History Main / TheMccoy

* A number of political controversies seem to be about [[EmotionsVsStoicism McCoyness versus Spockness]]. [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement No Examples Please!]]

* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' . He openly believes any and all life and world has value. While ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts2'' had him not believe that for the Nobodies (heavily implied to be the anger from the others in his heart effecting his emotions) by [=KH3D=] he's gotten over it and insists all Nobodies have value. And he repeatedly tries to reform the villains too.

-->-- '''Cmr. William Adama''', ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' ("Resurrection Ship Pt. 2")

That said, they help keep the drama of a situation ''personal'' both for the characters and the viewer, reminding us just why the LittlestCancerPatient deserves for TheHero to use the phlebotinum that [[ItOnlyWorksOnce only works once]] on him rather than to [[YouCantGoHomeAgain get them home.]] To be fair, the [[TheSpock Spock]] can be just as compassionate, but is tempered with detachment and enough forethought to realize that [[EmotionsVsStoicism the right answer might not be the correct one]], ([[StrawVulcan illogical as that sounds]]). This makes them more willing to [[TheNeedsOfTheMany sacrifice a few people for many]] (or [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice themselves]]).

The [=McCoy=] still functions as an admirable character, however, due to his absolute devotion to his Moral beliefs and his refusal to give in to what others may tell him. To him, there is no such thing as [[WeHaveReserves acceptable losses]] (unless offset by a larger return fitting the loss). And if you start claiming that [[WeHaveReserves numbers can be lost]] or that AMillionIsAStatistic, you can expect a thorough [[WhatTheHellHero chewing out for your coldness]]. In the [=McCoy=]'s mind, every life matters and everyone deserves to be saved. While TheSpock sees people as numbers in the greater picture, The [=McCoy=] sees people with real lives and emotions. Not that he's unwilling to listen to TheSpock; he just doesn't want his own argument to lose legs in the process.

-->--'''Cmr. William Adama''', ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}'' ("Resurrection Ship Pt. 2")

* According to co-writer Roberto Orci, the 2009 ''Film/StarTrek'' film maintains this {{trope}}, but swaps [[TheCaptain Kirk]] and [[TheMedic McCoy]]:

* [[Franchise/StarWars Anakin Skywalker]] shows elements of this {{trope}} in the {{Prequel}} Trilogy. Especially since this was the reason he turned to TheDarkSide.

*** While Teal'c is usually the Spock, he has had his time as the [=McCoy=], usually when someone does something sends him on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge. There was an entire episode dedicated to such an event.

* Beatrice Löwenström, the female protagonist in ''Literature/{{Overenskommelser}}'' by Creator/SimonaAhrnstedt, very much fits into this trope. Her willingness to sacrifice herself for her friends actually boarders on pure stupidity.

That said, they help keep the drama of a situation ''personal'' both for the characters and the viewer, reminding us just why the LittlestCancerPatient deserves for TheHero to use the phlebotinum that [[ItOnlyWorksOnce only works once]] on him rather than to [[YouCantGoHomeAgain get them home.]] To be fair, the [[TheSpock Spock]] can be just as compassionate, but is tempered with detachment and enough forethought to realize that [[EmotionsVsStoicism the right answer might not be the correct one]], ([[StrawVulcan illogical as that sounds]]). This makes them more willing to [[TheNeedsOfTheMany sacrifice a few people for many]] (Or [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice themselves]])

The [=McCoy=] is frequently a target for reminders about the [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]], and one or more episodes might focus on how having his heart on his sleeve can actually cause [[TheCaretaker quite a bit of damage to the people he "helps" with the best of intentions]].

The [=McCoy=] still functions as an admirable character, however, due to his absolute devotion to his Moral beliefs and his refusal to give in to what others may tell him. To him, there is no such thing as [[WeHaveReserves acceptable losses]] (unless offset by a larger return fitting the loss). And if you start claiming that [[WeHaveReserves numbers can be lost]] or that AMillionIsAStatistic, you can expect a thorough [[WhatTheHellHero chewing out for your coldness]]. In the [=McCoy=]'s mind, every life matters and everyone deserves to be saved. While TheSpock sees people as numbers in the greater picture, The [=McCoy=] sees people with real lives and emotions.

** Franklin gets his moments as The [=McCoy=]. "Believers" is the biggest example. In the episode, he's caught between his medical ethics, which compel him to perform a simple operation to [[LittlestCancerPatien save a young boy]], and the beliefs of his patient and his parents, who think that cutting open his body will cause his soul to escape. In the end, he's so driven by his conviction that he's right and the parents are misguided fools, that he performs the operation in secret. [[spoiler: This blows up in his face at the end, as the parents decide that their son died on the operating table, and what's left is an empty shell. Which they kill at the first opportunity.]]

That said, they help keep the drama of a situation ''personal'' both for the characters and the viewer, reminding us just why the LittlestCancerPatient deserves for TheHero to use the phlebotinum that [[ItOnlyWorksOnce only works once]] on him rather than to [[YouCantGoHomeAgain get them home.]] To be fair, the [[TheSpock Spock]] can be just as compassionate, but is tempered with detachment and enough forethought to realize that [[EmotionsVsStoicism the right answer might not be the correct one]], ([[StrawVulcan illogical as that sounds]]).

[[caption-width-right:350:"Dammit man, dare we call ourselves human if we'' don't'' act?! '''What do you mean, [[PunyEarthlings 'Thank you'?!]]'''"]]

The [=McCoy=] is another part of the FreudianTrio, along with TheKirk and TheSpock. (Specifically, the Id.) Where the former is rational and [[TakeAThirdOption intuitive]], and the latter is [[TheStoic cold]] and logical, the [=McCoy=] is [[HotBlooded emotional]] and [[TheHeart humanistic]]. He cares about others deeply; for him doing the right thing is not a question of convenience or moral relativity, but about the concrete reality ''right now''. Which is to say, someone like TheKirk cares about saving people; the [=McCoy=] cares about making things ''right''. This often leads the heroes into hot water as this concern for others blinds him to complications in the MoralDilemma of the week and leads him to advocate (or take it upon himself to do) "the right thing", regardless of how disastrous it would be in the short or long run.

*** While Teal'c is usually the Spock, he has had his time as the [=McCoy=], usually when someone does something sends him on a RoaringRampageofRevenge. There was an entire episode dedicated to such an event.

** The counterbalance can be seen in some episodes. In '"The Enemy Within" for example is Spock the one arguing for taking risks in order to save lives and [=McCoy=] the one wanting to take things slow and use the scientific method before any impuslive action.

** Although Doctor Smith was closer to TheSpock with his self-serving interests, he had quite a few PetTheDog moments of humanistic behaviour himself.

* Another take is in ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'' where Carth and Mission tend to take turns on this. They're higher on the KarmaMeter than the party's Jedi, quick to lose their tempers or say something sarcastic to someone's shady operation, and faster to call WhatTheHellHero when the PlayerCharacter does something dark-sided. Mission is a little more so because she's fourteen years old and hasn't grown up enough to see the point of gray morality. Carth believes more in the ideals of the Republic than the actual law, and has little use for LawfulStupid Jedi dogma.

''"By God, [[TheKirk Jim]]! You can't seriously be considering this! [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight Screw the]] [[AlienNonInterferenceClause Prime Directive]], [[NoTimeToExplain there's no time for debate!]] We have to act now to [[SaveThePrincess rescue the]] HighPriestess; [[FriendOrIdolDecision forget]] the MacGuffin and think about doing what's right!''\\\

* Maria Theresa often seems to come off as a [=McCoy=]. Like [[WinstonChurchill Churchill]], she had her [[LadyOfWar ruthless side]] though. It comes with [[TheWomanWearingTheQueenlyMask the job]].

* Ironically, Jack [=McCoy=] of ''Series/LawAndOrder'' is not the [=McCoy=] for the show. That role is typically filled by the female A.D.A., except when Angie Harmon played that role as a conservative Republican, so they made the new D.A. a female college professor, and made ''her'' the [=McCoy=]. Of course, some can take it too far: Serena Southerlyn was too much the [=McCoy=], which resulted in her being fired. This also led to an example of SuddenlySexuality.

* Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick
** Durkon and Elan sometimes fall into this, in contrast with Versuvius's TheSpock. Elan gets in trouble because of his good heart and poor sense, but gets out of it through his charisma and dumb luck. Durkon is more restrained, and forms an inversion of the usual temperaments with TheSpock, as he is an emotional rock compared to Versuvius's fierce intellectualism.

* Sora from ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' . He openly believes any and all life and world has value. While ''VideoGame/KingdomHearts2'' had him not believe that for the Nobodies (heavily implied to be the anger from the others in his heart effecting his emotions) by KH3D he's gotten over it and insists all Nobodies have value. And he repeatedly tries to reform the villains too.

The [=McCoy=] is the HonorBeforeReason {{trope}} personified, and may occasionally be a StrawmanEmotional. Will sometimes use ImADoctorNotAPlaceholder.

* Rembarndt from ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' is clearly The [=McCoy=], as is the moral voice in many episodes, much more emotional and care a lot for others in a humanistic way. He's also much less interested in scientific approaches than his fellow sliders like Quinn, Arturo and to a lesser extend Wade.

* Rembarndt from ''Series/{{Sliders}}'' is clearly The McCoy, as is the moral voice in many episodes, much more emotional and care a lot for others in a humanistic way. He's also much less interested in scientific approaches than his fellow sliders like Quinn, Arturo and to a lesser extend Wade.

* Sheldon, from ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'', insists that since he's [[TheSpock Spock]] and Leonard is [[TheKirk Kirk]] then Leonard's girlfriend Stephanie must be [=McCoy=].