Everything about Pavel Chekov totally explained
Pavel Andreievich Chekov, (
Cyrillic: Павел Андреевич Чехов), played by
Walter Koenig, is a
Russian
Starfleet officer in the fictional
Star Trek universe. In the 2009
Star Trek film, Chekov will be portrayed by
Anton Yelchin.
Origin
Star Trek creator
Gene Roddenberry stated for the series' 25th anniversary special that he created Chekov's character in response to a
Pravda article that noted that although the
Soviet Union was a leader in space exploration, the international crew of the
Enterprise lacked a Russian character. Including someone from Russia, the United States' long-time
Cold War adversary, matched well with Roddenberry's vision of an ideal future in which the people of the Earth were united. (This story had actually been published in
TV Guide after the character was introduced.)
Evidence suggests that
Pravda never published such an article, and the story that it did and that this inspired the character is believed to be a publicity stunt and a fabrication by either Roddenberry or an overzealous publicity agent. However, Roddenberry did write a letter to Mikhail Zinyanin, editor of
Pravda, on
1967-10-10 (reproduced on pages 343–344 of
Inside Star Trek) informing him of the introduction of the character, and an NBC press release announcing the character at the time did state that it was in response to a
Pravda article. Koenig always denied the "Russian origin" story and said the character was added in response to the popularity of
The Monkees'
Davy Jones, and the character's hairstyle and appearance are a direct reference to this.
Chekov first appeared in
Catspaw, the first episode of the second season, making him the last of the original core Star Trek characters to appear. Due to budgetary constraints the character didn't appear in .
Name
Although the character is intended to be Russian, the name "Chekov" (Чеков) isn't an authentic Russian surname. However, the surname
Chekhov (Чехов) is well-known in Russia, being especially famous as the surname of the playwright and author
Anton Chekhov.
Career
Pavel Andreievich Chekov is a young and naïve
ensign who first appeared on-screen in ’ second season as the
Enterprise's navigator. However, established that he'd been assigned to the ship sometime prior to the first season episode "
Space Seed". It is also known that he joined after
Mudd's Women, since he doesn't recognize Mudd in the episode
I, Mudd.
Chekov also substitutes for Mr. Spock at the science officer station when necessary. His promotion to lieutenant for brings with it his transfer as the ship's tactical officer and chief of security. By the events of, Chekov has been promoted to
commander and
executive officer aboard the
USS Reliant. In that film,
Khan Noonien Singh uses a creature that wraps itself around Chekov's
cerebral cortex to control him and his captain. Chekov overcomes the creature's mind control and serves as
Enterprise tactical officer in the film's climactic battle against Khan.
Chekov is an accomplice in Kirk's unsanctioned use of the
Enterprise to rescue
Spock but is exonerated for his actions . He serves as navigator and second officer aboard the
Enterprise-A during the events of and . The character's final film appearance is as a guest aboard the
Enterprise-B on its maiden voyage (
Star Trek Generations). A Next Generation TV episode has character William Riker commenting on having read Admiral Chekov's books.
Star Trek novels show a continued career path, but it's open to debate whether this is considered canon in the Star Trek universe. Novels written by William Shatner detail that Chekov reached the rank of Admiral, and even served as Commander in Chief of Starfleet.
Mirror Universe
In the
mirror universe in the episode
Mirror, Mirror, Chekov is a cunning schemer who recruits several crew members to help him assassinate Kirk and take over the Enterprise. However, he's in turn betrayed by one of his own men, and sentenced to torture in the "agony booth."
Non-canon
Walter Koenig would reprise his role as Chekov twelve years after
Star Trek Generations in the fan series
New Voyages, in the episode "
To Serve All My Days". Koenig would return as Chekov one last time in the online
mini-series which debuted on
December 22,
2007.
Eleventh Star Trek film
On August 8, 2007, it was announced that Chekov will be portrayed by
Anton Yelchin in the
eleventh Star Trek film, although the role the character will play in the movie is currently unknown.
Gags
“Nuclear wessels”
One of the most famous Chekov quotes comes from : trying to find a nuclear-powered naval ship while stuck in the 20th century, he asks a policeman where to find "nuclear vessels", pronouncing the "v" as a "w"; pronouncing "vessel" as "wessel" has become a popular gag. The filming for Star Trek IV was completed in San Francisco in front of an unsuspecting and unscripted public for which the spontaneous and genuine reactions of the passersby can be attributed.
In the
Futurama episode "
Where No Fan Has Gone Before,"
Fry, after asking Walter Koenig to repeat something in Russian, he says "Now say 'nuclear wessels,'" to which Koenig replies with an emphatic, "No."
Crediting things to Mother Russia
A running joke involves Chekov's tendency to credit things to "
Mother Russia". They include:
Further Information
Get more info on 'Pavel Chekov'.
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