There are a million memes and parodies lampooning the main characters of Star Trek TOS. We often hear about Captain Kirk the so-called "ladies man" but how true is that? These days, Kirk's flippant and aggressive attitude is juvenile and tiresome, not necessarily charming. That's not to say the Enterprise didn't have a dedicated ladies man on board. It just wasn't Kirk.
If a lonely crewmember needed their heart checked, all they had to do was visit the ship's doctor. The real honey dripper on Star Trek TOS was always the passionate Leonard McCoy. In contrast to Kirk's often blase romantic relationships, McCoy always seemed to be more sincere, and some of his comments and observations would even make Kirk's jaw drop. Here are ten times that we wanted the Doctor to sweep us off our feet.
The Passion of the Plum
"Is that how you get girls to like you? By bribing them?" So goes Dr. McCoy's opening line in "The Man Trap." This was the first episode that aired after the pilot, and it sets up McCoy as a sincere and considerate romantic from the very beginning. It's not an old fling, which seems to be Kirk's only frame of reference, but a special girl from McCoy's past. At least, that's what we're led to believe initially.
She gave him a nickname when they were kids together, Plum, which is suggestive and sweet without being too forward. He turns to mush whenever she's near him, but instead of expressing shame, he seems to revel in his strong feelings. This is one of the few episodes where McCoy's emotions cloud his judgment, but not for long.
The Power of Empathy
It wasn't always a question of romance. McCoy was always the one that the audience identified with the most, making him the default theme character for any episode in which he appeared. That made his talent for feeling even more important.
There was even an episode that was practically dedicated to his talent, "The Empath." Not only is it McCoy's idea to address the mysterious young woman they meet directly, he even gives her a name, Gem. It's also McCoy's impassioned direction at the end that gives her the courage to use her powers to save the Captain.
Miranda's Mystery
McCoy isn't just a smooth talker in this episode, he also proves his powers of observation and medical knowledge. He's emotional, but not impetuous, as his behavior towards the mysterious Miranda Jones reveals. The Captain arranges a special dinner for her during her stay in the Enterprise, and McCoy makes no secret of his attraction to her as they complete their meal. He's not the only one, but he's the most vocal about it, even burying Kirk's overt attempt.
There's more to Miranda than meets the eye, however, and only McCoy notices it. It's interesting how his emotions seem to enhance his medical knowledge instead of clouding it, which is what makes his character stand out. His romantic and considerate nature notices what Kirk and Spock fail to see.
Shore Leave
Naturally, the romantic McCoy is the character the writers chose to follow in the quirky "Shore Leave" episode, which features a "fantasy" planet that seems to foreshadow the Holodeck. This is a fun episode to watch just to see McCoy's antics as he leads a beautiful girl through an enchanted forest. One look at Yoeman Tonia in a veil and an Empire-line dress and McCoy loses his collective mind.
Transformed from her usual uniform, Tonia becomes a character in a fairy tale both she and McCoy are imagining. He even fights a knight for her and dies, which is pretty dramatic. When he comes back, however, she's less than impressed with the company he's keeping.
For the World is Hollow, but Not My Heart
In another example of how McCoy's relationships have the depth that others do not, this is the story of two star-crossed lovers as opposed to a tacked-on fling. To thicken the plot, McCoy is stricken with a terminal disease in this episode, and the stakes are even higher.
He's torn between his genuine love and admiration for Natira and his duty to his shipmates and the Federation. The High Priestess of Yonada and the ship's doctor have genuine chemistry, and they have a lot in common as far as being married to their careers. Only McCoy could make this brief connection believable.
A Love Triangle on the Edge of Forever
We're familiar with this famous episode, which has been lampooned and referenced in numerous other shows, and the plot that puts Kirk and his romantic interest at the forefront. However, he's not the only one who noticed Edith Keeler.
When McCoy finally recovers from his drug-induced mania, he meets her in the shelter, and even in his semi-conscious state, he flirts with her as he falls into an exhausted sleep. We have to wonder how things might have been different in this story if McCoy had met her first, but the tragic ending of love found and lost would have been the same.
The Vulcans and the Bees
McCoy isn't just a romantic where his own relationships are concerned. He's also keenly attuned to the feelings of his shipmates. "Amok Time" was one of the first episodes to give us some insight into Spock. Not only his cultural background but also his inner feelings. It wasn't a secret that Christine Chapel was crushing hard on Spock. It comes up in several episodes, but this is the only time when another crew member calls it out.
Word around the ship is that Spock hasn't been eating, so Christine makes up some Vulcan cuisine to cheer him up. McCoy notices this sweet and tender gesture and appreciates it. He chides her, but gently, "You never give up, do you?" He knows how she feels and sympathizes, at least to some extent.
Lady Macbeth and Juliette
"The Conscience of the King" is another instance where McCoy senses and understands the feelings of another crewmember. This is one of the few times when Kirk has a genuine connection with the weekly It Girl, and McCoy notices this - and her - immediately. Spock is nervous about the whole affair, as he senses there's more to the plot than Kirk's infatuation with Lenore.
McCoy comes to Kirk's defense, asserting that the Captain's attraction to Lenore is enough to explain his erratic behavior. He does do while enjoying a recreational drink and quoting philosophy. It's also interesting that he nicknames her "Juliette" a clear reference to one of Shakespeare's most famous, beautiful and tragic characters.
The Bride of Methuselah
When the intrepid triumvirate of McCoy, Kirk, and Spock visit a mysterious planet, all three of them are amazed by Rayna, the young ward of their host. It's McCoy, however, who articulates all of their feels into dialogue. Even Spock is rendered speechless and Kirk can only stand slack-jawed while McCoy strikes up an animated conversation about youth and bookworms.
When Rayna mentions that they are the first men she's ever seen, other than her mentor Flint, McCoy says, "To the misfortune of men everywhere, and our privilege." Even the stoic Vulcan is impressed, and Kirk smirks with appreciation.
Mudd's Women
Sometimes being a romantic is about functioning both as a lover and a professional. All of the men on the ship are drawn to "Mudd's Women" who seem to have supernatural powers of attraction. McCoy is no exception, but he seems to keep his wits about him even when deeply enamored.
He drools more than a little when one of the ladies visits him in Sick Bay, but he still has the presence of mind to take note of the strange readings she registers on his instruments. This gives the crew an important clue to what's really going on with Mudd's women. McCoy doesn't fight his feelings, he uses them instead.