After 59 Years, Star Trek Officially Retires an Original Series Icon: "I've Done All I Can"

After a crash, Scotty spent over 70 years suspended in a transporter buffer before being rescued, emerging once again in the future. This means he has technically held a Starfleet commission for 139 years.

Scotty Has Earned His Retirement After a Battle to Save the Gods

Scotty Showcased Some Incredible New Inventions Before Saying Goodbye

Scotty has been one of the main characters of IDW's Star Trek series, joining Benjamin Sisko's crew to try and prevent the slaughter of the galaxy's godlike entities. Scotty has lived up to his 'Miracle Worker' nickname, upgrading the Theseus to become Starfleet's fastest ship and co-inventing "Proto-Warp" speed. Scotty made it possible for the ship to enter the realm of the gods and helped protect it from threats including Q and Klingon extremist Kahless. Scotty even got to say goodbye to Captain Kirk after encountering a group of sentient holograms based on Starfleet legends. Now, after achieving so much, he finally returns home.

While Scotty and Uhura's reunion is heartwarming, Scotty's final words are given in a message to Starfleet. There, he officially retires, stating, "It has been my honor. It has been my privilege. But I've done all I can. It's time to go home." Scotty issues his recommendation for the next captain of the USS Theseus (which isn't revealed) and states that he's done all he can with the legendary ship, adding, "Let's see what the next generation does with her."

It's a fitting send-off for a beloved character, and one that honors his long history with the franchise while still embracing his sense of optimism for the future and those who will come after. Star Trek has a varied history of character send-offs, from Captain Kirk's anticlimactic death to the well-received TNG finale. In this case, Star Trek has done Scotty proud, reuniting with old friends and reflecting on a staggering career, while still looking towards the future.