Star Trek – The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 & 9: Charlie X/ Balance of Terror
Nov/095
Description
“Charlie X,” Ep. 8 – The cargo ship Antares transfers Charlie Evans (Robert Walker Jr.) to the U.S.S. Enterprise on his way to Alpha Five Colony. When the Antares is destroyed and crew members vanish, Kirk realizes that Charlie is responsible but has little control over his deadly powers. “Balance of Terror,” Ep. 9 – It’s a game of cat and mouse for Kirk and the Romulan commander (Mark Lenard), whose cloaking device renders his ship invisible–and very deadly!Amazon.com
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
Star Trek – The Original Series, Vol. 4, Episodes 8 & 9: Charlie X/ Balance of Terror
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2:25 am on December 1st, 2009
I loved re-discovering it again. But I gave the DVD 4 stars for the lack of Spanish in the dubbed/subtitled options. A huge portion of the U.S.A. is hispanic and I being married to one would enjoy this much better if my wife who speaks english as well as spanish could also enjoy it in spanish which of course she understands better. Please add more languages in the future releases!
Rating: 4 / 5
2:50 am on December 1st, 2009
Two good early episodes of classic Trek, though “Balance of Terror” is by far the better. The other episode is not bad, but I always hated when they used little kids as the terror of the week on “Star Trek”. Having said that, “Charlie X” is not nearly so terrible as the unwatchable “And the Children Shall Lead” from the third season. Anyway, enough rambling on– this DVD offers great picture and sound, and these episodes never looked better.
Rating: 3 / 5
3:01 am on December 1st, 2009
This is the one true villain that almost killed our beloved Captain Kirk. I’ve had this on VCR for years, and am thinking of purchasing it for our DVD. Bye it!
Rating: 4 / 5
3:32 am on December 1st, 2009
“Charlie X”..A teenage boy is found but it is unknown that he has super powers within. Great scene: Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) in her pink nightgown at the end. WOW!
“Balance of Terror” Our “First look” at the Romulans. A submarine story set in space!
Rating: 5 / 5
6:15 am on December 1st, 2009
Not since I saw the Star Trek movies comming out on dvd have I been this excited. I already ow the first two volumes and plan on getting the other 38. A must for trek fans.
Rating: 5 / 5