Bones is toooo annoying

[A.V.I.A.F.]

I think that Bones was intended to be the character with whom most people (in the 20th century) could relate. His overall attitude was anachronistic (constantly complaining about the concept of beaming, making racial remarks about a non-human during a time when racism was not only in poor taste but was seen as archaic, blasting the idea of risking lives for the mission--even though that is a big part of the mission) except when it came to the practice of medicine.

So, I think that his constant grumbling was a way for his character to be an anchoring point for the viewers to have a sense that there was someone on the ship who may have felt and reacted the way that they might have. I think it helped to link the audience to the strange futuristic universe of the show which has now become all to familiar to us. I think we need to think back to what it was like before ST came to television so that we can understand this.

 

[JWD75]

I was a little surprised when I saw this thread as well. I thought that if there was anything that Star Trek fans could agree on it was that Bones was awesome character and that Deforest Kelly was probably the best actor in the cast. I admit that there was a couple of times that I found Bones coming close to being annoying, but I fault the writers and not the character or the actor. Bones was possibly the best element of TOS and is my favorite character of the franchise.

 

[Basil]

To me Bones just feels like a redundant third wheel to Spock and Kirk. Bones and Kirk I can tolerate. Kirk and Spock works for me.

You're entirely missing the dynamic. Spock and McCoy debate the different sides of an issue. Often, BOTH are right. I think it's sad that the humanistic arguments McCoy makes are so undervalued by modern viewers that their basic structural purpose is entirely missed.

A great example is in the long ABC, not theatrical) version of the scene in Kirk's quarters in TWOK. They had one of their best arguments there.

Exactly. As has been noted by many others over the years, Spock and McCoy serve to dramatize the dilemmas facing Kirk. Spock presents the cold, logical arguments. McCoy voices the human, emotional side of the situation. And Kirk is in the middle, having to make the final decision.

It's actually an ingenious dramatic device. Spock and McCoy are like Kirk's right and left brain. (Or is it the other way around?)

My response to an AP English exam question to that effect helped me to get a 5.

The dynamic between Bones and Spock is much more mature than is typically seen on TV these days in that they don't have to fawn over each other to be friends, and they also don't have to act like adolescent pinheads competing against each other out of a combination of hormones and ego till they "earn" respect for each other. Both understood they could needle each other but that there was a line that wouldn't be crossed.

 

[ALF]

I think that Bones was intended to be the character with whom most people (in the 20th century) could relate.

Oh yes. I agree.

I do like Bones, but he is a loopy sonofabitch and when he's in a scene I know he's going to be bug eyed and freaky about something or other. He sweats a lot under the lights too. I know everyone did because it was the 60s and the lighting was likely murder to work under, but I found Bones Sweatin' to the Oldies with frequency.

 

[AxelFoley]

Yeah, McCoy was annoying all right... In a pig's eye!