The Star Trek episode is ignored: the original series is usually

By Drewsch
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“The balance of terrorism” more or less makes all “best Star Trek: The original seriesList. It is widely regarded as a favorite fan episode for introducing the Romulans to the Star Trek universe literature and illustrating the first Great Starship Battle in the series.

However, the “balance of terror” is rarely promoted as the best chapter of Star Trek: The original series. There is always ranks high and get enough praise whenever mentioned. However, most prominent fan publications and sites go with episodes such as “The City on the Edge of Forever” and “Mirror, Mirror”. These are undeniable classics and add vital pieces to the more Trek Star World, but in the opinion of this author, they do not match a story that seems simply about two space -locked spacecraft.

It is time to declare the “balance of terror” the best chapter of Star Trek: The original series. And here’s why.

The real balance of terrorism

“The balance of terrorism” takes its name from the term that described the delicate truce between the United States and the Soviet Union during the nuclear weapons race. This thin agreement was to ensure that the planet survived, as destruction brought about by a nuclear war brought about the earth would be irreversible.

Star Trek: The original series He was never shy about treating difficult issues, in the real world through science fiction metaphorical scenarios, but it is arguable that “the balance of terrorism” was the most up -to -date and close -up episode of the show’s run at that point. The tension and anxiety that flipped over all humanity during nuclear multiplication was part of everyday life. Schools had (must admit performing and meaningless) Drills where children had to duck under their desks if nuclear firing. Over Star Trek: The original series Tackling this concern with this chapter was nothing less than balls.

Today, this aspect of “terrorism balance” is not as strong as the threat of nuclear war has reduced from popular awareness. However, it is important to have this essential joint in judging the chapter as the best record in the original series. It’s a story that had to feel too real for viewers in 1966. The fact that this little science fiction adventure show would aspire to do something relevant to the fears of the day is worth remembering and respecting.

Waring a submarine in space

Often “the balance of terror” is compared to the 1957 film The enemy belowA submarine thriller about two competitive managers during World War II. It is a suitable correlation but does not make the reef Star Trek: The original series made with the less successful story.

Conflict “the balance of terror” focuses on two star -The enterprise and bird-motivation Romulan-locked in a battle calculated against each other. But, this is not some action extravaganza where the play comes from high energy pyrotechnics and too destructive force. It’s a story where every small battle decision could be a fatal mistake. It proves that you can portray exciting sci-fi Fighting and not relying on a flashy scene to make viewers feel they have been invested.

A large part of that investment is won through the portrait of the two captains. “Balance of terrorism” locates Kirk and Romulan’s anonymous manager as a truth equal to fighting. Later, the Romulans would go on to be illustrated as something extremely duplicate and connected, but their portrait here is much more harsh and honorable. These are not mustache villains. A huge factor of the chapter is about showing how two sides of war are fought by people who are larger alike than they are different.

And let’s talk about portraits because “the balance of terrorism” confirms quite important ones.

Kirk, spock, and bones

When considering what is the best chapter of Star Trek: The original series is, it must be one that highlights the core trio of the enterprise crew. It does not have to give them equal prominence, but it should be a chapter that displays them all in the strongest light. “Balance of terrorism” makes that easy, and may be one of the best Kirk demonstrations in the entire series.

This pop culture perception that Kirk is always a rebellious, hot, fraudulent head and that is not the case Star Trek: The original series. Kirk is a great captain because he always considered every option before doing what he believed was the best course of action. “Balance of terrorism” shows the difficulty of this site by putting a huge burden on Kirk’s shoulders: one wrong move could stimulate a galactic war. Early in the episode, Kirk tells the entire enterprise crew that he is ordered to do everything possible to stop this result, even if it means sacrificing the ship and their lives if that’s what it takes.

At the same time, Pig is placed under intense scrutiny by the Lieutenant Stiles after he revealed that the Romulans looks exactly like Vulcans. Stiles lost several relatives in the Earth-Romulan War and have a personal grievance against Romulans as a race. Spock finishes taking some clear discrimination from stiles when Kirk cuts it off quickly and tells him, “Let any bigotry in your quarters. He has no place on the bridge. ”And by the end of the episode, Spock rescues stiles from a certain death after a coolant seal began to drop in the phaser room.

Star Trek: The original series Dealing with ideas of racism and prejudice many times during its run, but its content in “Balance of Terror” is meaningful because it is displayed by an Starfleet officer. It shows that intolerance was not magically eliminated on the ground. Stiles learns a lesson by the end, but having a spock is the focus of a racist character emerging that things are not perfect in the 23rd century. And watching Spock ignores stiles hedges and makes his duty just what a great Spock character is.

Then there are bones. Ever the pacifist, Bones plead with Kirk to do everything he can to avoid conflict. A powerful moment occurs when bones stop Kirk and tell him, “In this galaxy, there is a mathematical probability of three million earth -type planets… and in the whole universe, three million galaxies like this one. And in that, and perhaps more, only one of us. Do not destroy the one called Kirk. ”It’s a plea by a friend who stands as one of the most beautiful and emotional moments of bones in the series.

All of this plays in why “the balance of terrorism” is the best chapter of Star Trek: The original seriesBut there is one modern trek -related factor that has made this chapter improve with age.

What Nutrek should have learned from “terrorism balance”

“Balance of terrorism” feels like the kind of default that many Nutrek aspire to. Focus on space battle, expands the literature of the property with new alien Race, and has a prominent social commentary on his mind. Also, Nutrek has been very definite about encountering it as something to take seriously. Only now we see Nutrek start to lighten a little and let some of the franchise levity back in.

However, “the balance of terrorism” proves that Star Trek can be completely serious and act very well. At the start of the episode, a young couple is about to get married but a red warning interrupts their ceremony. By the end of the episode, one of them has died and Kirk finishes the chapter seriously walking the enterprise halls, considering the sacrifice of life that had to be made to keep the peace. It’s a Somber end that feels like the kind of emotional highlights that Nutrek strives for, but Nutrek often loses the mark because it is overwhelmed by visual overload of the effects of action.

“Terrorism Balance” shows the reserve’s value at Star Trek. It is still a thrilling now of television with its fair share of space operation, but it allows the focus on the characters and their drama instead of the glasses. Yes, that is also due to budget constraints and effects, but it is more to do with the creators making that character and story come first.

This is all to say that “the balance of terrorism” continues to catch up over fifty years later. It displays the best Star Trek can be even when it’s a smaller self -contained little story. The acting is some of the best in the original series and the science fiction components are extremely good with the metaphorical storytelling that takes place. When Romulan’s manager is messing Kirk to tell him they may have been friends in another reality, he never loses any of his effectiveness.

There’s enough good Toss chapters and a handful of great onesBut “the balance of terrorism” has proven to be the best Star Trek: The original series A chapter of them all.