Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) had great moments throughoutStar Trek: The Original Series,but this season 3 episode was his best. The third member ofStar Trek’smost famous trio, Dr. McCoy was not the central focus of as many episodes asCaptain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). As theChief Medical Officer aboard the USS Enterprisewith a questionable bedside manner, Dr. McCoy’s temperament led to some ofStarTrek’sfunniest moments, as the cantankerous doctor perfectly complemented Kirk and Spock.
DeForest Kelley never failed to deliver a solid performance inStar Trek, and McCoy remains one of television’s best doctors. Dr. McCoy’s best moments are spread throughoutStar Trek: The Original Series,butBones' best overall episode doesn’t come until season 3.AlthoughStar Trek’sthird seasonis generally regarded as its weakest, it had its moments, despite its reduced per-episode budget and Friday night timeslot.TOSseason 3 delivered some truly unique aliens and science fiction concepts, including this episode featuring a generation ship disguised as an asteroid.
McCoy’s Best Episode In Star Trek: The Original Series Was “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky”
McCoy Shines In Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3, Episode 8
When “For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky” begins,Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoydiscovers that he has contracted a fatal disease known as xenopolycythemia and has only one year to live. This tragic news informs the rest of McCoy’s decisions throughout theStar Trekseason 3 episode, andDeForest Kelley perfectly plays McCoy’s understated fear and sadness.When the Enterprise encounters a ship disguised as an asteroid, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam aboard to find a society of people convinced they live on a planet called Yonada.
“For The World Is Hollow And I Have Touched The Sky” isn’t perfect, but it’s a great vehicle for McCoy and a nice exploration of his friendship with Kirk and Spock.
McCoy develops a quick connection with the civilization’s leader, Natira (Kate Woodville), leading to a romance that works better than many ofStar Trek’sone-episode love stories. For one thing, McCoy acknowledges that the two just met, but cannot deny his attraction to Natira. Considering that McCoy is dying and wants one last chance at happiness,his decision to remain on Yonada makes perfect sense.In the end, Yonada’s archives conveniently contain a cure for McCoy’s illness, allowing him to return to the Enterprise. But the ending is bittersweet, as Narita must remain on Yonada to look after her people.
Dr. McCoy’s Best Star Trek Movie Was The Voyage Home
McCoy Was Also Great In Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
After the end ofStar Trek: The Original Series,DeForest Kelley returned to play Dr. McCoy in six ofStar Trekfeature films. As with the television series, McCoy had standout moments in eachStar Trekmovie, buthe’s at his best inStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home.Director Leonard Nimoy’s hit film follows Admiral Kirk and his Enterprise crew as they travel back in time to retrieve two humpback whales in order to save the Earth in the future.The Voyage HomeremainsStar Trek’sfunniest and most heartwarming film, and McCoy gets several of the film’s best lines.
Dr. McCoy’s 10 Best Star Trek Episodes & Movies, Ranked
Star Trek: The Original Series would not have been the same without DeForest Kelley’s lovably sardonic Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
As Kirk and his crew navigate 1980s San Francisco, McCoy is particularly disturbed by 20th-century medicine, referring to it as"the Dark Ages"and"medievalism.“Interestingly, McCoy has a general distrust of some 23rd-century technology, like the transporters, but he understands the necessity of the advancements in medicine. InStar Trek IV: The Voyage Home,McCoy savesPavel Chekov’s (Walter Koenig) lifeafter an injury and regrows an old woman’s kidney along the way. DeForest Kelley’s brand of humor worked particularly well inStar Trek IV,just as it did throughout numerous episodes ofStar Trek: The Original Series.
