Star Trek Beyond gives Anton Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy a fitting send-off

The new Trek is a light-hearted romp – but marks the passing of two generations of cast members
Vibrant portrayal: Anton Yelchin made the most of his Star Trek scenes as Pavel Chekov
Paramount
Ben Travis22 July 2016
The Weekender

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In 2013, the rebooted big-screen Star Trek franchise headed Into Darkness – JJ Abrams following up his fleet-footed 2009 outing with a sequel that followed the typical rule: bigger, stodgier and darker.

Following the backlash against the Benedict Cumberbatch-starring instalment, the third film in the new continuity, Star Trek Beyond, should have been a step back towards the light and optimism that the franchise is known for.

And yet, with the recent passing of Anton Yelchin and the 2015 death of Leonard Nimoy, Justin Lin’s film comes with an emotional gut-punch that nobody expected less than two months ago.

In many ways, Beyond is the vibrant sequel that fans were hoping for – just take a look at the poster, a resplendent rainbow that pays a shimmering tribute to the imagery of the original series, which marks its 50th anniversary this year. After getting bogged down with trying to interpolate The Wrath of Khan in Into Darkness, Beyond jolts off at warp speed into bright, fun, uncharted territory.

Star Trek Beyond poster
Paramount

However, every shot of Yelchin, who plays Pavel Chekov in the new film series, is a reminder of his sudden, unexpected, and undeniably tragic death on June 19 in a freak accident involving his car. He was just 27 years old.

While he had acted in films since the early Noughties, 2009’s Star Trek was his blockbuster breakthrough.

Among the spot-on casting of Chris Pine as Captain Kirk and Zachary Quinto as the pointy-eared Spock, Yelchin’s Chekov stood out in his relatively minor role. He masterfully hammed up the character’s trademark OTT Russian accent, pronouncing his w’s as v’s and vice versa, allowing his ‘wictor wictor’ lines to shine as brightly as Abrams’ beloved lens flare. He made the very most of his moments, offering a wonderful introduction to a member of the Enterprise crew who you always wanted to see more of.

If Star Trek Into Darkness leant a bit too heavily on Kirk, Spock, and Benedict Cumberbatch’s Khan – sorry, John Harrison – Beyond very consciously feels like more of an ensemble outing. Karl Urban’s Bones is given far more screen time, as is Yelchin’s Chekov – his passing is especially cruel when his prominence in the crew was rightfully being increased.

If Yelchin’s mere presence in the film is a wrenching reminder of a passing that it’s almost impossible to process, a short but significant nod in the film’s closing scenes offers a lump-in-the-throat acknowledgement of his sudden departure.

Chris Pine and Anton Yelchin in Star Trek Beyond
Paramount

Moderate spoilers for Star Trek Beyond follow

Come the film’s conclusion, with the Enterprise crew reunited and equilibrium restored, a party scene sees Kirk give a speech with a remark to “absent friends” – followed by a shot of Yelchin as he should be remembered: at home, among family, entertaining fans with his undeniable talent. It’s unflashy, understated, and all the better for it.

That’s not the only nod to the passing of an actor who made a home of the Enterprise. Leonard Nimoy made Spock one of science fiction’s truly iconic characters, with a legacy in the franchise that spanned from the original 1966 TV series, to the 1973 animated series, appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation in the 1990s, and cameos in both of JJ Abrams’ Star Trek films.

Star Trek Beyond European premiere

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In the 2009 reboot, Abrams cleverly branched off the new cast in an alternate dimension to the original show – the legacy of Gene Roddenberry’s series remained untouched and that timeline still exists, with the new films free to go their own way.

As such, Quinto’s Spock occasionally interacted with Nimoy’s Spock ‘Prime’ in the recent films, and the older and wiser half-Vulcan was able to give his younger, alternate-self nuggets of guidance and wisdom.

Star Trek Beyond directly includes Nimoy’s death in its plot – Quinto’s Spock has a sort of existential crisis as he is informed that Spock Prime has died, prompting some soul-searching as he contemplates whether he should stay on the Enterprise, continue his relationship with Uhura, or direct his efforts elsewhere.

In a film of upbeat action and fast-paced witty dialogue, one of the most memorable moments sees Spock calmly gazing into the cosmos, holding the notice of Spock Prime’s passing in his hands.

In the 50th anniversary year of Star Trek, the idea of legacy plays an important role in Beyond – and while it might not live up to JJ Abrams’ 2009 film, its peaceful reflections on remembrance will be, well, remembered.

Star Trek Beyond is out now in UK cinemas

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