Balance of Terror
- Episode aired Dec 15, 1966
- TV-PG
- 50m
IMDb RATING
8.8/10
5.7K
YOUR RATING
The Enterprise must decide on its response when a Romulan ship makes a destructively hostile armed probe of Federation territory.The Enterprise must decide on its response when a Romulan ship makes a destructively hostile armed probe of Federation territory.The Enterprise must decide on its response when a Romulan ship makes a destructively hostile armed probe of Federation territory.
John Arndt
- Ingenieur Fields
- (uncredited)
Bill Blackburn
- Lieutenant Hadley
- (uncredited)
Robert Chadwick
- Romulan Scanner Operator
- (uncredited)
Frank da Vinci
- Crewman
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBudgetary and time constraints prevented the make-up and costuming departments from dressing up each Romulan in Vulcan ears as it was such a lengthy process applying them. So they hit on the idea of giving the lesser Romulans helmets, which were manufactured by Wah Chang. Mr. Chang was responsible for creating many iconic Star Trek hand props.
- GoofsWhen the nuclear device is detonated and Enterprise crew members are thrown about the bridge, Lt. Uhura is "thrown" in the opposite direction from all the other crew.
- Quotes
[after his ship has been disabled]
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.
- Alternate versionsSpecial Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song
- ConnectionsEdited into Star Trek: The Deadly Years (1967)
- SoundtracksTheme From Star Trek
Written by and credited to Alexander Courage
Featured review
Possibly the best Star Trek episode ever
Despite all the hoopla about THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES episode, THE BALANCE OF TERROR might just be the best episode of the series. And, while I have always loved A PIECE OF THE ACTION because it is so much fun, I really do have to cast my vote as this Romulan episode as being the very best.
The episode interestingly enough, is really like a WWII submarine movie in that it bounces back and forth between the cloaked Romulan ship and the Enterprise as it seeks to destroy the Romulans before they sneak back across the Neutral Zone after a raid on Federation outposts. In so many ways, the show is much like the film THE ENEMY BELOW--where the American Captain (Robert Mitchum) and the German Captain (Curt Jurgens) are shown in counter-point as they both try to outwit the other--and in the process develop a grudging respect for their foe.
Interestingly enough, the episode is confined to the Enterprise--and this is amazing because an episode on board ship could easily have been static and dull. But, because the writing was so fantastic and the main characters written and acted so well (Shatner and Mark Leonard as the Romulan leader). Overall it's very tense and exciting. Oddly, for the die-hard Trekkers out there, they'll recognize Leonard as the same actor who later played Spock's father.
The bottom line is this is simply a great and extremely engaging episode that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The episode interestingly enough, is really like a WWII submarine movie in that it bounces back and forth between the cloaked Romulan ship and the Enterprise as it seeks to destroy the Romulans before they sneak back across the Neutral Zone after a raid on Federation outposts. In so many ways, the show is much like the film THE ENEMY BELOW--where the American Captain (Robert Mitchum) and the German Captain (Curt Jurgens) are shown in counter-point as they both try to outwit the other--and in the process develop a grudging respect for their foe.
Interestingly enough, the episode is confined to the Enterprise--and this is amazing because an episode on board ship could easily have been static and dull. But, because the writing was so fantastic and the main characters written and acted so well (Shatner and Mark Leonard as the Romulan leader). Overall it's very tense and exciting. Oddly, for the die-hard Trekkers out there, they'll recognize Leonard as the same actor who later played Spock's father.
The bottom line is this is simply a great and extremely engaging episode that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
helpful•337
- planktonrules
- Dec 5, 2006
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