Chekov's Complete Star Trek Timeline Explained

The youngest cast member of Star Trek: The Original Series, Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig) began his Star Trek career as an ensign aboard the USS Enterprise of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). Chekov joined TOS at the beginning of the show's second season and most often served as the ship's navigator. Chekov was exceptionally proud of his Russian heritage and took every opportunity to highlight the supposed history of his homeland, although most of his "facts" were incorrect. Throughout TOS and its subsequent films, Chekov proved to be a loyal and competent Starfleet officer.

Chekov was added to the cast of Star Trek: The Original Series in part to appeal to the show's younger audience members. With his youthful appearance and haircut reminiscent of one of The Beatles or The Monkees, Chekov's character ultimately accomplished this goal. Despite his youth, Mr. Chekov was an incredibly bright young officer who landed a position on the USS Enterprise right after graduating from Starfleet Academy. While he could be occasionally naive, Chekov held many jobs throughout his Star Trek career and became a worthy addition to the Enterprise crew.

Chekov In Star Trek: The Original Series (2267-2269)

Ensign Chekov Joined Star Trek: The Original Series For The Show's Second Season

Star Trek has revealed very little about Ensign Chekov's life prior to joining the USS Enterprise's crew, which he did sometime around 2267. As an ensign aboard Kirk's Enterprise, Chekov performed the duties associated with a standard junior officer rotation, eventually landing the position of navigator. Chekov also occasionally served at the science officer's station when Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was on an away mission or absent for any reason. While serving as navigator, Chekov became good friends with Lt. Hikaru Sulu (George Takei), who often sat next to him at the helm.

Chekov went on numerous away missions, including one to a Federation experimental colony on the planet Gamma Hydra IV in Star Trek: The Original Series season 2's "The Deadly Years." Chekov was so frightened upon seeing a dead body that his adrenaline actually saved him (and later the rest of the landing party) from rapid aging caused by radiation. In "Spectre of the Gun," Chekov was "killed" during a simulation of the OK Corral gunfight put on by the xenophobic Melkotians. Chekov also participated in the brawl with the Klingons in the iconic "The Trouble With Tribbles," and briefly rekindled a romance with a former flame in "The Way to Eden."

Chekov In Star Trek Movies (2270s-2293)

Commander Chekov Played A Significant Role In The Star Trek Films

In Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Chekov was promoted to lieutenant and served as the security chief and tactical officer aboard the newly retrofitted USS Enterprise. While serving on the bridge, Chekov was injured in a confrontation with V'ger. Chekov was promoted again (to commander) prior to Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and was assigned to the USS Reliant as Captain Clark Terrell's (Paul Winfield) First Officer in 2285. When the Reliant explored Ceti Alpha V, they encountered Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban), who used Ceti eels to mind control Terrell and Chekov and take over the Reliant.

Commander Chekov transferred back to the Enterprise and served as the acting science officer during Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. After Spock's resurrection, Chekov accompanied his friends aboard the HMS Bounty as they traveled back in time in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. While Chekov searched for "nuclear wessels," Pavel was captured and accused of being a Russian spy. After Kirk and his crew were cleared of any charges for their actions in the previous films, Chekov rejoined the USS Enterprise-A crew as the ship's navigator.

In Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Chekov temporarily posed as Captain of the Enterprise to distract Sybok (Laurence Luckinbill) while Kirk, Spock, Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Commander Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) traveled to the planet to rescue Sybok's hostages. Sybok, however, captured the landing party and took over the Enterprise, manipulating Chekov to join him.

Chekov helped uncover the Federation-Klingon conspiracy in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country and served as navigator for the ship's decommissioning cruise. Walter Koenig's final canonical appearance as Commander Chekov was in Star Trek Generations as a guest of honor for the maiden voyage of the USS Enterprise-B in 2293.

President Anton Chekov In Star Trek: Picard Season 3 (2401)

Pavel Chekov's Son, Anton, Became President Of The Federation

Although Walter Koenig has not appeared on screen as Pavel Chekov since Star Trek Generations, he did provide the voice for the character of Anton Chekov in Star Trek: Picard's season 3 finale. The son of Pavel Chekov and an unknown mother, Anton was serving as the President of the United Federation of Planets in 2401. Picard season 3, episode 10, "The Last Generation" opens with Anton delivering an emergency message warning ships not to approach Earth because the fleet has been compromised by the Borg.

Anton Chekov's first name honors Anton Yelchin, who portrayed Chekov in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek films until his tragic death in 2016.

As President Chekov ends his speech, he says: "If my father were here, he'd remind us all that hope is never lost." Throughout his time on Star Trek: The Original Series, Chekov wore his heart on his sleeve and embraced the chaos of life aboard the Enterprise. As Anton proves, Pavel Chekov left an impressive legacy and remains an important figure in the modern Star Trek universe. With his infectious enthusiasm, Chekov was easy to like and grew into a competent and adaptable Starfleet officer who helped save the Enterprise on numerous occasions.