The Enterprise Crosses the Romulan Neutral Zone

Star Trek The Original Series Season 3 The Enterprise Incident

[@nathanfitzgerald6651]

Unfortunately Joanne Linville just died yesterday at age 93. RIP and thanks for the amazing, intense performance as the Romulan commander. She sure really sunk her teeth into that role and made it very strong.

[@miketalas7998]

Wow, I thought she Passed away yrs ago! But still this is a good long time to live, and I am sure she had plenty of Great Memories and Movies under her belt! Such amazing News that she just passed away recently, and that's OK! I REALLY ENJOYED THAT EPISODE OF SPOCK HAVING A SORT OF FLING WHILE SPYING AND MILITARY ESPIONAGE!!! WOW!!! THANK YOU FOR TELLING US THIS FACT! SHE WAS A TRULY GREAT ACTOR!!!

[@nathanfitzgerald6651]

@@miketalas7998 Out of all women who guest-starred on the original Star Trek, her acting was certainly the most strongly complex and interesting.

[@MrWeezer55]

@@nathanfitzgerald6651 She made this episode one of my favorites. Saddened to hear of her passing- I didn't know.

[@nathanfitzgerald6651]

@@MrWeezer55 She was certainly a one-of-a-kind actress here, that's for sure.

[@tomcloss9764]

She was in one of my favorite Columbo episodes, "Candidate for Crime".

[@00bikeboy]

TOS. 50+ years later, still the gold standard.

[@rubentrevino6288]

Amen

[@dennisbisconti4583]

You said it I've grown up in the 1970s watching the reruns in sindiacation misspelled that but you get the idea

[@tintobrass532]

TOS is the only proper Star Trek

[@bostonrailfan2427]

not really…being old doesn’t make it good

[@00bikeboy]

@@bostonrailfan2427 It's not "good" because it's old. Spock would tear you a new one for that horribly flawed logic. TOS is great because of its imaginative story ideas in an era of heavy network censorship, its brilliant writing, and the wonderful performances that made the show so inspiring to so many, across cultures, around the world. That's why 50+ years later it's still unsurpassed.

[@ncc1701chris]

Good scene. Good episode. One of the best episodes from the original series.

[@jimmyzhao2673]

I felt kind of sad for the Romulan commander, the way Spock toyed with her emotions.

[@SSingh-nr8qz]

For some reason, whenever I see classic Trek with the Original species you see in later franchises, my mind always goes back to that scene with Lt. Worf saying about why Klingons look so different: "We don’t discuss it with outsiders"

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

That was dumb. Like Worf seeing a group of Korean men and then wonders why those earthlings look so different from a Russian man and Checkov answers "we don't discuss it with outsiders". SMH Horrible clumsy awareness of species and culture.

[@Cognaxance]

@@paulpolpiboon9535 I thought it was the absolute best explained retcon in Star Trek lore when it was revealed in ST:Enterprise the Klingons had tried to nefariously use genetically modified human DNA and it backfired. ST:E was greatly unrated Star Trek. And far superior to what Alex Kurtzman craps out.

[@coreydean6540]

@@paulpolpiboon9535 wow! Klingons hadn't gotten the PC memo yet.

[@captainr800]

@@paulpolpiboon9535 actually it’s because Klingons don’t like to discuss it in public, they consider it embarrassing thing. Now you wouldn’t want to talk about your embarrassing moments?

[@ahumanbeingfromtheearth1502]

@@paulpolpiboon9535 the fuck are you talking about?

[@CookinginRussia]

Romulan: "Your ship has been identified as the U.S.S. Enterprise" ... Well DUH! It's printed in 50 foot high letters right on the front!

[@VS-rv4tr]

Maybe they can't read English and had to identify it some other way 🤔

[@CookinginRussia]

@@VS-rv4tr - They speak English.

[@chrispavlos]

@@VS-rv4tr everyone in the universe speak English except for French Quebecers for some unknown reason lollll

[@gbee29]

Haha that guy, Captain can you tell whose ship it is by its warp signature, no sir but I know it's Romulan, how can you tell Chekhov, I can see it on big screen

[@gbee29]

If not English it can be identified by it's designation id number NCC 1701

[@jdel7525]

Outstanding segment. The dialog, content, music. So original..

[@develynseether4426]

Tal died last year (2019), the female Romulan Commander is still alive and will be 93 in January 2021.

[@funzjag]

Thanks for the information. The actor who played Tal always reminded me a bit of Christopher Guest of SNL/Spinal Tap.

[@wesxander4329]

Computer image of her or maybe her in real life can be found in episode of Star Trek Continues!

[@terrathelunatic]

good for her.

[@funzjag]

@@wesxander4329" Star Trek Continues" was a top notch continuation of the original series.

[@funzjag]

@@terrathelunatic Indeed!

[@dennish300]

I love the 'knowing' look between Kirk and Spock when the Romulans agreed to simultaneous transport. ( Well Spock, so far so good. We get on board their ship...and they give us two Romulan uniforms).

[@willie417]

R.I.P. Nyota Uhura, Nichelle Nichols (Grace Dell Nichols) December 28, 1932 - July 30, 2022 🙏

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

This is one of the best episodes. Disappointing that the Romulans only appear twice in TOS, here and in balance of terror.

[@Idazmi7]

Romulans also featured in The Deadly Years.

[@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv]

@@Idazmi7 yes but you only see their ships and there isn't even any voice or video communication. There are no actors playing a Romulan.

[@Idazmi7]

@@MichaelWilliams-mo1vv True.

[@thiagodeandrade7081]

Yep. Yet, it was enough for cement their role in the franchise.

[@gordonwong1946]

Both great episodes.

[@Name-ps9fx]

This is one of the best episodes, in any of the ST franchises.

[@clubchampion]

Arguably the best episode from season 3. Writer: D.C. Fontana

[@vinsvids1]

Season 3 standouts: "All our Yesterdays" "Elaan of Troyius" "The Paradise Syndrome" "The Enterprise Incident"

[@sandal_thong8631]

@@vinsvids1 Besides this, I like "The Tholian Web", "Wink of an Eye" and "Plato's Stepchildren"; all of which I bought 30 years ago on VHS when they weren't playing it on TV. I later recorded "Day of the Dove."

[@vinsvids1]

@@sandal_thong8631 Fun fact, Gene Roddenberry wrote the Tholian Web as a metaphor for the network's stifling rules always hemming him in.

[@nickmusttravel]

RIP. Nichelle Nichols. Most of the original crew has now passed on. Love the show and the movies.

[@josieldeassis]

She'll be missed, but never forgotten

[@rtqii]

@@josieldeassis The fanbase now is many, many times larger than it was when the show was on air.

[@lukeorridge3988]

I've never seen this iconic episode before it's now on my watch list 🖖

[@lukeorridge3988]

@Matt Jackson thanking you!

[@April-dv2pb]

It's a very good episode.

[@lukeorridge3988]

@@April-dv2pb definitely looks it

[@circa81]

Oh wow I've never seen Kirk just shut down McCoy like that. No witty remarks or even a wave of the hand, just "dismissed".

[@andrewolson5471]

Kirk was under orders from Starfleet Command to investigate Romulan activity along the Neutral Zone, if I remember correctly. He didn't want to lie to his friend, but he needed the crew to believe that he was acting on his own in case they couldn't escape. If under interrogation any member of the Enterprise crew admitted that Kirk was under orders, it would have meant war between the Romulan Star Empire and the Federation.

[@circa81]

@@andrewolson5471 I figured it was something like that, I was just saying it was shocking to see Kirk be that uncharastically short with McCoy of all people, who he normally always batners with no matter what he says,

[@andrewolson5471]

@@circa81 yeah, Kirk was under a lot of pressure in this episode. He was acting out of character for much of it.

[@wesxander4329]

His orders were get cloaking device by any means necessary he refused but was ordered so he came up with insanity defense for Federation AND more importantly his CREW! Of note the cloaking device only worked once after it was equipped on others ships they all exploded! This was attributed to Enterprise being tinkered on by Scotty and host of alien entities which why all the other races wanted her intact! Part of this was covered in the books made from the screen scripts with by word by Roddenberry himself!

[@jackkenefick2696]

And McCoy had the respect to take it

[@Idazmi7]

_"A subspace message will take three weeks to reach Starfleet."_ Going by the Star Fleet Technical Manual, the Romulan Neutral Zone is roughly 4,750 parsecs from Earth. Assuming the Enterprise is well across the zone and inside Romulan space at 6,000 parsecs, the subspace transmission has to be moving at 340360.8 c, or Warp Factor 69.82.

[@jturner7771]

Starfleet does not necessarily mean Earth.

[@Idazmi7]

@@jturner7771 That's true, but I doubt this situation would be handled without Earth getting a say.

[@jturner7771]

@@Idazmi7 I think it means that any assistance is at least 3 weeks away.

[@Idazmi7]

@@jturner7771 That's not what he said. He specifically referred to how long it would take the communication to travel.

[@Idazmi7]

@brummyuk That's called a retcon. The existence of a 'subspace buoy' wouldn't make subspace itself move any faster.

[@lazyhazeldaisy9596]

I love the way Spock says to the Captain basically if he had not ordered them over the neutral zone they wouldn't be in the bloody awful mess they were now in, corr if looks could kill!😡

[@samsonguy10k]

It was simple truth that Spock could do. Complicated as he was part of the operation.

[@fmlazar]

@@samsonguy10k Except that Spock was in on the plan and it was a staged performance for the benefit of the crew, especially McCoy.

[@may86bear]

Curious why they act like the cloaking device was something new. They already knew about it from season 1- Balance of Terror. DC Fontana should have known better🤔

[@triandfit1]

My guess is that they meant that they could not track them on the motion sensors now like they could in the first episode, so the cloak was improved.

[@girlgarde]

I assumed that they meant that it was an improved cloaking device of some kind that didn't have the bugs of the one from Balance of Terror.

[@may86bear]

@@triandfit1 A logical assumption, but the way it was written they never said an improved cloaking device just that they “ have developed a cloaking device”. Could have been written better 😊

[@douglaslally156]

That was never explained. TOS wasn't always on top of plot lines, each ep. really functioned as a stand-alone story without much regard to prior events in the series. It's either a glaring oversight or the production team just chose to ignore it.

[@orgonkothewildlyuntamed6301]

1 questionable piece of a script out of 3 seasons of mostly vg-great scripts is something i'll take very time. btw D.C was female

[@KEVMAN7987]

"They want something." The female Romulan commander has the hots for the Enterprise *and* Spock. That's what "they" want

[@johnbockelie3899]

"Who is that besides you?". "My science officer, Mr.Spock". " Our commander would really like to see him...." " Hey.....WAIT !!!".

[@betsyr4724]

That’s what I want. Lol

[@Shiirow]

the romulans want federation secrets, the commander wants a Spockubine.

[@sandal_thong8631]

"We know about certain ships; certain officers." I guess it's plausible that Kirk could be seen as ambitious as he's the youngest Captain and most recently promoted. Somehow (recommended by Pike?) he got a Constitution Class as his first command instead of a lesser starship (which we didn't see in TOS).

[@fmlazar]

@@sandal_thong8631 Others novels have established his prior commands Enterprise was his third ship the first two were smaller vessels including the ill-fated Lydia Sutherland.

[@bac-up6758]

producer: "ummm, guys, why do you have stars moving in the background in the exterior shot, when all ships are stationary?" special effects team: "ahhh, don't worry, 50 years now, are people going to still be watching this?" lol XD

[@davidtucker9498]

Simple. Those aren't stars, they're planetoids reflecting light, and while the ships are stationary relative to each other, they are actually moving insanely fast relative to the background.

[@quattordicimontenapoleone3113]

"We'll give you an hour so you have plenty of time to create a counterplan. Sounds ok? Ok."

[@dennish300]

One of the best Star Trek episodes of all time (in the top 5 of all of the Star Trek franchises)

[@kellyrayburn4093]

Star Trek Continues had an episode, "To Boldly Go" Actually a 2 part episode. They recycled the character of The Romulan Commander. when I saw the actress who portrayed her, she looked almost the same as the Commander here. It turned out to be Amy Rydell portraying her. Ms. Rydell is the daughter of Joanne Linville. She got her mother's part down pat. You'd think it was actually Joanne Linville reprising her role except that's just not possible due to the intervening years. Anyway, it seems Ms. Rydell was eager to play the role her mother had portrayed.

[@ohioken1]

Yes, when I first saw the Continues episode. I could not figure out how they had Joanne looking exactly like she did 50 years ago, at first I thought it was CG.

[@Darryl6636]

Hey cool I'll have to check that out

[@jasonthewatchmansson8873]

ST Continues and New Voyages, which are of similar quality, are far more entertaining and true to Star Trek's ethos than anything on CBS.

[@L1z43vr]

@@jasonthewatchmansson8873 I’d say Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks want to have a say in this, but the odds of someone listening are 1 in a trillion

[@bostonrailfan2427]

@@L1z43vr ignorant idiots like that won’t let anyone who dares make mention of official Trek made after April 2001 be heard so it’s falling on deaf ears

[@nxreliant1864]

Ahhh. I miss this episode, thanks for the flashback. Love it.

[@distomos8118]

Considering how old this episode is, it’s refreshing to watch it in view of what’s been done in StarTrek SNW and the Romulan menace. Long live TOS!

[@Admiral8Q]

I personally like the "Romulans" in Star Trek from TOS right up to Voyager. I'll include "Enterprise", but that show was cut short. Unfortunatly, before the Romulans could be developed. The reason I like Romulans is that they are not "evil" or overly aggressive either like the Klingons. But had a mysterious over emotional passion that can go good or bad. Inherently the Romulans are as "good or bad" as any Humans. But being of Vulcan decent, have extreme emotions that were not suppressed like the Vulcans did. Hence the xenophobia.

[@ImYourOverlord]

Those shows are meaningless abominations, as is Discovery.

[@larrycopeland2413]

This is one of my favorite episodes.

[@iamrichrocker]

still enjoyable today..great production..acting..plots.effects..no wonder it is still beloved with a new generation of fans..

[@SonnyBubba]

If this episode had started the third season instead of “Spock’s Brain”, a lot more people would have seen it.

[@STho205]

Elaan of Troyus was the second produced that year. It was written to introduce the new AMT D7 model as Klingons had no ship model till S3. A slow reveal and then exposition. This makes Scotty's lines more meaningful. However Enterprise Incident was shown long before Elaan and therefore confused 1968 audiences. Elaan was also the first Kirk obvious interracial kiss, but they decided to show Stepchildren first. The broadcast order had reasons, mostly ratings. They picked weaker episodes for weeks they expected to get murdered.

[@kevinemmers7025]

If I could strike an episode out of Star Trek canon, it would be Spock’s Brain. It’s hard to admit I’m Star Trek fan while also having to admit that’s one of the episodes.

[@STho205]

@@kevinemmers7025 Brain and Brain what is Brain? With prose like that...who needs Shakespeare....and the Sh-acting was good too.

[@STho205]

@@kevinemmers7025 you wouldn't strike out the planet of the Nigerians that stole a blonde white woman? How bout Bev getting it on with her dead Nana's sex ghost on the Scottish planet...whose administrator was most concerned with the weather for his planetwide highland games. Then there's Voyager's salamander stars getting it on. I can think of about 10 from TOS and TNG I'd pull. As many or more from Voyager alone.

[@randymillhouse791]

This is just like EVERY TEAMS MEETING I have been on for the past 10 FRICKIN' YEARS!

[@georgehenderson7783]

9:51 and 1:09 Gotta love how Uhura, even though she was just given an order to send a message to Star Fleet Command, is still watching Kirk closely from behind and can see his signals to cut off and then restore communication. 😎

[@MichaelandCathy1999]

R.I.P. to Ms. Nichols 😢🇨🇦

[@georgehenderson7783]

​@@MichaelandCathy1999 She will always live in our hearts. ❤🙏

[@gabrielpowers766]

Kirk had the best crew in Star Fleet for sure.

[@jdsiv3]

Good to see the chain of command actually in operation unlike in some new show that I won't deign to mention

[@RW4X4X3006]

Interesting to see the XO calling the captain on something, too. That's his/her job.

[@STho205]

@@RW4X4X3006 yeah Kiff was really giving it to Zapp Brannigan for once.

[@michelalphonso6945]

Do you mind, I'm tossing a salad ! Want some carrots ?

[@jamesfrench7299]

I used to watch this show with my mum in the 1980s. I wish I could go back. She now watches reruns of Voyager

[@seattlepainter]

There has never been a television show that has influenced both popular culture and millions of people like Star Trek. The original series remains my favorite. Nothing that came after it can ever compare.

[@Duchess_Van_Hoof]

Possibly Mobile Suit Gundam.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Dragnet, and multiple daytime soap operas would beg to differ…plus Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, and multiple PBS shows

[@seattlepainter]

@@bostonrailfan2427 - Those we’re all great shows too. However, they never inspired multiple spinoff shows and movies. Not to mention naming one of the space shuttles after the Enterprise.

[@sandal_thong8631]

If Gene Roddenberry had been hit by a truck and killed like Edith Keeler in "The City on the Edge of Forever" before he made Star Trek, what would the world look like? As well as what would have happened to those who said they were influenced and inspired by Star Trek?

[@seattlepainter]

@@sandal_thong8631 - We would be living in a very different world; that's for damn sure! And the world would be far poorer for that too.

[@TheVagolfer]

Best scene in this episode is when Scottie was commanding, he's a kick ass Captain. Worst scene is when Kirk takes to device just by lifting it up and carrying it away...bogus!

[@Darryl6636]

I love this episode it's one of my favorites

[@develynseether4426]

The 2 extras in the briefing room behind the main cast are wearing Lt. Commander and Commander ranks, doubtful and probably a wardrobe goof.

[@calanon534]

The Commander might've been Giotto's replacement as Chief of Security since he's wearing Service Division Red. The one in Command Division Gold might be the Senior Weapons Officer. Just guesses, but logical ones, based on how the ship was seen to be running in previous episodes.

[@develynseether4426]

@@calanon534 I see the logic but it's also unlikely for at least the Commander as Scotty was only Lt. Commander yet he was Second Officer, followed by Sulu who was only a Lieutenant.

[@calanon534]

@@develynseether4426 Aha, see, now we're getting into "Chain of Command" versus "Line of Command." Line of Command is "who takes charge of the ship itself, when the person above him is not present or disabled?" Chain of Command is "Below the Captain, these are the Department Bosses." Line of Command in the series was more or less: -Kirk -Spock -Scotty -Sulu -Uhura -Chekov/Helmsman-of-the-Week Chain of Command generally was: -Kirk, Captain -Spock, Lt. Commander/Commander, 1st Officer, Science Officer, Sciences Divison Leader -Scotty, Lt. Commander, 2nd Officer, Chief Engineer, Engineering Department of the Services Division -Sulu, Lieutenant, Flight Controller/Tactical Officer, Qualified Reserve Science Officer, (likely) Bridge Senior Officer of the Command Division, First Lieutenant Then lower on the line we have.. -Giotto, Lt. Commander, Chief of Security, Security Department of the Services Divison -Uhura, Lieutenant, Communications Officer/Chief Communications Officer, Communications Section, Engineering Department, Services Division. -Kyle, Lieutenant, Transporter Chief, Transporter Section, Engineering Department, Services Divison The position "First Lieutenant" on a Naval vessel designates the seniormost officer with the rank of Lieutenant. This selection is not base don time in service, but at the Captain's discretion, and makes them 3rd or 4th in command of the vessel in the event of the incapcaitation of senior officers. The Bridge Senior Officer, or head of staff for the Bridge crew, would be the person in charge of the personnel concerns of the Bridge crew, and this position either falls to the First Officer or the 2nd Officer if they're bridge crew, or the seniormost lieutenant on any of the shifts. On actual naval vessels, the Line of Command in a combat situation does not follow rank order. It follows bridge and CIC seniority, of which, some positions may have seniority given to them by a senior officer that does not reflect their time in service or service time aboard the ship, but generally follows rank seniority. In short, it's entirely possible that _Enterprise's_ Line of Command differs significantly from Chain of Command - the fact that Scotty is Second Officer at all speaks to this. Sulu should have been Second Officer from the start. But, this goes to G.R. being a bomber crewman not a naval officer himself - to him, the Flight Engineer would be right close to the Pilot/Aircraft Commander, and be in Line of Command as well as Chain of Command.

[@calanon534]

Addendum: I'm not saying it WASN'T a costume mistake behind the scenes, I'm saying there's a logical in-universe explanation for that mistake to become a valid part of the storyline.

[@joerogers9413]

I agree that the red shirt is probably chief of security. (Maybe he just got promoted and is awaiting his transfer papers.) As for the yellow shirt, I figure he's the operations officer. As I figure it (and this is just head canon) alpha, beta, and gamma watches are supervised by lieutenants who answer to a lieutenant commander that answers to the Captain and XO.

[@LordTalax]

I used to dive into the Romulan Empire too in the interplay Star Trek game. Just so I could have a good battle.

[@Idazmi7]

_Which_ Interplay Star Trek game? There were several!

[@LordTalax]

@@Idazmi7 First one

[@Idazmi7]

@@LordTalax Ah, _25th Anniversary._ I did the same, honestly... only more often by accident. 😁

[@thomasaquinas2600]

This episode highlighted the contrast of the original series with later ones. The set was absolutely abysmal, with cheap vinyl seats, panels with Kmart switches, and graphics you wouldn't accept on a Commodore Vic20. But the plot was riveting, the characters mattered, and we loved it all...

[@nickmitsialis]

Sounds just like 'Blake's Seven'==those sets were totally made out of cardboard but the writing and acting was often first rate.

[@scottishwarrior8014]

It was nice of them to give Kirk 1 hour before total destruction my thoughts have changed about romulans maybe thee not so bad 😊

[@samsonguy10k]

They honestly had all the time in the world in order to retrieve a prize like a UFP heavy cruiser which had all the latest tech. No doubt their border outposts were on high alert looking for other incursions. While the Romulans don't embrace logic, they do have a sense of patience.

[@svonasek]

And they say: „One of your hours!“ Perfect writing!

[@failuretocommunicate]

The key at 2:59, the First Officer confronts the Captain. On my first ship the First officer was a tiny little runt and the Captain was some kind of patrician with three initials before his last name. 📖

[@OneEyedLion]

The music was fantastic. It was like a character that was always in the background. The sequels never had anything like it.

[@r0bw00d]

To think, the audience today thinks that Kirk is impulsive, brash, and doesn't play by the rules.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

I noticed that D. C. Fontana wrote this episode, well in addition to that she's written several ST novels and they're good reads.

[@mattosullivan9687]

I keep thinking Shatner went into space at 90 and laugh my ass off shut up George

[@michaelnorris6168]

It’s so funny how aliens real aliens speak english.

[@jwil4905]

Universal translators.

[@gregorydahl]

That ended nice . Kirk avoided a fight over beaming over to the romulon ship skillfully . :very short episode without the commercials.

[@smacdiesel]

Dr. McCoy always made the command second guess their decisions. Especially Spock!

[@markmajkowski9545]

2:46 Unnamed Lt Cdr and full CDR standing in the background. McCoy and Scott are only O4’s and Spock the lone O5-but two extras - O4 and O5 - red shirt yet. Chekhov curiously an 01 for 2 years - but what seems a bridge officer navigator on the flagship - at least Lt JG.

[@MrTbraida23]

One of the best written episodes. All of its concepts based on the Cold War.

[@highstepperARF]

Starfleet has the Captain’s chair, Romulans have a desk.

[@printerman99]

Kind of funny how those "Romulan" ships look a whole like Klingon battle cruisers.

[@colinmerritt7645]

That's explained elsewhere in the episode. The Roms traded for Klingon technology.

[@martinishot]

Spock - intelligence reports special effects department dropped Romulan bird of prey model and production company too cheap to build replacement.

[@jackwinninghamsportsbetsan92]

My main issue with this episode is with the very premise. The Federation sanctions this mission - risking the top ship, and a top crew. The ENTIRE mission is predicated on the fact that the Romulans would open communications rather than just destroy the Enterprise immediately - and then just 'notice' Commander Spock. From there, they would continue to ignore SOP and instead decide to bring Spock and Kirk aboard their ship for what up to then would be unheard of diplomatic talks. The odds this would occur are so slim, it's unlikely the Federation would sanction such a long shot mission. It's an example of a plot point being revealed later in the story that, if it was known at the outset, would be too absurd to believe. But by the end of the episode, it seems plausible. It's a good episode, and I don't claim to be some great writer. But this is typical writing techniques used in the earlier years of TV where everything needs to be resolved in under one hour.

[@theoneandonly6431]

I agree. It also hinges on the fact that the Romulan commander is a woman, and is attracted to Spock, setting the premise that Spock could be swayed by her feminine charms to turn traitor. How could The Federation and Kirk know these things? And that the situation would play out the way it did? Including Spock using the " Vulcan Death Grip" on Kirk? Also, how do humans know that there is no such thing as a " Vulcan Death Grip", but the Romulans don't? Good episode, but tons of plot holes.

[@STho205]

Yes, today they take 10 episodes to reveal the completely implausible premise of random chance leading to a very complicated specific outcome. Picard 1 and 2 for instance. Discovery (all seasons). Drama is always contrived and better if you don't think too hard. Like "A Scandal in Bohemia", hard to believe she was written by a MAN. Speaking of thinking too hard, in this closing space shot scene... Why are the stars flying by with the warp parallax when they are at full stop in space? Why hasn't United Earth or the Federation put star bases and colonies closer than three subspace weeks to their side of the Neutral Zone when twice (Deadly Years and this) the Romulan fleet is quite handy when Enterprise strays across for a minute. Seems if the treaty was drawn there, that must be some contested space with some resource value...but Earth and the Federation has done nothing with it for over100 years. The Outpost asteroids obviously have no patrol ships or protective cruisers. How exactly would they react to Romulan entrance or aggression in this fabled Neutral Zone? Message in a bottle? Spitballs? Stern radio warnings? It's almost like Dorothy Fontana was writing the Korean DMZ circa 1955, but imagining the US Navy only back at Pearl and San Diego anchorages while Red China was 40 miles away. Maybe we should remind ourself it's just a show. I should really just relax.

[@PrimarchX]

Also, why are the command crew of the Enterprise more or less not in on the plan? They all go along with the artifice that Spock disapproves of Kirk's action to cross the neutral zone when that was the plan the entire time. What's to be gained by maintaining this facade internally?

[@theoneandonly6431]

@@PrimarchX Not to mention- What if the Romulans just decided to destroy the Enterprise for their intrusion into the Neutral Zone like they tried to do in The Deadly Years? Again, good episode, but tons of plot holes and what ifs.

[@jackwinninghamsportsbetsan92]

@@theoneandonly6431 Yep. That's the thought I had too.

[@youngimages2000]

One day, Shatner will really truly make it to space

[@FireLordJohn3191]

And he did!

[@youngimages2000]

@@FireLordJohn3191 , he did didn’t he..!! I wish he would have a question and answer with us because in all the pics of the edges of earth’s atmosphere, it’s so dark, not one star. Shatner kept saying how absolutely black space was, no reflections at all. Thought it woulda been a bigger deal. Surely he’s writing a book on it or documentary? Shatner is awesome and when can we get more people into space who can tell a good description because Shatner is top-flight story teller, he makes absolutely anything interesting 🧐

[@jonemeigh5588]

They act like the cloaking device was new, but the Romulans had it in Balance of Terror. They should have said the device was greatly improved instead of pretending it was a new thing.

[@edg4441]

Absolutely. IMO, this is the best episode of the 3rd Season; however, I never understood why or the reason for this comment in this episode. The other mistake in the 3rd season is the episode "The Way to Eden". In that episode, they follow the "Hippie" cultists of One into the neutral zone, entering Romulan Space and Kirk mentions they have to get out of there as soon as possible, yet also makes the comment, the Enterprise has been in the Romulan Space for over an hour and no Romulan Vessels had approached the ship,. Wherein this episode the Romulan Fleet surrounds the Enterprise as soon as it enters Romulan Space. I never liked the 3rd season. As I got older and knew their budget was cut for this season, it shows in the quality of the episodes. Season 1 & 2 have the best episodes including Season 1, Episode 14 " Balance of Terror". One of the best episodes of the series and the best Romulan episode. Great observation about this episode. Thanks.

[@Idazmi7]

The original cloaking device from _Balance of Terror_ was NOT invisible to sensors. It was invisible to the eye, but could still be tracked throughout the episode.

[@jonemeigh5588]

@@Idazmi7 I know. That's why I said the cloaking device in The Enterprise Incident was not new, but an improved version of the original. Spock's dissertation on the subject made it sound like this was some brand new thing. They didn't have to do that...they could have explained the improved cloaking device now made Romulan ships invisible to sensors as well as visually.

[@Idazmi7]

@@jonemeigh5588 There's also the fact that this show was made in the 1960s, and there's no guarantee that any random viewer had seen the prior episode. To their credit, it wasn't even originally called a "cloaking device" - it was an "invisibility screen", so one can construe that it _is_ effectively new technology.

[@supersami7748]

I love the original series as I’m sure most who comment do. Gene Roddenberry was very careful (for the most part) to keep the series in chronological order except when doing a flashback episode. The one thing that I’ve always wondered about this episode is the crew is surprised by a cloaking device. Way back in season 1 in “The Balance of Terror” episode the Romulans had a cloaking device and a very primitive appearing vessel compared to this episode. I always wrote it off that hey, it’s a TV show enjoy it.

[@Idazmi7]

The original cloaking device from _Balance of Terror_ was NOT invisible to sensors. It was invisible to the eye, but could still be tracked throughout the episode.

[@davidjackson6835]

It is sometimes best to suspend your disbelief....(I have always had that same reaction wrt the cloaking device when watching this episode)

[@TheRip72]

It is quite feasible that the Federation had found a way to render the earlier device useless & this one was more effective.

[@stanleybroniszewsky8538]

TOS should have featured the Romulans more often. They made for great episodes.

[@nicholasmaude6906]

The Romulan sub-commander's opening introduction sounds like it was sort of written by a Borg drone;).

[@gordonwong1946]

"Dah dat-dat DAH! Dah dat-dat DAH!" I think that was the only time TOS used that music.

[@sandal_thong8631]

OK for this episode, but perhaps the music also suffered for Season 3?

[@upland77]

RIP Nichelle Nichols ❤️😭

[@annecohen8927]

I always loved Star Trek.

[@joedunn4820]

Best episode of the original series! Brilliant.

[@jeffreyatlee8785]

I am honestly impressed by the conflict between Kirk and his crew.

[@jamescole3152]

These shows were filmed. Strange that they are so hard to come by in HD. They were on tv a few years ago.

[@fmlazar]

They were not filmed in 16:9 perspective which is problematic when remastering to HD. Also when you remaster to HD, the flaws in the sets themselves become very noticeable.

[@ronaldredmond3308]

D. C. Fontana wrote several Star Trek novels about the Romulans. She wrote one about the early days when the Vulcans and Romulans were one race.

[@maundamartin59]

You are out gunned and out numbered and IN THE WRONG!😂😂😂😂😂 STAR TREK CARTOON romulan encounter.

[@marcusjustice6165]

STAR TREK THE ANIMATED SERIES TAS: The Practical Joker.

[@raiderblue4070]

R.I.P. Nichelle Nichols🙏🏿🙏🏿

[@lennym1273]

The Romulans: you have entered the neutral zone, Me: so have you...

[@saa82vik]

Ben Stiller cann be surely scary when he puts himself at it.

[@jwil4905]

Thought the same thing :)

[@kingsman8475]

The Romulan commander looked like an older Barry Williams.

[@mtbluzman]

RIP Lt. Uhura

[@excelsciors]

RIP to those who have passed!!!

[@jaybee2402]

Strange how he blurts out the question about Spock like 200 milliseconds after Kirk defies his threat, the change of subject felt terribly unnatural.

[@219garry]

I always find it funny watching TNG at how fast the responses are to the questions asked. There's like zero time between the question and answer. LOL

[@jaybee2402]

@@219garry I since discovered it was how the scene was cut upon remaster, the original has Tal first saying, in a curious tone and slower speed, "Captain...who is that beside you?" The implication being the Romulans don't know everything about the involvement of their Vulcan cousins in Starfleet. I'm sure I'd ask the same about some human amongst a ship full of aliens.

[@xaenon]

Interesting that one of the ships that surrounded Enterprise at the start of the clip was a traditional Romulan Bird-of-Prey, but in the next clip, it's three Klingon D7s.

[@JLange642]

I see 3 D7s in both shots, although the one to the right in the distance could be confused with a Bird of Prey in the short opening shot.

[@xaenon]

@@JLange642 I messed up; it's not this clip, it's: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGSoZIirbsR7jM0 Right around the 2:40 mark. sorry about that.

[@sandal_thong8631]

"The Deadly Years" had the Bird-of-Prey ships. I wish I'd bought that since I liked the space-battle episodes, but forgot about that part. Star Trek couldn't afford a ship for the Klingons in the first season, and didn't want to build a new one for the Romulans so said they were using the Klingon design. In the remastered version of this episode, they use both ships.

[@popeyethesailorman7850]

Your ship has been identified as the NSEA Protector, Captain Peter Quincy Taggart last in command.

[@jsmcmxlvii]

At the speed of light, I love Star Trek

[@hanskloss1331]

he says at the beginning 1of your hours like it's something that he really doesn't comprehend yet also says that the message to Star Fleet will take 3 weeks like he does understand

[@ashcarrier6606]

Shatner was just a damn good-looking man.

[@wmarclocher]

What's the real reason the Romulans started using the Klingon D7 battlecruiser? Shifting the balance of power by allying with the Klingons? To have warp capable ships over their sub-light Bird of Prey? No, production had spent all their model budget on the Matt Jeffries D7 and no longer had the Bird of Prey model. :)

[@Manolo0528]

Spock “believes” the Romulans have a cloaking device. Kirk says “if true….” Was there some sort of memory altering device that the crew were subjected to? The Enterprise and crew fought a Romulan Ship in the Neutral Zone and that ship had a cloaking device. (Season 1’s Balance of Terror)

[@fmlazar]

Yes but it was a garbage cloak that was easily tracked once someone knew what to look for. This one was totally invisible to the sensors that tracked the earlier ship.

[@theduke7539]

this eposode is an example of what TOS did really well. the writing and plot for this episode were sub par really, even for TOS standards, but the cast still acted the hell out of it as if this was their oscar moment. The result is an episode thats frankly rather shallow but still very entertaining to watch

[@dannypulliam3157]

Hell ya my guy turns 93 on March 22nd!!!! Long live Captain James T Kirk baby!!!!

[@rreagan007]

Those Romulan ships look like Klingon ships to me.

[@cthulhu626]

Technology exchange between the two empires

[@marksolarz3756]

The music sells the plot..high lights the phrases..and since it’s the same music used in most of the episodes...it makes the lines..the story. Unique. And is really the...mood of the original series. You know..just by the music..if it’s...good....or bad....or humorous. Again...Unique Star Trek soundbites. As much as the sound of a phaser..or tri corder. Both of which..make no noise..and are but props. Like all..the Enterprise sounds added in. They became familiar.

[@sandal_thong8631]

I'm told that each season had only a few episodes scored, and bits from the score would be used in later episodes that season, like "More Soup" in "Amok Time" being used with Spock's mother in "Journey to Babel." "The Enterprise Incident" being one of the first of season 3 should use new music, but I'm unimpressed so far. Season 3 has fewer episodes I like than the previous ones so it's hard to say what bits or themes were common throughout the season.

[@andrewmichaelscollectibles]

This isn't an episode of Star Trek! This is just William Shatner interacting with the cast 😂😂😂

[@TheFloorface]

never seen this episode before. that romulan ship looks like a klingon cruiser though.

[@lordmikethegreat]

It is The canon explanation is that the Romulans and Klingons had a technology exchange program. The actual explanation is that this was a 3rd season episode and they were short of money, so they reused the Klingon ship models.

[@douglasdepirro8364]

The old romulan ships could only go warp 2. The Klingon ships could go faster and were better armored and armed. So they exchanged technologies to have better ships and the Klingon ships then could have cloaking device s

[@davidbaldwin8390]

In the briefing room, the man in the red shirt (standing back by the wall) has two solid gold ring bars on both his sleeves. Wouldn't this make him the rank of a commander like Spock? If so, then wouldn't he be higher in rank than Scotty and Dr. McCoy?

[@davidbaldwin8390]

OK now I understand. (Non Line of Command Officers and Crewmen).

[@FireLordJohn3191]

Nichelle Nichols just passed away.

[@phillipbradshaw4006]

So Kirk is on a secret mission to steal a cloaking device… Section 31 membership confirmed.

[@Idazmi7]

Section 31 didn't exist in TOS, because the original Federation wasn't suicidally pacifistic. There's no need for any secret organization when the official organization is already doing the work.

[@phillipbradshaw4006]

@@Idazmi7 but but but… in DS9 they said that Section 31 was part of the original Starfleet charter. And I like the idea that Sloan could be one of Kirk’s illegitimate children ( that’s not anywhere, I just made that up 🤓).

[@Idazmi7]

@@phillipbradshaw4006 The 'Section 31' in the Starfleet charter is just a line of text. The organization _called_ Section 31 just uses that part of the charter to justify themselves. Being blunt, they're basically right: Starfleet's 24th century pacifism and reworked Prime Directive are a severe hinderance and a security risk.

[@sandal_thong8631]

He's the most recent captain that's still alive, so probably gets the stink jobs. Also makes sense that he might violate the neutral zone in hopes of glory and promotion. Too bad they did away with the rank of commodore, who could still command a starship. I like to imagine Kirk was the equivalent of "fleet captain" like Captain Garth in Star Trek VI, which is why they have two of captain-rank on the Enterprise-A.

[@patwiggins6969]

Sucks they only used this group of romulans for just one episode. Coolest group in series

[@kurtfisher1379]

The strong female Romulan character in the "The Enterprise Incident" was the result of the episode's author, D.C. Fontana, a pseudonym for a female script writer who was instrumental in the 1960s in several key sci fi scripts. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._C._Fontana?wprov=sfla1

[@7ebr830]

In 4 minutes and 38 seconds I had more fun watching this clip than during all of S1 of the revolting STD.

[@ncascadehiker]

Every alien lives in the same oxygen atmosphere we do. At least their time units are different: “we give you one of your hours.” Lol.

[@tomb7942]

Its like the forgot about the last Romulan ship that they knew could cloak.

[@sigmontkasperzack124]

I don't know why the script had klingon ships instead of the badass Romulan war birds

[@fmlazar]

Because that model had been accidentally destroyed after it's one appearance. And using the Klingon model which was far more popular was a budget saving move.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

Interesting to see another officer of equal rank to Spock in the briefing room. He even outranks Scotty. And there was another lieutenant commander standing in the background. You'd think that they would have a thing or two to say as well!

[@LordTalax]

Good catch. I wonder where that red shirt commander worked since Scotty was chief engineer.

[@marcusjustice6165]

​@@LordTalaxperhaps the Starship Security Department.

[@pauljenkins6877]

Things look pretty bleak. I think its curtains for the ship and its crew this time…

[@bluedale6563]

Star date 2024,,,,,,,,,,Still loving it

[@johnfury6481]

Great now I have to find the entire episode to remember what happened!

[@FailSonOfAnarchy]

"You have one of your human earth hours."

[@DC-ub1ov]

One of the best TOS episodes…