The Legendary Running Gag that Made JJ Abrams' Star Trek Movies Unforgettable

Summary

Pavel Chekov's career in Starfleet was characterized by his ability to serve in various positions as needed, without a clear career trajectory.

Although Chekov's dream of becoming a starship captain was never officially realized, there was a brief moment when he assumed the role of Captain of the Enterprise-A.

Regarding Chekov's contributions to Starfleet, he is remembered as a passionate and adaptable officer. Notably, his descendant Anton went on to become the President of the United Federation of Planets.

J.J. Abrams' Star Trek movies continued a recurring joke that originated in Star Trek: The Original Series about Pavel Chekov's Starfleet career progression. Chekov joined the cast of TOS in season 2 as a newly graduated Ensign from Starfleet Academy. Following the typical duties of junior officers, Chekov fulfilled various responsibilities onboard the USS Enterprise as part of his duty shift rotations. Throughout TOS and its subsequent films, Captain James T. Kirk assigned Mr. Chekov to different positions.

Most frequently in Star Trek: The Original Series, Mr. Chekov served as the navigator of the USS Enterprise and occasionally participated in away missions. In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Lieutenant Chekov took on the role of Security Chief and tactical officer on the upgraded Enterprise under Captain Will Decker's command. After being promoted to Commander, Chekov became the First Officer of the USS Reliant in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. In Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, he held the position of Science Officer but returned to his role as navigator in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier.

Star Trek Into Darkness Continued TOS’ Chekov Running Joke

In the six Star Trek movies featuring the original cast, Pavel Chekov fulfills various roles as required by the plot. This running joke continues in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek Into Darkness. Admiral Alexander Marcus orders the USS Enterprise to utilize new long-range stealth torpedoes, which Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott objects to, expressing concerns about unknown weaponry being brought aboard. Despite Scotty's objections, Captain James Kirk overrules him and Scotty decides to resign from his position as Chief Engineer. Consequently, Chekov is appointed as the new Chief Engineer, having previously observed and worked closely with Scotty in Engineering.

Chekov eagerly embraces his new role as the Chief Engineer in Star Trek Into Darkness, approaching each task with enthusiasm. Nevertheless, he does not possess the same exceptional engineering abilities as Scotty. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that Scotty's skills are more valuable in other areas, such as when he daringly infiltrates the secretive Starfleet warship, the USS Vengeance, constructed by Section 31. Although Chekov's role does not involve as much job-hopping as in the original Trek films, Star Trek Into Darkness further enhances Chekov's already impressive resume across the Multiverse.

What Is Chekov’s Starfleet Career Path Anyway?

Pavel Chekov's constant job changes have left his true career path uncertain. The Star Trek writers frequently used him to fill various roles without much consideration for his ultimate career trajectory. Despite his dream of becoming a starship captain, it remains unclear whether Chekov ever achieved this goal. However, he did briefly serve as Captain of the Enterprise-A in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, where he negotiated with Sybok (played by Laurence Luckinbill).

In the last appearance of Pavel Chekov, he was a Commander visiting the newly commissioned USS Enterprise-B as a distinguished guest. Whether or not he achieved his aspiration of becoming a captain, Chekov's Starfleet legacy is impressive, and he will likely be remembered as a dedicated officer with a diverse skill set. Furthermore, in Star Trek: Picard season 3, it is revealed that Chekov's descendant Anton went on to become President of the United Federation of Planets by 2401. Both Walter Koenig and Anton Yelchin, who portrayed Pavel Chekov, will always hold a significant place in Star Trek history.