A small essay on things I realize over a decade too late:
When you define Leonard McCoy’s fear in Star Trek 2009, as seen by Jim Kirk, there is one take away: This man recognizes space will kill him if given the opportunity. That is why Jim gloms on.
Think about it.
Leonard McCoy is afraid of space. He knows it can kill him. But at his core, he isn’t a coward. He later proves that when taking command for Dr. Puuri by virtue of simply recognizing a vacuum in the structure and filling it effortlessly and without question. He has a duty, his personal sworn duty to evaluate and treat patients, and he is fine. But in a common transport shuttle where he’s reduced to passenger, when his focus is just his own mortality, he is terrified.
In this timeline they create Kelvin pods, named after George Kirk’s tragedy.
Leonard McCoy fears space. He knows it will kill him. He fears and curses it openly. But if it came to his sworn duty? Wouldn’t see any danger. He is the fascinating case study of why George did what he did. He’s a link of understanding why duty transcends fear of death.
That is why they’re friends. That is why they’re unspokenly important to each other. They’ve been helping each other understand the enigmas within themselves for as long as it matters in their own careers. It’s also why Spock was a welcome turn of events, all things considered.
