The Enterprise meets an alien starship with seemingly hostile intentions.
This is strong character episode and a good example of the main Star Trek themes of exploration and avoidance of conflict.
The plot is mainly character driven and it gives great insight into the crew in a potential conflict situation, with a big focus on Captain Kirk's leadership.
There are themes that underlie the story, clearly stemming from the bipolar years during the Cold War, where we have two opposing entities contemplating mutually assured destruction.
It shows the Kirk-Spock-Bones trinity in its infancy with the banter not quite developed to the standard it famously reached in later episodes, but it is very good nonetheless. Also thrown into the equation is Lt. Bailey who provides a powerfully emotional human response to a seemingly hopeless situation. My favourite line of the episode (quoted in the review title) comes in a nice sequence between Bailey and Kirk.
I enjoyed the visuals with the bright sixties colours and makeshift special effects adding to the charm as always. The concept of Balock feels very much in the same vain as The Wizard Of Oz.
William Shatner is brilliant and carries the episode perfectly. He is supported wonderfully by DeForest Kelley in particular, with Leonard Nimoy and Anthony Call also good. Clint Howard famously appears in a badly dubbed role that adds even more charm.
This is strong character episode and a good example of the main Star Trek themes of exploration and avoidance of conflict.
The plot is mainly character driven and it gives great insight into the crew in a potential conflict situation, with a big focus on Captain Kirk's leadership.
There are themes that underlie the story, clearly stemming from the bipolar years during the Cold War, where we have two opposing entities contemplating mutually assured destruction.
It shows the Kirk-Spock-Bones trinity in its infancy with the banter not quite developed to the standard it famously reached in later episodes, but it is very good nonetheless. Also thrown into the equation is Lt. Bailey who provides a powerfully emotional human response to a seemingly hopeless situation. My favourite line of the episode (quoted in the review title) comes in a nice sequence between Bailey and Kirk.
I enjoyed the visuals with the bright sixties colours and makeshift special effects adding to the charm as always. The concept of Balock feels very much in the same vain as The Wizard Of Oz.
William Shatner is brilliant and carries the episode perfectly. He is supported wonderfully by DeForest Kelley in particular, with Leonard Nimoy and Anthony Call also good. Clint Howard famously appears in a badly dubbed role that adds even more charm.