Wһere Dr. "Bones" MсCoy Is Durіng Stаr Trek: Strаnge New Worlds

One key person from Star Trek: The Original Series' classic trio is still missing from Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley). Along with Anson Mount's Captain Christopher Pike and Rebecca Romijn's Number One, Ethan Peck's Mr. Spock has been part of modern Star Trek shows since Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Strange New Worlds came one step closer to recreating Star Trek: The Original Series' famous trifecta with Paul Wesley as Lieutenant James Kirk. McCoy may not be too far behind.

Star Trek: Discovery's first 2 seasons are set from 2256 to 2258, then Star Trek: Strange New Worlds takes place in 2259 and 2260. There are only a few defined facts in Bones' history in this part of the Star Trek timeline. McCoy completed medical school at the University of Mississippi in the early 2250s, before divorcing his wife and enrolling at Starfleet Academy. McCoy was stationed on Capella IV for a few months before joining Captain Kirk's (William Shatner) USS Enterprise crew. Most important for Strange New Worlds, Dr. Mark Piper (Paul Fix) was TOS' Enterprise doctor before McCoy.

Where Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy Is During Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Strange New Worlds Has Leeway When It Comes To Dr. McCoy

There's some leeway regarding where Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy is during Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Because Dr. Piper precedes McCoy as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer in Star Trek: The Original Series, McCoy probably won't be CMO in Strange New Worlds. Instead, Bones is still in a relatively early stage of his Starfleet career, just like Lieutenants Kirk and Spock, and may already be on the USS Farragut with Kirk. A bond forged on the Farragut would give Kirk a reason to bring Bones aboard the USS Enterprise when Kirk becomes Enterprise captain in the 2260s.

So far, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds has found clever ways to get beloved TOS characters onto Pike's Enterprise without breaking the existing Star Trek: The Original Series canon. Dr. McCoy could still appear in Strange New Worlds without being permanently assigned to the Enterprise yet, just like Paul Wesley's Lieutenant Kirk. One way might be if McCoy fills in a temporary Enterprise sick bay vacancy when Nurse Christine Chapel (Jess Bush) leaves to join Dr. Roger Korby's (Cillian O'Sullivan) Fellowship, or if Dr. Joseph M'Benga (Babs Olasunmokun) exits to face charges for crimes during the Klingon War.

Could Dr. Bones McCoy Appear In Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 3 Or 4?

Strange New Worlds Is Slowly Assembling Modern Trek's TOS Roster

It's certainly possible that Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy could appear in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 or 4. After introducing Martin Quinn as Lieutenant Montgomery Scott in Strange New Worlds' season 2 finale, it seems like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is well on its way to assembling all of Star Trek: The Original Series' main legacy characters. Executive Producers Akiva Goldsman and Henry Alonso Meyers have said that Strange New Worlds could lead into TOS. If so, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds will still need to maintain its own identity as a modern Star Trek show.

After all, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is so much more than a modern remake of Star Trek: The Original Series. So far, Strange New Worlds has done a great job of honoring classic Star Trek characters, while also applying modern storytelling conventions, like long character arcs and ongoing relationships to one another. Whether Dr. Leonard McCoy will be the next Star Trek: The Original Series legacy character to get the Star Trek: Strange New Worlds treatment remains to be seen, but hopefully, it won't be too long before Star Trek sees Bones play off Kirk and Spock again.