Something Ive noticed about Chekov in the first 3 Star Trek movies

[urrutiap]

Anyone else notice that in the first 2 or 3 old Star Trek movies, that Chekov keeps getting injured in some way and he screams?

Motion Picture, he gets an electrical burn from the probe while at the console.

then in Wrath of Khan, Chekov gets tortured with the baby Ceti eel thing.

Cant remember what happens to Chekov in Search for Spock but in Star Trek IV we all know what happens to Chekov again

writer and/or the film directors producers of the Star Trek movies must have really hated Checkov or something

 

[fireproof78]

Hated? No. Injuries are short hand for how serious the situation is. No emotional investment at all.

Chekov was someone who didn't translate well from the series to the films. He was kind of an odd man out, since his role was taken by Ilia, so they put him at weapons, then he was an XO (a bored one), and back at weapons, and then security.

 

[Lord Garth]

He screamed a lot in TOS. See "The Deadly Years", "Mirror, Mirror", and "The Tholian Web", for starters. They just carried that over from the show. They dropped the "It was inwented in Russia" gag until TUC.

In TOS, he was also a Junior Science Officer who worked closely with Spock during the second season. I'll put it in TNG terms: It's like Worf during the first season of TNG. They had him do a little of everything to gain experience in all shipboard functions. That was Chekov. In TWOK, they have him on the Reliant, which was doing scientific research. Then, in TSFS, he becomes Acting Science Officer in Spock's stead. Then, in TUC, he's doing science-y stuff again with Spock when looking at the Klingon blood.

If anything came from out of nowhere, it was having Chekov as Security Chief in TMP. That was weird, considering where the character was before and after. In "Turnabout Intruder", they had Chekov complaining about Security backing Lester-Kirk so blindly. I get the impression he's not too enamored with them in general. Which parallels the typical young person in 1969, who might not go full-hippie like their more extreme peers but still doesn't like authoritarianism or a police state. And in TUC, he asks a basic question like "Why not simply vaporize them?" about the Gravity Boots. If he was the former Security Chief, he should know the answer to that. "But maybe things changed since TMP!" Technically possible, but come on. That's a stretch.

 

[STEPhon IT]

Anyone else notice that in the first 2 or 3 old Star Trek movies, that Chekov keeps getting injured in some way and he screams?

Motion Picture, he gets an electrical burn from the probe while at the console.

then in Wrath of Khan, Chekov gets tortured with the baby Ceti eel thing.

Cant remember what happens to Chekov in Search for Spock but in Star Trek IV we all know what happens to Chekov again

writer and/or the film directors producers of the Star Trek movies must have really hated Checkov or something

Koenig must've had a ball getting such opportunities and he took it in stride. Could you imagine if those scenes were given to Nichelle Nichols??? I could imagine the hollering from all sides about her treatment; Chekov was the safe bet.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Chekov was someone who didn't translate well from the series to the films. He was kind of an odd man out, since his role was taken by Ilia, so they put him at weapons, then he was an XO (a bored one), and back at weapons, and then security.

It was a choice to move Chekov to Head of Security for "Phase II", thus explaining where he had been for Filmation's TAS. Koenig was even fitted for a redshirt uniform when it was assumed "In Thy Image" would be the opening telemovie-length episode. In TOS, Head of Security did not have a consistent character. It is Chekov who meets Spock upon his unexpected arrival in TMP.

So Ilia replaces Lieutenant Arex.

Chekov screaming was a running gag, continued into the movies. In the ST IV running gag, Chekov was also actually running.

Koenig must've had a ball getting such opportunities and he took it in stride.

Walter told me that when he realised that he had a meatier role in ST II, he almost pointed out that Chekov had never met Khan in TOS. He decided not to say anything, just in case the scene was rewritten for George Takei. (Of course, he needn't have worried; Sulu never met Khan, either.)

 

[Timelord79 (he/him)]

It was a choice to move Chekov to Head of Security for "Phase II", thus explaining where he had been for Filmation's TAS. Koenig was even fitted for a redshirt uniform when it was assumed "In Thy Image"
would be the opening telemovie-length episode. In TOS, Head of Security did not have a consistent character. It is Chekov who meets Spock upon his unexpected arrival in TMP.

So Ilia replaces Lieutenant Arex.

Chekov screaming was a running gag, continued into the movies. In the ST IV running gag, Chekov was also actually running.



Walter told me that when he realised that he had a meatier role in ST II, he almost pointed out that Chekov had never met Khan in TOS. He decided not to say anything, just in case the scene was rewritten for George Takei. (Of course, he needn't have worried; Sulu never met Khan, either.)

Did Uhura?

 

[Therin of Andor]

Did Uhura?

Yes, but it would be an unlikely pairing: Terrell and Uhura.

Kyle was also in "Space Seed", one of the reasons he got invited back for ST II, working alongside Chekov.

 

[Damian]

It was a choice to move Chekov to Head of Security for "Phase II", thus explaining where he had been for Filmation's TAS. Koenig was even fitted for a redshirt uniform when it was assumed "In Thy Image"
would be the opening telemovie-length episode. In TOS, Head of Security did not have a consistent character. It is Chekov who meets Spock upon his unexpected arrival in TMP.

So Ilia replaces Lieutenant Arex.

I recall some novels have gone with that. Chekov had left the Enterprise to go to tactical training on Earth and Arex had taken his place as the alpha-shift navigator.

I never really had an issue with him taking up security and the weapons control station on the bridge. Not all characters want to stay in the same role forever.

I found it interesting that TWOK mostly ignored TMP (though I always point out it didn't actually contradict it). But one bit of continuity that was maintained between the two is when Chekov returned to the Enterprise he was asked to man the weapons control station again, like he was in TMP.

In TSFS, of course, he moved around. He was back at navigation at the start of the film, then manned the science station on their return to Earth. Then when they stole the ship he was at communications, then back at the weapons control station. He was like the every man. Then in TVH, TFF and TUC he was back at navigation.

I do agree with Garth though, there is a bit of a continuity issue when Chekov asks about vaporizing the evidence. As a former security chief/tactical officer, even if he was not in that role any longer, he should have been aware of the alarm. I mean, it seems he's now the 2nd officer of the Enterprise, behind Captains Kirk and Spock, so he definitely should be aware, esp. if Lt. Valeris is. It doesn't make sense Chekov would not be aware of that.

 

[seigezunt]

He does a pretty satisfying scream.

 

[Kor]

Agreed with Lord Garth. The screaming was a callback to the series. And a very good one, at that.

Kor

 

[Maurice]

"Who's Arex?" says most of Trek fandom.

 

[urrutiap]

also besides Chekov being tortured and screaming, ive notice that even early 1981-1983 for Star Trek II they still used the old security outfits that look like football gear.

At least with Star Trek III I think they stopped using the old security outfit?

 

[Damian]

also besides Chekov being tortured and screaming, ive notice that even early 1981-1983 for Star Trek II they still used the old security outfits that look like football gear.

At least with Star Trek III I think they stopped using the old security outfit?

That was one of the uniforms reused from TMP. Also reused were the white engineering uniforms, and the cadet/crew uniforms were TMP uniforms also that were dyed. All to save some money.

But the security uniforms were used in TSFS as well. In the scene when they break McCoy out of the brig (the scene with the guard that called Sulu "Tiny") those are the same security uniforms as well.

I believe that is the last time any TMP uniforms were used. I don't recall seeing any of those 3 in TFF or TUC.

 

[STEPhon IT]

It was a choice to move Chekov to Head of Security for "Phase II", thus explaining where he had been for Filmation's TAS. Koenig was even fitted for a redshirt uniform when it was assumed "In Thy Image"
would be the opening telemovie-length episode. In TOS, Head of Security did not have a consistent character. It is Chekov who meets Spock upon his unexpected arrival in TMP.

So Ilia replaces Lieutenant Arex.

Chekov screaming was a running gag, continued into the movies. In the ST IV running gag, Chekov was also actually running.



Walter told me that when he realised that he had a meatier role in ST II, he almost pointed out that Chekov had never met Khan in TOS. He decided not to say anything, just in case the scene was rewritten for George Takei. (Of course, he needn't have worried; Sulu never met Khan, either.)

Sigh. Yep. It had to be George, but he had to ignore the black woman who was actually in the episode. A different time but wow sucks to be Nichelle in those days.

 

[arch101]

I remember a joke back then was that Star Trek III would be titled Chekov Screams Again

 

[Therin of Andor]

Sigh. Yep. It had to be George, but he had to ignore the black woman who was actually in the episode. A different time but wow sucks to be Nichelle in those days.

Was the world ready to see Winfield and Nichols as captain and first officer, with Uhura being tortured with a Ceti eel?

 

[fireproof78]

Was the world ready to see Winfield and Nichols as captain and first officer, with Uhura being tortured with a Ceti eel?

Nobody was ready for the eels.

 

[dupersuper]

"Who's Arex?" says most of Trek fandom.

Trek fandom with more Trek to discover!

 

[Lord Garth]

Was the world ready to see Winfield and Nichols as captain and first officer, with Uhura being tortured with a Ceti eel?

In 1982? They would've had a black Captain or a black First Officer, but not both. Same with a woman. They would've had a woman Captain or a woman First Officer, but not both. I think the world could've handled it, they just wouldn't have done it. Would've been true in 1992 too, maybe even 2002. Uhura being tortured by the Ceti Eel? Hmmm. I don't think they'd have that today in any movie that's not Rated R. I'd say TWOK is very much of its time.

 

[Maurice]

Nobody was ready for the eels.

Terrell and Chekov sure weren't...