Awhile back I did an article on reasons why I did not like the first several episodes of Trek. And the article did not really go well, and I ended up mostly bashing this episode for a couple silly things. Truth is it's a solid episode and a nice sci fi spin on classic submarine movies. This is our introduction to the Romulans and set up a lot that would be followed up on in other series even to this day.
Plot:The Enterprise battles a Romulan ship suspected of destroying outposts near the Neutral Zone.
Guest Stars:Mark Lenard as the Romulan Commander
Nitpick:We have another crazy navigator of the week, this week its Stiles and his bigoted attitudes toward Romulans (and Spock for resembling them). I love it when Kirk finally chews him out.
Summary:
Teaser-The Enterprise is holding a wedding for two officers, while also monitoring reports of activity along the Romulan neutral zone. The wedding is interrupted when a red alert is sounded, one of the outposts along the neutral zone has been attacked.
Act 1-Enterprise is moving in to investigate. Spock then explains how there are outposts along the Neutral Zone. There are currently 7 (by the time of TNG there will be 23) and two have no been attacked) which monitor the zone created after the war over a century earlier. No one has ever actually seen a Romulan. Stiles pipes up, his father was in the war and died at the Romulans hands. Kirk orders battlestations including the "phaser control room" (sigh). The ship is at sensor range of outpost 4 and makes contact with an officer names Hanson. The outpost is a wreck, and before the Enterprise can reach them a Bird of Prey appears and obliterates the outpost. The Romulans are using some kind of screen which makes them invisible, and are heading back home. Spock picks up a signal and is able to get an image from the Romulan vessel. The image shows that the Romulans bear and uncanny resemblance to Vulcans.
Act 2-Stiles is convinced Spock is a Romulan spy, until Kirk chews him out. While Spock tries to decode a transmission Kirk and Sulu work to stay with the Romulan vessel. On that vessel, the commander has deduced that the Enterprise is following them. Scotty has got debris from the destroyed outpost which is examined in the briefing room. Spock demonstrates how the Romulan weapons destroyed it. The question is should they engage them. Stiles shows more bigotry about the Romulans, and Spock. However, Spock agrees they should attack. Saying if they are an offshoot of Vulcan its more important to attack since Romulans could be as savage as early Vulcans. Sensors show the Romulans passing through a comet which will make them visible long enough to attack.
Act 3-As the Romulans prepare to enter the comet, the Enterprise prepares to attack. The Romulan commander deduces the maneuver however, and don't appear. Kirk then fires blind and manages to damage the Romulans. They in turn come about and attack. With their dumb slow as hell energy blasts. The two ships begin to parallel each other again. The Enterprise tries to attack again, and hits the Romulans causing them more damage.
Act 4-The Enterprise as lost the Romulan vessel, and shut down everything hoping not to give away there location. While they wait, Kirk and McCoy have a discussion about the pressure and how Kirk sometimes wishes he could be anywhere else. It's a great scene. Spock accidently sends a signal, that Romulans pick up. But Kirk is able to strike first. They decide to lay a trap for Enterprise by mixing an explosive among random space debris. The ploy works, and the Enterprise is knocked for a loop. The Romulans think they can head home safely, but the ship was not severely damaged. There is only man in the phaser room, and Stiles offers to assist him. The commander is convinced to finish the Enterprise off. Stiles is working in the phaser room when a coolant leak suddenly springs up and threatens to kill them. Just as the Romulans close in, Kirk orders phasers but nothing happens. Spock realizes there is an issue and rushes to the phaser room (where the two have become overcome) and fires the phasers just in time. The Enterprise has disabled the Romulans, and the commander decided to destroy the ship rather than be captured. But not before complimenting Kirk on his skills. Stiles survived, but the other man who was the groom from the start did not.
Final Thoughts:I wish they had reconsidered that silly "phaser room" idea, it's just so lame. A starship isn't a submarine! But putting that aside, it's a tense and exciting episode. It's hard to get that in my recap but the way the two commanders try to outthink each other is very well done. Unlike the Klingons who barely get any character when they appear, the Romulan Commander is very well developed and, of course, performed. Finally, I liked that there was no cheery happy ending to this one. They did what they had to to, and there's nothing to celebrate.
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