Captain Kirk and the Nickname "Bones": How The Origin Changes Across the "Star Trek" Universe
Whether it's the original "Star Trek: The Original Series" (TOS) or the J.J. Abrams movie reboots, Captain Kirk is known for always calling his good pal, Dr. McCoy, "Bones." You might think it's an endearing nickname. A bond forged over endless missions and close calls, and, yeah, you'd be partly right. It's been part of the whole "Star Trek" world forever.
But here’s the tricky part. It all depends on which “Star Trek" universe you’re talking about. In the prime timeline, the one from the OG series, we know William Shatner's Kirk and DeForest Kelley's Dr. McCoy have a history that goes way back to Starfleet Academy. But then the whole JJ Abrams thing happened! It was a different world then. They had to figure out how Kirk knew Bones. In the end, "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" might shed some light on how all of it began.
From Wagon Trains To the Starship Enterprise
Okay, time for some trivia about Bones. Gene Roddenberry’s whole “Wagon Train to the Stars” idea – you know, about how the OG “Star Trek" had a kind of “Wild West” vibe — led to that whole "sawbones" connection! Doctors were sometimes called "sawbones" during the American Civil War, as doctors back then didn't have those amazing sterile spaceships! They were in tents, out in the middle of nowhere, using saws for, well, less than sanitary stuff. And because Kirk loved all things history, it kind of just became his nickname for McCoy.
Of course, the nickname was more of an homage to a bit of medical history. That's how "Star Trek" works; it always ties things to historical references. Think about all the classic literature too. Charles Dickens, yeah, that guy – he used the word "sawBones" in "The Pickwick Papers" before the Civil War even happened. But the coolest bit is that future "Spock" actor, Leonard Nimoy, was actually in four episodes of "Wagon Train!" This was before "Star Trek" even got on the scene. Isn't that weird? And just for kicks – that's more "Wagon Train" appearances than Spock even has in "Star Trek: The Original Series. "
"Star Trek" Reboot - Where Nicknames Come From Divorce?
Remember those J.J. Abrams reboots? It's kind of funny - they completely messed with why Bones became "Bones!" Instead of a connection to history or Kirk's deep understanding of stuff from the past, Abrams kind of… downgraded it. I'll tell you. Kirk meets Bones right before they head off to Starfleet Academy. What does "Bones" have to say about his name? Well, "All I have left are my bones because my ex took the whole dang planet in the divorce" - what?! What is the point of all of that?
It's just… there’s something not super satisfying about how it works in Abrams’ universe. In the original series, the nickname just makes more sense. It makes sense how a sharp history buff like Captain Kirk would appreciate the way the word reflects those "good ole' sawbones." That's much better than what happened to McCoy in the reboot. Of course, you’re still gonna like Karl Urban in those "Star Trek" movies, and he brings that "Bones" energy so perfectly. But the origin story just doesn’t hold up as well.
Could “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” Finally Give Us an Answer?
And now for the latest “Star Trek” addition - "Strange New Worlds!" What will this all mean for "Bones?" We have that awesome, young Captain Kirk (played by Paul Wesley) in the mix! This gives us an ideal moment to go back in time to that famous academy friendship. Nothing’s confirmed, of course, but everyone’s already wondering – who will they cast as the young "Bones"? Fans even have some actors in mind.
So if it all comes to pass, maybe “Strange New Worlds” is when Kirk finally gives Bones that name and how we get that connection with history. Everyone’s hoping for some great details about how it happened. For now, it’s up to the showrunners to give us an awesome story to explain "Bones" or just decide that maybe “Star Trek” is just like that - sometimes, a little mystery is better than some perfectly-written origin story. I don't know, what's better? The history of medicine or the painful memories of a divorce? Personally, I'll take the historical link. But who knows how the new era of "Star Trek" is going to decide!
