Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) was an all-rounder throughout his Starfleet career, and fulfilled several job roles in both Star Trek: The Original Series and J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies. While Chekov wasn’t alone in his multitasking – hotshot pilot Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) started TOS in science – he was certainly the most prolific. Walter Koenig joined TOS in season 2 to cover for the absence of George Takei while he was shooting The Green Berets. It was to Star Trek‘s benefit that Koenig remained part of the team when Takei’s filming commitments ended.
Chekov became a beloved member of the Star Trek: The Original Series crew, getting a fair share of iconic moments. From the traumatic insertion of the Ceti eel into his ear in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan to his comical search for “nuclear wessels” in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Walter Koenig’s Chekov became a beloved part of the Star Trek universe. The love for Chekov continued when the late Anton Yelchin took on the role of Chekov in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek movies, where he similarly fulfilled several roles aboard the USS Enterprise.
6 Navigator On The USS Enterprise
Star Trek: The Original Series & J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Movies
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan implied that Ensign Pavel Chekov was assigned to the USS Enterprise at some point prior to the first encounter between Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban). At some point between “Space Seed” and Walter Koenig’s first on-screen appearance in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2, episode 1, “Catspaw”, Chekov was given the post of navigator. While Koenig was brought in to fill in for the absent George Takei, Chekov and Sulu became friends, due to the amount of time they spent together at the helm of the Enterprise.
This was the same role that his Kelvin Timeline counterpart played aboard the Enterprise, with Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) identifying Pavel Chekov as something of a boy genius. This is likely why Chekov was very capable of fulfilling multiple roles throughout his Starfleet career. The Kelvin Chekov used their navigational prowess to keep the Enterprise hidden from Romulan villain Nero (Eric Bana) in Star Trek (2009). When James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) was made the permanent Captain of the Enterprise, Chekov remained on the Enterprise as navigator.
5 Spock’s Deputy Science Officer
Star Trek: The Original Series & Star Trek III: The Search For Spock
Occasionally, Chekov would be called upon to fill in for Lt. Commander Spock (Leonard Nimoy) at the science station on the bridge of the Enterprise. In the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Who Mourns For Adonais?” Chekov showed off his extensive scientific knowledge by listing various species similar to the alien that claimed to be Apollo. So efficient was Chekov’s scientific knowledge that Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy was inspired to quip that “Spock’s contaminating the boy.” Chekov later deputized for Spock in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, as the stolen Enterprise embarked on a rescue mission to recover their fallen comrade from the Genesis planet.
4 Tactical & Security Officer Of The USS Enterprise
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek replaced Chekov as navigator of the USS Enterprise during Star Trek: The Animated Series, due to budget constraints making the return of Walter Koenig unaffordable. Thankfully, Chekov was brought back in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, but was given a brand-new role. Now a Lieutenant, Chekov further filled in his bridge crew bingo card by taking the dual roles of security and tactical officer under Captain Will Decker (Stephen Collins) and later Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner) during the V’Ger crisis. Moving from navigation to tactical makes sense, given that the firing of photon torpedoes requires the same sort of specific calculations as navigating a starship.
3 First Officer Of The USS Reliant
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan
After the V’Ger Crisis, Chekov was promoted to Commander and served aboard the USS Reliant as first officer to Captain Clark Terrell (Paul Winfield). The Reliant was sent to seek out an appropriate test site for Star Trek‘s Genesis Device, and got an unpleasant surprise when they explored what they believed to be Ceti Alpha VI. The barren planet was actually Ceti Alpha V, home to the exiled Khan Noonien Singh and his acolytes. Using a Ceti eel, Khan took control of Chekov and Terrell, and used the USS Reliant to lure Kirk and the Enterprise into one final battle at the climax of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
2 Chief Engineer Of The USS Enterprise
Star Trek Into Darkness
In both timelines, Scotty and the USS Enterprise are inseparable, such is the engineer’s love for the Federation flagship. Star Trek Into Darkness changed this relationship slightly, when Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) left the Enterprise in protest. While Scotty investigated the spacedock that housed the USS Vengeance, Chekov had to pull the Enterprise out of warp manually and then repair the sabotaged warp core. With such a stressful trial by fire in engineering, Chekov was right to be concerned about pulling on a red shirt. He was therefore relieved to be back in the navigator’s chair when Scotty returned to the Enterprise.
1 President Of The United Federation Of Planets
Star Trek: Picard Season 3, Episode 10, “The Last Generation”
Although it’s not the Mr. Chekov, one of Pavel Chekov’s descendants went on to become President of the United Federation of Planets. In the Star Trek: Picard finale, President Anton Chekov (Walter Koenig) was heard warning all ships not to approach Earth while it was under attack from the Borg. Anton Chekov’s Picard cameo was a touching tribute to both the impact of Walter Koenig’s original portrayal and the much-missed actor Anton Yelchin who so brilliantly stepped into the iconic Star Trek: The Original Series character’s shoes.
All of Star Trek is available to stream on Paramount+.
