Chekov's Gun/Playing With

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


Basic Trope: Chekov's phaser in Star Trek.

  • Straight: Pavel Chekov is present and is carrying a phaser.
  • Exaggerated:
  • Justified: He is on a dangerous mission and has been issued a sidearm for safety reasons.
  • Inverted:
  • Subverted: Chekov is told to leave his phaser on the Enterprise when he leaves...
  • Double Subverted: ...and then it turns out that Chekov's Gun is a Chekhov's Gun.
  • Parodied:
    • Every phaser on the Enterprise is property of Chekov.
    • Which, because he's sometimes referred to as the security chief, also a stretchy bit of Fridge Brilliance.
  • Deconstructed: Chekov tries to stun the alien running around the ship, but because he never uses it, he misses badly.
  • Reconstructed: All crew members, including Chekov, are required to attend target practice regularly.
  • Zig Zagged: There is a gun, and there is a guy, but nobody is really sure what the guy's name is or what type of gun it is.
  • Averted:
    • Everyone has a phaser, but nobody is named Chekov.
    • There is a Chekov, but he doesn't have a gun.
    • No one is named Chekov and there are no guns.
  • Enforced: Chekov is in a Massive Multiplayer Crossover and takes his phaser with him.
  • Lampshaded: Spock says "it was only logical to assume that Chekov would be carrying a phaser in this situation."
  • Invoked: Kirk issues Chekov a phaser.
  • Defied: The Organians disable Chekov's phaser so he can't use it.
  • Discussed: Wesley Crusher to Picard: "Can I have a phaser? Even Chekov got one on the original Enterprise."
  • Conversed:
    • "I knew it! Chekov had a phaser on him the whole time!"
    • "I had a feeling Chekov's gun would come in handy sometime."
  • Played For Laughs: Chekov always has a phaser on him, even in the shower.
  • Played For Drama: Chekov single-handedly saves the ship, Rambo-style, using only his phaser.
  • Plotted A Good Waste: Chekov's gun is a major plot device.

Playing With Chekov's Gun is not recommended. He has many hours of training; you might seriously hurt yourself or others.