Fans of Star Trek: The Original Series often have a favorite on-screen pairing, such as Dr. McCoy and Mr. Spock because of their epic bantering. However, a friendship that is often overlooked is that of helmsman Hikaru Sulu (George Takei) and navigator Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig).
The latter came on board at the start of TOS season 2 because Gene Roddenberry and NBC hoped to bring in younger viewers with a character who favored and had the same appeal as Davy Jones from The Monkees, the network's Emmy-winning comedy.
While this gambit didn't do much for ratings at the time, and The Original Series didn't become the cultural touchstone it eventually grew into because of syndication, the Sulu/Chekov dynamic is still a fan favorite. But just how well do these two Star Trek actors get along both on and off-screen?
'Walter, as I think I told you, I hated before I met him'
Takei reminisced about his friendship with Koenig during an interview for the Archive of American Television (via FoundationINTERVIEWS), where he admits that he was jealous of the older actor, Koenig.
When Takei returned from filming The Green Berets, he discovered that Koenig got plenty of meaty roles in the show that would have otherwise gone to Mr. Sulu, such as "The Trouble With Tribbles." This rankled Takei, as he'd requested larger roles for his character, but his absence opened the door for Koenig's Mr. Chekov to take the spotlight.
However, when Takei returned to Star Trek, the producers had him share a dressing room with Koenig. This helped Takei overcome much of his animosity, and, over time, the two men bonded and formed a deep friendship that still endures today.
Chekov and Sulu's on-screen dynamic
While Takei's absence from some of season 2 did allow Koenig to grow his role as Chekov, the characters' side-by-side dynamic after his return gave fans some great moments. One of my favorite bits is in "Amok Time" when Sulu asks Chekov why he thinks the ship keeps changing course from Altair VI to Vulcan and then back again only to have the young Russian navigator reply, "I think I'm going to get space sick."
In the TOS series finale, "Turnabout Intruder," Chekov and Sulu work together after Captain Kirk, who was body-swapped by a jealously insane Janice Lester, orders the executions of Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty as a result of their mutinous behavior.
Chekov asks his friend how they'll fight the entire ship's security team if it backs Lester as Kirk, and Sulu replies, simply, "I'll fight them every way and any way I can."
Chekov's rather worrisome, fatalistic attitude balanced with Sulu's not-on-my-watch outlook is a balanced friendship that continues on well into the TOS movies.
A decades-long friendship still endures today
Other than William Shatner, Koenig and Takei are the last surviving members of the core TOS cast today. They remain close friends, and when Takei married in 2008, Koenig stood at his side as best man. Takei noted in the same interview that Koenig throws a New Year's Day party that he always attends.
It's gratifying for Trekkies to know that two actors who we admire and enjoy remain fast friends when the cameras stopped rolling. George Takei and Walter Koenig are a window to their characters, and for fans, it's a great comfort when we return to that view. Please, share your thoughts and comment with us on their friendship via the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.