The Final Frontier

If you do not know who Montgomery Scott was, then you may as well skip this post. Scotty died yesterday. He himself was beamed up. He made his last voyage and mission. Ok, enough.

James Doohan played Scotty, one of the original characters on Star Trek, the original series. He was the Chief Engineer and often times was the reason that the Enterprise did not end up like some Regaelian trash belt orbiting a distant star.

Mr. Doohan's Scotty was one of the most loved members of the crew due to his penchant for the scotch, his ability to think quickly on his feet, his saving of Kirk and others in a timely beam up and his general disposition to having to constantly do everything the ship was not designed and spec'd to do.

No episode will be remembered more than the Trouble With Tribbles. While relaxing with some drink and two other crew members, including Chekov, Scotty kept his and the other's tempers cool while a Klingon taunted them with all sorts of insults including one hurled about Captain James Tiberius Kirk. It is when the Enterprise was defamated with being told it should be towed away "as garbage" that Scotty lost it and started a huge brawl between the Enterprise crew, security and the Klingons. Such is this episode ingrained in the Star Trek verse than on the occasion of an anniversary episode on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, they went back in time to stop a disaster during this episode. It was amazing how they were able to blend the new characters in to the old footage. The best new line was Worf shurgging off the comparison of the old non-ridged Klingons and his promounced ridged forehead by saying, "It's not something we talk about."

Mr. Doohan had occasion to return to the new Enterprise in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation as he was trapped in a transporter buffer for approximately fifty years. He comes back and helps Geordi save her one more time.

Scotty, you will be missed. It is yet another reminder that we are all getting a little older. We can only hope to leave this planet as loved as you have been all these years. Peace and love.

CANOE -- JAM! Television: Star Trek's James Doohan dies