Star Trek TOS S1E14: Balance of Terror

Brilliantly piloted propaganda.

See the Star Trek TOS Rewatch Index page for links to all the episodes covered so far.

“BALANCE OF TERROR” RATING: 8.3/10

Balance of Terror is classic cold war suspense drama, which maneuvers its propaganda into viewer’s endocrine systems as craftily as Captain Kirk (William Shatner) pilots his starship to victory.  Writer Paul Schneider and director Vincent McEveety reference World War II era submarine battles, Western movie Indian raids, Roman gladiator pictures, and the contemporaneous Iron curtain in Star Trek’s first real masterpiece.