Episode of the Week : Balance of Terror

Yeah by the end of the '70s the colorful excess of earlier in the decade was on its way out and a subdued, almost monotone palette was considered a sophisticated look. Braniff Airlines paid fashion designer Halston a lot of money to come up with this:

 

They might want to ask for their money back.

 

I've always thought that Shatner is a much under-appreciated actor.

But as for Mark Lenard ... How many episodes/films was he in? A handful? The fact that he fit so well and is remembered so fondly is a huge tribute to his talent.

Balance of Terror is one of Trek's finest moments.

 

A lot of fashion is context. Back in the '70s (or any period) very few thought anything of how many dressed or wore their hair. Today will be no different as seen from twenty to fifty years down the road.

The look and muted tones of TMP actually harken back to the look in "The Cage." I think people wore more put off because it wasn't as colourful as TOS rather than it being more muted like contemporary fashion.

 

"Balance of Terror"
"Journey to Babel"
"Yesteryear"
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
"Sarek"
"Unification I"

I think that covers his Trek appearances...

 

I was thinking about five, but nine is almost two hands full.

 

I love the design of the ship's chapel. There is nothing at all overtly religious in the room, but the subtle cross built into the podium's design is brilliant!


Spock dramatically demonstrates the corrupted condition of the outpost's metal shell, but I wonder who cleaned up his mess?


The Table of Comets book. I wonder if this was an early, "failed" attempt by Kirk to incorporate his love of books into his work?


The comet: ssosmcin thinks it looks great...and I agree completely, so I threw this picture in just because! But I do like that the Rumulan Commander even paused to comment on its beauty. Nice moment!


These guys are part of my phaser room theory. All through season one, we saw examples of crew doing all sorts of strange projects in the background. I suspect the crew was finishing up refit work started after Where no Man Has Gone Before, and part of that refit included retiring the old phaser room. These guys, in their "old school" looking tunics, were probably soon to be reassigned. This to me explains the seeming awkwardness and delays in getting phasers fired.

Great episode!

 

His voice was used in Trek 5

 

On Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Lenard played an alien who could detach his head, set it on a table top, and keep talking as if nothing had happened. Real classy stuff.

According to IMDB, the very next job he had was three years later in Star Trek III-- a good part in a major motion picture. How fortunes change; he must have been delighted to get that job.

 

Just remember, just because someone is not in IMDB, does not mean they are not a working actor - there are a ton of playhouses and such in the LA area where actors like Lenard can make a living.

 

That Braniff beige probably would have been big in Planet of the Titans.

 

I know that he got a lot of commercial voice over work. For the guys at the very top of the heap its very good money and relatively easy work.

 

I don't think so, not with Kaufman directing. He doesn't seem to have the same costume person from film to film, but one of them, the guy who did WANDERERS for him, went from MARATHON MAN to EXORCIST 2 to CRUISIN' which all look totally different.

 

To me it just doesn't get better than "Balance of Terror." I missed the poll but would rank it as a 10. It's amazing that they could put an episode like this out so early in the series.

 

I'm watching "Balance of Terror" now, and a thought just occurred to me. What if the Romulan Commander had made it home, as well as the Enterprise? Would he argue for war, or would he urge they first strengthen their defenses and the effectiveness of their plasma weapon and cloaking device?

It's doubtful we would have seen more of them either way, due to the makeup costs. Though it could present an opportunity for a story that would work as a bridge between this episode and "The Enterprise Incident".