part, I get the impression that Koss is a decent guy, so that is the way I write him in my fan fiction. But I do read and enjoy other fan fiction that makes him out to be less decent. There are many ways to portray Koss and all are equally good.

[Asso]

Do you know, Linda?
What you said - with a few words - made me understand your point of view much better than the long explanations of many other people.

[Linda]

Thank you, thank you, Asso! We often are of the same mind, aren't we? But I shouldn't get so passionate about Koss, I guess. I like the way the actor looks...not as handsome as Trip, but few people are. And I can get passionate about Kov too...a portly, naive, but endearing Vulcan male.

[Asso]

I love Kov, because he demonstrates that Vulcans are - how can I say? - normal creatures, yes, I think this can be the right term.
And T'Pol is a "normal" creature.
For that - "inter alia" - I love her.
I don't search for the Vulcan she is. I search for the woman she is.
Like Trip.

[Aikiweezie]

If I were stranded on a remote planet for the rest of my life I'd MUCH rather be stuck with Kov than Koss!!!!!!

It goes without saying that I'd choose Trip above any of them!

[Asso]

Well, I'm a heterosexual male, but... I can understand you.

[Aquarius]

I don't "hate" Koss, but I'm not convinced that he's innocent, either. Yes, there are times when it appears that he cares very much for T'Pol...which is precisely why I think he was all for forcing the marriage despite the fact she told him to take a hike. Like I said, it all plays out so opportunistic to me.

And then there's the lightbulb that kind of lit up over T'Les's head when Trip was getting ready for the wedding...and T'Les suggested that it wasn't too late for Trip to tell T'Pol how he felt...and how Trip wasn't going to do that and complicate things for T'Pol. The expressions on T'Les's face and her body language certainly suggested to me that she was rethinking who'd make the better son-in-law: this smelly Human with the great shoulders who sacrificed his own happiness in order to put her daughter's needs ahead of his own, or the meathead she was about to tie the knot with because he's blackmailing her?

[Alelou]

I don't think you can assume it's Koss doing the blackmailing. The parents are key on both sides, although we don't meet his, and they don't think of T'Pol marrying her betrothed as blackmail, they think it's completely normal and the only route to living long and prospering. And there's the political angle that comes out later. I think he's the poor schmuck in the middle ... playing along a little priggishly, perhaps, but then first-season T'Pol was a prig too. Pre-Kirshara Vulcan had fallen into priggishness as their worst sin, apparently.

[Aquarius]

True, Koss may have been just the messenger, but it stops being their normal customs and starts being blackmail when it's presented as "marry me and Mommy and Daddy will make them stop messing with your mom." He upped the ante by making the whole thing pivotal on that factoid.

[Alelou]

Yes ... but from his point of view, why not 'up the ante' if T'Pol seems to need an extra push to "get" what she's supposed to be doing for her mother. And clearly he's at least discussed it with his father or he wouldn't even know that the marriage would help.

But he's a victim too. I can't begin to imagine that even a disciplined, emotionless Vulcan male truly appreciates having to marry a woman who's brought a human home with her and who has made it clear she doesn't want him. By human standards, he's not exactly ... mmm, how to put it...sporting a pair? Even by Vulcan standards, his situation must be very embarrassing. (That's why I enjoyed marrying him off to T'Pol -- the poor guy is going to be bossed around FOREVER.)

[Aquarius]

Oh, the boy is definitely a weenie, I'll give you that.

[Asso]

...But he's a victim too.(Koss)

Mhh... now we mustn't exaggerate. We can't (and we mustn't) justify any behaviour.
There can be some "extenuating circumstances", I admit, but we are the "owners" of our brain.

[Aquarius]

I mostly agree, Asso. T'Pol was pretty courageous to walk away from her betrothed in order to pursue her career, among other things. The only thing I can really say in Koss's defense is that the political climate on Vulcan at the time wasn't very friendly to any citizens who stood up and said "Hey, wait a minute!"