Chekov's age

[Vonstadt]

I have a question stemming from two sources of Trek.

How old is Chekov in the early run of the series. I seem to remember that he said he was 22, in the episode 'Who Mourns for Adonis' ..isn't that what he said?

I really can't remember.

The only reason I am asking is a friend of mine were discussing what we liked and did not like about the new film and then we got onto Generations. I really did like the scenes between Scotty, Kirk and Chekov in that film...and a quote hit me when Chekov says he was never as young as Demora Sulu, and Kirk sorta chuckled and said he was younger.

But the new film is what 2255? 2258? Wouldnt that make the Ensign like 10 or 11 not 17? I figured he was like 12 or 13 years younger than Kirk in the old series.

Just curious the math doesnt seem to add up if he was 22 in 2266-2267. I know the universe is different but i was just curious.

I figured this could go in either TOS section or the Movie section but its a general question that pertains to both so I'll start here.

Vons

 

[Kelso]

Yeah, Chekov was 12 years younger than Kirk in TOS. He's only 8 years younger than Kirk in the new movie.

They changed his age to get him in the film.

 

[Yeoman Randi]

And yes you do remember correctly as far as the episode Adonais, he does say he is 22 in that one.

 

[Christopher]

But since the timelines diverged before Chekov was born, it's entirely possible that the circumstances of his parents' lives could've been different enough that they had a kid four years earlier.

An alternative hypothesis is that Chekov was shaving four years off his age in "Adonais," but it's hard to figure why he'd claim to be younger and less experienced than he was.

A third possibility is that in "Adonais" he wasn't using Earth years, but the years of some other planet whose orbital period is 1.18 times Earth's.

For what it's worth, keep in mind that when "Adonais" was filmed, Walter Koenig was 31.

 

[Forbin]

"Tventy-too"

 

[Vonstadt]

Okay Yeah that is what I thought.

Yeah, I guess they just up and changed his age to squeeze him into the new film.

Thank you all for the responses, was just nagging at me a little.

Vons

 

[Captain Robert April]

Another case of the guy in the movie not being the same character, only having the same name.

 

[Dukhat]

Another case of the guy in the movie not being the same character, only having the same name.

"My name is Captain Robert April, and I hate the new Star Trek movie. Thank you, and have a good day."

 

[Captain Robert April]

 

[Pauln6]

Lol - well I liked the movie and I would still have preferred Chekov to be deferred to the sequel.

 

[milo bloom]

The only reason I am asking is a friend of mine were discussing what we liked and did not like about the new film and then we got onto Generations. I really did like the scenes between Scotty, Kirk and Chekov in that film...and a quote hit me when Chekov says he was never as young as Demora Sulu, and Kirk sorta chuckled and said he was younger.

Also keep in mind that line in Generations wasn't about his or Demora's exact physical age, but more like "we're getting old and these young punks are taking over our jobs" kind of thing. Like how I'm in my mid 30's, and when I talk to the younger people at my job or in social situations, I find it hard to believe I was once that young and stupid (now I'm just old and stupid )

 

[Christopher]

Lol - well I liked the movie and I would still have preferred Chekov to be deferred to the sequel.

One thing that would've fixed a couple of issues with the movie is to insert four years between the Kobayashi Maru scenes and the attack on Vulcan. That way, not only would Chekov have been the right age, but Kirk could've had time to gain some experience on other ships before finally reaching the Enterprise, so that he'd be a more credible candidate for first officer. Otherwise, though, the story could've unfolded almost unchanged, although it would've been a break in the relentless pacing that Hollywood demands from its movies these days.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Either way, I would like to know how kept that youthful look for so long

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Dammit, I'm a fan of the movie and that made me chuckle.

EDIT: Trek's always been sloppy about this sort of thing, though it does go a long way for me in thinking of this movie as a reboot rather than even tangentially related to the established Trek lore.

 

[Vonstadt]

The only reason I am asking is a friend of mine were discussing what we liked and did not like about the new film and then we got onto Generations. I really did like the scenes between Scotty, Kirk and Chekov in that film...and a quote hit me when Chekov says he was never as young as Demora Sulu, and Kirk sorta chuckled and said he was younger.

Also keep in mind that line in Generations wasn't about his or Demora's exact physical age, but more like "we're getting old and these young punks are taking over our jobs" kind of thing. Like how I'm in my mid 30's, and when I talk to the younger people at my job or in social situations, I find it hard to believe I was once that young and stupid (now I'm just old and stupid )

No No I took that seen as that as well. That comment from Kirk to Chekov merely made me remember that once during Chekov's attempt to aid Kirk in taking to a female Lieutenant about the facts of life...Kirk asked how old he was.

The comment just led me to wonder about his age because he gives us his age in the new film at 2355-2258? and it caused me to second guess or wonder if it was a 'goof' or Chekov was shoehorned in.

That was all Milo

Vons

 

[T'Girl]

In the new film, you could have made Kirk a elderly 26 when he entered the academy and 30 years old during the events aboard the Enterprise.

 

[Pauln6]

Lol - well I liked the movie and I would still have preferred Chekov to be deferred to the sequel.

One thing that would've fixed a couple of issues with the movie is to insert four years between the Kobayashi Maru scenes and the attack on Vulcan. That way, not only would Chekov have been the right age, but Kirk could've had time to gain some experience on other ships before finally reaching the Enterprise, so that he'd be a more credible candidate for first officer. Otherwise, though, the story could've unfolded almost unchanged, although it would've been a break in the relentless pacing that Hollywood demands from its movies these days.

Yes that would have made sooo much more sense. There was no reason to make Spock a full commander at the age he was in TOS when he was a lieutenant either. Now we have Kirk performing a leap-frog over Spock whose contribution to saving the planet was almost as great.

 

[Timo]

I have nothing against the superhuman Spock attaining high rank early on, really. It's his low standing in TOS that raises a few eyebrows, and is later excused as being due to his lack of ambition. Perhaps the Spock of STXI was simply more driven, and never held back in claiming what was superhumanly his?

And Kirk's weird early ascent to a rank he never originally held in TOS (Savior of Earth, First Class) is the very core of this movie, something the movie cannot do without. Combining that with giving him the rank of Captain is sort of silly, though - and the failure to promote Spock to Grand Admiral simultaneously is indeed annoying...

However, the thing with a 17-year Ensign Chekov is IMHO the most complicated of them all. That he'd be born in a different year than the TOS Chekov isn't a big deal. But that he'd enter Starfleet Academy at the age of thirteen, fourteen or at most fifteen, in order to graduate in four or three years... Now there's something to ponder. Since when did Starfleet revert to the 17th century practice of training children into officers? Is the average age of enlisted men perhaps fourteen in the STXI universe? Can a preteen hold a phaser in battle?

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Therin of Andor]

Since when did Starfleet revert to the 17th century practice of training children into officers? Is the average age of enlisted men perhaps fourteen in the STXI universe?

Vonda McIntyre's ST II novelization mentioned the numerous 14 year old trainee midshipmen on board.

 

[Forbin]

Can a preteen hold a phaser in battle?

Timo Saloniemi

Yes, but they're not allowed to vote. Or drink Wodka.