Summary

DeForest Kelley starred as the acerbic and soulful Dr. Leonard “ Bones ” McCoy inStar Trek : The Original Series , sorcerous audience with his big heart , affectionate insults , and adaptable catchphrase . A Starfleet Lt . Commander , Dr. McCoy found a cherished place of prominence at the fandom ’s sum , serving asChief Medical Officer on the USS Enterpriseunder the command of Captain James T. Kirk ( William Shatner ) . closemouthed champion with Kirk and Science Officer Mr. Spock ( Leonard Nimoy ) , with whom he also shared an affectionate rivalry free-base largely on wordplay and insults , McCoy formed part of the TOS command triumvirate and brought a rich sentiency of emotional profundity and matureness to Spock ’s analytic , half - Vulcan / half - human logic and Kirk ’s strong - hearted , passionate , and large soul .

McCoy ’s risky venture on the Enterprise lead him to many meaningful moments , discoveries , and personal achievements . Very established in his field , McCoy was lofty of his hands - on , ego - forge body politic doctor character , harden his charm with a crabbed yet reachable indorsement . Also serve as an unofficial counselor-at-law , McCoy regularly observed and contribute accompaniment to Captain Kirk and theStar Trek : The Original SeriesUSS Enterprise gang . Fond of metaphor ( to Kirk and Spock ’s occasional exasperation ) , McCoy originated a wide recognized catchphrase that declare himselfa doctor , dammit , not a something else ! While the musical phrase is most commonly colligate withStar Trek ’s original McCoy , it’san expression that has influenced and resurface across the franchise ’s other works . Though this list is not exhaustive , here ’s every time McCoy articulate “ I ’m a doctor , not a [ … ] ” , and 4 clip it was said by somebody else .

The Star Trek telecasting dealership has existed for 57 year and consist of 12 shows ( and counting ) . Here ’s how to observe them all in timeline order .

Star trek enterprise archer the next generation picard captain burnham

11Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 2 - “The Corbomite Maneuver”

“What am I, a doctor or a moon shuttle conductor?”

WhileCaptain Kirk undergo a quarterly physical in the ship ’s Sickbay , the USS Enterprise encounters an unnamed cubical objective during a routine star mapping assignment . With the physical object choke up the ship ’s course and the Enterprise ineffectual to maneuver around it , Spock instructsLt . Hikaru Sulu ( George Takei)to sound the alert and call Captain Kirk to the bridge .

In Sickbay , McCoy spots the alert but fails to draw and quarter Kirk ’s attention to itin favour of make out the almost - finished medical examination . When Kirk spot the flash luminosity a few moments by and by , he right away calls out McCoy ’s deficiency of proper legal action , contacts Spock for more information , and leaves for the Bridge . leave alone , McCoy dryly responds to the mild criticism with “ What am I , a medico or a moon bird conductor ? If I jump every metre a red visible light came on around here , I ’d end up talking to myself . ” It ’s a light , amusive instant that subtly develops both characters and their personal - professional family relationship .

10Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 25 - “The Devil in the Dark”

“I’m a doctor, not a bricklayer.”

The USS Enterprise arrives at Janus VI to enquire an unnamed , deadly lifeform that is wreaking mayhem on the workers and machinery at a mining mental process . Spock theorizes that the puppet isa silicon - base lifeform , not dissimilar in make-up to unchewable asbestos . Kirk seems to reach a tentative , passive understanding with the creature , following a cave - in while searching for the mysterious lifeform . Spock initiates a mind conflate to attempt communicating and learns that the creature – called a Horta – is generally peaceable and in extreme pain from an earlier phaser wound injury .

An interesting and admired episode , demonstratingStar Trek ’s respectable intent to assay out novel life , to aid and befriend it , and boldly go .

call to aid the Horta , McCoy ’s scan reveal it to be “ virtually made out of stone . ” Despite declare himself “ a doctor , not a bricklayer , ” unknowingly agreeing with Spock ’s judgement that McCoy ’s medical expertise will be useless , McCoy is nonetheless instructed to assist his patient . In communication with the endeavour , McCoy slathers the Horta ’s wound with atomic number 14 - base thermal concreteand proudly indicates that he ask a full recovery . It ’s an interesting and admired installment , demonstratingStar Trek ’s respectable aim toseek out unexampled life sentence , to assist and befriend it , and boldly go .

Jonathan Archer, Emperor Georgou & Spock in Star Trek’s Mirror Universe

9Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 1, Episode 28 - “The City On The Edge Of Forever”

“I’m a surgeon, not a psychiatrist.”

Dr. McCoy accidentally overdose on cordrazineand , hysteric , transports himself to the surface of a nearby major planet , the center of the violent sentence disruptions affecting the initiative . Beaming down , an away team searching for McCoy settle an unusual time portal - theGuardian of Forever . Believing himself again in peril , McCoy jumps into an unspecified past and instantly founder time . realize they must follow McCoy and undo what he change , Kirk and Spock are transported to 1930s New York , where they adjoin Edith Keeler ( Joan Collins ) and quickly find study and shelter at the twenty-first Street Mission .

" The City on the Edge of Forever " research themes of making love and sacrifice .

When McCoy arrives , Keeler protects him and tardily nurses him back to health . She tells McCoy she has a friend who mouth about Earth as he does . McCoy responds,“I’ma sawbones , not a psychiatrist,“but the pitiful irony is that Keeler ’s untried supporter isCaptain James T. Kirk , in search of Dr. McCoy . The minute betoken the later tragedy - what McCoy had changed was prevent Edith Keeler ’s death . Having diminish in erotic love with her , Kirk must untie McCoy ’s act and let her die . " The City on the Edge of Forever " explores themes of love and ritual killing , and is justly regarded as one ofStar Trek ’s best episodes .

Tawny Newsome live action as Mariner, Emperor Georgiou in Section 31, and Captain Pike in Strange New Worlds

8Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 4 - “Mirror, Mirror”

“I’m a doctor, not an engineer.”

When an ion storm interpose with a transporter beam to the ship through a power upsurge in the transporter ’s circuits , the USS Enterprise away squad becomes trapped in a deadlyparallel Mirror Universewith a barbarous crew and a Spock with a whiskers . deposit in a brutal and savage standardized Enterprise , Kirk and the away team find themselves dependent to potential torture , inhumanity , and assassination .

by and by theorise about by artificial means reversing the transportation system conditions to direct a return to their own reality , Kirk andScotty ( James Doohan)hatch a plan for the squad to escape . Pointing out that the plan would result in the malign population ’s Security Chief Hikaru Sulu being alerted , the USS Enterprise ’s Chief Engineer articulate that he ’ll need aid but reject Kirk ’s mute volunteering by reason that he ’d be too conspicuous . Both Kirk and Scott change state to McCoy , who point out thathe ’s “ a doctor , not an engineer,”to which Scott responds , “ Now , you ’re an railroad engineer . ”

The Mirror Universe is one of Star Trek ’s practiced concepts . Here ’s the Mirror Universe ’s account from Enterprise , TOS , DS9 , Discovery , and Prodigy .

Star Trek: The Original Series, DeForest Kelley as Dr Leonard Bones McCoy. USS Enterprise.

7Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 6 - “The Doomsday Machine”

“I’m a doctor, not a mechanic.”

The USS Enterprise crew finds a distress signal from a devastated USS Constellation at the end of a trail of destroy planet . Investigating the wrecked starship , Captain Kirk and his landing place party findCommodore Matt Decker(William Windom ) alone – the lonesome survivor of an meeting with a giant , planet - killing machine . conjecture that the machine is an ancient , alien doomsday gadget , Kirk asks Dr. McCoy if he ’d ever heard of one . The irascible aesculapian officer uses his expressive catch phrase to do negatively,“I’m a MD , not a mechanic . ”

The catch phrase ’s cellular inclusion here run effortlessly to develop the characters and counterpoint the complete nature of the scene ’s realizations .

It ’s an insignificant instant beyond thehorror in the wake of the motorcar ’s engagements , but the catchphrase ’s inclusion here work effortlessly to in effect develop the characters and contrast the stark nature of the scene ’s realizations . McCoy accompanies Decker back to the Enterprise , contribute to a run of further tense and ego - sacrificial attempts to destroy the day of reckoning machine .

Star Trek: The Original Series

6Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 11 - “Friday’s Child”

“I’m a doctor, not an escalator.”

A USS Enterprise off team visits Capella IV to arrange for Starfleet minelaying rights to the major planet ’s rich topaline minerals . talk terms with Akaar , the Teer of the Ten Tribes , Captain Kirk , Spock , and Dr. McCoy attempt to carefully sail the Capellan ’s complex taboosand volatile culture . interrupt by the Book of Revelation of a rival negotiating company , the Klingons , the negotiations are soon overthrown by a developing coup . Maab ( Michael Dante ) , a warrior in league with the Klingons , assassinate Akaar and declares himself the new Teer .

By cultural tradition , the life of Akaar ’s heavily meaning wife becomes forfeit . When Kirk seek to prevent this execution , he unknowingly concern Eleen ( Julie Newmar ) – a forbidden act – and subsequently receives his own dying sentence . scat to nearby foothills , Eleen allows McCoy to assist her in climbing the rocky outcrops . contend , McCoy requests assistance from Spock . When Eleen objects , McCoy adjudge himself “ a doc , not an escalator”and again call for Spock ’s aid . afterward proving his assertion , McCoy aids Eleen when she goes into labor and births her child . The baby is name Leonard James Akaar , after Dr. McCoy and Captain Kirk .

5Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 2, Episode 11 - “The Deadly Years”

“I’m not a magician, Spock, just an old country doctor.”

A speedy aging disease even out the USS Enterprise landing partywhen they visit an experimental dependency on Gamma Hydra IV on a routine resupply mission . As the crew fight to understand and treat the mysterious illness and save their older officers , Commodore Stocker ( Charles Drake ) renders imminent mortal hazard when his urgency to reach Starbase 10 results in attacks on the go-ahead follow a infringement of theRomulan Neutral Zone .

Physically and visually elderly and suffer from the effects of the age disease , Spock query an equally affectedDr . Leonard McCoywhether he can reduce Spock ’s increased sensitivity to cold . McCoy shakes his head and informs the First Officer,“I’m not a magician , Spock , just an erstwhile country doctor,”and Spock takes the opportunity to add , “ Yes , as I always suspected . ” It ’s an interesting , somewhat bittersweet moment as the two gently engage in their characteristic backchat but with a level of obvious friendly fondness and want of energy that starkly contrasts their usual exchanges .

4Star Trek: The Original Series, Season 3, Episode 12 - “The Empath”

“I’m a doctor, not a coal miner.”

Assigned to void a research station on Minara II , Captain Kirk , Spock , and Dr. McCoy are mysteriously transported below the planet ’s surfacefor a serial publication of manipulative experiment . Finding a timid and silent empath ( Kathryn Hays ) , later identify Gem by McCoy , Kirk and his champion ship on a challenging experience that jeopardise their survival and is design to examine Gem ’s active morality . Experiencing torture and possible emotional devastation , the Enterprise officers must happen an escape valve and assist Gem .

It ’s a sad and prominent moment that escalates to McCoy sacrificing himself to ensure his friends ' survival .

Star Trek is ending series like Discovery and Lower Decks but renewed Strange New Worlds while setting up new cyclosis and theatrical movies .

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

3Star Trek (2009)

“I’m a doctor, not a physicist.”

J.J. Abrams’Star Trek(2009 ) successfully rebooted the franchise , build of import novel characters and an alternative Kelvin Timeline . As the magnificently cast newfangled young work party of the USS Enterprise encounter Nero ’s Narada and agnize its impact on their universe , Spock ( Zachary Quinto ) consider the possibility of time travel . Dr. Leonard McCoy ( Karl Urban)responds with a familiar catchphrase intended to feel organic in its awe toStar Trek ’s earliest serial publication , exclaiming,“Dammit , adult male ! I ’m a doctor , not a physicist ! Are you really suggest they ’re from the futurity ? ”

Abrams’Star Trekfilms have been highly commended for their casting of the original Enterprise work party .

It ’s a nice nod to the franchise ’s origins and an obvious body of a much - loved and famous character . Abrams’Star Trekfilms have been highly commended for their cast of the original Enterprise crew , with each actor ’s rendition land new facets to the use while respecting and celebrating the early performances . Karl Urban ’s Dr. McCoy comes close to emulating DeForest Kelley ’s original performance , with both sodding in the persona .

2Star Trek Into Darkness

“I’m a doctor, not a torpedo technician.”

Star Trek Into Darknesssaw the Kelvin Timeline USS Enterprise crew turn back to the large screen . In the aftermath of Khan Noonien Singh ’s ( Benedict Cumberbatch ) attacks on Starfleet and the death of Admiral Christopher Pike ( Bruce Greenwood ) , Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew are emotionally reeling and assigned on a questionable mission to Klingon infinite by the nefariousAdmiral Alexander Marcus ( Peter Weller ) . As Marcus uses the USS Vengeance against the endeavor , Kirk and Khan quiet space dive across to the enemy ship . Meanwhile , Spock enlists the assistance of Dr. McCoy in a project with the experimental torpedoesused to conceal Khan ’s genetically augmented crew .

In dead on target os McCoy style , Karl Urban ’s character react to Spock with an incense ecphonesis that he’s“a doctor , not a shooter technician ” – subtly nodding back toStar Trek : The Original Series . When Khan afterwards seizes power on the Vengeance and kill Admiral Marcus , he returns Kirk , Scotty , andCarol Marcus ( Alice Eve)to the Enterprise and spares the heavily damage ship from further blast in exchange for the torpedoes . With no other options , Spock agree . Ultimately , it ’s unwrap that Spock and McCoy had removed Khan ’s gang from the torpedo case and keep them on panel Enterprise .