The original Star Trek series is undoubtedly one of the most beloved television shows of our time, birthing multiple spinoffs that have become iconic in their own right, from Deep Space Nine to Enterprise and Discovery. The characters from the original series have their fans, but unfortunately, not all of them have aged well when viewed through today’s cultural lens.
Here are three characters in particular who haven't aged well as the years have rolled by.
1. Montgomery “Scotty” Scott
Before we at Redshirts Always Die receive heated social media posts defending the beloved Chief Engineer of the Enterprise, it’s understood that Montgomery “Scotty” Scott is, in many ways, a fun and multifaceted character in most situations. His touch with the Enterprise’s engines and unflinching command style when Captain Kirk leaves him in charge make him one of Starfleet’s finest—until it comes to women.
Scotty’s attitude toward women is difficult to bear in episodes like “Who Mourns for Adonais” (S02E02) and “The Lights of Zetar” (S03E18). In the former episode, he treats Lieutenant Palamas more like a pretty bauble than a person and becomes very jealous when Apollo sets his sights on her. In the latter episode, he treats Mira Romaine like a child on her first outing, dismissing her worries and fears as some type of space paranoia when what she experiences while on the Enterprise is quite real. Scotty’s condescending attitude toward her does not age well at all, making these episodes difficult to revisit.
2. Kras the Klingon from “Friday’s Child”
In “Friday’s Child” (S02E03), a landing party including Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and a security guard named Grant (who dies even before the credits roll) finds themselves in the middle of a local power struggle on Capella IV when they attempt to secure a mining treaty with the Kappelans. They also realize a Klingon, Kras, is there to gain mining rights for his people as well.
The trouble with Kras isn’t that he’s an inept Klingon—the problem lies in the fact that he looks like someone’s Uncle Jay trying to cosplay as what he thinks a Klingon might look like. He lacks the brow ridges and other features that the franchise would develop in the future with characters like Worf. His appearance tends to pull people out of the viewing experience, especially for fans who have definite ideas about how a Klingon should look!
3. Finnegan from “Shore Leave”
In “Shore Leave” (S01E15), the crew of the Enterprise beams down to what appears to be an idyllic planet perfect for shore leave. However, they soon encounter people from their past who couldn’t possibly be there, including a man named Finnegan who used to taunt Kirk constantly during his time at Starfleet Academy.
Some fans would tell you that Finnegan’s behavior is over the top because that’s how Kirk remembers him, but his Irish accent, which is worthy of a cereal box mascot, and leprechaun-coded antics are difficult to watch. They seem terribly stereotypical by today’s standards, especially in light of characters like Miles O’Brien, one of the franchise’s most interesting and multifaceted individuals.
Looking back on the original Star Trek series filtered through the cultural lens of 2025 is often both amusing and startling. However, it is also comforting to know that the future of true equality displayed in characters like Captain Janeway and Ben Sisko will age much more gracefully.
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