Star Trek: The Original Series Introduced A New Main Crew Member Who Disappeared After 1 Episode

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The crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise became incredibly famous thanks to the original Star Trek series. Actors like William Shatner (Captain James T. Kirk) and George Takei (Hikaru Sulu) became well-known across generations. Most of the main cast were part of the show from the start, but some, like Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov, joined later and still became beloved Star Trek characters – Chekov didn’t appear until the second season.

While a few crew members appeared occasionally on Star Trek: The Original Series, like Nurse Chapel, most of the officers on Kirk’s ship were just faces in the background. Interestingly, Season 2 seemed to introduce another potential main character after Chekov joined the cast. This character made a memorable debut, but then vanished completely.

Star Trek: The Original Series Treated David Garrovick Like A New Main Character

In season 2 of Star Trek: The Original Series, the episode “Obsession” introduces us to David Garrovick, played by Stephen Brooks. When he first appears, Garrovick confidently walks onto the bridge, and the camera immediately focuses on him as if he’s a very important character. The iconic Star Trek theme song plays softly in the background, like a celebratory introduction – a treatment typically reserved for well-known guest stars or new characters the show wants viewers to quickly care about.

After several colleagues are killed by a strange, overpowering gas, Garrovick arrives as the new security officer and immediately takes charge of the episode. The story quickly connects Garrovick’s past to Captain Kirk’s – Garrovick’s father was Kirk’s former captain on the U.S.S. Farragut. Kirk greatly admired Captain Garrovick, but the captain died in a sad and unexplained incident.

The Star Trek episode “Obsession” immediately establishes a connection between Captain Kirk and the young officer Garrovick, highlighting similarities between them. Throughout the episode, Garrovick grows and matures. He starts as a determined but inexperienced security officer eager to prove himself. With guidance from senior crew members, particularly Spock, he learns difficult lessons and becomes a more dependable officer by the end.

What Happened To Garrovick After Star Trek: The Original Series’ “Obsession”

The episode “Obsession” concludes with Garrovick unexpectedly surviving and becoming a valued member of the Enterprise crew. Kirk even promises to share stories about their time together on the Farragut. This strongly suggests that Garrovick will return in future Star Trek episodes, potentially as a regular character like Nurse Chapel or as a rising star similar to Chekov.

It was unusual for Star Trek: The Original Series to highlight a supporting character, especially one who continued to serve on the Enterprise. Because of this, many viewers likely anticipated seeing Garrovick again. Surprisingly, that didn’t happen. Stephen Brooks’ character was never brought back, and wasn’t even mentioned in any future episodes after his first appearance.

The character of Garrovick returned in Star Trek: Prodigy, and writer Aaron J. Waltke felt he hadn’t been treated fairly in The Original Series. The new show explained that while serving on the Enterprise, Garrovick was sent on a secret mission to Planet 0042692 to help its inhabitants without interfering with their development – a task that became impossible when he crashed the Enterprise’s shuttle.

The local inhabitants managed to treat Garrovick’s wounds, but a leak of plasma from the crashed shuttle poisoned him and the nearby environment. Sadly, the security officer died before Starfleet could reach him, though he remained committed to doing what was right until the end.

Garrovick Would Have Been A Solid Addition To Star Trek: The Original Series’ Cast

Ensign Garrovick was a unique addition to the main cast of Star Trek: The Original Series. He was incredibly idealistic and represented a more innocent, hopeful side of Starfleet, a contrast to characters like Chekov. The original series also lacked a dedicated security officer, and Garrovick could have offered a fresh viewpoint by providing tactical insights and, unfortunately, sending the ship’s crew on risky missions.

More significantly, the episode could have explored a stronger connection between William Shatner’s Kirk and the character of Garrovick. By establishing Garrovick as a kind of protégé, the story could have emphasized their shared traits and Kirk’s guilt over Garrovick’s death. This would have created a natural dynamic where Kirk takes Garrovick’s son under his care, offering a chance to show Kirk in a mentoring or older brotherly role – a side of the character rarely seen in Star Trek.

Later Star Trek shows often featured main characters who were still learning as they went along. While it’s a stretch to compare Garrovick to Wesley Crusher from the original series, his growth over seasons two and three could have been a really interesting story arc.

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2025-12-24 18:19