Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 & 9: Charlie X/ Balance of Terror
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List Price: $19.99
Features
• Closed-captioned
• Color
• Dolby
• DVD-Video
• NTSC
In Theaters : 08 September, 1966
DVD Release : 19 October, 1999 |
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 & 9: Charlie X/ Balance of Terror description
Volume 4 from the DVD collection of original Star Trek programs includes broadcast episode 2, the memorable "Charlie X," starring Robert Walker Jr. as a troubled teen presenting two big problems: pathological immaturity and powerful telekinetic powers. After he wills the destruction of a starship that drops him off with the Enterprise, the titular delinquent stalks a female member of the crew and creates havoc using his terrifying ability to make people, in his own words, "go away." Also on this disc is "Balance of Terror," a terrific drama that was essentially an outer-space version of a 1950s submarine movie. Writer Paul Schneider introduced both the Romulans and the concept of a "neutral zone" to Trek lore, wrapped up in this story about the first encounter between a Federation and Romulan ship in 75 years. The resulting face-off between two vessels and their strong, noble captains--Kirk (William Shatner) and his Romulan counterpart (Mark Lenard, who later played Spock's Vulcan father, Sarek)--is directed and edited with suspense worthy of the classic sub movie, The Enemy Below. It's an example of how the original Trek series took lots of risks and constantly invented itself, in contrast to the more codified look and feel of The Next Generation and subsequent series. --Tom Keogh |
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 & 9: Charlie X/ Balance of Terror Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥ |
Twilight Zone Revisited & the Romulans Introduced!
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2 more additions to the continuing episodes of the first season: "Charlie X" which is strikingly similar in storyline albeit different in setting to a very memorable "Twilight Zone" episode and "Balance of Terror" where we are introduced to the Romulans, that cousin race to the Vulcans which evolved in a very different direction.
"Charlie X" echoes a theme from the first episode in this series, "Where No Man Has Gone Before", by asking the question, can man given great powers suddenly be able to act responsibly and for the good of all or will he eventually end up destroying all around him? A young boy is given incredible powers, "Q-like" using TNG lingo by a bunch of well-meaning aliens who are simply trying to save the sole crash survivor from certain death on a desolate planet. Charlie is finally rescued by a Federation vessel which is extremely happy at being able to pass him over to the Enterprise. The final scene is touching as the painful and difficult decision about how to deal with this troublesome teen is made.
"Balance of Terror" is a little less complicated plot-wise but very importantly introduces us to the Romulans who play continuing and recurring roles throughout the entire Trek-dom. Curiously, the Romulan commander here eventually is re-cast as Spock's father Sarek in later episodes although none of the crew seems to notice. This episode is one of the better space battle episodes where we see Kirk and his counterpart pit their wits against each other in a winner take all contest.
Gene Roddenberry's ideas are also represented here in a very interesting element where the clear anti-bigotry stance shown by Kirk when he tells a crewman who is prejudiced against Spock and his resemblance to the Romulans to "keep your bigotry in your quarters as there is no room for it on the bridge".
2 of the better episodes in the series and a keeper. |
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Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 dvd movie.