Star Trek: The Original Series
"Balance of Terror"
Air date: 12/13/1966
Written by Paul Schneider
Directed by Vincent McEveety
Review by Jamahl Epsicokhan
After a century of silence, the Romulans, a race with whom humans had a war long ago, appear to be on the move again—apparently testing their new cloaking technology—and the Enterprise may be the only ship to stop them from starting another conflict.
The episode is in the tradition of submarine thrillers like Run Silent, Run Deep (or The Hunt for Red October as a more current comparison), but like "The Corbomite Maneuver," it has a tendency to get too wound up in its tactical moments and special effects, which can be confusing and sometimes go on for too long. And, I'm sorry, the set design on the Romulan ship is just not convincing; unlike the Enterprise, it feels too much like a cheap set and little more. And what's with those corny helmets the Romulan officers wear? There are, of course, many strengths here; the episode takes some stabs at relevant issues, especially when the crew discovers the Romulans may be related to Vulcans and a bridge officer's bigoted aggression (aimed here at Spock) emerges.
The Cold War allegory was certainly timely, and the idea of each captains' respect for their counterpart makes for a nice theme, but I wish it had been taken a bit farther. Mark Lenard is good as a Romulan commander who begins to doubt his military's usefulness, but his thoughtfulness isn't utilized nearly as much as it could've been.
The episode's unevenness is its drawback, and it's too bad; there's the potential for greatness here that goes unrealized. Each little theme would've been more effective if given more focus. "Balance" needed more balance.
Previous episode: The Conscience of the King
Next episode: Shore Leave
Like this site? Support it by buying Jammer a coffee.
115 comments on this post
Wed, Apr 13, 2011, 7:15am (UTC -5)
Sat, May 21, 2011, 5:31pm (UTC -5)
In fact DS9 had a similar episode "Starship Down" but to do to budgetary reasons, it didn't quite live up to the original idea. That being said, I think you should have given "Balance Of Terror" at least 3 stars.
Sun, May 27, 2012, 12:01pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Jul 20, 2012, 9:47am (UTC -5)
Wed, Sep 18, 2013, 9:10am (UTC -5)
Thu, Nov 28, 2013, 12:39am (UTC -5)
Tue, Feb 11, 2014, 6:21am (UTC -5)
Thu, Apr 3, 2014, 9:52pm (UTC -5)
Mon, Aug 11, 2014, 4:44pm (UTC -5)
Wed, Aug 27, 2014, 7:07pm (UTC -5)
Mon, Sep 8, 2014, 11:20pm (UTC -5)
To me, this is classic and essential "Trek." It's one of the best episodes to me off any of the five series. It stands on its own, plus it gives us the Romulans. For that alone, it gets two of its four stars.
Wed, Nov 19, 2014, 12:19am (UTC -5)
It illustrates the hide and seek game against submarines, and respecting the enemy and their skill.
Sat, Nov 29, 2014, 5:42am (UTC -5)
I didn't even notice the cheap-looking Romulan bridge - I was more focused on the characters and what the Romulans were doing and thinking.
And yeah the helmets are funny looking, and obviously a cost-saving measure - but Romulan wardrobe has always been funny-looking, even when TNG got a much bigger budget than TOS ever had. Perhaps alien sensibilities cannot be expected to match ours? Perhaps to Romulans, those helmets and, later on, the (to us rather goofy-looking) giant grey quilted shirts with giant shoulder pads look the epitome strength and power. They are a warlike people, after all, plus they are also rigidly heirarchical, so it makes sense that they would value a show of strength and status in their dress. Klingons were never fashion plates either, although their Japanese-inspired uniforms look more badass to our human eyes. And Cardassian fashion is no fashion at all - purely utilitarian and, to us, very ugly. A reflection of their highly militarized, and by human standards, oppressively fascistic culture.
Also: Something in the traditional robes of Vulcan culture harkens back to a common culture with the Romulans. Such clothing is also kind of funny-looking to us, and seems to be very concerned (against the logic of modern Vulcan culture) with a display of status and power (esp. in the resplendent robes T'Pau is wearing, compared with the Vulcan guards around her in "Amok Time"). Romulan culture retained some of that, but their clothing perhaps isn't as strangely beautiful as Vulcan traditional clothing because in leaving Vulcan, as much as they did take the violence and obsession with duty and power, they had no room on their ships for beauty and softness and colourful fabrics, not when riding off to conquer a new home and a new empire for themselves.
Anyway, this episode rates as a 4/4 for me. This calibre of a cat-and-mouse space battle is partly what made "The Wrath of Khan" great some 16 years later, and it makes this episode shine too. The acting on all fronts is spot-on. (And I believe much of the "angst" of the Romulan commander is due to him losing his best and oldest friend so rapidly in battle. And even before that, it might reflect a weariness of not knowing whether he can fulfill his duty while also ferrying him and his crew back to home, alive. Maybe he knows, on some level, that his end is near, and his despair shows). I also thought the b-plot of the never-to-be-married Tomlinson and Martin to be tragic, but also helpful as a window to what operations are like in the lower decks. When Kirk yells "Fire!" on the bridge, what actually has to happen to fire that torpedo? It's evidently not like it is in TNG, when presumably the computer does the firing, and more like a submarine in action. (Which helps with the submarine battle theme).
Anyway, I could go on about this episode, but for me, it's one of the best of Trek, and a real gem of Season 1.
Sat, Nov 29, 2014, 5:46am (UTC -5)
Fri, Feb 6, 2015, 12:29pm (UTC -5)
Concur with the chorus of people that say Jammer had underrated this episode. This is classic Trek and Kirk right here, in fact I'm pretty sure BoT makes the essential ten episodes list for TOS.
Thu, Mar 12, 2015, 10:11pm (UTC -5)
Sun, Jun 7, 2015, 1:48am (UTC -5)
Sun, Jul 5, 2015, 8:16pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Aug 1, 2015, 5:07pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Oct 27, 2015, 3:48am (UTC -5)
Lots of action, drama and suspense. This is classic Star Trek and is what makes Wrath of Khan a favorite.
4 stars for this episode my friend
Wed, Nov 18, 2015, 8:23pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Dec 4, 2015, 4:02am (UTC -5)
Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 9:40am (UTC -5)
Tue, Mar 29, 2016, 10:14am (UTC -5)
I'm with you. Top 10 Star Trek episode for me too.
Agree Luke, nothing really to nit-pick here. Outstanding trek!!
Fri, Jun 10, 2016, 2:09pm (UTC -5)
BOT is among the best Trek episodes ever of any of the series.
Sun, Jul 24, 2016, 9:46pm (UTC -5)
Part of it is that this is the first time we see an alien species on par with The Enterprise. Sure, there were the all powerful Talosians and Bartok, also the all powerful, but this is the first real ship to ship battle. This is the first peer to peer battle, not humans justifying themselves against someone more powerful. So it expands the scope of the Trek universe, and does so admirably. We now know what the Enterprise is capable of against an equal crew, and we see how Kirk and company react. Sure, by the time we get to Voyager, this is just standard background stuff they throw in every episode, but for now it feels very fresh.
Part of it is, of course, the performance of Mark Lenard and the Romulan presence. They could have remained enigmas, they could have just been generic villains. But instead, we spent a fair amount of time with them, getting to see different personalities. Sure, they were fairly standard - the eager and blind patriot lieutenant, the aged yet wisened adviser, and the thoughtful, philosophical captain - but Lenard's performance was masterful. He helped to clarify the episode and give depth to the Romulan empire. Watching him doing his duty even when he knew it was wrong, swearing loyalty to leaders he didn't believe in, was immensely satisfying. Even though the morality of the Romulans may be different, you can tell that these are a thoughtful, intellectual people.
As an aside, I'm curious as to the reason why they are a Vulcan offshoot. Trek never did do too much with that relationship (except perhaps the Unification story), and it doesn't add too much to the Romulan people. It seems to exist only as a reason to get Stiles even more riled up against Spock. On the other hand, perhaps it's also there to immediately show that these people are a force to be reckoned with. By now, we know Spock is very intelligent and highly analytical, so presumably it's an immediate hint that the Romulans will be similar.
Meanwhile, I like that there is more going on than just the battle. We see how it affects everyone. We see Stiles still burning with anger. We see Martine struggling with the loss of her fiancee. We see Kirk having to work his hardest to come up with the proper strategies. And we see Spock having virtually no reaction to discovering the Romulans. It focuses the episode rightly on the characters (on both ships), rather than the technical details of the battle itself.
Not that the battle itself was bad, far from it! There was a ton of tension there, particularly when the Romulans fired their weapon on the Enterprise. I like that the two ships were evenly matched, but with different advantages for each. Made the battle more of a battle of wits than just a slug fest. Yes, it was blatantly taken from submarine battles, and that got a bit silly at times (especially the "everyone must be quiet" part), but I think the tension was still there. It's very reminiscent of Wrath of Khan's final battle as well. And really, the mental battle between Kirk and the Romulan matched up fairly well to that between Kirk and Khan, even if the characters have an actual history in the movie.
Enh, I don't have too much more to say. It's just a great episode, y'know?
Mon, Jul 25, 2016, 1:51am (UTC -5)
I must agree about this episode; it's not just great, it's superb. The entire thing is riveting, and the tension is really there. The characters the pacing, everything, as well as meeting a new foe that seemed almost stronger than the Federation ships.
Not that much is done about the Vulcan offshoot thing, but it subtly tell us that these people are as super-intelligent and even strong as Vulcans, but that unlike Vulcans are also wild and prone to temper and deception. In other words, they're pre-Surak Vulcans who are pretty much out of control. I like that tone a lot, because it does put the spotlight on Spock regarding this, and actually even a threat contained within, since in principle if Spock and other Vulcans dropped the logic lifestyle they could have turned out just like the warlike Romulans.
Mark Lenard as well - brilliant. I give this one 4 stars outright, and it's in my top 20 list for all Trek series combined. Top 2 for TOS (along with The Enterprise Incident). I might have to think about that some more but I think it's those two.
Mon, Jul 25, 2016, 9:03am (UTC -5)
That would make a fun chat topic. Pick the most beloved episode that you hate and the most hated episode that you love.
I'd definitely pick "Genesis" for the second category. I don't know if I hate any beloved episodes, I'll have to think about it.
Mon, Jul 25, 2016, 12:16pm (UTC -5)
Most beloved episode that I hate:
Hmmm...that's a surprisingly tough one. I'd probably have to go with TNG's "Conspiracy"; a surprising number of people seem to like it, but I don't.
Most hated episode that I love:
Definitely TNG's "Genesis" for me too. I enjoyed it despite the many scientific implausibilities.
Mon, Jul 25, 2016, 1:10pm (UTC -5)
Mon, Jul 25, 2016, 2:38pm (UTC -5)
Beloved episode that I hate: Nothing satisfies this exact category but a beloved episode that I think is middling, at any rate, is "The City on the Edge of Forever." It's decent, a bit dated, and certainly has its oddities that don't quite work (such as Bones and Kirk ending up in the exact same building by coincidence). The message is classic sci-fi, but also not even as visionary as a lot of TOS episodes that take their premise in stride rather than announcing it through a proxy. One or two great scenes with Kirk and Spock but otherwise I think a lot of this was overtrumped on account of getting a name actress involved.
Most hated that I love: DS9's "Fascination." Call me crazy but I think it's a lot of fun and gave the actors a chance to goof off in a good way. A few classic moments from Sisko (when Bareil tries to hit him) and Odo (deadpan look when Lwaxana 'dances' with him), and otherwise has such a strange energy from Brook's direction that I can see how it would be off-putting for those who prefer the more standard DS9 tone. This is DS9's version of "The Naked Time/Now", I guess, but where it's about sex for everyone.
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 9:36am (UTC -5)
I find some of the fanatical love for Frame of Mind to be baffling. The direction/atmosphere/music/acting are all amazing, but I think the episode fails to be more than the sum of it's parts. It's a really well presented, but ultimately unsatisfying dish.
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 10:14am (UTC -5)
"Everyone has an episode that they are in complete opposite opinion of the vast majority."
Worst: VOY: 'Threshold'. Universally hated, despised, spat upon.... I graded it a 2.5 on Jammer's scale. Only the ending was bad, that episode actually got an award! :-)
Best: I haven't reviewed everything yet, but DS9: 'Rapture' comes to mind. for Jammer this is a 4-star episode. for me, 1 star. (and I was nice)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 10:36am (UTC -5)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 10:52am (UTC -5)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 11:29am (UTC -5)
Most loved episode I hate: uh. Yeah, I don't think I hate any beloved episodes, but some leave me somewhat cold. I'll have to think what the best example probably is. Homefront didn't do that much for me this rewatch (Paradise Lost flowed much better for me).
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 11:44am (UTC -5)
As for dislikes of loved episodes? DS9's finale is probably near the top of that list. Hugely disappointing on so many fronts. It's actually not a bad episode per se, it's just that it falls short of potential so many times that I wish they'd just scrapped it and rewrote the ending. Like, the war ends in a 20 second conversation the audience CAN'T hear. Sisko did not deserve to die, or is he in purgatory? Who knows? Oh, and finally, why was Bajor's Federation question never brought up?
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 12:17pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 1:33pm (UTC -5)
Well, I was looking more at the Jammer scale (since people on this site tend to agree with Jammer) and he gave it a nice 3.5 stars.
If had to pick a runner up, I'd go with DS9's "The Children of Time" from recent memory. It's a cool sci-fi time concept, but I think the crew is way too easily convinced to side with the temporal civilization. A lot of commenters go on about the "6000 lives" figure which justify them staying, but all of those lives are there *by mistake* to begin with, and there's no way to calculate how many more thousands of lives were lost by the DS9 crew not returning. It's a safe bet that in fair conditions with access to the Federation that crew will naturally live on to create 10 to 100s of thousands of people through their families over a couple centuries.
So even using Spock "needs of the many" logic, the crew was doing the right thing by trying to get off the planet.
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 2:06pm (UTC -5)
I love Vic's song, I love Odo/Kira's ending, I love Jake staring out the wormhole, I love Bashir/O'Brien, I love Garak/Bashir, I love Damar's end...
I really get why some people don't like the end to the war. It's a bit rushed, but ok for me. In the end the conversation basically amounted to "Your people will go extinct if you don't end this." And I could see almost anyone agreeing to that.
Dukat is the weak point for me, and I usually am a fan of the Prophets and such. I even loved Kai Winn's arc. Although it's not AGT fault, I think DS9 ends better than any other Trek except TOS. TNG ends with Nemesis, ENT with the Pegasus retcon, VOY with Endgame and TOS with "second star on the right and all til morning". 2nd place isn't so bad.
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 3:03pm (UTC -5)
(I think it and "All Good Things..." are equal to each other in quality)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 4:15pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 9:32pm (UTC -5)
This, to me, seems to suggest that the Vulcan claim that only pure suppression of emotion can control their emotions is wrong. The Romulans can clearly do it without resorting to pure logic. So how do they do it? I think there might be some external suppression from the government that acts as a substitute for the Vulcan's internal suppression. By keeping society rigid, the Romulans impose a sense of order on the people and tell them where their place is. The lack of freedom combined with a strong patriotic fervor towards that system leaves the Romulans with less of an outlet for their emotions. As such, they remain placated. Even the upper class can keep emotions in control by being loyal to the state, so even though they may have more freedoms than the lower classes they also end up with more of a reason to maintain the desired order. An unwillingness of anyone to upset the Romulan State is enough to keep everyone in line. This even seems to be the case with Mark Lenard here. He clearly hates his mission and could fly off the handle because of it, but his sworn sense of duty prevents it.
Of course, this is only a hypothesis on my part, as it is never mentioned in the various series. That's one thing I would have liked to have seen explored.
As for the other topic:
While I have issues with Tapestry and Chain of Command, two beloved classics, I still like both of them. So instead, I think the one I disagree with the most is DS9's The Visitor. Maybe it was a deep and emotional story, but the framing narrative (It was a dark and stormy night. Inside was the wizened old brilliant author who only published one story, because that's totally how authors work. He is visited by a young, attractive, wide eyed novice writer on accident who just so happens to be his biggest fan! And on the night when the wizened old author is planning to meet his destiny, no less) made my eyes roll so fast I simply couldn't concentrate on the rest. The fact that I was never a big fan of Jake probably didn't help either.
On the flip side, I will go with TNG's Emergence. Sure, it's dumb, but I was just happy to spend some time with the crew working out a very silly problem. Also, while I do think Threshold is downright awful, I don't think it is its own special category of atrociousness that a lot of fans seem to put it in. Not that that's saying much...
Tue, Jul 26, 2016, 10:03pm (UTC -5)
I've thought about the Romulan/Vulcan thing from time to time, and I like your theory. I wonder, though, whether people wouldn't boil over frequently if they really were that emotional, fear or no fear. Creating a contained, boiling cauldron seems like a recipe for chaos. But on the other hand, the Romulan commanders we see do appear to be extremely measured, beginning with Mark Lenard and the commander in "The Enterprise Incident", who are both passionate but in control, and ending in DS9 where the Romulans are downright stonefaces who reveal almost no emotion at all other than disdain. So I'm not that inclined to believe either one of two things: 1) That the Vulcans are telling the whole truth about how emotional they are without logic, or 2) That the Romulans are at present identical to the Vulcans. I prefer (2), and my suggested explanation for this is that while the Romulans left to avoid being forced to adopts the teachings of Surak, they still experienced the old emotional problems upon reaching Romulus. Since they have no problems with violence, I would expect they massacred every Romulan who was overly emotional, in a long term eugenics plan to weed out the most emotional of them and breed calmer people. The Romulans we know may be passionate, but barely more so than Humans, and hardly the maniacs we see during the Pon Farr.
Regarding your other point about "The Visitor":
"Inside was the wizened old brilliant author who only published one story, because that's totally how authors work."
Jake in the episode is a deliberate reference to J.D. Salinger, who shares exactly the features you just described; was famous for exactly one book, which was a classic, went into seclusion for unspecified reasons, and wouldn't allow interviews once he did. This episode is a kind of "what if" nifty sci-fi explanation for why such an acclaimed author would quit writing. To study subspace physics and save his father, of course :)
Wed, Jul 27, 2016, 11:05am (UTC -5)
You're right, WYLB is definitely not as beloved by fans as "Duet", "Improbable Cause" or even "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges". But it's really hard for me to complain about classics like those. I feel like I'm nitpicking shows that don't deserve it when there are *really* bad ones out there that do.
Fri, Jul 29, 2016, 12:07pm (UTC -5)
Worst episode I love (or at least enjoy): Genesis of course! It's so corny, silly, stupid, and outrageous that it's actually phenomenally fun. For the same reason I have a soft spot for a lot of TNG Season 1 episodes. They are generally so goofy that I can't help but be entertained.
Most beloved episode that I hate (or am cold towards): First Contact (TNG episode). I dunno, its clinical and dry hand-wringing morality always leaves me blase and eager to move on. I Borg is another. Very didactic and ponderous. I can't stand all those childlike kindergarten lessons with Hugh.
Mon, Oct 17, 2016, 2:12pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Oct 18, 2016, 1:22pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Oct 18, 2016, 3:09pm (UTC -5)
I really like the episode, but if it was only alright for you, I can respect that. I mean... it's not like you gave it a 1.
Tue, Oct 18, 2016, 3:29pm (UTC -5)
For example, I noticed that Jammer's reviews tend to take the series' strengths and weaknesses into account, which already suggests to me they are not meant to be absolutely objective. There are episodes of Voyager which have the same rating as TNG episodes that are simply far more enjoyable. But when reviewing Voyager it seems that the standard shifted in the direction of "are they trying something new? are they taking a step in the right direction? Is this something that helps the characterizations more than we usually get?" In such cases the rating seems to reflect Jammer's satisfaction that the writers were making strides that he appreciated. Objectively, the episode may still be inferior to a TNG episode of the 'same calibre', but again, the rating isn't an objective scale.
I'm not at all disturbed that Jammer sometimes likes or dislikes episodes that I don't. Although to be fair in this case I disagree strongly, but hey man, to each their own.
Tue, Oct 18, 2016, 3:48pm (UTC -5)
@Robert: I haven't seen this episode in many years, but I can't shake the feeling that I might have gotten this one wrong and that I might have a different reaction today. I am certainly willing to go against the general consensus, but I don't know that this would still be one of them.
Wed, Oct 19, 2016, 8:04am (UTC -5)
It's really a totally different measure how something affects you on the first run. I can tell you that I'd personally rate both "The Nagus" and "Broken Link" lower now than on the first run. "The Nagus" because Rom's characterization feels so WRONG to someone who's seen the whole show and "Broken Link" because the Odo is human and Gowron is a changeling both felt like such huge OMGWTF!!!! reveals and then neither of them really stuck. Gowron wasn't a changeling, Odo isn't as human as he seemed and the next episode was really good (a personal favorite for me even now) but it didn't seem to pay off "Broken Link" in the way that I was hoping for. I'd still probably give it a 3, but at the time I might have felt like 3.5 or 4. Likewise episodes that I might have rated abysmally like the yawn-fest that is "Storyteller" is worth a drop more now because of the glimmer of the start of the O'Brien/Bashir friendship.
And as to Balance of Terror... well I agree with Jammer. You can't have totally objective reviews because those would be wrong. I actually think Balance of Terror is not, objectively, as good as people think it is. The individual parts amount to a 3, whereas people rate it 3.5 or 4 regularly. I don't think the individual parts add up to that mathematically. Instead the factor of subjectivity allows acknowledging when an episode somehow adds up to more or less than the sum of it's parts. And I think this episode is one of those. I'd probably boost it from a 3 to a 3.5 for that "je ne sais quoi". As an example of the opposite I've always felt that "Where No One Has Gone Before" had some nice moments but was ultimately less than the sum of it's parts (I'd probably knock it from a 2.5 to a 2).
I think that if you don't allow for subjectivity in your reviews one would do a disservice to those episodes that have an extra special charm or whatnot, that'd you'd miss if you tried to be totally objective. Obviously subjectivity should be within a range (I'd say a range of about a star). I mean... if Jammers gives something a 1 I think it's fair to interpret that to the fact that he thinks it objectively sucks. Whereas a 2.5 could certainly be objectively decent but not the reviewers cup of tea. Earl Grey. Hot.
Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 3:06pm (UTC -5)
Strider (yeah I know its an early post, but I don’t see any other responses!), I categorically disagree. Claiming Lenard’s commander –who use more varied types of tactics than any other military commander depicted in Star Trek, jettisoned his friend and ultimately detonated his whole ship and crew- was not a decisive officer or lacked do-whats –necessary is just not justifyable. The one decision change we saw was despite his character, not because of it. That’s the whole point.
History is replete w/brilliant military commanders who doubted their political leaders’ motives but did their duty as they saw it (Rommel comes to mind) – a weakness not of a person but of a system of thought (the “leader principle” our Starfleet officers referred to in the ep).
Lenard’s commander was just the sort wily survivor that sometimes makes it to the top in a system fraught with intrigue. A 2-dimensional full-speed-ahead character – like his foolish lieutenant who blackmailed the commander into ordering the final attack that got them all killed in the end – would not have lasted anywhere near as long against Kirk, and the ep would have sucked – both because we ‘d miss a good battle and –more importantly- because we’d miss a good point:
A flawed system fails because it forces its most brilliant people to do dumb things against their better judgement –with tragic results and tremendous suffering. This ep makes that point eloquently –in Lenard’s hands, it borders on poetry- with a study in contrast between Kirk’s fate and the Romulan’s.
The irony of a commander sacrificing everything –even desecrating his oldest friend’s corpse- to turn defeat into a measure of victory (bringing his ship and crew home safely after destroying enemy bases, with a report of new military information) …only to be thwarted by an upstart big dumb thug whose only strength is that he has the ear of an even bigger thug back home- was handled with almost Shakespearian subtlety, grace, even poetry in Mark Lenard’s hands.
..and its a theme we’d better reacquaint ourselves with in the age of Putin and Trump. This story is just as timely now as it was in 1966.
Mon, Dec 5, 2016, 3:40pm (UTC -5)
I don’t think his thoughtfulness was under-utilized so much as it was easy to miss subtle points. I’ve been watching this ep periodically for 40 years and I’m still seeing details I missed before.
He wasn’t doubting his service’s usefulness, he was hinting at doubts about the uses to which it was being put by leaders more interested in their own glory than the well-being of their people.
The limited nature of the picture they had of each other was not an oversight, it was part of the point. (side points: limits on communication is counterproductive… and great minds will overcome barriers).
These two men never knew each others’ name, yet knew each other more intimately than a lover. “He’s a sorcerer, that one. He reads my thoughts”. I don’t think the potential for greatness was unrealized. I think it was quite realized – its just a bit too subtle for TV – a line Star Trek was famous for flirting with, from the first moment.
The stress on the battle (which was quite sparing on special effects shots, compared to modern fare– conveying the necessary points with great economy) was not only entertaining but necessary to make the point that, over and over in a game of military chess, these commanders were evenly matched … that one of them lost everything not because he was out-thought but because he was trapped in a dysfunctional system – one talented man prospered under a good system, another equally talented man was destroyed by a bad one.
This story (and its multiple complementary sub-stories so smoothly interwoven that its easy to miss just how much was comfortably fit into 45 minutes.. even ten second ones like between Rand and the Captain, or our favorite black woman officer taking the helm with authority in the midst of battle –aired in 1966! when there were still "colored" signs on bathrooms!) was so strong that, even with some production flaws, it was not only one of the best of TOS and all Star Trek, it was one of the best in the history of TV. It deserves all 4 stars, or at the very least 3.5 … and another look from you, Jammer.
Sun, Dec 18, 2016, 5:31pm (UTC -5)
Wed, Jan 11, 2017, 6:31pm (UTC -5)
Personally, I agree with the substance of Jammer's review outside of the star rating, but I would give this one 3 or maybe even 3 1/2 stars. Yes, it's a bit slow and talky, but it's also a tightly wound story that unfolds perfectly on its own terms. The message about prejudice and respecting one's enemy remains strong. BoT is an antiwar allegory with cold war overtones, not unlike many of the self-serious DS9 "war episodes" that Jammer goes ape over.
To my mind, all Trek "war episodes" in this style are of a piece: Slightly derivative message shows which revel in war movie cliches. Qualitatively, they're all the same thing, more or less, with varying levels of success. And "Balance," I think, handles ethics of war themes better than DS9 episodes like the Siege of AR-whatever and that episode where Jake is a hospital orderly on a battlefield of Klingons. Those shows put me to sleep; "Balance," while not as exciting a "TOS tactical action show with moral message" as "Doomsday Machine," presents Mark Lenard in a riveting turn and features a powerful B-story with the doomed Tomlinson couple and bigoted Styles. Also, the amount of universe building with the introduction of the Romulans and cloaking device is noteworthy, as well as the addition to Spock's Vulcan back story. Yet the main theme is really what people find compelling: This is adult stuff here, portrayed sincerely in classic Trek fashion -- and even though I agree with Jammer that BoT isn't a four-star classic, primarily because it gets lost in its own battle tactics, I think it deserves more stars than this piddling rating, which equals what Jammer gave to several middling 3rd Season outings.
Fri, Jan 13, 2017, 10:51pm (UTC -5)
Several contributors pointed out correctly that more advanced effects would have detracted from the plot. One of the wonderful things about the original series is that the writing and directing were often so good, that years later you can watch an episode like Balance of Terror and think "this time they may not get out of it" even though you have seen the show countless times before
Fri, Jan 27, 2017, 6:36pm (UTC -5)
A number of themes at play -- it's interesting Star Trek introduces the Romulans before the Klingons as it seemed to me the latter would turn out to be the primary ongoing threat to the Federation.
In any case, so much to like about this episode that clearly served as a model for parts of Wrath of Khan, the best ST movie ever.
Kirk's handling of Stiles' bigotry is excellent, his admission to McCoy of the pressure of command in their heart-to-heart adds a human dimension to the battle, Lenard as Romulan commander ultimately showing respect for his adversary and the conflicts between his philosophy and the Romulan Empire's, so much to love about this episode.
I guess the Enterprise is quite lucky with firing phasers (though they came out as photon torpedoes) and getting away from the Romulan plasma torpedo. But what's interesting about the battle is each starship has its strengths and weaknesses.
The side story of the wedding and Spock saving Stiles' life is weaved in perfectly.
No question one of the best Trek episodes. For me 4/4 stars.
Tue, Feb 14, 2017, 7:58am (UTC -5)
And on various occasions I found myself in disagreement. But it's always great to read other opinions.
So, thank you for this site!
I just couldn't restrain myself, when I saw the Best/MostHated thread, even if I'm a bit late...
So Loved-by-all-and-hated-by-me: Definitely "The Magnificent Ferengi"- I really hate that episode. It's disguisting that our heroes humiliate a corpse and play around with it. Just think how it would feel, if the Dominion would use Siskos body in such a way! I know it's played for laughs, but for me it's not funny in any way...
Just sick!
In the Hated-and-loved-by-me-category: Many Voy-episodes, as I love that series and also its serial character. Love many of the crew and also many of the themes. One of my favourite episodes is "Virtuoso", which is IMHO funny and deeply sad at the same time.
Regarding BoT: just watched it now in a personal rerun: I like the almost poetic moments of both the romulan commander and Kirk. I have my problems with TOS in general, as its sexism is really bothering me. But there are some episodes, which I can enjoy.
Mon, Mar 20, 2017, 10:56am (UTC -5)
Favorite moments: Kirk turning to Scotty on the bridge, the latter anticipating his captain's wish for better than flank speed and assuring him "I've already spoken with my engine room, sir." How characteristic of Mr. Scott to take a proprietary attitude toward "his" engine room.
The interplay between Angela and the coverall-clad gunnery techs on the phaser deck as they bring the weapons on-line. I especially like the one with the creased face and sparse hair; he looks the part of a lowly but indispensable noncom serving his third hitch in Starfleet. Can't help but wish Classic Trek had depicted women entrusted with Fire Control and other critical assignments more frequently. Speaking of which...there's the moment when Uhura leaves her console to pinch-hit for Stiles, the clear implication being she's cross-trained in Navigation and is more than a glorified switchboard operator. Here again, too bad we didn't see more of that.
The dialogue between the Romulan CO and his exec, both war-weary and cynical, both rightly wary of the strutting Decius and his bloodlust. (Side note: Lawrence Montaigne, who played Decius, died yesterday at age 86. RIP) These scenes evoke the byplay between Curt Jurgens and Theodore Bikel in "The Enemy Below," just as Kirk seeking reassurance from McCoy echoes Robert Mitchum confiding in his medical officer. Paul Schneider obviously sat through this movie more than once.
Stiles undergoing his Road to Damascus moment as he realizes Spock saved his life, a scene rescued from bathos by Spock's bland explanation he acted not out of sentiment but to spare himself the trouble of finding a replacement navigator. Kirk's rueful glance at Spock and McCoy after Yeoman Rand brings word Starfleet will back any command decision he makes.
There are one or two roll-your-eyes moments (Kirk embracing Rand as the plasma bolt bears down on them? No one suggesting they dodge it by going into warp?)
But on the whole a superior episode, ranking among the best of Season One.
Thu, May 25, 2017, 9:56pm (UTC -5)
I think this is one of the best Star Trek TOS episodes. A lot of drama, and excellent acting from Mark Lenard. I would give it 4 stars.
Thu, May 25, 2017, 10:46pm (UTC -5)
I can't think of any beloved episodes that I hate. I do think "Mirror, Mirror" and "The City on the Edge of Forever" are slightly overrated, but still very good episodes.
Two episodes that most people think are really bad are "Spock's Brain" and "Move Along Home". I don't love these episodes, but I do think they are better than most people give them credit for.
Fri, Jun 23, 2017, 12:47am (UTC -5)
Some comments have been made about the style of helmets. Other than the obvious, which somebody already mentioned, was that the helmets were to prevent the expense of making everyone with ears. Aside from that, references to the founders of Rome by naming the planets Romulus and Remus, it is clear that someone based the Romulans on the Roman Empire. The references to Centurion, Decius, Centurion, etc make it clear. If you look back at history you'll see Romans wore this type of helmet at one point.
On the other topic, I think the episode The City on the Edge of Forever is overrated. It's not that it's a bad episode, but to state it is the best Star Trek episode of all time is going too far, in my opinion. I think it gains its reputation because it was written by Harlan Ellison. Even though a lot of it was rewritten after his original draft, I think a lot of people elevated to the best because of his reputation.
As an episode I don't particularly care for, the one I would nominate is Shore Leave . When I was a kid I really enjoyed this episode, but when I watch it as an adult it just seems a little bit silly. And Kirk's fight with Finnegan went on way too long and was just boring. I think probably Shatner pushed this idea to celebrate his machismo. I think that the idea was interesting, but it wasn't executed very well.
Sat, Jun 24, 2017, 2:28pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Sep 1, 2017, 12:23am (UTC -5)
Fri, Sep 15, 2017, 12:26am (UTC -5)
Mon, Sep 25, 2017, 11:42pm (UTC -5)
When I first saw this episode as a kid, I thought it was one of the greatest TV episodes I ever saw. I was especially struck by Mark Lenard's angst as a military commander with doubts about the justness of his cause, a classic theme for late 1960s America, and by Kirk's similar doubts about the effects that retaliating against the Romulans will have. Say what you will about TOS, but there was a genuine desire for peace and distaste of war on this show that was lost in Trek sometime after TNG, to the point where the Star Trek Discovery main character (mild spoiler) is urging her captain to shoot first and ask questions later on last night's pilot premiere. Unfortunately, this episode was also the the only one I owned (on VHS!) for many years, and I rewatched it so many times that I lost my taste for it. But seeing it again in order makes me realize it's really, really good in all respects.
What more can I say? Balance of Terror is a multi-layered allegory about war, bigotry, revenge, and the sneaky use of barely-legal weapons (invisibility screen for ships) in covert operations. We pick up the vibe of the Romulan culture in their shipboard scenes in this first episode, but we also learn about their relationship to Vulcans and many other key things in the Star Trek universe. This is really the first tactical ship battle episode in Star Trek history, giving us a nautical flavor right from the opening speech by Kirk about wooden ship captains -- comparisons to Wrath of Khan feel right to me -- and is the only episode thus far outside of "Corbomite" to feature a shipbound space adventure with an alien ship threat. It's the first episode where we see the ship fire phasers, this time in proximity bursts which feel more like the gunshot-style phasers we see in JJ Abrams reboot Trek. And this one gives all the regulars (except for Chekhov, who won't join us until Season Two) some nice things to do in the ensemble, while also leaving room for touching moments with the guest stars (Tomlinson, Styles, and Tomlinson's fiancée) and a minor bit for Rand. McCoy's scene with Kirk, paralleling the Romulan commander and centurion, shows how both commanders desire peace but are locked into a death struggle that may promote war if they're to do their job right -- very tragic and sad. The final speech by the Romulan commander before he ends the battle remains eloquent and moving in its simplicity and directness.
Mon, Sep 25, 2017, 11:50pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Sep 26, 2017, 5:34pm (UTC -5)
overrated: agree with TCONTEOF, but also TNG The best of both worlds. It is fine, and the first part is thrilling, but depends too much on the cliffhanger, after which it rapidly loses dynamics. It also marks a change in the storytelling as described above
Thu, Oct 19, 2017, 9:58am (UTC -5)
Fri, Oct 20, 2017, 2:16am (UTC -5)
The acting in the original Star Trek was fantastic, as was the music. The music was amazing too, still the best in the history of television in my opinion. Thanks Jammer for providing this forum.
Mon, Oct 30, 2017, 7:19am (UTC -5)
I also didn't buy the manufactured tension between Spock and that silly crewman. In a universe with so many aliens outwardly identical to humans why would the notion of vulcan- looking aliens be so shocking?
Well, at least we got to see a duel between two "brilliant" starship commanders trying to outmanoeuvre each other with dazzling tactics such as: "playing dead", "hiding behind asteroids", "shooting at random and actually hitting something in space"etc.
Mon, Nov 6, 2017, 7:42pm (UTC -5)
Great episode. My favorite so far. There's so many interesting facets.
Spock and Sulu are superlative in this one.
I enjoyed the Romulan commander's ordeal. Watching him be outmanoevered yet still show his respect for his adversary was great. I do regret the writer's decision to kill the character though. I get the sentiment behind the choice, but there was the potential for a great rivalry here in future episodes, had they given the character a name and a means of escape.
Tue, Nov 21, 2017, 2:16pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Nov 21, 2017, 2:17pm (UTC -5)
Thu, Dec 28, 2017, 7:11pm (UTC -5)
@Peter Swinkels
I have wondered that as well. It struck me as a submarine theme, where any sound is transported through the water. I think they could have had a big, loud party and no-one would have known. Heh, as long as Spock doesn't crawl out and blindly put his hand on the console, hitting multiple buttons, making them go "beep beep beep" and sending a signal. :)
I just realized I'd never left a comment on this episode, and thought I'd rectify that after my comment toward Peter.
This was one of my favorite episodes when I was a kid, and it still is. My Father used to watch Star Trek during its initial run, but I was unable to appreciate it as I was one year old and had more important diaper things to think about. But after Star Wars came out in '77, the old Star Trek episodes started to come on in the afternoon, and I was psyched (Star Wars got me into Star Trek). I would record them on cassette and listen to them over and over, and I believe this was one of the ones I heard the most. It was tense, fun, and while I knew the "good guys" were going to win, I didn't know how, or if there would be major damage, etc. It was spectacular. If I'd had a rating system back then, it'd have been four stars, and it still is today. Sure, I can pick the nits (Spock's hand comes to mind), but it made me feel like their space was truly dangerous, and they were out on the edge of it.
Heh, but even at the age of 12 or so, when the weapon was coming at them (limited range...), I wondered why they just didn't go up/down or left/right. But I can forgive this episode that foible.
Regards and enjoy the day... RT
Mon, Jan 22, 2018, 1:49am (UTC -5)
Sat, Feb 3, 2018, 7:27am (UTC -5)
I am watching the first season of TOS (for the first time) alongside the second season of DS9 (for the first time) and the superiority of TOS is astonishing. Most glaringly, TOS weaves in multiple storylines seamlessly whilst DS9 episodes have obvious and clunky A/B plot lines with a crashing gear change every time the focus switches from one to the other.
The differing approaches to lighting, mood, and music haven't been kind to DS9 either. In TOS we have a sense of urgency and tension throughout. The 'flat' 90s-TV look of DS9 (and TNG) drain episodes of tension. Curiously, this flat presentation seems to have been deliberate - the TNG alternative timeline of 'Yesterday's Enterprise' apes much more closely the look and feel of TOS and makes the TNG Enterprise a much more exciting place to be (and raises that episode to classic status).
Tue, Aug 7, 2018, 8:43am (UTC -5)
Tue, Aug 14, 2018, 10:21am (UTC -5)
Yes, the Romulan bridge looked like it was made from styrofoam and I noticed, but this episode transcended low-budget effects and the typical science that doesn't make any sense.
Wed, Sep 26, 2018, 7:29pm (UTC -5)
This one starts out so cute with Kirk saying the same basic lines Picard did before Miles and Keiko's wedding! Well, obviously, Kirk said it first, but still cool continuity! But the bride putting a white bit of fluff on her head while in uniform is not a good fashion choice! It was pretty cruel to kill her groom, though I think they were going for the "senseless death" kind of angle.
Overall I think this episode was excellent, although I was a little confused when Spock's Dad turned out to be on the warbird! But a quick google cleared that up. After that, I liked it just fine. They did a good job creating tension, and I really like the lighting. The Romulan Captain's final speech was very moving.
Sat, Nov 17, 2018, 10:16am (UTC -5)
Sat, Dec 15, 2018, 7:22pm (UTC -5)
You gave up the episode before "Improbable Cause"? Ouch.
Sun, Dec 23, 2018, 7:20pm (UTC -5)
* Highlighting bigotry like this would be dismissed as "Leftie SJW DiversityTrek" nowadays. History repeats itself
* Discovery did the "Vulcan Hello" (Spock suggests they attack rather than showing weakness) and look how that turned out. This being set later, were no lessons learned?
* Of the about-to-marry couple, it was overly obvious from the start that one of them would die. Though I never expected it to be so pointless and without context.
* Really weird to see Sarek as a Romulan. I bet this episode spawned a few theories.
Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 3:08am (UTC -5)
Wed, Mar 20, 2019, 7:18am (UTC -5)
This episode managed without the addition of a sexy siren twinkling at Kirk! YAY!
I always enjoy seeing Mark L and had forgotten his turn in this.
I liked the parallels between the two commanders even if it was heavy handed. Vaguely Khan-like.
A classic for its introduction of many things - Romulans, the NZ, cloaking, some Federation history.
Tue, Apr 2, 2019, 10:44am (UTC -5)
Tue, Apr 2, 2019, 10:49pm (UTC -5)
My introduction to Star Trek was as a very young kid watching Dad's old VHS recordings of TOS. He would often suggest episodes to put on, and the one that I would disagree with most often was "Balance of Terror"*. It has its moments, but it can be absolutely plodding at times, and even to my very innocent eyes at the time the Romulan bridge looked kinda rubbish. (Dust falling from the ceiling. On a spaceship. C'mon!)
It's got a great concept and some great moments - some all-time classic moments, in fact! - but the execution is flawed. It ain't perfect.
*To my eternal shame, my favourite for years was "The Apple". Children are cretins.
Thu, Jun 13, 2019, 11:09am (UTC -5)
It may seem like the metaphor is heavy-handed, and admittedly the dialogue is more on the nose than say "The Hunter for the Red October":
Romulan Commander: I regret that we meet in this way. You and I are of a kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend.
But I think this might be the visceral punch we need to see that at any time we as a people, we as a nation, are capable of barbarism like the Romulans. What's clever here is that the "enemy is us" story plays on two levels, with Kirk obviously juxtaposed to the Romulan commander but also Spock being juxtaposed against Stiles.
Spock is identified early as the possible traitor. His species is similar to Romulan, he understands their language, and he's obviously visually very different. But the story flips the tables on us. While Stiles constantly barrages Spock with hatred and suspicion, Spock acts humanely by shrugging off the chance to reciprocate and ultimately saving Stiles' life (for logical reasons). Thus, this isn't just a story about two military powers, but also about bigotry at home. The heat of tension between races can lead to us to stupid decisions that hurt ourselves.
I also really like how Bones was played in this one. He doesn't want any part of this conflict and reminds Kirk that he should temper his actions despite his orders because he could lose himself in the wrong decision. In the end, it seems like Kirk made the right decision militarily, but it cost him something at home.
KIRK: Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all shipmasters have had one happy privilege. That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony.
This happy privilege lost turns into a price Kirk pays for playing into war. Kirk manages this after finding out the groom he was to unite with his bride died due to his actions:
KIRK: It never makes any sense. We both have to know that there was a reason.
Indeed? Well maybe Kirk did the best he could with a difficult situation and I think Angela understands *that*. I kind of wish she'd followed up with more of a "Was there really a reason, sir?" which could have humbled Kirk in future Romulan encounters. Still, it was great that Bones was there to make that argument throughout the show.
Another thing that jumped out at me the while watching this is that TNG (affected by the writers' strike) accepted a fan script for "The Neural Zone" which was basically a bad copy of this episode but with funny 20th century people. So maybe it was "Balance of Terror" meets "The Way to Eden"? The missing outposts were similar as was the "We're back!" proclamation by the Romulans. The interesting twist in TNG was that the outposts were *not* destroyed by Romulans.
Mon, Jul 1, 2019, 7:43pm (UTC -5)
"You gave up the episode before "Improbable Cause"? Ouch. "
Okay, I'll give it another shot. But if they go back to that damn pointless mirror universe, I am going to be pissed.
Mon, Jul 1, 2019, 9:37pm (UTC -5)
Mon, Apr 20, 2020, 4:12pm (UTC -5)
I remember the "Sci-Fi channel special edition" airings when these reviews were written. The episodes were aired Monday through Friday, so Jammer probably didn't have too much time to devote to each episode. I suspect this is why this review seems kind of tossed off, and the Conscience of the King review seems to misrepresent the ending.
I'm revisiting TOS since there's little to do in the evenings now other than watch TV. I'd love to see Jammer revisit it as well, but would rather he tackle a new series.
Sat, Jun 27, 2020, 2:42pm (UTC -5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny6oZED1Hm8
A great movie. I recommend it highly.
Sat, Jun 27, 2020, 10:34pm (UTC -5)
The premise of 2 evenly matched ships (with different strengths/weaknesses) led by 2 captains who develop a unique respect for each other is a an awesome basis for a story. But BoT has a few more layers to it with Stiles' bigotry toward Spock, the marriage with the groom dying and Kirk having to comfort Martine "it never makes any sense", Romulans/Vulcans, etc.
It's interesting just how far BoT went with the naval analogy as we get into a great bit of detail of what it takes to go to battle, firing phasers -- aspects which are glossed over in other episodes. We see the technicians in their suits that I don't think we ever see in any other episodes. The movie focuses on how commands get relayed from the captain and to some extent that also happens in BoT, which is a bit un-Trek-like to me as it doesn't happen in any other episode that I can think of.
Wasn't a huge fan of how the movie left things with the 2 captains sharing a smoke on the American ship, but I rather like the BoT ending with the Romulan captain acknowledging Kirk "you and I are of a kind" but then blowing up his ship.
Fri, Aug 28, 2020, 11:55pm (UTC -5)
Tue, Nov 10, 2020, 2:20am (UTC -5)
A good story with no negatives from me!
Thu, Nov 19, 2020, 2:32am (UTC -5)
The fact that Romulans and Vulcans are cousins must have hit Spock very deeply when he saw a man on that screen with the face of his father. @Marcus, I think that similarity really triggered Spock’s strong reaction.
When I watch Star Trek, especially Enterprise (the episode where Trip goes with T’Pol to her home and T’Pol gets married) I often think of Vulcans as a stand in for the Japanese. T’Pol’s mom’s house reminded me of some of the Japanese homes I visited a few years ago. Now with Balance of Terror, I think maybe the Romulans would be the Chinese.
In line with @Skeptical and @Peter G.’s discussion above, @Skeptical could be on to something: the success of the Romulan Star Empire shows that maybe the Vulcan logical way is not exactly the only answer.
[For the record, @Skeptical, I feel the same way about "The Visitor". But I try not to make a big deal about it. People love it so much. And love isn’t rational. Frankly I feel the same way about “Duet” and I am happy to see I have company with @Robert, @Startrekwatcher, @Paulus Marius, and @Tim C, regarding “Balance of Terror” too. But I agree with @Rahul that the wedding elevates this episode quite a bit, and @Beth is spot on, it is a pleasure to see what is happening below decks. And @Phillip, I agree 100%, Uhura is infinitely more valuable than Troi. So not all bad, just not the Jesus candy people seem to make it out to be.]
Last week in “Conscious of the King,” McCoy has a telling throw-away line:
MCCOY: Now I know why they were conquered.
The Vulcans were conquered.
Of course, the Japanese did lose the war. The actor playing Sulu spent time in a war-time internment camp as a child. These were memories very much alive at the time that BoT aired.
Compare that to the Chinese.
For all their problems - and they had so many, not the least of which were the intolerable treaties at the end of the Opium Wars, the Chinese weren’t really occupied by the western powers. They retreated into their forbidden cities. Even today, so much is a mystery about the Chinese. And yet, if anyone is the equal of the US, economically, militarily, it is the Chinese. You can feel it when you drive on their roads, visit their cities, ride on their trains. So while the Vulcans were cool and logical, they were conquered like the Japanese. And while the Romulans might be far more emotional, they are at least are their own people.
That’s a message very uncharacteristic of Star Trek. But then, Balance of Terror is an episode very out of the ordinary - no 1960’s space hippies here!
P.S. @Trek fan, I love that story! God, VHS tapes. Those were the days :)
Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 2:54am (UTC -5)
There are great moments here, but the best was the interplay and respect between the two starship captains, bringing the best out of each in their game of cat and mouse. The second episode- following The Corbomite Maneuver - which was a real template for TOS.
3.5 or even 4
Fri, May 28, 2021, 1:10pm (UTC -5)
However, this episode is brilliant, and depicts something closer to what space battles would really be like.
It could have done without the super racist guy, and especially without the very tired cliché even at the time dead groomsman.
Fri, May 28, 2021, 1:29pm (UTC -5)
His backstory is fairly well drawn though.
But the real annoyance is him becoming a trumpeting convert because Spock saved his life. Cheesy and silly. Most likely the guy would quickly rationalize away what happened and revert to his previous behavior.
Fri, Jun 25, 2021, 1:25pm (UTC -5)
Sat, Nov 6, 2021, 5:34pm (UTC -5)
Sun, Jan 9, 2022, 4:01pm (UTC -5)
Fri, Feb 11, 2022, 8:30am (UTC -5)
I'm fine with depicting all forms of prejudice etc, but typical of Star Trek of this era (i.e the injection for plot purposes of overly emotional 'one time' crew members) there's no realistic subtly to it. Nor a satisfying final confrontation/challenge of those beliefs (think Picard's speech to O'brien regarding the Cardassians in TNG, or Worf on the verge of being ordered to give blood to a dying Romulan).
Instead a Starfleet professional begins immediately acting like a complete moron, toward Spock especially, the moment he discovers the Romulans have pointy ears.
Otherwise I really quite enjoy this one - even if a blatant spin on the whole WW2 Uboat theme. The tactics side of trying to feel out and guess what the other captain is thinking and planning was really well done. As were the overarching stakes of trying to avoid an all out war. Mark Lenard as always is a joy to watch, and a small but simply brilliant speech by McCoy are added highlights.
Tue, Apr 19, 2022, 4:21pm (UTC -5)
Kirk didn’t need to wring his hands in that scene with McCoy for any reason; he was absolutely in the right the whole time. For God’s sake, Kirk even later offers to let the wounded Romulans come aboard the Enterprise after finally kicking their asses, and the Commander refuses because “it’s not our way, and you’re a piece of shit.” Good riddance to that bastard. Seriously, all the points about mutual respect between the two vessels’ Captains and the overall tragedy of war/military confrontations are absolutely moot and wasted in this lazy story.
Stiles’ bigotry was black-hat blatant but also understandable, I suppose. People forget that it’s easy to decry prejudice when one is sitting comfortably in their armchair or university office, but it’s quite different when you’re face to face with an enemy that’s an imminent threat to your life and those around you. Stiles' point about "Romulan spies on board" was an interesting point for about 30 seconds, after it became clear that the episode had no intention of going there. I think Kirk’s verbal swipe of Stiles was absolutely warranted though, and of course Stiles ends up apologizing to Spock in the end (again, no nuance to be found here, folks).
I did love the last few moments -- Janice comes in within a report from Base that states they’ll support any decision Kirk makes. Nice to know, but a little late! This was clearly to demonstrate that high-ranking desk pushers often have no real clue, or ability to authorize or affect, what often happens on the front lines when seconds count (although this has improved considerably with technological advances between the 1960’s, when this was filmed, and now). And the D-story about Tomlinson and his bride was fleeting and trite, but I got the message.
Best Line:
Spock: “I saved a train navigator so that he could return to duty. I am capable of no other feelings in such matters.”
(Spock’s way of telling Stiles off)
My Grade: D+
Tue, Apr 19, 2022, 5:51pm (UTC -5)
"They’re rampaging along our border, destroying Earth outposts one by one, and there’s never any reason or explanation given except for, “We are evil and you suck, bwahahahahah!”"
It seems the reason is that the Romulans are testing out their new weapons technology in the cloak and the torpedo. They presumably originally agreed to the truce because neither side could win (or because they were losing), but if the balance of power shifted in their favor we assume they would dispense with the treaty and attack. Kirk destroying their (prototype?) ship deprives them not only of the weapons reports but also of the surety that the Federation would be an easy target. Hence the title: the treaty hinges only on the balance of terror (i.e. how much each side fears the other) being at parity.
Tue, Apr 19, 2022, 6:05pm (UTC -5)
Fair point. I suppose at the time this was produced, something had to be said about the real dangers and ugly realities when one side starts testing the limits of that balance of terror.
Sun, Apr 24, 2022, 3:45pm (UTC -5)
But also the Romulans are so blatantly Roman, coming from literally Romulus and Remus. It's so on the nose, it should have been mentioned in dialog.
Sat, Jul 2, 2022, 8:26pm (UTC -5)
absolutely top-notch thriller from top to bottom, excellent lighting, camerawork, and sound design especially for its time
Fri, Jul 8, 2022, 9:40am (UTC -5)
Mon, Jul 18, 2022, 2:15pm (UTC -5)
My intent was to re-watch some TOS classics - “Changeling”, “City on Edge”, “Doomsday Device”, and “Balance”. All lived up to billing and memory except for “Balance”, which immediately had pacing issues out of the gate. The setup to the Romulan situation is rushed, and must have been baffling to anyone not familiar with Trek.
Sun, Nov 6, 2022, 4:56pm (UTC -5)
TO females -- CIty on the Edge of Forever
TO males -- Balance of Terror
Thu, Dec 1, 2022, 7:58pm (UTC -5)
1. Externally, they look like photon torpedoes (which have been rationalized by people here already).
2. They have to be fired in a phaser room instead of by someone on the bridge. That seems to be highly inefficient. For drama's sake, I guess it's similar to launching torpedoes in submarines.
3. If they are firing them in a phaser room elsewhere, why are there "phaser circuits" on the bridge? And conveniently under Spock's station no less.
4. When they fire phasers, all the lights dim and the ship lurches. That's pretty serious for an energy beam.
5. I just noticed that they used the photo torpedo sound effect when Spock fired the phasers.
Sun, Dec 4, 2022, 8:39am (UTC -5)
Fri, Mar 3, 2023, 7:35pm (UTC -5)
Submit a comment
◄ Season Index