Foil

Character Role Analysis

Leonard McCoy

Don't get us wrong: McCoy's definitely on Kirk's side, and anyone who says otherwise is apt to get a medical tricorder upside the face. But owing to Bones' generally cantankerous nature, and considering his looong friendship with Admiral Kirk, he gets to say things to the Admiral that no one else can.

He challenges his presuppositions and reminds him when he needs to apply a moral compass to the proceedings. Foils don't get any foil-ier than he does, and in fact his status as the Enterprise's chief agitator is one of the things that the first Star Trek movie really missed.

Carol Marcus

Carol is another kind of foil. She too gets to talk all snarky to Kirk, reminding him of his hang-ups and helping him break out of them to see the galaxy from a different perspective. She also gets to snap at him when she feels it necessary, since 1) she's likely known him as long as Bones has and 2) since she's not in Starfleet, she can say whatever she darn well pleases to him.

That's two foils ganging up on poor old James T. No wonder he looks so pained all the time.