LogFAQs > #967301553

Episode 14: Balance of Terror

More like episode 9!!!!!!

It's nice seeing another galactic power. One which has had history with the federation, as well. The Romulans are a cool race. A bit more than just space romans, each member we see is actually a character in their own right. The commander is a highlight. Weary and reluctant to the point that he actually wants to lose, but unable to actually stop trying. Both sides are actually against restarting the war here, but the commander can't disobey.

Seeing Kirk and the commander try to one up each other throughout the episode was fun and using warp to briefly outrun the projectile is a pretty obvious but cool application of ftl travel. I like how the invisibility works both ways, as it logically should. I keep highlighting ruthlessness and pragmatism, but using your friends corpse to fake destruction takes the cake.

Decius is a fool, but an all too common one. Glory seeking moron who got his whole group killed and nearly restarted a war. The Enterprise isn't much better, with Kirk giving the reminder that the past is not their war. Offering mercy to the commander is pretty moral of him, and, while Futurama used it for a parody, the final speech is still nice. Speaking of speechs, McCoy gets a nice moment of trying to perk Kirk up when he's doubting himself.

The reveal that Romulans look like Vulcans was spoiled for me by general pop culture, but I still like that Stiles' bigotry was shut down immediately. Kirk even makes him squirm for a bit by asking him to repeat it, emphasising just how wrong that attitude is.

I probably should have seen the death of the groom coming, but I didn't. Maybe I assumed that the show is older than that trope. Still enjoyed seeing some of lower ranking crew for a bit.

Another brilliant episode.