The Enterprise is currently on a "star mapping" mission, and in deep space encounters a mystery object. It's a multi-coloured, spinning cube, and it proves to be dangerous. (Spock theorizes that it's some sort of space buoy.) After the Enterprise has destroyed it, the crew is contacted by an alien intelligence, personified by a character named Balok. While Kirk has to think his way out of the situation, tensions run high among the crew. Kirk and McCoy argue over the stability of the current navigator, a man named Bailey (Anthony D. Call, 'One Life to Live').
The title stems from some quick thinking by Kirk: when all else fails, and your opponent seems to have all of the advantage, bluff your way out, and hope that the other individual falls for it. While the whole confrontation with Balok is originally analogized as a chess match, Kirk believes it is more of a poker game. This intriguing script was the work of Jerry Sohl, whose other credits include 'The Twilight Zone' and 'The Outer Limits'. Director Joseph Sargent, the man behind such 70s theatrical gems as "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three", generates a LOT of tension from the set-up. Certainly the initial encounter with the buoy has a palpable sense of weirdness and urgency about it. As we find out, it's emitting a potentially lethal amount of radiation. But things get turned upside down for the closing encounter with Balok, who is revealed to be something highly unexpected. In fact, the final few minutes are rather pleasant, as we see that an exchange of information about cultures can take place, which of course has always been one of the main purposes that the Enterprise fulfills.
Guest star Call delivers a standout performance as a young man that was promoted hastily, and who in fact may not have been really cut out for his responsibilities. But his very human reaction to the danger is all too understandable. That said, one other element that ensures the staying power of this episode is the presence of a seven-year-old, jovial Clint Howard as Balok, a little bald alien who loves a drink called Tranya. But the whole cast is in fine form, with Shatner as Kirk always keeping a level head and typically having the strength of his convictions.
Seven out of 10.
The title stems from some quick thinking by Kirk: when all else fails, and your opponent seems to have all of the advantage, bluff your way out, and hope that the other individual falls for it. While the whole confrontation with Balok is originally analogized as a chess match, Kirk believes it is more of a poker game. This intriguing script was the work of Jerry Sohl, whose other credits include 'The Twilight Zone' and 'The Outer Limits'. Director Joseph Sargent, the man behind such 70s theatrical gems as "Colossus: The Forbin Project" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three", generates a LOT of tension from the set-up. Certainly the initial encounter with the buoy has a palpable sense of weirdness and urgency about it. As we find out, it's emitting a potentially lethal amount of radiation. But things get turned upside down for the closing encounter with Balok, who is revealed to be something highly unexpected. In fact, the final few minutes are rather pleasant, as we see that an exchange of information about cultures can take place, which of course has always been one of the main purposes that the Enterprise fulfills.
Guest star Call delivers a standout performance as a young man that was promoted hastily, and who in fact may not have been really cut out for his responsibilities. But his very human reaction to the danger is all too understandable. That said, one other element that ensures the staying power of this episode is the presence of a seven-year-old, jovial Clint Howard as Balok, a little bald alien who loves a drink called Tranya. But the whole cast is in fine form, with Shatner as Kirk always keeping a level head and typically having the strength of his convictions.
Seven out of 10.