“Wearing a red shirt” is a phrase you’ve probably heard time and time again but never understood the reference. Had you been watching Star Trek like good little boys and girls I wouldn’t have to create this article, but as it stands, you need my help badly.
In Star Trek: The Original Series, security officers wore red. There was also a fifty-fifty chance that beaming down to a planet with Captain Kirk while wearing a red shirt resulted in said security officer biting the big one, which setup Doctor McCoy to say his big line, “He’s dead Jim.”
Don’t believe me? Observe.
(The following screencaps were taken from ONE episode, “The Apple”)
Bones?
He’s dead, Jim.
Bones?
Nope, still dead.
…
……Yep.
Bones?
Was he wearing red?
No…
He’ll be fine.