Star Trek Balance of Terror (part 6 of 7) TOS (The Original Series)

[@jackkitchen737]

"He's a sorcerer, that one." One of the greatest lines of all time.

[@wilmanric2277]

@MAC It's used here too. In the last battle the commander screams "Devillllllll..."

[@zekest]

sure is jack kitchen

[@francoisbeland7188]

It is known that Captain Kirk use to practice witchcraft, back at the Academy. He was initiated in a secret Klingon society that admitted him only if he sweared that he would take his own life, if he'd get captured.

[@robertmcpherson1617]

I agree!

[@robertmcpherson1617]

The Centurian took the role of his faithful comrade.

[@frankstonrat]

Mark Lenard, as the Romulan captain, so great in this episode.

[@brittlyle3523]

"He is a sorcerer that one. He reads the thoughts in my brain".... Best line ever in any form of visual entertainment!!! My favorite episode.

[@kkroeger5868]

A brilliant Star Trek episode. Racism. Cold War militarism. This episode was Star Trek at its best.

[@xochitljustice777]

The special effects at 2:32 are incredible!

[@CarolanIvey]

I like how a core group of actors keep showing up in different episodes, playing different characters. It's almost like a repertory theater company.

[@xochitljustice777]

I wanted Stahn, Stahn wanted me

[@cosmogoy1895]

just shut up.

[@EdWeibe]

ahhhh but we love it

[@patricedhanis-rouse3777]

Stahan😂

[@JeffreyTappan-bb8rr]

It is. It's the " Roddenberry Repertory Company " .

[@scottmitchell3641]

It's all about ONE METAL CASED OBJECT. "Helm! Hard over! ... Phasers! Fire, point blank!!" Shatner, his intense face in shadow, delivering his signature line of the entire series perhaps.

[@ferrisakel]

In that moment, he was Captain Shatner.

[@TDog-ic7do]

Best episode from my childhood. Mark lenar Rest In Peace, greatest actor ever. 21 phaser salute!

[@aseriesofunfortunateserpen8800]

I love little attention to detail things like Uhura actually turning off the comms console. Such quality.

[@RM-we7px]

TOS it was navigation….tng it was ops. Navigation made more sense.

[@brenthill3241]

I was looking at something else. 😃

[@TDog-ic7do]

When Mark Lenard passed away, I had to drink copious amounts of romulan ale, and sorian brandy. Sad day it ‘twas.

[@acmenipponair]

I hope some Vulcan tea was also drunken

[@tomgarcia1354]

Also some plamic soup.

[@1aikane]

I met Mark Leonard. He was just as impressive in person

[@joeb6853]

This episode was one of the greatest.

[@jeffwads]

He acting and delivery reminds me so much of Charlton Heston. "He's a sorcerer, that one.".

[@phx4closureman]

*ten commandments!!*

[@Teebone211]

HaHa, love the look Sulu gives Uhura when she takes over the navigation....

[@phx4closureman]

3:40 yep

[@joeswanson733]

more like i didn't know you are a rated navigator.

[@tommargarites2811]

Starship construction, was truly something else, to survive a nuclear blast from just 100 meters. The fire blast would have fully encapsulated the ship. A pity we could never see that effect, even when Paramount redid all the exterior shots when they restored the old footage.

[@acmenipponair]

a. in vacuum a nuclear blast wouldn't do much. Only if the nuke would have impacted directly the hull of the ship. So the damage the enterprise mostly took was from the debris from that metal casing and the rest of the debris hitting the hull, not the main energy source. b. There is no fire blast of a nuclear weapon in space. The fire blast comes from the AIR that gets heated up to a million degree in a millisecond. Without air all that energy puffs into nothing. c. The Enterprise has shields on. This means no radioactive radiation can penetrate. Also even without shields the Enterprise would have been mostly safe, as the Duranium and the NAV deflector must shield of most of the radiation of the cosmic rays already even without any shields.

[@AndrewChapman]

The way Sulu stares at Uhura as she sits down in the navigator seat. It's like he's thinking "Uhura's HOT!🔥 She should fill in for the navigator more often. If we ever so much as got a Russian navigator who's full of Russian misconceptions, I'd be truly thankful for Uhura's company."

[@robertmorris8997]

Sulu likes dudes.

[@AndrewChapman]

@@robertmorris8997 Actor George Takei and his Kelvin timeline counterpart maybe. But some TOS episodes hint Sulu in the prime universe may have a thing for females. Same goes for his mirror counterpart too as he tries to flirt with Uhura.

[@leeknows241]

He got a good look at that body, wooo😮

[@robertmcpherson1617]

George Takei himself referred to Sulu as a ladies man. Let's not confuse actors and characters folks. 😁

[@0biwan7]

@@robertmcpherson1617 i believe takei said something like: "sulu is straight and takei is gay, it's called acting"

[@Beachdudeca]

Uhura takes Navigation without a second though ! Thnx GR !

[@tiagoverret9098]

That's the pivotal moment for me. She seamlessly moves to one station to the next. More powerful lthan te interracial kiss if you ask me.

[@ronaldtreitner1460]

always got a kick how everyone falls in different directions when they get hit.

[@Lerxstification]

Kirk's new T-shirt: "I got bombed in the Neutral Zone"

[@CharlesGates-v6n]

That would make a killer name for a bar or tavern, “The Neutral Zone.” Could create a short list of Star Trek themed drinks along with the regular menu.

[@Mrs.Grave5433]

I like how the nuke doesn’t do direct damage but creates an emp. Nukes aren’t nearly as powerful without an atmosphere.

[@mikejohnson9118]

Regarding Uhura taking over Navigation: Lt Uhura was a senior bridge officer. You do not sit in a command position on a Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser without having your "S" together.

[@Kirby33311]

A woman of color moves from one position of authority to another with no fanfare. Not finger wagging. Just a slight lingering of a camera shot. Brilliant

[@stewartmcminn7773]

It works so well because it was a split second decision with no time to think about race, by the time this happens the audience is glued to the story. This plays a key role in the episode as its about race and understanding people.

[@georgemarsilio5122]

sulu did give a stare

[@lonesparrow]

@@georgemarsilio5122 I mean with a skirt that short, you would too

[@jodydrake7071]

She rocks!

[@lizsmith4186]

Why does ANYONE even have to mention race? My thought was only whether the communications officer was qualified to sit at navigation. No color, no gender, just different duty.

[@tomb7942]

I love Stiles volunteering to leave the bridge where all the action is to go to weapons because, damn it, that was where he was needed. Good officer.

[@Bettyfan92614]

The only time he was.

[@0biwan7]

@@Bettyfan92614 and even then, he had one job and spock had to do it for him

[@OneEyedLion]

At 0:40, Spock signals the Romulans. No one has ever been able to explain this to me. At 3:40, the look on Sulu's face is priceless.

[@unclebob7937]

Oh, my!🤓

[@BrockRuby]

The black out of Enterprise bridge was a great visual with only the red alert lites flashing.

[@TheLookingOne]

Run Silent Run Deep in Space

[@davidg.9932]

A very Happy 90th Birthday William Shatner. Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec. March 22, 1931 Born in Canada, But a U.S. treasure. Your legacy is worldwide. Thanks Tiberius..

[@BigNoseDog]

Uhura taking over at navigation is a big deal. This was the 60s. A black woman manning such an important station in battle. 30 years later, the ships therapist sits in the same spot and crashes the ship

[@keithgarcia8519]

I never was fond of Troi...

[@ericsmith8373]

3:35 "Lt. Uhura, get up and show us your underwear".

[@PhflyDan1]

​@@ericsmith8373🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@Dabhach1]

Love George Takei checking out Uhuru at 3:40. 😂

[@victorwilson6826]

3:10 So, you guys took the brunt of a nuclear explosion from less than 328 feet away? Amazing!!!

[@tookiezzz2898]

100 Meters = 328.08399 Feet - says Spock

[@torridd]

@@tookiezzz2898 Why did they fire at the thing anyway? Was it going to explode?

[@HB-pg9sc]

I always liked this generation of Romulans they were more noble & honorable.

[@danbasta3677]

Agreed! The Original Star Trek series Romulans and Klingons were the very finest, didn't need to change a thing. Now that cheesy next generation stuff was all garbage, total garbage, hated it as it should have been the one that needed cancelled, it was so silly and cheesy.

[@davidmarquardt2445]

HB 7 I love the scene where the Romulan commander, realizing that Kirk has out maneuvered him says something like "He is a sorcerer, this one. He reads my very thoughts!". Unfortunately when they remastered it this got cut, when it was first shown the episodes ran about 48 minuets, now they cut it down for an extra 10 minuets of commercials.

[@danbasta3677]

@@davidmarquardt2445 Yeah, didn't crack up over any of the enhanced stuff. Better to just leave things well enough alone. The Romulan Comander said, He's a sorcerer, that one. He reads the thoughts of my brain. Our fuel supply all but gone, and he stays out of reach. The Romulan bridge, is the Observation deck of the Enterprise, never to be seen ever again after this episode.

[@dougdeepdown]

Sulu practicing his 'Mirror Mirror' persona as Uhura sits at Navigation lol

[@PhflyDan1]

👍🏾

[@toddgreen2782]

Balance of Terror 1 of Star Trek's best episodes this being in the 60's

[@EzekielPrellus]

Great directing choice to use the extreme close-up on Kirk's face ("analysis, quickly") when Spock announces "one metal cased object..." -- we see Kirk's eyes light up and he instantly knows what to do. You don't see that style of drama anymore --

[@Buzz_Kill71]

@3:35 this is what makes this the greatest episode of all time! 😍

[@EvanSchatz]

🍑

[@blockmasterscott]

2:27 That shot with only the indicator showing any light had me terrified as a little kid, had me imagining being stuck there with no power.

[@mikeleo1]

This and "Doomsday Machine" were my favorites.

[@lawrencejelsma3937]

This TV show one helped create the second Star Trek movie: The Wrath of Khan's last third of that movie (a top great movie including how we loved this episode)!

[@KennToomey]

Never did buy the idea of Spock making such a clumsy mistake. Even forty years ago--

[@easytherepilgrim2339]

Same here. Commenters are (wrongly) nitpicking other things. Spock's clumsy mistake is the only thing that's not excellent about this episode. I'd have rather they had him make a mistake while fixing the damaged circuitry.

[@mikewazowski350]

I agree. It is not logical. I also don't agree with him hitting that button to make noise inside the bridge would do anything to go from "not moving" to "moving"

[@dwightstewart7181]

And I never bought the notion of Kirk firing at a nearby mine (nuclear or other). It hadn't exploded, so why even fire at it? But, this is television, so any nonsense is possible. In your case, they wanted to play up the Vulkan/Romulan connection, feeding the crews' suspicion of Spock, to add drama to the episode. The funniest part for me was them "running silent" on several occasions when sound doesn't travel through space.

[@mnirwin5112]

@Just think Agreed. Nobody is exempt from error.

[@RoyalKnightVIII]

@@mnirwin5112 exactly, logic does not equal perfection

[@janineboitard6492]

In the vast 3-dimensional infinity of space it always amazes me how every ship plays on the same 2-dimensiomal plane and with the same orientation... we never come across an "upside" down Romulan ship.

[@woodystorey]

That’s because of the innate knowing of what is straight and what is level by using some form of gyroscopes…

[@donaldschmidt2990]

One question. WHY WAS MARK LENARD NOT IN SO MANY MORE SCREEN APPEARANCES?!! He is simply phenomenal in this episode. And even more so as Spocks father. This man had a terrible manager and press agent!! What a shame his name wasn't littered across screens everywhere.

[@rrrosadorr]

"Perhaps, we can yet save your Praetor's pride for him..." In my mind, "Praetor's Pride" was the name of the Bird of Prey giving the Commander's line a double meaning.

[@brittlyle3523]

"Preator's Pride", the flagship of the Romulan fleet...

[@Artifactsofmars]

I had to watch this again to listen to the dialogue. A Star Trek fan film regarding the Earth- Romulan war is being considered.

[@VoIPPortland]

I love the worry about sound in the vacuum of space thing.

[@joeb6853]

Romulian comander was a good man of honor

[@brittlyle3523]

Yep, Kirk knew not to ask him twice to beam his crew aboard. He would never surrender...

[@Wizardof]

With the Big E's systems winking out...at least the red triangle plastic blinky light thing is working...

[@lizardfirefighter110]

Good Stuff! All the what “if’s” built into the show were stimulants for people to think outside the box!

[@ddmck1972]

At 2:24, the Enterprise lists to the left, yet Kirk and Uhura shift to the right. In fact, Uhura manages to first stand fully up from her chair and then runs to the right.

[@MIDI_Player_Kion]

So maybe she slipped

[@SnowyNightFlyer]

A very rare blunder from Spock.

[@0biwan7]

and at a time when he was under suspicion. i like to think this is what makes spock realize that his illogical captain has something that the logical vulcans do not: the ability to respond gracefully to a mistake in a high stakes situtation.

[@jackwessels9189]

He reads my mind, that one. Love it!

[@MIDI_Player_Kion]

2:31 I never seen this part when I was a kid but sometimes I do but now

[@TheHangarHobbit]

Even when I was a kid and first saw this as a Saturday morning rerun (we got TOS, TAS, Lost In Space, and 60s Batman in a block, 70s TV had good shit for kids) I just sat there thinking "How in the hell are they hearing sound IN SPACE?". I mean I would have bought it if someone bumped a power switch and they detected the energy output but having them hear sound in space was just silly. Great episode though, just like Gravity one boo boo doesn't ruin good entertainment.

[@333angeleyes]

What a great captain and actor; no wonder he later reincarnated as Spock's father

[@firecriss1392]

"Except.....one metal cased object!!!" (Glorious!)

[@bearcally5329]

Thank you for sharing this one !!

[@mikeleo1]

One of my favorites :)

[@jayryia]

What made me laugh all the time "Silence" with everyone trying to be quiet, but the arrays beeping loudly. LMAO

[@torridd]

Also, can you really hear someone talking from another ship across space? Isn't that like hearing a conversation from across the street?

[@PassportBrosBusinessClass]

@@torridd Hearing a conversation from across the street THROUGH A VACUUM.

[@silasben-zoheth2639]

Good points. I just though it was funny. This is by far one of the best episodes in all of ST.

[@scottmeek1920]

This was semi based on a WW2 submarine movie called " Enemy Below" with Robert Mitchem.

[@stephengibson4823]

I agree, with a pinch of "Run silent, run deep" with Clark Cable and Burt Lancaster. Loved these cat and mouse submarine films. Loved all the STOS episodes . Bet Spock was surprised to see his "Dad" on a Romulan ship lol

[@Euripides_Panz]

The Romulan subordinate has the patriotic arrogance and pride of Lutjens in Sink the Bismarck!

[@rondoswitzer5818]

Spock Brain

[@easytherepilgrim2339]

Inspired by....in other words, 1 or 2 things are slightly similar if you look hard enough.

[@phx4closureman]

2:24 *WATCH LT UHURA IN THE BACKGROUND!!!* LOL

[@myweightloss11928]

At 3:36 when Uhura gets up, you can almost see her right butt cheek. I'm surprised no one caught that during editing!

[@drtidrow]

Reminds me of that DS9 episode where they go back in time and inject themselves into the TOS ep "Trouble with Tribbles"... they were discussing the different uniforms from back then they had to wear, when Jadzia enters the room, saying, "And women wore less!" Barely more than a dance leotard with long sleeves. :-D

[@battlestarmarc]

TOS Star Trek was awesome. Mark lenard was great as General Urko in Planet of the Apes tv series.

[@andysahs1599]

The actor that plays DECIUS will later play the VULCAN STONN in ''AMOK TIME''.

[@bobpourri9647]

Whispering in space. Love it.

[@johnwagner4776]

Back in '66, the idea of Enterprise surviving a nuclear explosion that close seemed pretty far-fetched...even with "deflector shields" on full (and I haven't changed my opinion)

[@mikeleo1]

I wondered about that too.

[@nancysmith2389]

If you have warp speed, pretty sure you have defense against nuclear explosives ok ns

[@LPA_]

Not really, the Enterprise has seen worse

[@carlisroy6666]

That's the bit that's unrealistic?

[@tomb7942]

@@nancysmith2389 A weapon that creates a heat 8 times that of a sun? If they could survive a nuke then they should be able to get VERY close to a star without issue from the heat.

[@michaeltaylor939]

I have to say Stiles really upset me. No room for bigotry on the Enterprise bridge. A starship crew has to be able to depend and trust each other, he could have been a serious liability.

[@GriggsC123]

First time I seen Uhura work another station.

[@michaelmatheny3927]

With everything given up to that point, 0:24, the thought would've then crossed my mind that Spock was indeed a double agent onboard the Enterprise.

[@mnirwin5112]

2:24 Somday they're gonna put seatbelts on those chairs ...

[@orange70383]

Pretty impressive, nuke detonates 100 meter away and the ship has only minor damage.

[@demonofelru3214]

Makes sense actually, the ship is designed to observe all sorts of things in space like supernovas. Naturally they would need shields that can withstand some radiation and a nuclear blast.

[@macseagle5968]

3:39 Sulu seems upset that that his boyfriend was replaced by Uhura.

[@attiepollard7847]

Yes we are not going to talk about that alternative timeline

[@joeswanson733]

more like you're a navigator. to his amusement.

[@slashingraven]

Does anybody else wonder why rocks and sand are always falling from the ceiling of the Romulan bridge when they take damage?

[@mikeleo1]

I myself was wondering about that.

[@tookiezzz2898]

asbestos

[@okankyoto]

Maybe similar to how damage to starfleet ships always creates an explosion of rocks inside the ship?

[@markjulius2006]

It's funny how both captains made it a point to be quiet, even though sound (or voices) can not be heard in space because it's a big vacuum. 😂

[@EdWeibe]

man what an episode

[@MIDI_Player_Kion]

0:27 Mr Spock Pressed the wrong button 0:29 0:30 I think Captain Kirk said it’s all right or Mr. Stiles said it but Captain Kirk said it 0:32 Mr. Spock got scared like I got scared when I did something wrong on accident and I get scared that made me laugh 😂 and at 0:54 0:55

[@johnrobi0]

"Just one last duty to perform...."

[@moppman3191]

I wonder what it could be??

[@phx4closureman]

2:18 *same music from episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before* , final battle when Gary picks up that bolder to attack Kirk

[@johnm3907]

The "primitive nuclear weapon" was more impressive than any photon torpedo. Little explosions in tng and onwards this was the way it should have been

[@andrewdavis7399]

Hard to believe this show had to compete with Bewiched and generally came in second.

[@johnwang9914]

I suspect it had more to do with how attractive Elizabeth Montgomery was. After all, sex does sell.

[@janreznak881]

@@johnwang9914 She WAS beautiful.

[@tookiezzz2898]

samantha was hot

[@andrewdavis7399]

Sorry, Uhura was much hotter than Samantha.

[@leerilea1709]

The reason for being quiet even tho they are in space is the sensors of either ship could pick up the vibrations of the noise in the ship.

[@contessa.adella]

Precisely....very good. I made this observation in #5 comments. Folk only think about sound waves huh!

[@Arizonaheat956]

I remember watching this when it first aired and thinking to myself aren't they firing photon torpedos? I thought the phasers were a different weapon. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[@TheDeadbone1961]

You're not wrong: phasers are visually like lasers, while photon torps are like balls of light. I'm thinking the visual effects crew weren't in sync with the script :)

[@Tiberius291]

Did you see that look Sulu gave Uhura when she took over navigation. 🖖

[@gretchenthom8781]

I saw.

[@simul8guy75]

In this episode the visual (and audio) effect for phasers look just like photon torpedoes in other episodes.... as Mr. Spock would say.... "fascinating"...

[@craigmanning2439]

Uhura at the helm, I don't remember that. So very cool.

[@danbasta3677]

In Balance Of Terror and in Court Marshall, both episodes she was at the navigation station on the bridge.

[@danbasta3677]

She was at the navigation station in this episode, Balance Of Terror and Court Marshall along with the episode The Naked Time when Spock told Lt. Uhura to take over the navigation station from Riley and the young navigator said, Let the women work to!

[@lenblack1462]

One of the episodes had a female helmsman.

[@thecnote1287]

I'm glad she didn't crash the Enterprise like Troi did

[@brittlyle3523]

They did cross-training at Star Fleet Academy.....

[@char1737]

the fabric for all the uniforms were bought from Orbach's Department Store, as Desilu like to use local merchants for costumes and gowns, if a "formal" gown or dress was needed they would shop at I.Magnin or Joseph Magnin sometimes even Liberty House all were part of the Golden Age of the Department Store and favorites of Lucy

[@danbasta3677]

Laugh at me if you will, the Dark Shadows tv soap opera from 1966 till 1971 their clothes also were bought at Orbachs as well to.

[@johnroekoek12345]

2:20 How they fall 😄😄😄

[@zacharycat]

3:40 Uhuru distracting Sulu, as she does again in Mirror Mirror

[@uneedtherapy42]

kirk is a total badass!

[@Wizardof]

Bois they missed a good chance to examine a Romulan body here......

[@billhunt2605]

Hurry up and download the rest of it!!!!lol.😂😂😂 This episode and the doomsday machine are my favorites!!

[@mikeleo1]

Hey, this episode and the doomsday machine are my favorites also!!! :=)

[@MIDI_Player_Kion]

2:23 I was thinking that the cube was destroyed or flying inside the bright light

[@phx4closureman]

3:35 *Uhura LEGS....WOW!!!!!*

[@jamesmurray3128]

Had no idea Spocks father turned into a Romulin Captin. Apparently they don't allow the Romulin crew to sit down as they operate their ship either.

[@toddschutter6535]

I'm still amused that they were trying to be as quiet as possible on the Enterprise...

[@Lumibear.]

I’ve always like this episode, nice atmosphere, looks great, but it is hard to get past them needing to stay quiet in space, I keep expecting that Troy McClure moment of them putting space goggles over their eyes to breath.

[@easytherepilgrim2339]

If you were playing dead for 9 straight hours, you might inadvertently talk a little quieter. Plus they were in an extremely tense situation. Would you be running around singing and doing cartwheels?

[@manw3bttcks]

I guess I wrote it off as them being quiet so uhura or one of the other officers can hear faint noises on the sensors

[@matthewbradley3395]

0:38 By what medium did Spock's little beep noise travel to the Romulan ship that was thousands if not millions of kilometers away? It's space. Not a scene from "Run Silent, Run Deep

[@ltdowney]

Yeah, they adapted it from The Enemy Below a little too literally. I just headcanon that panel to be a subspace radio, or "active" / detectable sensors (since it's the science station). ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@George040270]

Here's a better question. Why is everybody whispering?

[@joepierson3859]

Electromagnetic no medium required

[@halleck3]

I wonder if the Romulan crew was wearing helmets because they couldn't afford pointy ears for everyone.

[@panicmaker8300]

yes that's true my friend

[@telephotousa]

You're absolutely correct. Nimoy himself said that they were expensive and took a while to make. They were on a tight budget so it was easier to find some matching helmets in the prop room.

[@halleck3]

Interesting, thanks folks.

[@telephotousa]

@mo zack Perhaps- but the wanted the show to look good and the characters to look believable.

[@Triassic_Pickle]

~halleck3

[@bruceincremona9241]

Captain lovey dovey. My favorite episodes are the battles that took place In space..

[@BrockRuby]

Having a black officer replace a weapon officer was a big thing back then even a a kid.

[@jasonluong3862]

It's clear the writers wanted to make this analogous to a submarine cat and mouse fight, including the run silent run deep strategy. However, it's funny trying to keep their voices low when sound needs air to propagate which space has none.

[@joestitz539]

9 hrs. 47 minutes. That's patience. Like in a submarine

[@jameswaldner7171]

Classic Episode

[@MIDI_Player_Kion]

2:21 seems like they were yelling and this happens 2:23 2:24 2:26 I like this part and I haven’t seen this along time but now I seen this before but that’s along time ago

[@rh9793]

UHURA was quite the looker as well . Star trk was just hot

[@Jack21Spades]

Waaaiiit a minute... Is that Ston? T'Pring's champion?