Shocking Revelation: Dr McCoy's Unexpected Role in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds!
Bones-less in Kirk's USS Farragut? Star Trek: Strange New Worlds shakes things up by revealing McCoy's absence as Kirk's trusted doctor Will we see Bones McCoy in this new series?
Summary
"Lost in Translation" introduces Lt. James T. Kirk to his future crew members, Uhura and Spock, marking the inception of the legendary Starfleet team.The episode initially hints at the presence of Dr. "Bones" McCoy as the Chief Medical Officer of the USS Farragut but unveils a surprising twist, revealing the character to be a woman instead.
McCoy's absence implies that he may still be at a lower rank and his previous background before joining the USS Enterprise is mostly unknown. However, there are possibilities for his future appearance in the series.
Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 2, Episode 6 - "Lost in Translation"
In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, the Prime Universe version of Lt. James T. Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) was finally introduced to the USS Enterprise. However, his close friend, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (played by DeForest Kelley), was not present. In the episode titled "Lost in Translation," Kirk meets his future crewmates Ensign Nyota Uhura (played by Celia Rose Gooding) and Commander Spock (played by Leonard Nimoy), marking the first step towards the events of Star Trek: The Original Series. Although it will be seven more years before Captain James T. Kirk (played by William Shatner) takes command of the USS Enterprise, he is already forming the connections that will lead to the creation of the iconic Starfleet crew in Federation history.
Strange New Worlds Reveals Bones Isn’t Kirk’s Doctor
: Kirk aids Uhura in deciphering unsettling visions in episode 6, titled "Lost in Translation," of the second season of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. While delving into the enigmatic extraterrestrial beings residing in Bannon's Nebula, Kirk alludes to the Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Farragut. However, contrary to viewers' expectations, Kirk does not reveal that his longtime companion, Dr. "Bones" McCoy, holds that position on the Farragut.
The script cleverly keeps the identity of the Chief Medical Officer in "Lost in Translation" ambiguous, a nod to the teasing style often seen in Star Trek. Onitra Johnson and David Reed, the writers of the episode, playfully play with the expectations of the fans eagerly awaiting the inclusion of Bones in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. However, disappointingly for McCoy's fans, it is swiftly revealed that the Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Farragut is a woman. Not being named makes it unlikely that she is a known character from the Star Trek canon, even though Captain James T. Kirk has shown a preference for female doctors.
As Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is set seven years before Star Trek: The Original Series, it's probable that McCoy has not yet advanced in rank. Little is known about McCoy's pre-assignment background before becoming Kirk's Chief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprise. In the months leading up to accepting the 2266 assignment, Lieutenant Commander McCoy served in Starfleet's sciences division on Capella IV. Consequently, it is likely that the younger McCoy currently holds the rank of Lieutenant in another part of the fleet, either as a medical officer or a science officer.
Will Bones McCoy Appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds?
There is a high likelihood that Bones will make an appearance in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, potentially at a later time. The period between McCoy's successful brain surgery procedure in 2253 and his assignment to Capella IV is quite extensive. In the original Star Trek series, Dr. M'Benga (Booker Bradshaw) would temporarily take over for McCoy during his absence. It is possible that the collaboration between Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olusanmokun) and Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) is what led to this arrangement.
It is also possible that McCoy and M'Benga have a prior acquaintance, and this professional association could be elaborated on in upcoming episodes of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. With the initial meeting of Kirk, Spock, and Uhura concluded, the focus will soon shift to the other members of the original series crew. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, being one of Kirk's closest friends, seems like the logical candidate to be introduced next in the Star Trek prequel series. Tune in to Paramount+ on Thursdays to watch Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
