Synopsis: While charting an unknown section in space the Enterprise is pestered by a giant glowing cube. When it begins to emit dangerous radiation they are forced to destroy it. Going forward they are confronted by the cubes creator Balok of the First Federation. They are told they will be destroyed for their primitive warlike ways. Only through a bluff by Kirk are they spared. A last minute trick disables the alien vessel and then does Kirk learn the true secret of Balok.
Well they are exploring again… though something tells me by the look that this episode was filmed earlier than the previous few.
There are some nifty character moments and quite a bit of conflict between the Captain and his good Doctor. Kirk’s bluff was interesting. I liked Spock’s reaction to it, he seemed genuinley impressed.
A few random thoughts:
Why is Spock yelling so much in this episode?
Kirk is very demanding of the crew… “What will you do when they give you the 5%” “I’ll take it and I will…”
Damn that ship was huge!!!
Kirk did himself a favour dumping crewman whiney pants.
Balok in the end was quite weird looking. He seems familiar anyone know who he was.
Good thing they knew how far to duck when the beamed to the ship.
Wasn’t Puppet Balok’s voice Lurch? I wonder if he becomes a background fixture on this show?
Besides the plot, what a visually stunning episode!
When confronting the warning bouy, in the shots of the crew facing the viewscreen, one can clearly see the different colours of the spinning bouy reflected in their faces. A very nice touch of detail.
When the Fesarius looms up to the Enterprise, I kept expecting it to stop. Instead, it fills up the entire screen and more. We have an idea of how big the Enterprise is with previous talk in other eps of crew compliment and number of decks, so for the Fesarius to completely drawf our ship… well, that’s one big ship. Yet the blalock creature seems to run it alone. An interesting take on alien psychology.
The Blalock puppet, CREEPY!
Blalock himself. Very cool idea to use an ugly little kid (Opie’s brother, btw, I saw them together on Merv), and overdub his voice with a deep adult voice. Added to “alien-ness” of that ugly little puppy.
As for the plot, I enjoyed the games. It’s not chess, IT’S POKER!
Spock seemed to be a little rough on Lt CrapMyPants, tho. It’s like he was goading him.
I was sad when this episode ended, as it was very entertaining on several different levels.
This is the first episode I’ve seen where Kirk has to lay not just his own ass, but the entire ship and crew on the line. And for all he knows Balok could blast the Enterprise into atoms.
The real Blalock (as opposed to that puppet) was played by Clint Howard, who I’m sure we remember as Stanley from the “Baileys of Balboa”. He’s got something in the works about a TV show where he has a pet bear. Anyone know more about this?
The voice of the threatening Blalock was indeed Ted “Lurch” Cassidy and the voice of the “real” Blalock was Vic Perrin - the “Control Voice” from the Outer Limits.
Mr Bailey (aka Crewman Crybaby) was portrayed by Anthony Call. Clint Howard and Anthony Call - 2 names I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more of as we move into the 1970’s.
Real exploration. Big scary aliens (which turn out to be one small, kinda creepy alien). Huge ship. Clever moves by the Captain and crew… all in all good stuff.
Did Spock say his mother was an earth woman? So he’s half human?
What’s with this “Blalock”? Since when was anyone to do with Star Trek called “Blalock”
The size of that alien ship was impressive, but it looked like it was just covered in 20th-century style incandescent light bulbs. Not so hot compared with the Enterprise, which really does do a good job of looking like a highly advanced spaceship.
Harking back to the episode, though… once again the Enterprise meets up with some vastly superior alien intelligence who basically pushes them around and makes them look silly. All very well for the Captain and his poker game, but does anyone seriously believe that Balok ever intended to harm them - wasn’t the whole thing a set-up to see if the humans would behave decently in a crisis? The eponymous Corbomite Maneuver didn’t actually save anyone from anything.
This theme could get overplayed if the writers don’t watch it.
Yup, the idea was that this was the Federation at its best. Instead of shooting up the smaller craft when it had the chance, it stayed to help and left someone behind as a cultural exchange.
Other episodes carry on this theme eg Arena, where Kirk spares the Gorn’s life, proving to the Metron’s the Fed’s are worth visiting again a few thousand years down the line
[ooc]Psst… Pushkin… ixnay on mentioning episodes from later in the series. We’re meant to be discussing them as if the series had never been seen before.[/ooc]
:smack: Sorry, I thought this was just a run down on the episodes again. Please continue without me :o
I won’t be silly and ask if they’re being viewed in production or broadcast order
But continuing in the theme of the thread… Boy was that self-destruct command an edge of the seat moment, I hope they don’t spoil this by overusing it in future episodes! :eek:
That episode (Corbomite Maneuver) has been bothering me the last couple of days.
Even if Balock were “testing” humans to see if they had good intentions, that was a rather harsh way to do it. (Threatening death within 10 minutes).
When some of the crew beam over to see the “real” Balock, everyone is laughing about the little “prank” that Balock “pulled” on them. In reality, don’t you think most folks would be something less than thrilled about this? I’m surprised Kirk didn’t say “Thanks for scaring the Beejeezus out of us you little twerp !!!” (Maybe even pull out a phony phaser and threaten “Now it’s your turn to die Balock” - and then it shoots out a little flag that says “Phaser Sound Blast”).
Maybe Balock could become a recurring character as a comic relief ending for selected episodes. One week, Balock scares the Hell out of the Enterprise crew, then in another episode, the Enterprise scares the Hell out of Balock. Not only that, after a while, the pranks could become less threatening. Yes, I can see opportunities for using “whoopee cushions”, fake vomit, and even “dribble glasses” for the tranya. Hmmmmmmm, maybe even Uhuru could make prank phone calls - “Hello Mr Balock? Do you have tranya in a can?”
Or better yet he brings his puppet with him and does a ventrilliquest act like Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
Only this time the ventrilliquest sits on the puppets lap.
I can see the act based on little Balock’s Tranya Drinking binges.
**
BIG Balock**: If I had a wick I’d stick it in you rmouth and rent you out as an alcohol lamp.
Little Balock:Is it true your father was a gate-legged table
BIG Balock: If it is, your father was under it.
Little Balock: I hope you get Termites you big lummox
**
BIG Balock**: YOU NOW HAVE 10 Minutes before I destroy you… you may pray top whatever Diety or Dieties you believe in.
