Plot; Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise square off against heretofore unseen Romulan counterparts w/the potential for full scale war in the balance.
Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the original series, "Balance of Terror" certainly doesn't disappoint. Evoking WWII submarine films like The Enemy Below and Run Silent Run Deep, this is a taut and lean thriller expertly realized by everyone involved; Particularly William Shatner. For me Shatner has always been Trek's MVP, lifting even the most pedestrian episodes w/his hammy theatrics, but here he really shows how good he can be when he dials it down and plays things straight.
The framing device--a wedding between two young shipmates--gives the entire episode a real poignancy and emotional weight.
Widely regarded as one of the best episodes of the original series, "Balance of Terror" certainly doesn't disappoint. Evoking WWII submarine films like The Enemy Below and Run Silent Run Deep, this is a taut and lean thriller expertly realized by everyone involved; Particularly William Shatner. For me Shatner has always been Trek's MVP, lifting even the most pedestrian episodes w/his hammy theatrics, but here he really shows how good he can be when he dials it down and plays things straight.
The framing device--a wedding between two young shipmates--gives the entire episode a real poignancy and emotional weight.