1x14 Balance of Terror - Star Trek: The Original Series Episode Guide

Star Trek: The Original Series

- Episode 01x14

Episode: 01x14
Title: Balance of Terror
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 6149-09
First Aired: Dec. 15, 1966

Season 1 » Episode #14 - Balance of Terror

Star Trek: The Original Series - 01x14 Balance of Terror

Summary: A Romulan warbird has crossed the Neutral Zone and attacked Federation outposts with a deadly new weapon, and Spock's loyalties are questioned when a Romulan transmission is intercepted. The Enterprise must intercept and destroy the warbird before it gets back to Romulan space with its intelligence.

Who appeared in this episode?

Mr. Spock

Guest Stars:

Captain James T. Kirk	played by William Shatner
Romulan Commander	played by Mark Lenard
Stiles	played by Paul Comi
Decius	played by Lawrence Montaigne
Dr. McCoy	played by DeForest Kelley
Yeoman Rand	played by Grace Lee Whitney
Sulu	played by George Takei
Scott	played by James Doohan
Uhura	played by Nichelle Nichols

	Season 1 / Episode 14: - Balance of Terror Romulan Commander: We are creatures of duty Captain... I have lived my life by it... Just one more duty to perform.
	Season 1 / Episode 14: - Balance of Terror Mr. Spock: Earth believes the Romulans to be warlike, cruel, treacherous. And only the Romulans know what they think of Earth.

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

CONT: When the nuclear device is detonated and Enterprise crew members are thrown about the bridge, Lt. Uhura is "thrown" in the opposite direction of all the other crew.
CONT: When the order to fire phasers is given, the ship is shown firing what, in most other episodes, are called photon torpedoes.
FAKE: When the disabled Romulan ship is spinning in space, the hanging wire is visible.

TRIVIA

Budgetary 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 actually redressed Roman helmets from some of the studio's Biblical epics in the 50s.
Network restrictions at the time forbade the tackling of any contentious subjects such as the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and the rise of feminism. "Star Trek" (1966) - under the guise of science fiction - boldly flaunted these rules. This episode, for example, openly deals with the subject of racism as reflected through Lieutenant Stiles' opposition to Mr Spock.
First appearance in the series of the Romulans.
The first time in "Star Trek" to have the ship's captain perform a marriage ceremony for his crew. Although 20th century naval captains were prohibited from doing this, the writers may have gotten this idea from The African Queen (1951). (see the Goofs section and "Data's Day" of Star Trek: TNG)
The episode "Balance of Terror", focusing on the Enterprise hunting a cloaked Romulan destroyer, was inspired by the film The Enemy Below (1957).