Flight of Stars: Let's Write Together

One of the most difficult obstacles to breaking into an enormous fandom is the sheer mass of material, and since people enjoyed my review of Doctor's Orders (which was dug out of this old guide), I thought I might test the waters and post more of it.

So here it is, Star Trek: The Original Series, reviewed specifically for fans of Dr. Leonard H. McCoy.

The Rating: (0) – Complete no-show (1) – Makes a cameo; unimportant to plot, no redeeming moments (2) – Negligent involvement, but some redeeming moment (3) – Reasonable involvement, character development (4) – Essential involvement or key moment (5) – Central involvement or radiant moment

SPOILER ALERT: The guide below is thorough.  The focus is on details and not plot, but those sensitive to spoilers might still want to be cautious. Season 1 Episodes 1-5 Episodes 6-10 Episodes 11-20 Episodes 21-29

Season 2 Episodes 1-5 Episodes 6-15 Episodes 16-26

#16 – The Gamesters of Triskelion Kirk, Chekhov, and Uhura are abducted and prepare to be purchased by unseen “providers”. Spock and McCoy search for them, but have very little to go on.

Rating: 2 (but Spock and McCoy’s interaction is satisfying to watch)

Highlights:

When Spock tells McCoy they will just have to hope, the doctor says he thought “hope” was a human failing. Spock agrees, but says such a high degree of exposure was bound to cause some contamination. When Spock and McCoy do this kind of playful jabbing at each other, I could watch all day. XD

McCoy, obviously worried, becomes upset when Spock nonchalantly quotes odds of the missing crewmen being alive (they’re not good).

Warning: Prepared to be squicked by poor Uhura fighting off her would-be rapist with a metal pitcher.

Scotty and McCoy disagree with Spock’s command decision, which leads him to ask if they intended mutiny. Scotty is hurt by the very idea, and McCoy demands, “Who said anything about a mutiny, you stubborn, pointy-eared–!” Suitably chagrined, they take Spock’s point and show more support. Actually, this conflict is pretty well handled, much better than Spock’s previous attempt at captaincy. Yay, character development!

Spock plans to beam down. McCoy volunteers to join him: “Well if you’re going into the lion’s den, you’ll need a medical officer.” Spock comments that Daniel had only his faith, but welcomes the doctor’s company.

Tags: Spock-McCoy Banter, Bridge-McCoy, Omnipotent Being

#17 – A Piece of the Action It’s a mystery to me precisely why, but episodes which take place in the past or pseudo-past are almost always excellent.  Kirk, Spock, and McCoy beam down on a planet whose culture was contaminated by a book about Chicago gangsters, mistakenly left behind by another ship one hundred years before.  Thoroughly watchable and very fun.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

For the first half of the episode, Spock and McCoy are very chummy, and it’s nice to see them interact in an amicable way.  The doctor even compliments Spock when he implements the Vulcan nerve pinch, saying, “You do that very well.”

McCoy with a machine gun!  He also participates in a rare bit of hand-to-hand.

Not McCoy related, but there is a fantastic interlude in which sharply dressed gangsta’ Kirk and Spock drive a car (poorly).  As Spock puts it, “Captain, you are an excellent starship commander, but as a taxi driver, you leave something to be desired.”  Later, he will very nearly refuse an order to get back in the vehicle.

SO much good footage of Kirk the gangster boss of the “Federation”, accompanied by “his boys” – Sawbones and Spock-o.

Scotty really suffers from vocabulary in this episode.  Oh, my spleen.

The captain accuses McCoy of brooding at the end, and we discover that he accidentally left his communicator behind.  Spock and Kirk fuss.  Contamination!

Tag: Moved to Violence

#18 – The Immunity Syndrome An enormous virus threatens to devour the entire galaxy, which the Enterprise becomes aware of when Spock senses an entire Vulcan-manned starship die.  They rush to save the day, but everyone starts to get sick.  Ultimately, it comes down to someone throwing their life away – Spock and McCoy, predictably, both volunteer.

Rating: 5

Highlights:

Kirk and McCoy are both attentive friends to Spock, and the doctor is definitely his (very determined) physician.

Scathing, genuinely hurtful Spock comes out to play in this episode. He accuses Dr. McCoy of having no empathy for the deaths of others (which is wholly absurd) and then goes on to make a (hypocritical) statement about the source of humankind’s bloody history.  It’s rare this side comes out of Spock, but when it does, it’s cringe worthy.  It reminds me of when Kirk is stressed and lashes out in a similar way, both of which McCoy accepts with the same good grace.

Some sick!McCoy – pale, sweaty, and lightheaded.

McCoy shows his passion for medical science when he volunteers to infiltrate the virus, but Spock is also, first-and-foremost, a scientist.  They bicker over who gets to be the martyr.  Kirk, in a distinctly non-scientific way, is appalled.

Sometimes Spock and McCoy seem like the same person.  Their passionate professionalism is one trait (along with their loyalty) in which this is especially true.

As Spock departs, he requests McCoy wish him luck.  McCoy’s can’t manage it until Spock is already out of earshot.

McCoy is visibly relieved to find Spock is okay.  Especially when Spock is able to state with affected superiority, “Dr. McCoy…you wouldn’t have survived it.”

Kirk and McCoy have such a different, human way of counseling each other than when they collaborate with Spock.  The power and responsibility that McCoy holds as the captain’s physician also affects the dynamic.

One of my favorite of Spock’s snippy one-liners occurs when McCoy refuses to leave him behind, bellowing, “Shut up, Spock, we’re rescuing you!”  Arching an eyebrow, the Vulcan responds, “Why thank you, Captain McCoy.”

Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Self-Sacrifice, Spock-McCoy Banter, Counselor-McCoy

#19 – A Private Little War This is a rare Kirk-McCoy landing party adventure!  Dressed as natives on a planet whose development has been tampered with by Klingons, they must reestablish the planets equilibrium…but is further tampering really the right way?

Rating: 5 (emphatically).

Highlights:

At first, McCoy refuses to return to the planet and leave his patient (Spock).  Jim commanders him anyway, purportedly for his expertise and for his sound advice.

The introduction of Doctor M’Benga, the Enterprise’s second surgeon!

McCoy’s native costume miraculously manages to stay much more securely fastened then it does on Captain Kirk.  :)

The doctor kills the Abdominal Snowman from the Rudolph Christmas special.

Standing next to the tall, well-muscled natives, tousle-headed Dr. McCoy looks about twelve.

Captain Kirk is poisoned, but Dr. McCoy takes care of him.

McCoy vehemently opposes Kirk’s desire to give the native people weapons and justly rages against teaching a peaceful people violence.

Righteously indignant McCoy is extremely attractive.

Then he gets shot with a riffle.

Tags: Landing-Party, Medic-McCoy, Period Dress, Physically Assaulted, M’Benga, Moved to Violence

| #20 – Return to Tomorrow Three disembodied beings take over Kirk, Spock, and a female officer in order to build themselves mechanical bodies. However, the being that takes over Spock is evil. A rare look at the breadth of Leonard Nimoy’s acting ability. McCoy is only a supporting character, but he has some wonderful moments.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

McCoy is upset that no one bothered to brief him on the situation, especially when Scotty voices his concern that they might beam down into solid rock.

McCoy’s famous fear of transporters makes an appearance when McCoy physically baulks at the edge of the transporter pad.

When Sargon takes over Kirk’s body, McCoy actually draws his phaser.

Having taken over the captain, Sargon compliments McCoy, giving him credit for the condition of Kirk’s body. Too true. :)

McCoy doesn’t approve of bodily possession by powerful alien life forms. Kirk browbeats him with an inspirational speech about exploration, risk, and the history of human potential.

Watch as McCoy manhandles everyone in his sickbay.

Medical log! On it, the doctor admits to a sense of foreboding, though nothing seems to be wrong. McCoy has killer intuition.

Catchphrase: “He’s dead.” Ironically, he is actually talking about Jim rather than to him.

The female being attempts to bribe McCoy with Jim’s life. He refuses, saying, “I will not peddle flesh; I’m a physician.” You tell her, McCoy.

Infuriated, the being calls McCoy a prancing, savage medicine man and says he should be worshiping them. Then she tortures him with her mind. Ouch.

It’s obvious that McCoy secretly holds Spock in high esteem. In this episode, watch him defend the Vulcan race (to not-Spock) and later refer to him as both a loyal officer and Kirk’s best friend. Aw.

Tags: Landing-Party, Moved to Violence, Nurse Chapel, Sickbay, Catchphrase, Assaulted, Omnipotent Being

#21 – Patterns of Force The infamous Nazi episode. A cultural observer sent by the Federation goes missing, and the Enterprise beams down to search for him. They find a contaminated culture and attempt to find out what happened.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

Having beamed down into the bizarre Earth-parallel, McCoy’s first reaction is to look at the Nazi uniforms his friends are wearing and demand, “What in blazes is this?”

Looking sharp in that tailored uniform, Dr. McCoy. Too bad your usual issue is a sweater.

McCoy refuses an order to administer drugs that might kill someone, so Kirk steals his hypo and does it himself. Don’t worry; the patient gets shot before he dies of side effects, so Kirk’s conscience can remain clear.

Spock and McCoy end the episode with the same old argument. Humans are great, blah, blah. Humans are corrupt, blah, blah.

Tags: Bridge-McCoy, Landing-Party, Spock-McCoy Banter, Medic-McCoy, Period Dress, Pinky-Ring, Human-Seeded Planet

#22 – By Any Other Name An invading race from the Andromeda galaxy takes over the Enterprise and reduces all non-essential personnel to geometric pieces of Styrofoam. This leaves the triumvirate + Scotty to take the ship back from the hostile Kelvans, who are temporarily inhabiting human bodies. They do this by means of alcohol, drugs, sex, and chess. I’ll give you one guess which “vice” each uses as a weapon.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

McCoy makes a comical face when Spock turns stiff as a board and falls over. Fortunately, he and the captain catch him.

Kirk and McCoy have their people “neutralized” before their eyes. McCoy rages that he had to watch four doctors and nurses killed. They get angry and yell at each other in a brief human outpouring of emotion.

One of the Kelvans, who are unused to the five senses, challenges McCoy about the inefficiency of eating food. McCoy snaps at him to try it before he knocked it, and then serves up colorful food chunks for the human look-alike.

Spock explains the Kelvan’s gung-ho “reaction” to the delicious food chunks. McCoy grunts, “If he keeps reacting like that, he’s going to need a diet.” Oh, McCoy, thou malignant distributer of diet regimens.

Not McCoy related, but Scotty gets caught up in his own charade, drinking every alcoholic beverage he owns, including a “very old scotch” which he later nuzzles affectionately.

McCoy contributes by giving one Kelvan a drug that makes him irritable.

In a very amusing scene, McCoy gets distracted by the beautiful woman propositioning Kirk and must be herded off by Spock.

Spock and McCoy consider holding Kirk back from a fist fight, but decide not to.

McCoy grins and does his bouncing thing once they figure out a way for everyone to live happily ever after.

Tags: Landing-Party, Medical Tunic, Pinky-Ring, Sickbay, Triumvirate, Medic-McCoy, Nurse Chapel, Hostile Alien

#23 – The Omega Glory A starship captain, whose entire crew died from a disease, makes the decision to break the prime directive by using his phaser in a planet’s civil war. Kirk’s duty is to arrest him, but instead he, Spock, and McCoy are captured. Yet another Earth parallel civilization.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

The medical tricorder comes out, and viewers discover how a person would look minus water. We are, according to McCoy, just a few pounds of chemicals.

Just so you know, McCoy is looking particularly young and handsome this episode.

McCoy is commandeered by the crazy captain to figure out a cure for death. He works on it while Spock and Kirk are in prison. A pretty woman even brings him dinner.  What’s going on, Star Trek? Usually it’s Kirk who gets the preferential treatment.

McCoy doesn’t even bat an eye when Kirk, having escaped from prison and bludgeoned several people, appears to rescue him. “Good morning, Jim,” he says, and goes back to his medical mystery. XD

Crazy captain noticed that the natives lived a very long time and jumped to the conclusion that a “cure” to aging must exist among them. McCoy, who figures out what is really going on in about five minutes, is contemptuous: “Leave medicine to medical men.”

Predictably, the episode ends with a bit of captain vs. captain hand-to-hand combat, which is supposed to prove who is lying since Good always triumphs over Evil.  From the sidelines, a worried McCoy shares a profound thought: “Spock, I’ve found that Evil usually triumphs, unless Good is very, very careful.”

Tags: Landing-Party, Pinky-Ring, Medic-McCoy, Cure-Find, Triumvirate, Human-Seeded Planet

#24 – The Ultimate Computer The Enterprise is given the “honor” of testing the latest computer technology, which is capable of running the ship with only a compliment of twenty men.  Unfortunately, the computer is so self-sufficient that it takes over completely.  Oops.

Rating: 5 (this is a truly great episode, all around).

Highlights:

Predictably, McCoy thinks that a computer that can run a starship is a bad idea.  Spock counters with, “the most unfortunately lack in current computer technology is that there is nothing to immediately replace the starship surgeon.” (This time, at least, it's apparent Spock is teasing).

Dr. Daystrom, the computer’s creator, takes an instant, if guardedly polite, disliking to Dr. McCoy (who did sort of snipe at his invention).  He suggests that the doctor leave, but Kirk corrects him, saying that McCoy had clearance in all parts of the ship.

McCoy teases Spock’s apparent infatuation with the new computer, saying, “Did you see the love-light in Spock’s eyes?  The right computer finally came along.”

It seems that Jim and Bones forgot about personal space in this episode.

Spock and McCoy both show great affection and concern for their captain, which is very touching.

Dr. McCoy goes after his grieving commander twice, once to offer humor and conversation, the other with a prescription of alcohol.

When the computer destroys a freighter, Dr. McCoy throws a (justified) tantrum.

Spock’s last gibe is a comment hypothesizing on what would happen if Dr. McCoy’s mind/essence was impressed upon a computer.  He is certain that the flood of illogic would be “fascinating.”  :)

Dr. Daystrom was a prodigy, receiving the Nobel Prize in his early twenties. McCoy rightly diagnoses him as intent on proving his early success wasn’t a fluke. It’s worth pointing out this has a connection to Dr. McCoy himself, who developed a neurosurgical technique still being used in Star Trek: Voyager, 120 years later. McCoy was twenty-six at the time he developed it.

Tag: Evil Computer, Medicinal Alcohol, Triumvirate, Spock-McCoy Banter, Bridge-McCoy, Counselor-McCoy, Pinky-Ring

#25 – Bread and Circuses Kirk-Spock-McCoy beam down to a planet whose development is very like an industrialized ancient Rome, complete with television broadcasted gladiator-style games and a system of slavery which has evolved to include healthcare.  Spock and McCoy are thrown into prison and forced to fight for their lives.  Kirk is offered a prostitute.  Life’s unfair, isn’t it?

Rating: 5

Highlights:

Warning: Spock and McCoy are both pretty snarky in this episode, and though there are some affirming moments, there’s also a lot of plain old meanness.

Dr. McCoy persists in talking about how logical everything is.  Spock makes faces and comments, “Doctor, if I were capable of emotion, your new infatuation with that term would begin to annoy me.”  Too late.

McCoy responds to the snipe by saying that medical men were trained in logic.  Spock immediately answers, “Trained, doctor? I has assumed by watching you that it was trial and error.” 

One of the slaves asks about McCoy and Spock, wondering, “Are they enemies, Captain?”  Kirk responds by saying that he wasn’t sure if even they knew.

Kirk is sneaky.  When the guards come, he comments on McCoy’s poor health.  It takes the doctor a moment to realize he’s been commissioned as a distraction.

Claudius measures out Spock and McCoy for their usefulness: he comments on his desire for more Vulcans in his arena, and bemoans the fact that he couldn’t let a healer of such advanced medical knowledge loose in the hospitals.

Claudius goes straight for Kirk’s jugular, threatening his friends with a slow death and ultimately forcing him to watch Spock and McCoy fight in the arena.

McCoy sucks at combat. Though the doctor protests that he needs any help, Spock comes to McCoy’s rescue during the fight, undoubtedly saving his life.

Spock and McCoy are prison inmates together for a while.  They fret miserably over Kirk, who is currently off in an opulent setting, sexing it up with a woman.

McCoy makes an awkwardly attempt to patch things up between them, but Spock isn’t very gracious.  Obviously feeling the brush off like the blow, the doctor responds with predicable anger, shouting, “I was trying to thank you, you pointy-eyed hobgoblin!”  Spock’s response is: “Oh, yes, humans have that emotional need to express gratitude.  ‘You’re welcome’, I believe, is the correct response.”

Spock continues with a cutting remark to the effect that he had only saved McCoy so that the efficiency of the ship would not have been reduced by the loss of its chief surgeon, “whatever I might think of his relative skill.”  It’s all so, so mean… :(

McCoy responds by shoving Spock against a wall, but ultimately, the two reconcile over the fact that they are both concerned for Kirk, their loyalty to whom both hold paramount.  He’s fine, however (eye roll).

Tag: Landing-Party, Spock-McCoy Banter, Human-seeded Planet, Physically Assaulted

#26 – Assignment Earth The Enterprise goes back to 1968 and end up interfering with a plan to prevent WWIII. Kirk and Spock are mere supporting characters. Gary Seven, secret agent extraordinaire, is the major player. It’s amusing to watch him deadpan to his alien cat, but as a Star Trek episode, it’s pretty disappointing.

Rating: 1

Highlights:

McCoy gets two close ups and briefly reports to the conference room. He also checks on a downed security guard. Total screen time: less than one minute.

Spock loves cats. That is all.

#6 – The Doomsday Machine There really isn’t anything wrong with this episode except Dr. McCoy isn’t involved.  In it, Commodore Decker takes command of the Enterprise after his own ship is crippled and crew killed.  Deranged by loss, he suicidally attacks while the crew watches helplessly.

Rating: 1

Highlights:

When the commodore takes control of the ship, we get a glimpse at just how much leeway Captain Kirk grants the ever-insubordinate Dr. McCoy.  Infuriated by Decker’s takeover, he demands that Spock do something about it.  In response, the commodore orders him off the bridge.  McCoy bounces on his feet and throws a temper tantrum, but is finally forced to follow orders.

#7 – Catspaw Kirk-Spock-McCoy go on a landing party adventure to investigate the disappearance of two other crewmen.  There, they are thrown in a dungeon, suffer from possession, and face witches, black cats, and sorcery.  A buddy episode; just plain fun.

Rating: 3 (but watch!)

Highlights:

After falling into a trap, Kirk, Spock, and McCoy wake up in an old-style dungeon, complete with chains and shackles.  The doctor seems particularly disturbed by his neighbor, the hanging skeleton.

Keenly observant psychologist Dr. McCoy shows early indication of understanding their enemy’s secret.  Unfortunately, he is brainwashed before he can share.

Poor McCoy is terrible at hand-to-hand combat, even when he is possessed.  Kirk thoroughly kicks the crap out of him…twice.  Quit hitting him already!  Gee.

Tags: Landing-Party, Mentally Assaulted, Kirk-Assaulted, Hostile Alien

#8 – I, Mudd An android takes over the ship and directs it to a planet where Harry Mudd (from “Mudd’s Women”) is being served by an army of mechanical women. Harry looses control of the androids, who decide to take over the universe. They plan to keep the crew on their planet forever, lulled by the fulfillment of their every wish. However, Kirk will not be pleased by anything other than the Enterprise.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

Within 72 hours of the man being aboard, McCoy rightly identifies the future hijacker. Spock is dismissive of his intuition.

The doctor puts his foot in his mouth trying to describe his bad feeling about the new recruit. Apparently he never smiles, never has conversations outside of ship business, and is overly private.

McCoy tries to backpedal, clarifying that it was only strange for a non-Vulcan. Spock remains unimpressed. He clips out, “I find your argument strewn with gaping defects in logic.”

We soon discover the real reason McCoy doesn’t like the newcomer: Like so many on board, the man has been avoiding his physical. :)

This is the first time Spock accuses McCoy of using “beads and rattles”.

The androids offer each crew member whatever they want. McCoy is offered an incredible research lab. Kirk is annoyed when McCoy seems cheerful about being on Plant Mudd their entire lives.

McCoy takes a great pleasure in hypoing poor Harry.

The crew decides to confuse the robots to death. They play invisible instruments, dance, and generally act bizarre.

“He’s dead, (Jim)”

The episodes ends as it began, with Spock-McCoy banter. Spock wins in the end by telling McCoy he doesn’t mind being surrounded by illogical humans, since nowhere else is he so desperately needed.

Tags: Spock-McCoy Banter, Landing-Party, Catchphrase, Robots

#9 – Metamorphosis Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are transporting a Federation ambassador to the Enterprise for medical care. Unfortunately, a sentient cloud abducts the shuttle and strands them on an asteroid. They attempt to reason with their captor and discover that it's a girl cloud. Kirk plays matchmaker and everyone lives happily (and illogically) ever after.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

McCoy uses his medical tricorder to monitor his patient’s condition, then attempts to defend Starfleet Medical when she blames its inefficiency for her rare illness.

McCoy’s patient is very grumpy, but he still looks after her patiently.

Spock receive a “quaint” electrical shock, but he is fine. He and McCoy come up with a plan based on this experience.

Kirk’s first instinct is to KILL. McCoy suggests Kirk has so often been a soldier that he’s forgotten to be a diplomat. He reminds him that a carrot can work better than a stick. I really enjoyed hearing this advice. It seemed very like McCoy.

Minus 10 points for the immaterial ion cloud being a female cliché.

Tags: Medic-McCoy, Triumvirate, Omnipotent Being

#10 – Journey to Babel Spock’s mommy and daddy are aboard the Enterprise, along with a number of other ambassadors.  However, amidst the warmongering, quarrels, and family drama, a murder takes place, and Sarek is among the chief suspects.  Then he has a heart attack, and McCoy must fix him.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

Dr. McCoy gets tutoring from Spock, but still cannot manage the Vulcan salute…aborted attempt is adorkable.

The doctor cannot seem to keep from interrogating Spock’s parents about his childhood.  Spock’s mommy divulges he had a teddy bear and McCoy goes :D.

The doctor manages a successful open heart surgery… turbulence notwithstanding!

Spock’s mommy sort of reminds me of Dr. McCoy.  She rants about logic and has emotional outbursts.

By the end of the episode, the doctor has managed to manhandle Kirk, Spock, and Sarek into sickbeds. Ha!

Tags: Surgeon-McCoy, Dress Uniform, Medical Jumpsuit, Sickbay

#11 – Friday’s Child Kirk, Spock, and McCoy are ambassadors to a planet where Dr. McCoy was stationed as a young doctor.  The three must avoid breaking the warrior race’s elaborate rules of etiquette, all while outmaneuvering the competing diplomat – a Klingon.  Unfortunately, they end up in the middle of a coup, and are forced to run for their lives with the former leader’s pregnant wife.

Rating: Strong 5

Highlights:

We know from cannon that, before Dr. McCoy was CMO of the Enterprise, he spent time as a young doctor traveling as part of an emergency medical team.  This episode gives us one example (see also the novel, Shadows on the Sun by Michael Jan Friedman).

When a redshirt dies almost immediately upon arriving on the planet, McCoy holds Kirk back from a rash reaction. Later, when they’re alone, Kirk rounds on him, making it clear he felt the responsibility was on McCoy. The doctor takes it, finally saying, “Look, Jim, I know what it means to you to loose a crewman.” Kirk doesn’t let up; Spock looks on with disapproval but also understanding.

Kirk later apologizes, and McCoy graciously accepts. Spock puts in his two cents by declaring the captain’s emotional reaction “inefficient”. Kirk takes it with good grace.

McCoy the diplomat demonstrates his knowledge of the alien’s warrior culture and uses it to humiliate the Klingon Ambassador.

The leader’s pregnant wife refuses to let anyone touch her, going so far as to repeatedly slap McCoy when he tries to help her.  So he slaps her back.

Deeply impressed by Dr. McCoy’s ability to judge her condition with only a touch, the woman decides that he must have magic hands and becomes clingy.  Spock disapproves.  McCoy disapproves when she won’t let anyone else touch her and he has to haul her pregnant behind all over the landscape.

McCoy the midwife.

Spock is frightened of infants, which the doctor thoroughly enjoys.

The woman informs Spock and Kirk that McCoy is the father of her child.

One of the most comical dialogues in the show occurs when McCoy coos at the baby (“Coochi-coochi-coo”) and Spock is befuddled.  Captain Kirk informs him that it is an obscure Earth dialect, and that if he was curious, he should consult linguistics.  Oh, Captain Kirk.

The newborn leader of the planet is named Leonard James Akaar.  :) I actually wrote a whole story about this kid meeting up with McCoy as an older child.

Tags: Landing-Party, Moved to Violence, Backstory, Medic-McCoy, Papa-McCoy, Blame-Game

#12 – The Deadly Years After visiting a scientific colony, the landing party begins rapidly aging.  Spock and McCoy race against time to discover a cure before they all die of “natural causes” or Kirk looses his ability to command.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

One of the rare moments when we see the crew coming to Dr. McCoy for medical help is in this episode. His reassuring nature and charm are in evidence.

At one point, Kirk teases McCoy about going grey, to which the doctor snaps, “You take over my job and see what happens to you!”

Kirk comes to McCoy with a hurting shoulder, which he suggests is due to strain.  “Thank you, doctor,” McCoy snipes in response. “By the way, I don’t like the way you’ve been running this ship lately.”  This whole scene is great, actually.  I enjoy when Bones plays doctor to his friend, and their dialogue is so warm.

Little ancient Kirk is an angry, senile geezer.  McCoy is crotchety and eccentric, but aside from snapping more often, he doesn’t really change much.  :)

McCoy, at first, profoundly and vehemently protests the competency hearing against the captain, but eventually he has to admit reality.

The (little old man) Kirk-Spock-McCoy brain trust initiates the conversation which allows Dr. McCoy to recall an ancient medical practice which cures them.

McCoy is always so willing to test his own potentially-fatal drugs.

Some fun Spock-McCoy teasing to wrap up the episode.  Oh, doctor.

Tags: Cure-Find, Landing-Party, Spock-McCoy Tag Team, Crew Rapport, Medic-McCoy, Spock-McCoy Banter, Sickbay

#13 – Obsession While exploring an uninhabited planet, a cloud-like alien entity drains two crewmen of their hemoglobin. It is apparently the same creature that caused casualties on Kirk’s first deep-space assignment, and he becomes fixated on destroying it.  Deeply concerned, Spock and McCoy wonder if his command ability has been compromised.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

Kirk is not immediately forthcoming about what he knows.  McCoy watches his erratic behavior with a wary discernment and handles him carefully.  Definitely a Captain-CMO interaction.

Time in sickbay! See McCoy-Chapel rapport.

After Kirk lashes out at a young ensign for freezing in the face of the apparition, McCoy privately defends him.  Kirk requests that Spock and McCoy put all their comments in a report, effectively ignoring their concern.

Spock and McCoy meet to discuss Kirks obsession. Spock begins by asking for advice (McCoy: *heart attack*), but really he’s just recruiting him.

Having considered Spock’s info, psychologist McCoy confronts the captain about his fanatical behavior.  This ends sadly with a devastatingly official McCoy-Spock tag team. Such painful use of titles. :(

When a ensign refuses food, Chapel threatens him with McCoy’s one-word prescription – Eat – further stipulating that non-compliance would result in being feed intravenously. Bad Christine, using your boss’ reputation that way! :)

When the hunt for the creature results in another death, McCoy lashes out at the captain for his choices in his typical passionate defense of life.  However, when Spock confirms Kirk’s belief that the creature was a deliberate and intelligent attacker, McCoy apologizes for his temper.

Tag: CMO!McCoy, Nurse Chapel, Sickbay, Spock-McCoy Tag Team, Hostile Alien

#14 – Wolf in the Fold In this rare Scotty-centric adventure, Scott is accused of killing the prostitute with whom he was…ahem, never mind.  During the proceeding investigation, he continues to be framed for a series of other murders. But who – or what – are really causing them?

Rating: 4

Highlights:

Kirk, McCoy, and Scotty – that trio of hedonists – spend time in a speakeasy, watching a woman belly-dance in nothing but rubber bands and tinsel.

Overuse of McCoy’s trademark phrase: “He/She’s dead, Jim.”

In a somewhat cool twist, the actual cause is a SPOILER which has to do with Jack the Ripper.  I don’t want to ruin it for you.

As a protective measure, the entire crew gets a happy-injection to prevent them from feeling fear.  McCoy intends to stay clear-headed, but the captain insists he join the ship full of grinning gigglers.

Before he can be intercepted, hazy, tranquilized McCoy approaches the knife-wielding murderer, proclaiming, “Be careful or you’ll hurt someone with that thing!”  Fortunately, it just chucks a hostage at him, which he finds very funny.

Tags: Catchphrase, Fearless-McCoy

#15 – The Trouble with Tribbles Though quite famous and definitely worth watching, this is mostly a humorous interlude with only a begrudging minimum of McCoy.  It does have a number of truly good moments, however, so indulge me if I mention one or two without the good doctor.

Rating: 2 (but watch anyway).

Highlights:

My favorite Kirk moment is in this episode, when Scotty gives his explanation for why he had started a fight on shore leave.  Poor Jim – nobody loves him.

Upon finding the small myriad of tribbles that Uhura had bred on the Enterprise, Spock picks up one of the creatures and comments that their trilling sound had a tranquillizing effect on the human nervous system.  “Fortunately,” he states, slowly stroking one of them with a hazy expression. “I am…immune.”

McCoy dissects his tribble.

In the lab, the doctor and Spock argue over the creatures.  Ever a defender of the inherent value of life, McCoy snaps, “Does everything have to have a practical use with you?  They’re nice, soft, and furry, and they make a pleasant sound. It's a human characteristic to love little animals.”  Spock’s retaliatory snipe about being inundated with human emotion causes devolution into real pettiness, but it is nonetheless entertaining to watch.

Tribbles are born pregnant and cry in the presence of Klingons. :)

#1 – Amok Time One of the most well-known episodes, in which Spock begins going through pon farr, a kind of Vulcan heat which adult males suffer every seven years.  He must consummate his betrothal to his intended bondmate…or die.  Unfortunately, his Intended isn’t too thrilled with him and forces Spock to fight for her.  Her chosen champion?  Kirk.

Rating: 5

Highlights:

McCoy is an attentive physician.  He's the first to bring attention to Spock’s symptomatic behavior, though Kirk doesn’t take him seriously and Spock apparently warns him, “You shall cease to pry into my personal matters, Doctor, or I shall surely break your neck.”

The doctor fights for Spock’s health, both with Spock himself when he refuses to be examined and with Kirk to get Spock home once he's certain the First Officer will die – even though he doesn’t know for certain what's wrong and faces the captain’s ridicule.

After requesting Kirk go with him to Vulcan, Spock relates that it was his right to be accompanied by his closest friends.  He then clears his throat and manages, “I also request McCoy.”  The doctor takes a moment to process his surprise before saying that he would be honored.

Clever McCoy saves the day by lying to everyone. :)

Tags: Medic-McCoy, Sickbay, Nurse Chapel

#2 – Who Mourns for Adonis This is actually one of my favorite episodes, artistically speaking.  In it, Kirk and his crew encounter a being who calls himself Apollo and greets them as his children. The way it comes to be understood, he was among a group of space travelers who visited earth during the time of ancient Greece and formed a foundation for the myths of those gods. The episode is a fascinating look at the way mankind has grown…and, also, perhaps the things mankind has lost in the pursuit of asserting its independence.

Rating: 3 (definitely worth watching at least once, end to end).

Highlights:

McCoy and Kirk chat about Scotty’s interest in a female lieutenant. With some concern for the engineer, McCoy observes that she didn’t seem particularly interested, remarking, “I’m not sure I like that.”

Not McCoy related, but amidst such catchy lines as, “You seem wise for a woman”, it seems right to acknowledge the fact that it is Scotty, rather than the female lieutenant, who is chastised by Kirk for being ruled by his hormones. As he says, “She is doing her job, now you do you yours.”

Amidst their life-threatening tiff with a god, McCoy comments on the fact that Chekov the Encyclopedia is being contaminated by Spock.

McCoy gets a lot of legwork on this mission as a field medic and as a xenobiologist.

Every so often, Star Trek manages some spectacularly poignant endings. They are rarely happy, but they are probably what made this show great in its time, moreso than any alien costuming or space firefight.

Downside: As the episode opens, McCoy comments that the lieutenant was a woman, and therefore is destined to leave the service when she found a man…but, considering that Kirk, Spock, and McCoy all became depressed, lonely, career-military messes (who died alone, in three separate universes), perhaps the ladies of archaic Trek had their priorities in the right place.

Tags: Omnipotent Being, Bridge-McCoy, Medical Tunic, Pinky-ring, Medic-McCoy

#3 – The Changeling Once again, Kirk finds himself reasoning a computer to death. This particular computer is a damaged Earth probe which believes it must sterilize the parasitic biological organisms infesting the Enterprise. In the process, it destroys four planetary populations, kills Scotty and two security guards, and completely wipes Uhura’s mind. Yet somehow the mood of the episode stays fairly lighthearted… Life can be cheap in the Star Trek universe sometimes.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

The probe asks if McCoy is one of Kirk’s units. Kirk agrees, and Nomad informs him that the unit “McCoy” was functioning irrationally. Kirk: “Sometimes.”  McCoy: >:(

McCoy is outraged when they realize that the probe has destroyed four populated planets. No one else seems very moved.

Kirk, Spock, and McCoy brain trust!

Catchphrase: “He’s dead, Jim.”

McCoy allows the probe to bring Scotty back from the dead since that isn’t one of his many abilities. He’s a doctor, not a necromancer.

When Kirk tells McCoy to explain how Scotty returned from the dead, Spock has one of his rare playful moments. “Well, Doctor?” he asked. Flustered, McCoy bounces on his toes and demands a full physical.

McCoy becomes furious with the Nomad when it can’t also repair Lt. Uhura. Spock prevents him from exploding, but later “apologizes” for having to interrupt. It’s nice when Spock or McCoy makes the effort to sooth hurt feelings.

Tags: Medical Tunic, Pinky-Ring, Triumvirate, Catchphrase, Bridge-McCoy, Sickbay, Medic-McCoy, Nurse Chapel, Evil Computer, Fatality

#4 – Mirror, Mirror An extremely famous episode about an alternate universe.  Caught in a transporter beam during an ion storm, Captain Kirk and his landing party (Scotty, Uhura, McCoy) find themselves in a dark dimension where everyone’s personality is opposite of the real Enterprise.

Rating: 5

Highlights:

The very premise is absorbing enough to make this episode worth watching.  Details include: strange uniforms, the agonizer booth, assassination attempts, and Spock with a beard.

We never see much of Mirror McCoy, but Mirror Spock does speak of him when seeking information.  In this exchange, he threatens, “Dr. McCoy has a plentitude of human weaknesses - sentimental, soft. You may not tell me what I want to know, but he will.”

Radiant moment: Even after being attacked by him, Dr. McCoy refuses to leave a concussed Mirror Spock, insisting that he be given time to save his life.

The doctor’s insistence gives Mirror Spock the opportunity he’d been seeking, and, pushing McCoy against a wall, he forces a mind-meld.

McCoy is delivered to the transporter room by Mirror Spock and guided to the transporter pad by Scotty. No overt explanation is given for his disorientation.

Back in the regular universe, the recovered landing party considers what made it possible for them to “pass” in the Mirror universe, while their evil counterparts were almost immediately apprehended.  Spock reflects that, while it was possible for civilized men to act like barbarians, it was much more difficult for barbarians to pass as civilized men.

Tags: Mentally Assaulted, Sickbay, Medic-McCoy, Transporter Malfunction

#5 – The Apple An Enterprise landing party arrives in the Garden of Eden (an alien paradise planet) where people have no violence, no vices, and where they do not age.  The people there are ruled by a computer named Vaal, in perfect peace.  The crew proceeds to facilitate the Fall of Man.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

Warning: Exceptionally large landing party.  Those poor red shirts.

When Spock is resuscitated after receiving a lethal dose of poison, he complains that “like all Dr. McCoy’s potions” the cure had turned his stomach.

Like the physician he is, McCoy gets a little grabby when his patient assumes himself to be perfectly well.

After being informed that Vaal had outlawed “touching and holding” – in a word, reproduction and sex – McCoy mutters, “There goes paradise.”

McCoy and Spock have their usual philosophic debate – McCoy chimes in as the champion of freedom, change, and universal human rights.  Spock retorts by inferring he is closed-minded – that the people were happy and healthy within their chosen system.  The doctor gets pissy and pronounces that it was wrong, just wrong, for intelligent humanoid beings to serve a computer.

Spock is forced to explain the “Birds and the Bees.”  He makes this face – o_o –  and then stammers that he supposed the people would be given “instructions.”  McCoy finds this whole scenario very funny.

McCoy informs Spock that he had not been seriously hurt when he was struck by lightning, however, the burns probably did smart.  Somewhat hoarsely, Spock responds, “Doctor, you have an unsurpassed talent for understatement.”

It seems like Spock personally blames McCoy for all human ills, including murder.  This seems unfair, considering Vulcan’s history.

#21 – The Return of the Archons It amazes me the amount of times that McCoy and the other members of the Enterprise crew have their minds taken over by various alien entities.  In this episode, the landing party beams down into a wild mating festival willed by a computer named Landru, ‘who’ rules the planet’s human population, collectively called “the Body.”

Rating: 4

Highlights:

McCoy’s overlarge medical tunic makes him look about twelve-years-old.  XD

True to his nature, McCoy recognizes a missing crew member and then won’t leave him, even when it’s clear that he’s been “absorbed”.

For reasons unknown, when Landru selects a crewman to separate from the others to brainwash, it chooses McCoy.  Typically.

Kirk likes it when McCoy is brainwashed.  Then he gets to beat him up.  I’ve stopped believing the regretful noises he makes.

Spock finds out one cannot mind-meld with someone whose brain has been squished by Landru.  Poor McCoy.

Tags: Evil Computer, Mentally Assaulted, Mind Meld, Medical Tunic, Kirk-Assaulted

#22 – Space Seed In short, the introduction of Khan, though I enjoy this episode for a different reason. It has a scene that elegantly portrays both McCoy’s special brand of wit and his understated, defiant courage.  After all, when someone threatens to slit your throat with a knife, I bet you don’t helpfully point out where all the right arteries are.

Rating: 5 (plus, just a good episode all around)

Highlights:

McCoy the psychologist makes an appearance, in conjunction with Kirk seeking advice about a crew member.

McCoy loudly complains about how he signed on to practice medicine, and not to have his atoms scrambled in a transporter.

Radiant Moment: Khan makes a hostage of his doctor and then declares him courageous – seriously, one of the must-see moments for McCoy.

Sweet Uhura-Bones interaction. She holds onto his shoulders like she’s checking him. He does act as though something is wrong; no explanation.

He later makes a heartwarming, if ineffectual, attempt to protect poor, battered Uhura.

Tags:  Fearless-McCoy, Sickbay, Medical Tunic, Conselor-McCoy

#23 – A Taste of Armageddon A truly good episode with a fascinating premise. The Enterprise tries to initiate diplomatic relationships with two planets who claim to have been at war for five hundred years. However, their “war” is a virtual one. After the computer registers an attack, “casualties” must report to disintegration chambers. When the Enterprise and her crew are “destroyed” and required to report to their deaths, Captain Kirk must change a whole way of life and start a real war in order to save them all.

Rating: 2

Highlights:

Worried by the lack of communication with the landing party, McCoy tries to convince Scotty to take action. When Scotty asks if the doctor would have him open fire, he calms down and says, “Of course not.”

During this brief exchange, McCoy claims to be a doctor and not an officer of the line. This leads to some interesting questions about his status on board. Historically, the ship’s surgeon was a non-commissioned officer, who therefore couldn’t gain rank. Yet McCoy is a lieutenant commander, and eventually becomes a commander and later still an admiral. However, since he didn’t attend the academy, where does his rank come from? 'Tis a puzzlement.

For the rest of the episode, McCoy stands around on the bridge and looks handsome.

Tags: Bridge-McCoy, Human-Seeded Planet

#24 – This Side of Paradise I abhor this episode, mostly because it disturbs me to witness poor, spore-infected Spock having sex with a random human love-interest and then proclaiming that this artificial haze was the first time he was ever happy.  The episode does have its moments however, like when Dr. McCoy gets into a fist fight after being told that paradise had no need for doctors.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

We learn that Dr. McCoy had his tonsils taken out in his youth, which he later re-grows due to the effect of the spores.

There is a particularly funny exchange between Kirk and McCoy about Spock after the Vulcan starts acting strangely. Kirk teases McCoy about his concern, saying, “I thought you said you’d like him better if he mellowed.” McCoy: “I did not!” Kirk: “I heard you say that.” McCoy: “Not exactly!”  Of course, the doctor’s shield is thin as a sheet, since after only a short pause, he mutters, “He might be in trouble.”

McCoy comes to fisticuffs with paradise’s crazy leader when told that the colony needed no healers since no one would ever be sick. 

Tag: Moved to Violence. Landing-Party, Human-Seeded Planet

#25 – The Devil in the Dark This episode suffers from a serious lack of McCoy, but I suggest it nonetheless for two reasons.  For one, it includes the discovery of a race called the Horta, which are essentially living rocks.  This is significant because it serves as part of the back story for the Star Trek novel, The Romulon Way by Diane Duane and Peter Morwood, which includes a Horta character who works closely with Dr. McCoy.  It's also revealed in that novel that the doctor is responsible for medical breakthroughs which allow the Horta to live in environments where they are exposed to oxygen.  I also suggest the episode because it’s just plain entertaining, though most of the best dynamic is Kirk-Spock.

Rating: 2 (though I suggest skimming, at the very least).

Highlights:

Dr. McCoy is called upon to heal a rock – and, ingeniously, he manages.  As he puts it in his own words: “Jim, I’m starting to think I can heal a rainy day!”

Spock experiences vanity and then gets pissy about it (forgive me, but there is simply no other word to describe his highly amusing reaction). After remarks pass about the relative attractiveness of pointy ears, the captain remarks that Spock’s modesty “doesn’t bear close examination” and, subsequently, that he was “becoming more human every day”).

Tag: Medic-McCoy, Landing-Party, Human-Seeded Planet

#26 – Errand of Mercy A Kirk and Spock adventure. War breaks out with the Klingons, and the Enterprise must prevent a supposed primitive planet from coming under their control. Eventually, both the Klingons and the Enterprise get a spanking from the much-superior beings with whom they have attempted to interfere, and the war ends abruptly.

Rating: 0 (complete no-show)

#27 – The Alternative Factor The Enterprise encounters a man named Lazarus who claims to be pursuing an evil creature. However, his headaches shake the ship and he doesn’t always seem to be the same person. Is it possible that he is able to tear the entire universe apart at the seams? Well, maybe.

Rating; 3

Highlights:

McCoy facetiously calls himself a “bright young medic with Asclepius’ own touch”. Hee hee.

This is also the source of McCoy’s famous statement that he is “just an old country doctor”.

It was annoying that Kirk dismisses McCoy so easily when he tries to warn the captain about Lazerus.

McCoy defends his patient, demanding, “Would you get that muscle man out of my sickbay!” when a security officer remains to loom.

Tags: Catchphrase, Sickbay, Medic-McCoy

#28 – The City on the Edge of Forever If you’re looking to break into Star Trek, this is the episode to watch.  It is one of the most complete, well-woven tales in the series, with an intensely interesting plot and excellent development for all three main characters, including McCoy.  It begins when the doctor is accidentally injected with a mind-altering drug, and, while delusional, he runs head first through a portal into the past.  Spock and Kirk go after him in hopes of correcting the timeline and saving their future.

Rating: Strong 5

Highlights:

Delusional Dr. McCoy rants about the barbaric medical customs of the past.  You just can’t help but love him after watching him hugging a concrete pole and crying over the very idea of needles and sutures.

After realizing he’s been hallucinating, a very ill Dr. McCoy tells a woman he’s a doctor from space, and when she kindly rebuffs him, he responds philosophically: “That’s okay, I don’t believe in you either.”

Not Dr. McCoy related, but the Kirk-Spock interaction in this episode is crazy good.  Especially Kirk’s sly manipulation, and his First Officer’s exasperation as he labors over his impossible assignment of creating a computer out of “stone knives and bearskins.”

Charming McCoy is very charming.  You can see how he might give Kirk a run for his money if he weren’t so grumpy all the time.

The reunion between the three is brief but great.  McCoy practically tackles Jim, and everyone is hysterically glad to see each other until…

The devastating final scene when Kirk is forced to stop McCoy from changing history and destroying the future. Whoa.

Tag: Hurt/Comfort, Bridge-McCoy, Medic-McCoy, Time Travel

#29 – Operation: Annihilate Space parasites attach to human hosts and drive them crazy with pain before killing them.  Kirk’s brother and family are affected, as well as Spock.  Dr. McCoy spends the episode looking for some way to free them, and though they find the answer, it is at a seemingly incredible price.  A truly great buddy episode for Kirk-Spock-McCoy, with some (sad) Kirk-McCoy and (amicable) Spock-McCoy moments too.

Rating: Strong 5 (WATCH)

Highlights:

McCoy is attentive to the intensity of Kirk’s emotional investment in the mission, correctly deducing that it was his family connections causing him to lash out.

On the planet, we see one of the few times the doctor actually uses his phaser. Shock!

Dr. McCoy is in fine surgical form (complete with scrubs!) and also shows off his even more rarely seen abilities as a science officer.

Spock, while under the control of the parasite, accosts the bridge in a huge pile-up of redshirts, helmsmen, and Captain Kirk.  Dr. McCoy observes sedately until Nurse Chapel arrives with his medkit.  Then he hypos Spock to the floor.  He’s a doctor, after all, not a professional wrestler.  :)

When Kirk demands that Dr. McCoy help his nephew and Spock at any cost, the doctor responds with his usual perspective, reminding the captain of his duty to the other 100,000 colonists also affected.

It’s always enjoyable to see Dr. McCoy fussing over an injured Kirk or Spock, which he does in this episode – obstinately and a lot.

Dr. McCoy vehemently protests Spock’s use as a guinea pig and his undergoing the test without protective lenses.  Kirk overrides him, yet when it becomes clear that Spock has been blinded, the captain hisses the most pained and infuriated, “Bones.”  McCoy is obviously devastated.  This whole scene kills.

Crisis averted, Kirk checks in on Spock and then makes a tentative attempt to reconcile with McCoy.  The doctor doesn’t answer.  SO sad.

Spock doesn’t stay blind of course, and a very comical dialogue unfolds when Kirk comments that regaining eyesight would be an emotional experience for most.  Spock replies that he had, indeed, had a strong reaction, as his first vision was the face of Dr. McCoy.  Oh, Spock. Your sense of humor is so oblique and yet simultaneously petty.  XD

At the close, the doctor implores of Kirk not to tell Spock that he had called him “the finest First Officer in the fleet”.  But, of course, Spock overhears.  Apparently, Vulcans aren’t taught to be gracious when complimented.

#11 – The Menagerie Part 1 Spock commandeers the ship and puts in on route to a forbidden planet in aid of his former commander, Captain Pike. When called to court martial, he uses recordings of a 13-year-old mission to explain his actions. In summary: A flashback episode, with Captain Pike, Number One, and Science Officer (but not yet First Officer) Spock.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

When nothing can be done for the paralyzed Pike, McCoy gives a minor rant “blasting” medicine for being able to manipulate and understand every organ but the brain.

A troubled Kirk begins to doubt Spock’s word, and, surprisingly, it is McCoy who jumps vehemently to his defense. He defends both his character as an individual and his integrity as a Vulcan. It’s a pretty compelling argument for the idea that, as much as McCoy teases him about his ancestry, the doctor holds great respect for Spock.

In the course of their argument, Kirk makes a rather biting remark, saying that if he felt McCoy had the ability, he would suspect even the doctor – but he didn’t. McCoy takes it with grace, however.

McCoy is maneuvered back onto the ship by Spock. The doctor is suspicious, but never directly opposes Spock, obviously still having faith in him.

His faith does not waver until Spock requests that McCoy, as the highest ranking officer, place him under arrest for mutiny and treason. Dumbfounded, McCoy can barely bring himself to do it. He outright refuses to put Spock in the brig, saying, “Confined to quarters. Will that be enough?”

Tags: Bridge-McCoy, Dress Uniform

#12 – The Menagerie Part 2 A continuation of the above episode. Spock convinces Kirk to watch the rest of the recordings. Flashback journey continues.

Rating: 0

Highlights:

Not McCoy related, but a tidbit you might not know is that the actress who plays Nurse Chapel also played Captain Pike’s “Number One”. She is stunningly effective in this role and it’s too bad that the world wasn’t ready for her (the role of First Officer was given to Spock after the unaired pilot received complaints about the ship having a strongly logical, female authority figure).

Tags: No-McCoy

#13 – The Conscious of the King The famous Tarsus IV episode. Kirk encounters a traveling actor whom he suspects to be the former governor of Tarsus IV, who came to be known as “the Butcher” and killed 50% of the Earth colonists on that planet – a tragedy that is part of Kirk’s personal history.

Rating: 2 (rather “eh”)

Highlights:

A strange episode, honestly. Everyone seems a little out of sorts or outright out of character. It’s redeeming factor is the rare Spock-McCoy interaction:

Spock’s first attempts to consult McCoy about the discrepancies in the Captain’s behavior is – disappointingly – not taken very seriously. It doesn’t show any of the later absolute trust and wordless synchronization these two are capable of when it comes to their mutual friend and commander (See Turnabout Intruder).

Not one to give up, Spock goes after McCoy again. They take a stroll down an abandoned corridor and Spock gets touchy in his attempt to be convincing. It’s interesting because it’s among the first times we see these two sharing confidences this way.

Spock then proceeds to get pushy and order McCoy around. :)

McCoy plays a rare role as a mediator between an stubborn Vulcan and a ruffled Jim. Notably, he takes Spock’s side, declaring it was his job to question the dubious actions his captain had recently undertaken.

He also advises his friend against revenge. One particularly outstanding remark McCoy makes is, “What if you do decide he’s Codos, what then? Do you decide to play God, carry his head through the corridors in triumph? That won’t bring back the dead, Jim!”

Tags: Medical Tunic, Bridge-McCoy, Spock-McCoy Tag Team

#14 – Balance of Terror The Enterprise receives distress signals from outposts monitoring the neutral zone that separates Earth Space from Romulan space. For the first time since the end of a century old war, these two old adversaries come together and Kirk finds himself facing a commander very like himself.

Rating: 2 (with one very redeeming moment).

Highlights:

In the war meeting, McCoy is predictably on the side of peace, cautioning (read ferociously arguing) that it would be foolish to fight a century old war based on their biased knowledge of a people they didn't even know.

There is a defining moment where McCoy encounters Jim, troubled in his quarters. There, he tells Kirk something that seems to be the root of his entire character: That in the millions of millions of galaxies and Earth type planets, there was only one of each of us. You can feel the strength of his conviction about the sanctity of individual life – and not just life itself, but in each person as a unique and valuable being.

Tags: Bridge-McCoy, Medical Tunic, Sickbay, Counselor-McCoy

#15 – Shore Leave The Enterprise Crew puts down for leave on a planet which generates one’s fantasies.  At first, the manifestations seem only puzzling – Alice and the White Rabbit, for example – but they soon take a serious turn when crew members imagine tigers, revolvers, and armed knights on horseback.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

McCoy is the first to “hallucinate”, and clearly thinks he’s loosing his mind after hearing a huge white rabbit speak.  He demonstrates real faith in his own mental integrity however, because – while he jokes about being unfit for duty – he clearly believes that he had indeed seen something and asks for help to confirm.

The doctor has a little girlfriend in Yeoman Barrows during this episode. It’s light and flirtatious.

The fantasy turns suddenly bleak when Dr. McCoy is killed by a knight in shinning armor.  Everyone is stunned and upset.

Without spoiling critically, I can’t go on. Just know that it has something to do with showgirls.  :)

Downside: Lots of clingy, dependent females.  Boo.

Tags: Landing-Party, Rascal!McCoy, Assaulted, McCoy-Romance

#16 – The Galileo Seven A shuttle craft crew, lead by Spock, crash lands on an uninhabited planet. With no possibility of rescue, the damaged craft must reach orbit, something it cannot do unless three passengers are left behind. Spock tries to command the crew logically, but the emotional behavior of his human subordinates interferes.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

McCoy is one of the shuttle crew. He takes atmospheric readings at Spock’s request, and provides basic medical assessment after the crash.

Spock and McCoy have a chat in which McCoy questions Spock about the benefits of a purely logic-based command.

Logic runs into problems right away. When they realize some must stay behind, Spock rejects the “quaint” idea of drawing lots. A crewman makes a scathing remark about his head being put together wrong. McCoy mutters, “Not his head. His heart.”

McCoy makes a few dissenting noises, though nothing particularly insubordinate. Mostly, he attempts to reign in Spock’s more glaring breeches of humanity. For example, when Spock refuses to speak rites for a dead crewman.

As a side note, Spock harbors some ethical contradictions (or perhaps they’re biases). On one hand, he seems outright callous of his subordinates’ lives, and yet he rails almost angrily against any violence toward their animal-like attackers. Um, Spock…

Spock does make mistakes, but the others are clearly out of line. However, it takes a science officer making a remark about Spock’s dead body for McCoy and Scotty to jump to their friend’s defense.

I read an article in (go ahead, laugh) Star Trek and Philosophy: The Wrath of Kant wherein the author argues for logic because, in this episode, Spock overlooks his crew’s unprofessionalism and insults and still risks his life to look for a missing man. McCoy comments on this too, saying, “I don’t know. He’ll risk his neck locating Gitano, then if he finds him, he’s just as liable to order him to stay behind.”  It certainly speaks for Spock’s character, but I don’t think it proves the superiority of logic, since only a short time later, Spock’s emotional comrades refuse a direct order to abandon him under fire, despite their frustration with him. So which motivated them: logic or emotional attachment to a comrade? Inconclusive.

When informed that they would surely die, Scotty says plaintively, “But, Mr. Spock, you said there were always alternatives.” Pausing, the Vulcan replies, “I may have been mistaken.” The doctor’s response? “Well, at least I lived long enough to hear that.”

At the end of the episode, Kirk and McCoy prowl around Spock on the bridge and try to get him to admit to committing an act of desperation. In one of his most charming around-the-bushes evasions, Spock insists that, having run out of other options, an act of desperation was the only logical course. Kirk asks, “You reasoned that it was time for an emotional outburst?” XD

Tags: Landing-Party, Hostile Alien

#17 – The Squire of Gothos The Enterprise is waylaid by the Squire of Gothos, a seemingly “unreal” being who claims to be an Earth enthusiast. He attempts to play war with Kirk, but his attempts are ruled by a certain immaturity.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

When Captain Kirk disappears, McCoy makes a very command-appropriate request to search the planet, which he immediately follows with a much more in-character, “What are we waiting for!”

Spock’s response to this outburst is endearing. He denies McCoy’s request for a hasty beam-down, saying, “I am responsible for your safety.”

In spite of Spock’s initial hesitation, McCoy does end up in the landing party. He is present in nearly all of the episode’s remaining scenes.

I found it sweet how Uhura leans on McCoy when they’re threatened.

Not McCoy related, but Spock is pretty awesome in this episode. For example, after a xenophobic remark, the Squire asks if Vulcans were also predators. Spock responds quite pointedly, “Not generally, but we have been known to make exceptions.”

Tags: Landing-Party, Omnipotent Being

#18 – Arena Though often highly spoken of as a quintessential Star Trek episode, I failed to see any special draw.  Part of this is because I struggle with a single-character focus, rarely finding any one person strong enough to stand on their own, and this is definitely a Kirk-only episode. 

Rating: 1

Highlights:

At the beginning of the episode, Spock accuses Dr. McCoy of being a sensualist, to which he enthusiastically responds, “You bet your pointy ears I am.”  Mostly, it’s just funny when he bounces.

After Kirk does not die, McCoy is visibly if wordlessly relieved and gives his captain a meaningful clap on the shoulder.

Note: I feel the need to point out that when Dr. McCoy claims to have delivered Gorn octuplets in Star Trek: Into Darkness, this is the creature he was talking about.

Tags: Hostile Alien, Rascal-McCoy

#19 – Tomorrow is Yesterday Knocked back in time, the Enterprise is spotted by a modern day (that is, modern for Star Trek) fighter pilot named Christopher. They're forced to bring him aboard, and then can't figure out what to do with him.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

After Kirk beats Christopher up, McCoy looks after the poor man in sickbay. He suggests retraining him for life in the future (as an alternative to locking him in a closet, I suppose), to which Kirk implies that McCoy sounds like Spock. McCoy’s answer: “Well, if you’re going to get nasty, I’m gonna leave.”

When Spock admits to a miscalculation, McCoy quips, “Oh? This might be a historic occasion.”

McCoy is prone to outbursts of temper, isn’t he?

When yet another unfortunate kidnapping takes place, McCoy bravely approaches the shell-shocked man and takes his weapon gently from his hand.

Tags: Medical-Tunic, Sickbay, Fearless-McCoy, Time Travel

#20 – Court Martial Kirk is put to a court martial for murder by negligence. An episode about Kirk, the consummate Starfleet captain, with a side order of the strong but subtle relationship between him and his two most senior officers, Spock and McCoy.

Rating: 2 (but McCoy is very pretty to look at).

Highlights:

McCoy attempts to prevent a conflict when Kirk is badgered by friends of the deceased. Later he will answer someone who asks if he is Kirk’s friend by saying, “In these trying times, one of the few.”

A beautiful woman introduces herself as an old friend of the captain’s. McCoy sighs, “All of my old friends look like doctors, and all of his old friends look like you.”

During the trial, the doctor’s commendations are given. He is stated to be a lieutenant-commander, physician and surgeon having received the Award of Valor, Legion of Honor, and as having been decorated by the Starfleet Surgeon.

McCoy is looking fine in his dress uniform.

In spite of his famous claim, we also learn during the trial that McCoy is an expert psychologist.  When asked to confirm his expertise for the record, McCoy begrudgingly admits that he “knows something about it.” Oh, McCoy.

When Spock appears to be playing chess with the computer while Kirk is on trial, McCoy is outraged. However, Spock reveals he had found a way to clear the captain, McCoy shows (almost) open admiration. I enjoy moments like these, when one or the other of them can’t hide how impressed they really are underneath all the bickering.

In the final scene of the trial, the bond between the three men is really on display. Spock dashes, forsaking decorum. McCoy speaks closely in Kirk’s ear. Spock briefly touches McCoy, drawing him away. As always, it’s understated, but very familiar and warm.

Having been smooched by the prosecuting attorney on the bridge, Kirk returns to his chair, flanked by his straight-faced friends. His only comment: “She is a very good lawyer.”  Spock and McCoy: “Yes, Captain. -_- ”

#6 – Mudd’s Women The Enterprise chases down an unregistered vessel and is forced to take on its passengers – three of which are beautiful women.  The men spend most of the show staring with vacant expressions.

Rating: 2 (but still watch).

Highlights:

Whatever Leonard Nimoy did the night before he shot this episode, it must have put him in a really, really good mood.  Spock grins through the whole thing, and occasionally he flounces.

When the women first beam aboard, almost everyone stares with their mouths open.  The doctor smiles with all his teeth.  McCoy, you hedonist.

One of the women comes to sickbay, and the innuendo mixed up in his conversation is funny, especially since McCoy does his best to hold it together.  That is, until she sits on the medical bed, upsetting the sensors. Puzzled, the doctor asks her to walk past his scanner again, and his hazy, plaintive, “It’s not supposed to do that,” is hilarious.

At the end of the episode, Spock teases everyone.  McCoy responds by saying the comment went straight to the heart, gesturing towards his chest.  Then he makes an awkward movement towards his left side, “Or, in your case,” he says, “right about here.”  More smug banter follows.  Trust me, it’s just cute.

Tags: Rascal-McCoy, Medical Tunic, Bridge-McCoy, Sickbay

#7 – What Little Girls Are Made Of The rating of this episode is sort of an outrage, because there’s just no reason McCoy should not have been a part of a plot that involves Nurse Chapel’s backstory. In short, Christine Chapel and Captain Kirk beam down to recover her long lost finance, long marooned on an icy planet.

Rating: 0 (still pretty decent, though)

Highlights:

There is a special fondness in my heart for Chapel, though her episodes usually make me sad. This one is no exception. Apparently she gave up a promising career in bio research to be a nurse on the Enterprise and search for her man.

Side note: Quick-thinking Kirk figures out how to get a message back to Spock by insulting him, which is kind of awesome. Sometimes the way they communicate is just so seamless.

Tags: Nurse Chapel, No-McCoy

#8 – Miri Should also be known as the “Really Disturbing Children” episode.  The Enterprise responds to a distress signal from a planet that appears to have been abandoned for centuries.  In actual fact, a disease killed the adults, leaving the children.  The landing party, now infected themselves, are forced to manufacture a cure before they all go mad and die.

Rating: 4 (especially for a key moment)

Highlights:

Among the ruins, Kirk finds a broken tricycle, which he and Spock discard.  McCoy, however, reverently places it, obviously mourning the lost life.  It’s a telling moment contrasting the doctor’s empathy with the more military, task-oriented behavior of the others.

McCoy is attacked by one of the diseased madmen, but still seeks to comfort the creature when it breaks down.

It tickles me that, even after he has had to be rescued by Kirk and Spock, Yeoman Rand still hides behind McCoy for protection.  Actually, she clings to him for half the episode. If it hadn’t been established that she was crushing on Kirk…

One appreciates the consistency in the fact that, of the entire landing party, McCoy does not carry a phaser.

Spock teases McCoy about his antique microscope, and the doctor gets testy.

Medical researcher Doctor McCoy!  And McCoy-Spock tag team!

Radiant Moment: Doctor McCoy tests the potentially fatal cure on himself.  Then he collapses, seemingly in agony.  When it later appears he has succeeded, Spock shakes his head in what appears to be begrudging admiration and mutters, “I will never understand the medical mind.”

Tags: Self-Sacrifice, Spock-McCoy Tag Team, Medical Research, Cure-Find, Hurt/Comfort, Human-Seeded Planet, Bridge-McCoy, Landing-Party, Pinky-Ring

#9 – Dagger of the Mind The Enterprise picks up a stowaway from a penal colony who claims to have been mistreated by the colony’s director, a man Captain Kirk greatly admires. Nonetheless, Kirk beams down to conduct an investigation. Torture and brain-washing follow. In other news, first mind meld! First pushy McCoy-the-CMO! First dubious romanc…no wait, more like…how many episodes have there been so far?

Rating: 4 (mild involvement, but some key character moments; well worth watching)

Highlights:

The story opens on Kirk musing over his admiration for a criminally insane madman and how much penal colonies have become like resorts. Bones is unimpressed, asserting that “a cage is a cage”. And a madman is a madman.

Spock and McCoy pause in the middle of a minor crisis to carry on their old argument about humanity’s barbarism. He comments on the hypocrisy of a species that glorified organized violence yet condemned those who practiced it in private. McCoy (who had only recently been making critical statements about institutionalization himself) cannot help but wonder if Vulcans had it all figured out, then.

You have to give it to Kirk. He never answers the question “Who is the captain?” with anything less than the absolute truth, phaser wielding hostile or no.

You know, Bones has got to be one of those people who wouldn’t flinch one centimeter if you threw a snake in his face. That or it’s just another day’s work to have crazy people leaping off biobeds for his face.

McCoy is a lie detector. When he talks about Dr. Simon’s ranting he comments there is “always[…] just a ring of truth in it”. Later, when listening to the colony director, he warns in an undertone, “Jim, that doesn’t quite ring true.”

Jim does not like McCoy’s uncertainty, and when the doctor can only say he has a feeling, Kirk and Spock exchange looks like “the things we have to deal with.”

McCoy has to play the CMO card to get Kirk to investigate the penal colony. He is apologetic, but firm. It is the first time we see him do this in the series.

Spock-McCoy tag team for the win!

I liked that you see McCoy putting his hand comfortingly over his poor patient’s. It seems very like him.

Spock walks in on Kirk liaison-ing with this woman. Goes: O_O! You have to imagine this happens to the poor guy a lot.

Tags: CMO-McCoy, Spock-McCoy Tag Team, Pinky-Ring, Medical Tunic, Spock-McCoy Banter, Bridge-McCoy, Sickbay, Fearless-McCoy

#10 – The Corbomite Maneuver The Enterprise encounters an alien vessel that pushes them to the brink of destruction. Meanwhile, Kirk and McCoy demonstrate the delicate balance required in the Captain-CMO relationship as McCoy challenges, encourages, and speaks for the good of the crew.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

As the crew goes on alert, Kirk is finishing his quarterly physical in Sickbay with Bones. The doctor ignores the silent alarm and makes Kirk finish. When the captain is crabby upon exiting, McCoy comments, “If I jumped every time that light came on around here, I’d end up talking to myself.”

This is one of the first episodes where we are able to analyze the occasional clashes between Kirk and McCoy’s professional relationship and their personal one. Their first conflict is over McCoy’s opinion that Kirk is pushing his tired crew too hard and about a green lieutenant named Bailey, who the doctor suspects was promoted too fast. He warns, “Listen to that voice.”

McCoy continues pushing on behalf of the crew. When Kirk demands perfection after a drill achieves only 94% accuracy, he asks, “What are you going to do with that 6% when they give it to you, Jim?”

In spite of the minor tension, there is a lot that is good natured in the two’s easy companionship as they share a drink in the captain’s quarters. McCoy teases Kirk about his salad (the doctor underhandedly changed his dietary card because he gained a few pounds) and the issues he has with his female Yeoman.

McCoy makes an attempt to stop Bailey when he starts loosing it on the bridge, but the lieutenant goes so far as to shove him and then get hysterical. You can tell the doctor takes it hard when the young man has to be relieved.

On the verge of death, countdown pending, McCoy finds time to intercede on behalf of Bailey’s career and Kirk finds time to shout at him and call him “quaint”. Seriously, the absurdity of the timing aside, it’s both a telling moment about McCoy as a healer and about the difficulties inherent in the delicate relationship that exists between the Captain of a Starship and the only man aboard with the authority to challenge him directly.

In a very familiar way, these two old friends make up quickly. With one minute of life left, the captain apologizes and McCoy claims responsibility and wonders how Kirk kept from punching him. XD

Not McCoy related, but you have to love Yeoman Rand. Ten seconds after their delayed destruction, she appears with piping hot coffee! Made with hand phaser, she relates cheerfully!

McCoy joins the boarding party of the hostile vessel. Just a detail, but it’s really cute when the little alien holds onto his arm (where did Rodenberry cast all these ugly children?)

#1 – The Man Trap A visit to an archeological outpost to deliver supplies brings McCoy into contact with an old flame, though she is now married.  While on the planet, crew members start dropping likes flies – preyed on by a shape-shifting, salt-sucking creature.  McCoy’s emotional attachment to Nancy inadvertently threatens the lives of the crew.

Rating: 5

Highlights:

Nancy’s pet name for McCoy is ‘plum’. :)

Our first glimpse of Dr. McCoy’s eccentric and antiquated notion of practicing medicine comes when he obstinately orders a man to open his mouth to admit a tongue depressor.

Kirk asserts one of his reoccurring tendencies – when a crewmember is killed, he gets angry and shouts at McCoy, who takes it with acceptance as always.  Jim later apologies, also as usual.

Insomniac McCoy in his black undershirt is very nice to look at, if that kind of thing appeals to you.  So young compared to the rest of the seasons and films!

Admirably, though he is obviously strongly attracted to her, McCoy refuses to cheat on Nancy’s husband when she propositions him.

The shape-shifter decides to keep Dr. McCoy, since it requires affection in addition to salt, and he is a better source than its previous host/companion.

Spock is the first to suspect the McCoy look-alike because “he” agrees with everything that Spock says instead of arguing.

McCoy saves Kirk’s life by killing the image of his loved one.  Even knowing what it was, the doctor cries out, “Lord forgive me,” before pulling the trigger.

Tags: McCoy-Romance, Moved to Violence, Medic-McCoy, Out of Uniform, Blame-Game, Look-Alike, Landing-Party, Sickbay

#2 – Charlie X The Enterprise takes on a feral adolescent named Charlie who, from the age of three, grew up alone after his ship crash lands. He is awkward, desperate for approval, and has never seen a girl before. This is complicated by the fact that he can transmute matter. In a show of rebellion, he takes over the ship. Kirk tries to parent him into submission. Actually quite excellent, and poignantly sad at the end.

Rating: 3 (He’s a bit peripheral, but his scenes are very satisfying).

Highlights:

Charlie is examined by Dr. McCoy in sickbay, who declares him fit. On his way out the door, Charlie beseechingly asks, “Do you like me? I want you to like me.” McCoy encourages him, smiling in a fatherly way: “Most seventeen-year-olds do.”

Spock and McCoy have their first “minor disagreement” on the bridge. It’s surprisingly civil and they lounge quite close together in a way that sort of shouts “comrade”.

Kirk tasks the doctor with medically explaining the “troubles of adolescence” (ahemsexahem) to Charlie. Sadly, this never happens on screen.

First appearance of Medical tunic McCoy. Looking good, doctor.

At a crucial moment, McCoy shows at least a rudimentary working knowledge of the Bridge controls. It's good to see. Sometimes he seems like a different creature than the others, but he is still a Starfleet officer.

It’s my belief that Yoeman Rand thinks of McCoy as a protector. She often leans on him when she’s distressed (also see Miri). It’s very sweet in a platonic way.

Warning: Uhura sings a truly nauseating song about barbarian Vulcans who eat women…accompanied by Spock on harp.

Tags: Papa-McCoy, Spock-McCoy Banter, Medical Tunic, Bridge-McCoy, Sickbay

#3 – Where No Man Has Gone Before On a daring attempt to leave the galaxy, a freshly minted crew is caught by an unknown force that causes Kirk’s old friend Gary Mitchell to become hugely telepathic and (more) psychotic. Kirk has to decide whether to kill him, maroon him, or let him destroy them all.

Rating: 0 (this episode pre-dates McCoy)

Highlights:

This episode is pre-McCoy. That’s right. Sulu is still in science and Doctor Piper (who is very old) is CMO.

Gary Mitchell is a psychopath. End note.

Note: If you want to see the Enterprise leaving the galaxy handled in a more prolonged and serious way (with McCoy), you should read “The Wounded Sky” by Diane Duane.

#4 – The Naked Time A crewman brings on board a disease which spreads by human contact, the main symptom of which is a complete dissolution of inhibitions.  As it spreads, the crew slowly goes loopy – leaving their stations to play and sing.  All while the ship careens towards the planet’s surface and McCoy races to find a cure.

Rating: 3

Highlights:

Spock and McCoy exchange typical banter over the Vulcan’s irregular bio readings.  Spock remarks that he is “delighted” to have different anatomy than McCoy.

Surgeon McCoy attempts to save a dying crewman in his fabulous medical jumpsuit.  Surprise, surprise – Kirk is somewhat sharp with McCoy when he cannot save the man.

On a note unrelated to McCoy: Sulu has strange fantasies. I mean, everyone likes the Musketeers, but still…

McCoy is one of the only senior officers not to be affected and has to manhandle others into helping him replicate a cure.

Not McCoy related, but both Kirk and Spock’s meltdowns are spectacular (Spock cries for his mom and Kirk admits that he’s in an unhealthy romantic relationship – with the ship!).  Then they rescue each other, which is also wonderful. Gosh, it’s so upsetting to see Spock cry.

Tags: Spock-McCoy Banter, Surgeon-McCoy, Medical Tunic, Medical Jumpsuit, Blame-Game, Cure-Find, Pinky-Ring, Nurse Chapel, Sickbay

#5 – The Enemy Within In this episode, a transporter malfunction causes Captain Kirk to split into two polar halves – one violent, lustful, and bestial, the other gentle, meek, and indecisive.  Spock and McCoy both play essential roles in guiding the “good” Kirk as he struggles to control “himself” and still command the Enterprise.

Rating: 4

Highlights:

Dr. McCoy is just plain nice to look at in this episode, if you’re into that.  :)

It’s always good to see McCoy’s rapport with the crew as their doctor, and this episode has a scene wherein he seals a wound while teasing the man about slouching off on duty.  Very familiar and warm.

“Evil” Kirk makes his first appearance in the sickbay where he demands brandy from the doctor.  Cautiously, McCoy approaches, only to be grabbed by the neck.  A good example of just how fearless McCoy can be in the face of outright aggression (see also Space Seed).

We find out that McCoy immediately reports the incident in sickbay to Spock, but “good” Kirk convinces the Vulcan that McCoy was just teasing, as it is implied he often does. 

McCoy and Spock have often been called Kirk’s shoulder-angel and shoulder-demon, a notion well supported in this episode.

Side note: Sulu is indefatigable. Seriously, this man is awesome.

Appearance by McCoy the psychologist, who plies Kirk with alcohol and then tells him that it’s okay if he needs his “evil” half to command – it’s just human.

Please, for the love of God, read Doctor's Orders by Diane Duane.

#50 – Doctor’s Orders by Diane Duane

My absolute favorite book.  The basic premise is that Captain Kirk decides to torment McCoy by leaving him in charge of the Enterprise while he goes down to a planet’s surface.  Unfortunately, he then disappears.  Then a Klingon ship shows up, and Dr. McCoy has to use his wits as a doctor and a psychologist – rather than as a commander – to keep them all alive until they can find the captain.

Rating: Strong 5

Highlights (some spoilers):

This book could have gone very south if the author had taken the typical route and had the “inexperienced commander” make any number of humiliating errors, all the while facing the scorn of the crew.  Refreshingly, some of the strongest elements of the story are that McCoy 1) realizes he’s in over his head and seeks guidance immediately, 2) reacts admirably, with all the ability that one would expect from a senior officer in Starfleet, 3) is still strikingly human and himself in the best possible ways, 4) HAS THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE BRIDGE (including, and perhaps especially, Spock), and 5) always acts as a doctor first, which makes his method of command surprising, fresh, and extremely entertaining.

The alien species in the novel are unusually convincing and well-contrived.  Dr. McCoy’s interaction with them is grin-worthy too; he pets one and calls it “son.”  The creature, whose name is unpronounceable, purrs and cuddles with him a bit.

One of the strong points of the novel is the keen insight the author lends to the Spock-McCoy relationship.  The doctor – whose esteem for his Vulcan comrade has only ever been very thinly veiled by his gruffness – really demonstrates his faith in Spock, while Spock himself is gracious and supportive, but in a way that is just as subtly presented as in the series itself.

McCoy HATES command; however, his lack of military training doesn’t stop him from using the skills he does have, as a psychologist, pragmatist, medic, and as an incredibly convincing liar.  It’s a surprisingly potent combination.

Uhura has to edit McCoy’s recordings to Starfleet.  Tact was never one of the doctor’s strong points.

Kaiev, the Klingon commander who threatens the Enterprise, is my favorite original character ever.  He and McCoy become buddies.

McCoy uses their own psychology on the Klingons.  First, he grins liked a madman and blithely announces that he killed the famous “Kirk” and was now the captain (which the Klingons believe, as this is apparently a fairly typical form of advancement).  Then the doctor alternates between flippancy and aggressive posturing.   By the end of it, poor Kaiev is convinced that McCoy is a lunatic barbarian who had murdered his captain and would be as likely to blow them both to bits as to continue giggling madly from his command chair.  Everyone is surprised at how effectively this renders the usually hostile Klingons edgy and cautious.

One of the highlights of this interaction is McCoy’s diagnosis of Commander Kaiev’s chronic medical condition, the revelation of which so startles the Klingon that he almost kills his whole crew in order to find the “spy.”   Right.

In all seriousness, McCoy’s concern for his adversary as a doctor is a sterling and earnest portrayal of his deeper character, which will always manifest – first and foremost – as a healer.

Summary: What if Leonard McCoy had died early in the five-year mission? How would the Enterprise’s captain and his relationships with his officers be different? A version of Jim Kirk ends up on the true Enterprise and finds out just how much his life hinged on Leonard H. McCoy.

Read it here

I admit it. I love papa!McCoy and midwife!McCoy. Why would the show and novels include so much of this if they didn't want me to die, thinking of McCoy with babies? SO I drew some babies! Try to stop me!

If you want some recommendations involving McCoy with babies, you should watch the TOS episode "Friday's Child", read the novel Yesterday's Son by Anne C. Crispin, or for fanfiction options: Mudd in your Eye by Avirra (midwife McCoy) and Now the Sons Look For Their Fathers by Straight_Outta_Hobbiton (he adopts all the Vulcan babies, gah).

Alright. I'm taking the plunge. Here we go! Please tell your friends and neighbors, because this fandom defines niche. ;)

Title: Love of a Jealous Kind

Summary: Iolaus gets the attention of another demigod, and Hercules faces what’s godly in his feelings for his friend.

LINK: Click Here to Read

“You’re his acolyte,” Archelaos clarified. He’d given the idea some thought, but as people always made him uncomfortable, he’d never seriously considered it. Iolaus shook his head. “No, no, no.  Me, an acolyte? I’d be terrible at that, and besides, Herc doesn’t have acolytes. He’s been my best friend since we were kids.” “I’ve heard stories about the son of Zeus,” Archelaos said, straining with his underdeveloped social skills to frame his inquiry without giving offence. “I’ve even heard the name Hercules, but I’ve never heard of you.” Iolaus stiffened with indignation. “So some dim-witted old bats with no sense of history decided to become bards. Can I help it if they can’t tell a hero from a harpy?”