Product Details

• Actors: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Mark Lenard, Paul Comi, Lawrence Montaigne
• Directors: Vincent McEveety
• Writers: Gene Roddenberry, Paul Schneider
• Producers: Gene Roddenberry, Herbert F. Solow, John D.F. Black, Robert H. Justman
• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Language: English
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: CBS Paramount International Television
• VHS Release Date: April 15, 1994
• Run Time: 50 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6300213137
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,351 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"Balance of Terror" is a terrific drama that was essentially an outer-space version of a 1950s submarine movie. Writer Paul Schneider introduced both the Romulans and the concept of a "neutral zone" to Trek lore, wrapped up in this story about the first encounter between a Federation and Romulan ship in 75 years. The resulting face-off between two vessels and their strong, noble captains--Kirk (William Shatner) and his Romulan counterpart (Mark Lenard, who later played Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek)--is directed and edited with suspense worthy of the classic sub movie The Enemy Below. It's an example of how the original Trek series took lots of risks and constantly invented itself, in contrast to the more codified look and feel of The Next Generation and subsequent series. --Tom Keogh

From the Back Cover
It's a game of cat and mouse for Kirk and the Romulan commander, whose cloaking device renders his ship invisible-and very deadly!

TREK TRIVIA
Mark Lenard (the Romulan Commander) is one of Star Trek's most featured guest stars, returning as Spock's father, Sarek, in "Journey to Babel" and reprising the role in three Trek films as well as two Next Generation episodes. He was also the Klingon Commander in Star Trek: The Motion Picture, making him Star Trek's all-purpose alien!
"Balance Of Terror" is one of only two episodes that featured the Romulans-they would not return until The Next Generation's twenty-sixth episode, proclaiming "We are back!"

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Space Battle in the Star Trek Series, April 26, 2001

By	"sukhisoo" (Mesilla Park, NM USA) - See all my reviews

There is not much to add to the glowing recommendations of other reviewers.

This is a very tense, skillfully crafted episode that plays like a destroyer vs. submarine story. Both Kirk and the Romulan commander must out-think their own crews as well as one another. The issues of bigotry and war are explored without being overly preachy.

Mark Lenard does a superb job as the Romulan commander. The audience can sympathize with him while simultaneously rooting against him.

This is a brilliant episode that features the best, most exciting space battle of the series.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "first" encounter with the Romulans in the series, September 4, 2001

By	historyone (Republic of Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This is another classic episode of Star Trek and one of my top 5 favorites. It gives us a "first" glimpse at the Federations mortal enemy the Romulans (Romulan Empire) and my goodness they also look like Vulcans!?!?! Well, that is answered in episodes yet to come in upcoming series (The Next Generation).

This begins when a mysterious ship is destroying Federation Outposts and James Kirk and the USS Enterprise soon discover it is their classic enemies the Romulans. What follows is a classic strategic cat and mouse "game" that is like the movie "The Enemy Below" that starred Robert Mitchum as a WWII US Destroyer Captain and Kurt Jergens as a German U-Boat Commander. The Jergens part in this episode is played oustandingly by the late Mark Lenard. You can guess who plays Mitchum's part, why of course James T. Kirk (William Shatner).

Both of these Captains start to have a respect for each others skills and the best line of the episode is when the Romulan Commander tells Kirk, "in another reality we could of been friends". Talk about respect, that says it all dosen't it?

Overall, this is a classic episode and highly recommended to all Star Trek fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic submarine battle fought in outer space, October 4, 2001

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Mark Lenard makes a memorable first appearance on Star Trek as the Romulan commander in "Balance of Terror." This episode is pretty much a classic submarine story updated to outer space, made compelling by the cat and mouse game between the two captains. Kirk is performing a wedding but is interrupted by news that several Earth Outposts have been attacked by a cloaked ship firing a plasma weapon. The Enterprise goes in pursuit of the Romulan vessel. When Spock pirates a view of the Romulan bridge we learn that this is the first time anyone from Starfleet has ever seen the Romulans, so there is some surprise that they look like Vulcans. The sub-plot involving Lt. Stiles, who distrusts Spock because of the physical comparison, shows that even in the Star Trek universe envisioned by Gene Roddenberry, human prejudice is still going strong. "Balance of Terror" does a nice job of working out the moves and counter moves in the running battle. Lenard brings a wonderful sense of dignity to his role and it is obvious from his first scene why they would take any opportunity to bring him back. That he was given the plumb role of Sarek was a fitting reward. I also think this is the point in the first season where William Shatner clearly has a handle on Kirk as the best starship captain in Starfleet. Also, as grating as the Spock/Stiles subplot happens to be, the bracketing subplot about the wedding is one of the better story lines involving those unfortunate extras who die all the time on Star Trek. Still, this is an episode that deservedly ends up on most fans' top ten episode lists. I know it is on mine.