McEveety, Vincent. "Balance Of Terror" 1st edition, April 15th (1994)

Balance of Terror

For better or worse, this TOS episode established Trek's universal "Run Silent, Run Deep" approach to space combat. Our first encounter with the Romulans provided Captain Kirk with one of his first opportunities to show his crew that he doesn't like to lose. The episode puts Kirk front and center in a game of cat and mouse on the border of the Romulan Neutral Zone. The Enterprise, originally sent to investigate why outposts along the border have gone silent, finds a Bird of Prey and a Romulan commander ready to remind the galaxy why it never should have turned its back on the Empire.

"Terror" builds up to a big reveal of the Romulan Commander, but it is somewhat anti-climactic with the Romulan looking like a more pissed-off Vulcan. (Mark Lenard would also play Spock's father throughout the series and movies.) But the reveal did mark the moment in Trek canon when we learned that Vulcans and Romulans are distant cousins, something the new movie seems poised to capitalize on. While the battle scenes are tense and aplenty, the episode standouts for how it begins and ends, with a wedding that eventually leaves the newlywed a widow during the attack. This loss hangs over Kirk's head and his bittersweet victory, and helps make this episode one of the best Trek has ever produced.

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