A "redshirt" is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced. The term originates from the original Star Trek (NBC, 1966–69) television series in which the red-shirted security personnel frequently die during episodes.[1] Redshirt deaths are often used to dramatize the potential peril the main characters face.
Kirk and Spock discover dead redshirts in the Star Trek episode "Obsession" (1967).
In Star Trek, red-uniformed security officers and engineers who accompany the main characters on landing parties often suffer quick deaths.[3][2] The first instance of what now is an established trope can be seen in the episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (1966).[4]
Of the 55 crew members killed in the series, 24 were wearing red shirts, compared to 15 who had unconfirmed shirt colors, 9 in gold shirts, and 7 in blue shirts.[5] Most casualties were security personnel, whose uniform was red.[6]
The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine book Legends of the Ferengi says Starfleet security personnel "rarely survive beyond the second act break".[7] An episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine titled "Valiant" (1998) also references red as a sort of bad luck omen, in which the plot centers around a group of cadets calling themselves "Red Squad", almost all of whom die in the episode.[8] The 2009 cinematic reboot of the franchise features a character named Olson (portrayed by Greg Ellis) who dies early on during a mission; he wears a red uniform in homage to the trope from the original series.[9]
Usage
In other media, the term "redshirt" and images of characters wearing red shirts have come to represent disposable characters destined for suffering or death.[10][11]
The trope, and its particular usage in Star Trek, has been parodied and deconstructed in other media. Parodies include Galaxy Quest (1999), a comedy about actors from a defunct science-fiction television series serving on a real starship, which includes an actor who is terrified that he's going to die because his only appearance in the show was as an unnamed character who was killed early in the episode.[12] The novel Redshirts by John Scalzi satirizes the trope, as does the video game Redshirt.[13]
redshirt, stock, character, other, uses, redshirt, disambiguation, redshirt, stock, character, fiction, dies, soon, after, being, introduced, term, originates, from, original, star, trek, 1966, television, series, which, shirted, security, personnel, frequentl. For other uses see Redshirt disambiguation A redshirt is a stock character in fiction who dies soon after being introduced The term originates from the original Star Trek NBC 1966 69 television series in which the red shirted security personnel frequently die during episodes 1 Redshirt deaths are often used to dramatize the potential peril the main characters face Kirk and Spock discover dead redshirts in the Star Trek episode Obsession 1967 Contents 1 Origin 2 Usage 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOrigin Editred shirted security guards who often got torn apart by a monster or dematerialized by a Klingon The New York Times on redshirts 2006 2 In Star Trek red uniformed security officers and engineers who accompany the main characters on landing parties often suffer quick deaths 3 2 The first instance of what now is an established trope can be seen in the episode What Are Little Girls Made Of 1966 4 Of the 55 crew members killed in the series 24 were wearing red shirts compared to 15 who had unconfirmed shirt colors 9 in gold shirts and 7 in blue shirts 5 Most casualties were security personnel whose uniform was red 6 The Star Trek Deep Space Nine book Legends of the Ferengi says Starfleet security personnel rarely survive beyond the second act break 7 An episode of Star Trek Deep Space Nine titled Valiant 1998 also references red as a sort of bad luck omen in which the plot centers around a group of cadets calling themselves Red Squad almost all of whom die in the episode 8 The 2009 cinematic reboot of the franchise features a character named Olson portrayed by Greg Ellis who dies early on during a mission he wears a red uniform in homage to the trope from the original series 9 Usage EditIn other media the term redshirt and images of characters wearing red shirts have come to represent disposable characters destined for suffering or death 10 11 The trope and its particular usage in Star Trek has been parodied and deconstructed in other media Parodies include Galaxy Quest 1999 a comedy about actors from a defunct science fiction television series serving on a real starship which includes an actor who is terrified that he s going to die because his only appearance in the show was as an unnamed character who was killed early in the episode 12 The novel Redshirts by John Scalzi satirizes the trope as does the video game Redshirt 13 See also EditCannon fodder Sacrificial lamb Spear carrierReferences Edit Bly Robert W 1996 Why You Should Never Beam Down in a Red Shirt And 749 More Answers to Questions About Star Trek ISBN 0 06 273384 2 a b Vinciguerra Thomas 8 October 2006 There Are No Small Parts Only Long Memories The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 20 June 2022 Itzkoff David 14 May 2006 On Lost the Castaway Who Stands Out Without Even Trying The New York Times Retrieved 14 February 2011 DeCandido Keith 12 May 2015 Star Trek The Original Series Rewatch What Are Little Girls Made Of Tor com Tor Books Retrieved 31 May 2015 Kooser Amanda Surprise Star Trek gold shirts more deadly than red shirts CNET Official Star Trek website https www startrek com article did redshirts really die more often on tos Behr Ira Steven Robert Hewitt Wolfe 1997 Legends of the Ferengi ISBN 0 671 00728 9 Jermaine H 30 January 2015 The Star Trek Red Shirt A Mysterious In Show Omen Allposters com Blog Allposters Archived from the original on 5 April 2019 Retrieved 30 January 2015 To Boldly Go Star Trek DVD release featurette Upside Down Inverted Tropes in Storytelling edited by Monica Valentinelli Jaym Gates The Nowhere Bible Utopia Dystopia Science Fiction By Frauke Uhlenbruch page 176 Galaxy Quest 1999 Movie Review Beyond Hollywood 7 November 2002 Archived from the original on 3 October 2012 Retrieved 14 February 2011 Redshirt on GOG com www gog com External links EditRedshirt at Memory Alpha a Star Trek wiki Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Redshirt stock character amp oldid 1125628110, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
