Moving On Without Chekov

[Falconer]

1. With all due respect to Anton Yelchin, his character should not be recast (unless everyone is). Chekov should be left out of the next movie (if there is one) without qualms.

2. Chekov was a minor character from Seasons 2-3 of TOS, who even then only appeared in fewer than ¾ of the episodes.

3. He had a history of coming and going; he was not in Season 1 of TOS, he was not in TAS, in TMP he was on Enterprise but not as Navigator, and in TWoK he was on Reliant. Since the Kelvin films “remix” elements from the original series and films, his absence would actually be idiomatic.

4. Of course the Navigator can be a nobody, or not shown, but if you do want a memorable character in that seat, there are many other great Navigators that they could bring back—several in TOS S1, probably none more memorable than Kevin Riley; in TAS, Arex (not my fave, but, if they wanted to show off how weird an alien they could include), in the films, Ilia and Saaviks. Or make up a new one.

5. In all honesty, even just taking the Kelvin films on their own terms, I really don’t think the character was particularly memorable.

I doubt this is anything new or especially controversial, but, I just wanted to gather my thoughts about this. Yelchin’s death is always brought up as one factor which throws cold water on or somehow limiting the possibility of another Kelvin film, and, I personally don’t see it.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

The easiest solution is to transfer Chekov to another posting, mention it quickly, and put Jayleah at the navigator's station.

 

[fireproof78]

In all honesty, even just taking the Kelvin films on their own terms, I really don’t think the character was particularly memorable.

You had me until this point. I think that Chekov on the Kelvin films was in keeping with his TOS counterpart, who often filled in at the science station when Spock was absent. Chekov had great chemistry with Sulu and the two worked together very well in stressful situations. The moments that stand out to me the most in the Kelvin films often involve Chekov and Sulu, i.e. the warp jump in to Titan, or the falling down the mountain in Beyond.

Now, I personally think that Chekov's absence doesn't need a full death but just an acknowledgement of him transferring to another post and bring in a new character as a navigator.

 

[XCV330]

Just have him transferred to the Reliant as XO. A promotion and no Khan to worry about this time.

 

[Falconer]

You had me until this point.

Fair enough!

 

[F. King Daniel]

Bring back Darwin! She was awesome.

 

[The Wormhole]

AS I've been saying since Yelchin's death, just have Chekov transferred to the Reliant and that's that. As for the vacant navigator position, honestly these movies don't really seem to get what a navigator is and just treat the position as a co-pilot anyway. As it is, Trek XI focused more on Chekov being a child prodigy than it did on him being a navigator. STID had him transferred to engineering and the replacement navigator was just someone to spew bridge jargon at appropriate moments. And in Beyond, Chekov was essentially Kirk's sidekick while on the plane. So there's no real need to bring in another navigator, since the only real narrative purpose they'll serve is just to have someone siting next to Sulu anyway, and really we should try to get away from introducing characters just to fill empty seats on the bridge. Even TNG quickly figured out they didn't need a regular who's job was just to sit next to Data after Wesley left.

Hell, even The Orville ran into this exact problem when they had a navigator in their main cast, and by the end of the first season he ended up promoted to chief engineer.

 

[fireproof78]

If they are to replace the navigator (I think that's a bad idea but whatever) then it needs to be a security chief assigned.

 

[Falconer]

Hell, even The Orville ran into this exact problem when they had a navigator in their main cast, and by the end of the first season he ended up promoted to chief engineer.

Ohh, I think that was planned from the beginning. The Orville occasionally imitates TNG beats a little too on-the-nose to be coincidence.

 

[The Wormhole]

Ohh, I think that was planned from the beginning. The Orville occasionally imitates TNG beats a little too on-the-nose to be coincidence.

Maybe, but the fact remains, they did not have a replacement navigator at all since he moved to engineering, indicating they might not know what to do with a navigator character other than make them a co-pilot.

 

[BillJ]

Unfortunately, I don’t think recasting is going to be an issue. I think the Kelvin run is over. It has already been four years since Beyond.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Checov has a sister.

 

[darrenjl]

Have him promoted to the USS Reliant, and bring in Ensign Ilia...

 

[fireproof78]

Or perhaps a new character...I know, I know, that's just crazy talk.

 

[Ovation]

Or perhaps a new character...I know, I know, that's just crazy talk.

How about newish? I’d love to see Darwin return.

 

[fireproof78]

How about newish? I’d love to see Darwin return.

I'll settle for newish. Jaylah or Darwin or someone like that.

Ilia I would be less interested in.

 

[Falconer]

Or perhaps a new character...I know, I know, that's just crazy talk.

Mentioned in the OP.

 

[fireproof78]

Mentioned in the OP.

Yes, but I was replying to bringing in Ilia.

 

[Tenacity]

his character should not be recast

The general audience likely wouldn't notice the switch in actors, and as gets pointed out the movies are not made for the fans.

Recasting could be seen as a opportunity to cast someone as Chekov who is neither white nor male.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

He's transferred to the U.S.S. Reliant and has been replaced with Lieutenant Ilia.