In Honor Of Star Trek: The Original Series’ Dumbest Redshirt Death

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The ‘redshirt’ is a classic TV trope, famously seen in the original Star Trek series, but it’s become widespread across television. It refers to a minor character who exists primarily to die, emphasizing the risks faced by the main characters.

Redshirt characters on Star Trek were almost always killed off quickly and unceremoniously. Most of their deaths could have been avoided with a little common sense – like staying away from strange plants or actually shooting back at threats. But the most absurd redshirt death in Star Trek: The Original Series happened to Lieutenant Grant in the season 2 episode, “Friday’s Child.”

Lieutenant Grant Is Star Trek: The Original Series’ Most Ridiculous Redshirt

The episode “Friday’s Child” starts with the Enterprise away team arriving on Capella IV, a planet they know is home to a fierce warrior people. Dr. McCoy explains that the Capellans are incredibly strong and always carry small knives called kleeats. Captain Kirk warns his crew to be careful not to break any of the Capellans’ strict cultural rules, and emphasizes that they must avoid any aggressive behavior. Adding to the tension, the Enterprise has detected Klingon ships in the area.

Considering the difficult situation, it’s remarkable that Lieutenant Grant was able to draw his weapon within 30 seconds of landing on Capella IV, even though he clearly violated several rules and local laws. It’s not surprising, then, that he was immediately shot in the chest.

A security officer, quick to react, completely misreads the situation when he spots a Klingon within the Capellan delegation. It isn’t anything the Klingon does, but simply their presence that sets off Grant. He foolishly begins to raise his weapon, intending to shoot the unarmed Klingon as they walk toward the front of the group.

By this point in the Star Trek story, the Federation and Klingon Empire are definitely rivals, stuck in a tense but peaceful standoff. They aren’t currently at war, as the major conflict ended a decade earlier, and the recent issues from the previous season had already been dealt with.

Okay, as a lifelong Trek fan, let me tell you what bothered me about Grant’s actions. Honestly, he was way too quick on the trigger! Jumping to shoot a Klingon the moment he saw one? That felt really off, especially considering how Kirk, Spock, and McCoy would handle things – it just didn’t fit the Starfleet ethos. And seriously, shooting an unarmed Klingon? That’s a huge no-no, it goes against everything Starfleet stands for! Finally, he needs to understand that the Capellans are allowed to invite whoever they want for negotiations. Blasting a Klingon on Capella IV is like ruining a host’s party by attacking their guest – totally unacceptable!

Lieutenant Grant Helped To Cement Star Trek’s Redshirt Trope

Many of the security officers who died in Star Trek: The Original Series met their end in somewhat foolish ways, but they usually had a little time to explore the planet before they died. These officers were often killed simply because they happened to be the first ones to encounter the monster or danger of the week, before the main crew did.

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Lieutenant Grant’s death is remarkable because he’s barely even in the episode and never strays from his captain. Despite this, he still dies, making it feel like Star Trek: The Original Series had a rule about killing off an officer before the opening credits. Coupled with the incredibly poor decisions made by the crew, Grant unintentionally becomes the ultimate example of the ‘redshirt death’ trope, solidifying the idea that nameless, low-ranking characters are always in danger.

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2025-12-21 21:28