Stardate: 1709.2
Quick Summary: While on patrol, the Enterprise learns that a Romulan ship has attacked several Earth outposts near the neutral zone, constituting an act of war. Kirk engages in a ship-to-ship chess match with the Romulan captain for survival, and despite being at a disadvantage in terms of military technology and lacking a cloaking device, Kirk manages to wrestle a space victory by strutting some serious tactical skills. Oh yeah, and the Romulans all die.
Review: We're in the midst of some seriously worthy episodes in Season One. Here, you can forget all the social commentary and madmen-taking-over-the-ship storylines. This is an hour of pure military strategy.
The Romulans are introduced for the first time, and Spock treats us to a cool historical narrative about how no humans have ever seen a Romulan or vice versa - they don't even know what the other, nor what their ships, look like - yet a peace treaty was agreed to 100 years ago exclusively via subspace communications. Surprise, surprise, they look like Vulcans, but unfortunately instead of delving more deeply into the Vulcans-minus-the-logic-and-instead-filled-with-aggression theme, we're delivered a rather uninspired anti-bigotry storyline. Meh.
Also, Kirk needs to just get with Janice already.
But the chess match between Kirk and the Romulan captain is everything. Maneuver after countering maneuver, we're shown a new, more cerebral, side of Captain Kirk - and it works. Both captains develop a healthy dose of respect for each other by the end. And the way the politics of instigating an all-out war interplays with the military tactics is super duper. Come to think of it, most of that may have occurred more in my own brain then on the show itself.
Still, this is the type of episode you should recommend to convert newbies.
Review: 5 stars
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