The Better Episode #4

[RobertScorpio]

So it looks like DS9's CHILDREN OF TIME is winning the battle between it and Voyager's BLINK OF AN EYE...two great episodes!!!

Battle #4 pits to Romulan centric episodes against each other...


BALANCE OF TERROR (tos) vs THE DEFECTOR (tng)

This is a tough one because I like them both so much...

Balance of Terror; We get our first look (well, TOS;s first look that is) at Romulans. Very well done 'submarine' story, with a TREK twist. The Romulans look just like Vulcans (and Spock's dad). Throw in some subtle racism, cool space battle for its time, and you get one of TOS's best episodes. Shatner's Kirk is very subtle here. Would have been interesting to see the third-season Kirk in this exact same situation..umm..oh yeah..we did..and in that one, the scenery isn't chewed, it is totally digested....Balance of Terror is one of my favorite kirk episodes by far...

The Defector; A Romulan brings news of an impending invasion. I like this episode because it is so well acted by everyone. The whole premise is interesting. I remember watching this the first time and seeing the Klingon ships de-cloak still brings me goose bumps. In fact, I think its the first time Fed-Klingon-Romulan ships share a scene together in Trek history. The guest star, James Sloyan or something like that, gives what I think was his best Trek performance in this one.

Okay...who wins this battle...Balance of Terror or The Defector?

Robert

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Oh, you are evil, forcing us to choose between these two excellent Trek episodes!


I'd say, overall, "Balance of Terror" on split decision.

 

[greenmystik]

Staying with my bias towards TNG I'll have to go with The Defector.

But they are both excellent episodes.

 

[ialfan]

The Defector

 

[EnsignJulka]

Well I'm more of a TOS girl so I'll go with Balance of Terror!

 

[Anwar]

Damn damn damn, It's hell to choose between these two. I'm going to have to go for Defector though.

 

[HoundDog]

It's "Balance of Terror".

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Although it might seem like I'd pick Defector, I'll go with Balance of Terror as well. Both are great episodes, though.

 

[StolenThunder]

The Defector, just..

 

[LeadHead]

"The Defector" one of TNG's Best eps, it really gives "Best Of Both Worlds" a run for its money.

 

[chancellorjake]

Balance of Terror is one of my favorites, so I must go with it.

 

[jimbtnp2]

So it looks like DS9's CHILDREN OF TIME is winning the battle between it and Voyager's BLINK OF AN EYE...two great episodes!!!

Battle #4 pits to Romulan centric episodes against each other...


BALANCE OF TERROR (tos) vs THE DEFECTOR (tng)

This is a tough one because I like them both so much...

Balance of Terror; We get our first look (well, TOS;s first look that is) at Romulans. Very well done 'submarine' story, with a TREK twist. The Romulans look just like Vulcans (and Spock's dad). Throw in some subtle racism, cool space battle for its time, and you get one of TOS's best episodes. Shatner's Kirk is very subtle here. Would have been interesting to see the third-season Kirk in this exact same situation..umm..oh yeah..we did..and in that one, the scenery isn't chewed, it is totally digested....Balance of Terror is one of my favorite kirk episodes by far...

The Defector; A Romulan brings news of an impending invasion. I like this episode because it is so well acted by everyone. The whole premise is interesting. I remember watching this the first time and seeing the Klingon ships de-cloak still brings me goose bumps. In fact, I think its the first time Fed-Klingon-Romulan ships share a scene together in Trek history. The guest star, James Sloyan or something like that, gives what I think was his best Trek performance in this one.

Okay...who wins this battle...Balance of Terror or The Defector?

Robert

The overall quality of TOS shows were better than TNG, the acting directing, scripts etc

Balance of Terror hands down
not that defector was bad

 

[RobertScorpio]

"In a different reality, I could have called you friend.."

I'm going with Balace of Terror. Defector is good, with the Hawk who turns Dove mantra. But I think Balance of Terror gets my vote because of the great pacing and racial themes of the show.

Rob

 

[TrekNut87]

Dammit, not again. Both episodes are fantastic, but Balance of Terror was the first TOS episode I saw and what got me to like the show so I'll have to go with that one.

 

[RobertScorpio]

Although it might seem like I'd pick Defector, I'll go with Balance of Terror as well. Both are great episodes, though.

Yeah, I was wondering where you would go on this one. But Alidar Jarok was probably the best TNG era Romulan. I like his quote, "To come looking for strength in a den of cowards.'..or something like that...great line!!!

Rob

 

[Emperor-Tiberius]

BALANCE OF TERROR

 

[AdmiralGarak]

Honestly, whenever I think of any great strengths one episode has, the other has them as well. They're nearly identical in quality, but I'll give my vote to "The Defector".

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Although it might seem like I'd pick Defector, I'll go with Balance of Terror as well. Both are great episodes, though.

Yeah, I was wondering where you would go on this one. But Alidar Jarok was probably the best TNG era Romulan. I like his quote, "To come looking for strength in a den of cowards.'..or something like that...great line!!!

Rob

Looking for Courage in a Lair of Cowards, iirc. He had a bunch of great lines and James Sloyan did a great job portraying him, but it would be hard to beat Mark Lenard, who was also great.

 

[blakbyrd]

Balance of Terror

 

[Admiral2]

This is a no-brainer.

BALANCE! OF! TERROR!