The Star Trek movie franchise gave Spock and Kirk their own storylines, but the third member of the Enterprise‘s core trio was left out. After a decade off the air, the Star Trek franchise returned with The Motion Picture in 1979. Though it was something of a disappointment, it launched an epic film series that would span decades.

Picking up after three exciting seasons on the small screen, the Star Trek movies saw the classic Enterprise crew return for more adventures. However, the films matured the characters, and gave them more depth than they had in the utopian sci-fi show in the ’60s. This is especially evident in Kirk and Spock’s storylines, which anchor the film series.

Another major Star Trek character didn’t get the same treatment, and it’s one of the most glaring missed opportunities in the entire franchise. Though the movie series had plenty of action, the true heart was its characters. By leaving a member of the Enterprise trio out of the equation, they never gave the character the proper send-off he deserved.

Dr. McCoy Deserved His Own Star Trek Movie Storyline (Like Kirk & Spock)

Bones Was Downgraded To A Supporting Role In The Movies

When the Enterprise crew returned for the movie series, Dr. Leonard McCoy was downgraded to a supporting character, and he never got the same depth as Kirk or Spock. This is a departure from the TV series, where McCoy was just as big a character as the Vulcan, and would often play a major role in episode storylines.

Bones was always the third member of the trio, and clashed with Spock, which forced Kirk to stay neutral and play referee between the two. This dynamic was brought back in the movies, but it was mostly used for a few throwaway gags here and there. In terms of development, McCoy was completely ignored when compared to the other two.

Spock’s storyline saw him first attempt to purge all of his emotions in The Motion Picture, before dying in The Wrath of Khan and returning in the next film as a changed Vulcan. Across the remaining sequels, he continued to get in touch with his human side, embracing a measure of emotionality when it was best suited to the situation.

Kirk was taught a valuable lesson in The Wrath of Khan. Thinking himself to be bulletproof, he saw firsthand that his own mistakes could wreak havoc, and he grew by failing. He would have another arc when his son David was killed by Klingons, thus causing the Starfleet vet to reckon with his own racism in the sixth movie.

Conversely, Bones was along for the ride for the most part, but was mostly excluded from growing or changing. He had no goals or growth outside what happened to the entire crew, and he would have completely faded into the background if not for DeForest Kelley’s natural charisma.

Star Trek 3, 5 & 6 Made Dr. McCoy Important But Still Ignored Him

McCoy Played Important Parts In Some Movies, But Still Didn’t Grow

Unlike other Enterprise crew members like Scotty, Uhura, or Sulu, Dr. McCoy was usually given something to do in the Star Trek movies. Star Trek: The Search for Spock made the doctor the literal conduit for Spock’s soul, making him arguably the most important character in the entire movie. Nevertheless, McCoy himself is sidelined in favor of the plot.

The first time that McCoy is given any chance to show some development is in Star Trek V: The Final Frontier. McCoy, Kirk, and Spock meet Sybok, who uses Vulcan mind melds to “cure” people of their secret pain. Sybok is only able to get through to McCoy, who reveals he feels guilt because of the death of his father.

That fascinating kernel of an idea is immediately squandered because it has no payoff. McCoy just learns to live with his pain stoically, and his guilt isn’t shown through his actions or behavior. Tonally speaking, it’s such a glaringly out-of-place scene because The Final Frontier is a mostly humorous movie.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country was the final film in the original series, and it put the classic trio center stage. Kirk and McCoy are arrested by the Klingons, and it’s Kirk’s own prejudice that serves as evidence. Meanwhile, Spock must use his logic and emotion to prove their innocence.

Kirk and Spock both have subtle growth and payoffs, but McCoy doesn’t. He helps Kirk escape from the Klingon prison and even helps stop the ᴀssᴀssination of the Federation President, but he contributes just as much as the supporting characters to the overall narrative.

Dr. McCoy Finally Got His Send-Off On Star Trek: The Next Generation

It Happened Before Star Trek V & VI Were Released

Dr. McCoy’s true send-off didn’t happen in the movies, and it actually came in the very first episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Released in 1987, “Encounter at Farpoint” features a poignant scene involving an aged Dr. McCoy touring the newly-minted Enterprise-D. Though it isn’t the most exciting goodbye, it showed that the doctor lived a full life.

Interestingly, that episode was released a full two years before Star Trek V, and four years before Star Trek VI. Since McCoy wasn’t in Generations, it’s the furthest along the Star Trek timeline that the character appears. Though The Undiscovered Country would have logically been the best place to homage the character, it actually came earlier and later simultaneously.