Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – My Favorite Guest Stars (Part Two)

 

In my last post I shared a very subjective list of my favorite guest stars that appeared during the three season run of Star Trek: The Original Series. In this post I will share another list of my favorites in random order, except for the first one. He is my favorite one in this batch.

As I know many of you will have other favorites, I apologize in advance if your favorites do not appear here.

1. Ricardo Montalban

I greatly admire the actor who played Khan Noonien Singh in "Space Seed" (Season 1, Episode 22) for his impact not just on this series but also in the second movie Star Trek: Wrath of Khan. He looms above all the guest stars as the most memorable villain with a compelling and relatable back story. 

In "Space Seed" his charisma and physical power were obvious in every second he is on screen. He is a genetically enhanced super being, and Kirk (William Shatner) at times seems intimidated by him. 

They find him on a penal colony ship in stasis, but he thaws out quickly and cuts an impressive path across the episode. In the end Kirk barely defeats him and leaves Khan and his group on an uninhabited planet where he will stay until appearing in one of the greatest movies – not just Trek movie – you will be lucky enough to watch.

2. Diana Muldaur

Muldaur appeared in two episodes and played three characters. In "Return to Tomorrow" (Season 2, Episode 20) she played Science Officer Dr. Ann Mulhall and also the godlike Thalassa. The Enterprise goes to a planet where beings have no bodies, and they want to inhabit Kirk, Spock, and Mulhall's bodies so that they can exist again. 

In "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" (Season 3, Episode 5) Muldaur plays Dr. Miranda Jones, a blind telepath for Ambassador Kollos of Medusa. It works out for her because Kollos' appearance is so hideous that the sight of him drives people insane. 

Fun Fact: Star Trek: The Next Generation fans will also recognize Muldaur for playing Dr. Katherine Pulaski during season two. 

3. Frank Gorshin

Just like Yvonne Craig, Gorshin who famously played The Riddler on Batman, popped over to appear in one of the most amazing episodes of Trek. In "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" (Season 3, Episode 15) Gorshin is Bele, a prejudiced pursuer of supposed justice going after Lokai (Lou Antonio) because his black and white face is different than Bele's. 

Gorshin holds nothing back here as the trajectory of his abilities is unleashed. One moment he is mourning the extinction of his race, and in the next he goes into homicidal mode and tries to kill his prey. As I've noted before, Gene Roddenberry liked to send messages with his show, and this one rings true about the insanity of prejudice and the toll it takes is a heavy one, and in this case it involves the loss of a civilization.

4. Ted Cassidy

Cassidy's looming presence as Ruk in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (Season 1, Episode 7) scared me as a kid – even though I knew he was the giant, kind hearted Lurch from The Addams Family TV show (where he also played the role of Thing). In this episode he is an android doing the bidding of crazy Dr. Corby (Michael Strong) who happens to be the former love of Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett). Corby wants to replace all humans with androids, and Kirk and Chapel are first on his list. 

The menace Cassidy brings to the role notwithstanding, Ruk eventually reveals a softer side as he describes what his creators did to his kind. This is another one of my favorite episodes, and although it was broadcast 60 years ago, it touches upon things that are currently causing concerns about AI and the sentience factor that is key to this episode.

Fun Fact: Cassidy also provided the voice of the scary Balok in "The Corbomite Maneuver" (Season 1, Episode 10) and the Gorn captain in "Arena"  (Season 1, Episode 18).

5. James Gregory

In "Dagger of the Mind" (Season 1, Episode 9) Gregory plays Dr. Tristan Adams as the director of a psychiatric unit that is well renowned. When one of his supposed patients escapes the facility, Kirk and company become suspicious, causing the captain and ship psychiatrist Dr. Helen Noel (Marianna Hill) to beam down to investigate.

They discover Adams is using a device called a "neural neutralizer" that he uses to help patients, but Kirk quickly discovers the device is actually a mind wiping device, and Adams is intent on using it on Kirk. Gregory delivers a creepy performance because he is so convinced what he is doing is right. That always makes maniacs all the more scary. 

6. Terri Garr

When I watched Terri Garr in "Assignment: Earth" (Season 2, Episode 26) as a kid, I fell in love with her. Watching the show again as an adult, I can understand why. She plays secretary Roberta Lincoln as a pretty, frazzled, and a little overwhelmed by her work for Gary Seven (Robert Lansing) who is not just some executive but a being from the future concerned with a launch of a NASA spacecraft.

Kirk and Spock beam down and interact with Roberta (Spock has his ears covered with another ridiculous hat), but Garr shines in the role and makes it one of the most memorable performances in Trek's three seasons. 

Fun Fact: This episode was meant to be an attempt to be a pilot within the series for a "Gary Seven" TV series, but the network did not pick it up. That's a shame because with Lansing and Garr involved it would have been a great show!

7. Don Marshall

Appearing as Lt. Boma in the amazing "The Galileo Seven" (Season 1, Episode 16), Marshall stands out as the most excited and worried of the stranded passengers on a hostile planet. The way he pushes back on Spock's stoic handling of what is a dangerous situation with large, violent aliens outside the crippled shuttle craft is very impressive.

Marshall's performance is outstanding. He not only questions Spock's authority but encourages the other passengers to rebel. When one of the crew is killed by the aliens, Boma demands that he get the dignity of a burial, but Spock feels that it's too dangerous. The conflict between Boma and Spock is so interesting to watch.

It's just a terrific episode, and Marshall shines as a person who maybe a little prejudiced toward alien Spock, but the layers in his performance also show his belief in humanity and the preciousness of life.  

Fun fact: This is the first appearance of a shuttle craft designed by Matt Jeffries (who also designed the U.S.S. Enterprise) in the series. 

8. Julie Newmar

Newmar – whom I loved as Catwoman on Batman – plays Eleen in "Friday's Child: (Season 2, Episode 11). Eleen is the pregnant wife of leader Akkar (Ben Gage) who wants the Capellans to side with the Federation, but he is murdered by rival Maab who favors a Klingon alliance. This causes Kirk, Spock, and McCoy to take Eleen and run away in fear that Maab will kill her because she's pregnant with the rightful leader of Capella.

There is such a difference in how Newmar plays this role, making her totally opposite of how we know her on Batman. Yet her beauty shines through as well as her maternal instinct, making this one of the more memorable guest appearances in Trek. In the end everything works out. Eleen gives birth to a son, and she will act as his Regent – which means she will rule until he comes of age. 

Fun Fact: Eleen names her child Leonard James Akaar. Spock's reaction to this is priceless. 

9. Vic Tayback 

In "A Piece of the Action" (Season 2, Episode 17) Tayback takes his Brooklyn born accent to new heights, playing gruff gangster Jojo Krako. Set on a planet run by 1920s style gangs – where a Federation vessel was reported missing 100 years ago. The Enterprise gets a message from a rival gangster and requests help. 

Before we know it, Kirk and Spock are thrown into the middle of a gang war. Seeing Spock and Kirk in suits and spats is hilarious, and despite Spock's worries about the Prime Directive, Kirk barrels ahead and breaks the rules. Tayback's performance is brilliant, chewing the scenery along with his cigar. 

It seems everyone was having a blast making this episode, and Tayback's Krako makes this a memorable one indeed. 

10. Michael J. Pollard

Pollard plays teenager Jahn in "Miri" (Season 1, Episode 8) and immediately makes an impression. He leads a group of children who live in an abandoned city that looks like it is 1960s Earth. Kirk and company (including Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand) discover young Miri (played by a terrific Kim Darby) and she tells them that all the "grups" (grownups) have died from a disease. McCoy notices that the kids have lesions and are dying too. Soon the crew has signs of the disease forcing McCoy to find a cure.

Pollard is outstanding as the leader – he's menacing, determined, and dangerous – but it's also obvious that he didn't want the leadership that was thrust upon him as the oldest of the kids – who are really 300 years old!  While this episode is not usually mentioned in lists of favorites, I really liked it. When I first saw it as a kid, I identified with Miri and her friends. As an adult, I empathize with the adults as they struggle to save the kids from this deadly illness.

Fun Facts: Pollard was 27 years old when filming this episode playing a teenager. Sadly, this was also Whitney's last Trek episode.  

What's Next?

In my next post, I will taking a look at the main cast members. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Please check out this scene from "Space Seed" to see Khan in action!

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – My Favorite Guest Stars (Part One)

 

Like the great Batman series – please check out my posts from earlier this year celebrating its 60th anniversary – Star Trek: The Original Series had many of the top and some legendary actors chomping at the bit to have a guest appearance on the show.

Since there are too many to explore them all, I'm going to go with the ones who are my personal favorites. So, if I miss someone that you liked, I apologize in advance for not including them. 

Here is my list (Part One) in no apparent order, but I am starting with my favorite guest star from this group. 

1. Roger C. Carmel

Roger C. Carmel played Harcourt Fenton Mudd in two episodes – "Mudd's Women" (Season 1, Episode 6) and "I, Mudd" (Season 2, Episode 8). At six foot four inches tall and sporting a rather distinctive mustache, Harry Mudd was all bluster and full of lies, but oh what fun it was to watch him chew the scenery all the while he's on screen. 

I enjoyed his episodes because he was having a grand time playing the part, and even Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) seemed to be in on the joke, so these two episodes are probably the funniest – except for maybe "The Trouble with Tribbles" (Season 2, Episode 15) giving them a challenge.

Fun facts: Carmel is the only guest actor who played the same character in more than one episode. He also played Colonel Gumm on Batman. 

2. William Campbell

Campbell played two roles to perfection in the series, and they couldn't be more opposite. In "The Squire of Gothos" (Season 1, Episode 17) he played the spoiled, seemingly all powerful Trelane. For those fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation, he is similar to Q (John de Lancie) in his childish nature and petulance.     

Campbell also played the Klingon Koloth in "The Trouble With Tribbles." While this episode is a bit lighthearted due to our furry friends, Koloth is vicious in his pursuit of taking control of the planet below the space station where the Tribbles are first found. In both episodes Campbell comes off as likeable despite his actions that are more annoying than dangerous. 

Fun Fact: This episode is also notable for the bar brawl between the Klingons and the Enterprise's crew started by Scotty (James Doohan), who was defending the ship's honor. 

3. Sally Kellerman

Playing Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (a psychiatrist) in the second pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" that becomes (Season 1, Episode 3), Kellerman brought elegance and grace to the role. While she genuinely wants to help the crew stay mentally healthy, she gets sucked into a morass of trying to save Lt. Cmdr. Gary Mitchell (Gary Lockwood) who has been injured along with herself by a strange space barrier that attacks the ship.

Kellerman brought a sense of credibility and decency to the role, and as Gary gets powers and his eyes turn silver, she tries her best to do the right thing, but she also starts getting powers and her eyes change too. The episode is famous for its climax on an alien planet where Dehner has to choose between helping Kirk or starting a new world with Gary's god-like character. 

4. Michael Dunn

Dunn plays court jester Alexander in "Plato's Stepchildren" (Season 3, Episode 10), an episode more famous because of the interracial kiss between Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) and Kirk – they were forced to kiss by the Platonians with their powerful psychic abilities. 

Alexander plays it like he goes along with his masters, but he is more powerful than they are. His good humored portrayal makes an impact on the plot, but the kiss seems to always overshadow everything else about this one.  

5. Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt

Lenard is probably most famous for playing Spock's father Sarek, but in the first season he played a Romulan commander in one of the best Trek episodes ever. "Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 14) features a battle of wits between the Romulan and Kirk that was inspired by the classic The Enemy Below, a movie about a battle between submarine captains. 

He first played Sarek in "Journey to Babel" (Season 2, Episode 10) where he is on a diplomatic mission with his wife Amanda (the legendary Jane Wyatt). This is one of my favorite episodes because we really get to know about Spock's origins in how he interacts with his parents. Lenard's performance is powerful, but Wyatt's subdued portrayal makes us understand the internal battle Spock faces every day.   

6. William Windom 

Windom plays Commodore Matt Decker like a train wreck that tries to undo itself in "The Doomsday Machine" (Season 2, Episode 6). As the commander of the U.S.S. Constitution that has been disabled by the titular alien device that killed his crew, to call Decker troubled is an understatement. 

As a kid I got ticked off when Decker took command of the Enterprise from Spock, who has more things to worry about because the device could destroy the ship with Decker in command like an out of control Ahab, and Kirk is stuck on the disabled Constitution. Windom's acting is amazing, but it's Nimoy's quiet determination as Spock countering him that makes this one of my favorite episodes. 

7. Joan Collins

Joan Collins portrayed Edith Keeler in "City on the Edge of Forever" (Season 1, Episode 28) with so much warmth and passion, that Kirk couldn't help falling in love with her (and so did we). 

Kirk and Spock are forced to go back in time through a portal on an alien world because a drugged McCoy has gone through the portal first and changed history. They find themselves in Depression era New York City, and Keeler runs a soup kitchen there. 

This is often cited as fans' favorite episode, and it is certainly one of my favorites. The love story that develops between Kirk and Keeler is unforced and beautiful to watch, but the truth of what has to happen to set history right is a heartbreaker.  

8. Michael Ansara

Ansara's portrayal as Klingon Commander Kang "Day of the Dove" (Season 3, Episode 7) is memorable because he leads his men and interacts with Kirk and his crew on a planet where an unseen entity has lured them. The creature feeds on hatred, so Kang and Kirk have to forget about fighting one another in order to survive. 

I like this episode because Ansara took a Klingon in a different direction instead of just being another wild-eyed warrior. There was a lot to fear in this one but also a thin line of humor that even leads to Kang playfully slapping Kirk on the back like an old buddy. 

9. William Marshall

Theater legend Marshall's Dr. Richard Daystrom appears in "The Ultimate Computer" (Season 2, Episode 24) as the brilliant inventor of M-5. As the title tells us, Daystrom believes his computer will make human space explorers unnecessary. Of course, this makes Kirk and company a little uneasy. 

After Daystrom installs M-5 on the Enterprise, what we suspect will happen does, and then Daystom is challenged – like a Dr. Frankenstein of the future – by his own creation. Marshall was a Shakespearean actor who played Othello on stage and many other roles, so it makes all of this seem exceedingly tragic, and his performance is worthy of watching this one more than once. 

Series creator Gene Roddenberry – who liked to send messages with his show – made this episode a warning about being careful what you wish for in regards to relying on technology. 60 years later with us living in a tech crazy world, the message still is valid even if you are reading this on a phone held in your hand.   

10. Yvonne Craig 

As she was busy playing Batgirl in Batman over on that other channel, Yvonne Craig took out time to play Marta, an Orion slave girl in "Whom Gods Destroy" (Season 3, Episode 14). Her image will make true Trek fans recall Susan Oliver who played an Orion slave girl in one of Captain Christopher Pike's (Jeffrey Hunter) fantasy sequences in the first pilot "The Cage." 

In keeping with that tradition, Marta performs a risqué dance for Kirk and others present, but her goal is more pernicious. She desires to not only dance for Kirk but to get into bed with him too. Certainly I didn't understand this as a kid, but now, when I looked at the episode again, I realized she was trying to lure Kirk to sleep with her because – as with all her conquests –she wants to stab him to death. 

Craig gave this part her all and comes off as fragile, enticing, and dangerous. I hope she got off all that green paint before she went back to the Batman set. 

What's Next?

So, what did you think of my favorite guest stars list? In my next post, I will take a look at my ten more of my favorites. I hope they will be some of your favorites too.

Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Please check out this video of Marta's dance in "Whom Gods Destroy."

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Recurring Crew Members

 

If you were a true fan of Star Trek: The Original Series, you know all of the main crew members well; however, the U.S.S. Enterprise had many crew members – 430 to be precise – and they helped run the ship in every department from engineering to sick bay.  

While some of them made more of an impression than others, the key thing was that the ship needed to be run by more people than the main characters. These were crew members you saw sitting on the bridge, in the background in the lounge, and includes the Redshirts who beamed down on away missions, and many of them never returned to the ship. 

Most Numerous Appearances Recurring Crew Members

1. Hadley 

William Blackburn appeared in 60 episodes – that's more than Chekov (Walter Koenig - 36) and Sulu (George Takei - 52). He was the most frequently recurring crew member. Hadley was often seen as a helmsman or bridge officer. I can recall scenes where Chekov is sitting at the control panel, but in the next moment Hadley is seen sitting there from a different angle. Maybe Koenig needed a bathroom break!

2. Lt. Leslie

Played by Eddie Paskey, Leslie appeared in 57 episodes. While mostly seen in the background in these episodes, he was killed off in "Obsession" (Season 2, Episode 13). However, the actor continued to appear throughout the rest of the series. Did Leslie have a twin?

3. Brent 

Frank da Vinci's Brent appeared in 39 episodes, and can be seen in various parts of the ship presumably playing more than one character in different departments. 

4. Roger Lemli 

As played by Roger Holloway, Lemli appeared in 33 episodes as a security officer (AKA as a Red Shirt or disposable personnel).   

5. Harrison/Thule

Ron Veto appeared as Harrison/Thule in 21 episodes playing a crewman in various roles throughout the ship. 

Notable Recurring Crew Members

1. Nurse Christine Chapel

Appearing in 25 episodes, Majel Barrett's Chapel was head nurse and worked with Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) in Sick Bay. It was also commonly known that Chapel had an affection for Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) that was unrequited. Barrett would go on to appear in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. 

2. Lt. Kyle

As played by John Winston, Lt. Kyle was transport chief in 11 episodes. His most memorable scene was when he gave a captured Earth officer a bowl of chicken soup from the food synthesizer. 

3. Yeoman Janice Rand

Memorably played by Grace Lee Whitney, Rand was Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) personal assistant in 8 episodes early in season one. She was written off the show without explanation, but one of the most popular ideas is that the producers didn't want Kirk to be in a relationship and free to be a swinger travelling across the galaxy. 

4. Lt. Galloway

Galloway (David Ross) was a security officer (AKA Red Shirt or disposable personnel) for 8 episodes. Like Lieutenant Leslie before him, he "died" but then returned for other episodes. 

5. Lt. DeSalle

As played by Michael Barrier in three episodes, LaSalle is most notable for a scene when he opposed Captain Kirk's handling of an alien incident.  

6. Lt. Angela Martine

As played by Barbara Baldavin in three episodes, she is notable for getting married in "Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 14) as the Romulans attacked the ship, stopping the ceremony and killing her fiancé. 

7. Lt. Kelowitz

Grant Woods played Lt. Kelowitz in three episodes. He is memorable because he was the only character who was not one of the main characters who survived in the landing party in "Arena" (Season 1, Episode 19).   

8. Lt. Farrell

Lt. Farrell was played by Jim Goodwin in three episodes. He is notable because he appeared in "The Enemy Within" and was put in the command chair by Spock as he had to handle the Evil Kirk in that episode.  

9. Lt. Palmer

Elizabeth Rogers played Lt. Palmer for two episodes. She is notable because she filled in for Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) as communications officer.

10. Yeoman Mears

Yeoman Mears was played by Phyllis Douglas in two episodes. She is notable for appearing in the memorable episode "The Galileo Seven."

11. Lt. Kevin Riley

As played by Bruce Hyde, Riley is fondly remember for being in 2 episodes. In "The Naked Time" Riley succumbs to an alien substance that makes him seem drunk. He barricades himself in engineering and sings "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" to a captive audience over the ship's intercom.  

12. Dr. M'Benga

Booker Bradshaw played Dr. M'Benga who ran the Sick Bay for two episodes when Dr. McCoy was not there (who apparently was attending a doctor's convention somewhere). He was noted as a specialist in Vulcan Medicine. The character is prominently featured as the Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer in the series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.  

The Strength of Recurring Crew Members

Looking back at these recurring characters played by faces that became familiar across three seasons, there was a sense of stability of a crew that supported the main characters in running of the Enterprise. The was the strength of casting with a subtle but successful purpose.

While we didn't get to know them deeply, their presence gave a semblance of a family on board the ship. When we look back on watching the show, these recurring characters provided someone to stop in the hallways as Kirk made an announcement or to fall onto the floor when the ship got hit by enemy weapons. 

They also became Redshirts for landing parties, and what would Gene Roddenberry have done if he didn't have these expendables to add to the body count on away missions? 

What's Next?

In my next post, I will be looking at some of the my favorite guest stars that appeared on the series over three seasons. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of 'Star Trek TOS' – Romulans

 

When watching Star Trek: The Original Series as a kid, I was scared of many of the alien antagonists that were on the show; however, the ones who frightened me the most were the Romulans. There seemed to be something in their faces  – a stark unyielding belief in their superiority  – and that felt chilling.

Looking at the show as an adult, I can appreciate the purity of the Romulan character. While I would not describe them as outwardly evil, they are set on getting things done their way. If the innocent should be harmed on their unrelenting path toward victory, they would not think twice as they trampled them as they moved forward. 

TOS Romulans

Writer Paul Schneider created the Romulans – alluding to the legendary tale of the twins Romulus and Remus – creating them to be a Roman type of empire in space. They would have centurions and a senate.  

Romulus and Remus, whose father ordered them drowned in the Tiber River, were saved and nurtured by a she-wolf until humans found them.  They would later overthrow their father and founded a town on the site where they had been saved by the she-wolf, but Romulus subsequently killed his brother and named the place after himself. This would epitomize the seemingly ruthless way Romulans operate. 

Vulcan Connection

Romulans are related to the Vulcans – perhaps you can call them distant cousins – and that is a very intriguing aspect of these people. While Vulcans almost destroyed themselves by fighting amongst themselves, the Romulans broke away from the planet and found their own way, discarding the teachings of the Vulcan philosopher Surak.

Vulcans saved themselves by following the philosopher Surak. He advocated for a complete repression of emotions. The Vulcans abandoned the savagery of their warlike culture and embraced Surak's philosophy to the extreme. 

Romulans took emotion and steered it into a militaristic society that made them succeed with conquests that increase their power. This success can be attributed to harnessing emotion to make them a devious and unflinching opponent. Their ability to cloak their warships makes them a formidable enemy as well.

The Neutral Zone

The Federation and the Romulan Empire are separated by a Neutral Zone that was established by a treaty that ended the last war between the Federation and Romulans. 

Being that the series aired during the height of the Cold War, the idea of a neutral zone was already in the viewing public's minds with the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the Koreas and the Iron Curtain that separated Eastern and Western Europe. 

Romulan Biology/Technology

Since they are related to the Vulcans, Romulans have pointy ears, skewed eyebrows, and they have green, copper based blood. They also have smooth foreheads like the Vulcans seen in TOS. 

Romulans are genetically humanoid and are able to interbreed with humans, Klingons, and Vulcans. Despite sharing a common ancestor, they are different enough from the Vulcans and are not compatible to be blood or organ donors.  

The Romulans are a formidable enemy because their warbirds are at a similar level of technology as Federation starships. The game changer for them is that they have a cloaking device which allows their ships to become invisible. This would be an advantage in a battle with the U.S.S. Enterprise or any other Federation starship. 

Emotions/Abilities

Unlike like their Vulcan cousins, Romulans do not adhere to the teachings of Surak and do not suppress their emotions. Because of this, Romulan males do not experience pon farr – a seven year urge to mate due to the suppression of emotions.  

Unlike the Vulcans who have the mind meld technique, Romulans do not have telepathic ability to use that technique the way Spock does in TOS. 

Romulan Episodes

It's amazing that despite the resonance of the Romulans in the overall story of TOS, there were only three episodes in which the Romulans appeared. 

1. "Balance of Terror" (Season 1, Episode 14) This first appearance of Romulans is one of the best episodes of the series. It features a cat and mouse game between Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the Romulan Commander (played by the great Mark Lenard who would go on to play Spock's father Sarek). The Romulans are testing their cloaking device at the Neutral Zone, and Kirk is up to the challenge. 

2. "The Deadly Years" (Season 2, Episode 12)  This episode disappointingly uses some footage from "Balance Of Terror" for a space battle, but no Romulan characters appear on screen. 

3. "The Enterprise Incident" (Season 3, Episode 2) The Romulans are involved in another incursion into the Neutral Zone testing their cloaking technology. It seems that the Romulans are possibly preparing for an attack on the Federation. Kirk and Spock (Leonard Nimoy) must deal with a deadly female Romulan commander (Joanne Linville), who matches wits with them. 

Romulan Impact on TOS

While the Klingons were created to be based on a Soviet Union style society, the Romulans – besides their obvious Roman connections – were meant to be more like Communist China as a closed, deceptive, and intelligent opponent. 

The fact that there were hints of the Klingons and Romulans forming an alliance – something reminiscent of the Soviets and Chinese collaborating – also resonated strongly throughout the TOS. 

Still, is there no more sympathetic character than the Romulan commander is in "Balance of Terror," who, while wanting to defeat Kirk, thinks of him as a worthy opponent and that they were two "of a kind." He ponders what another time would be like when they could be friends.

I think that is the lasting impact of the Romulans – they are scary, but they are also relatable in their methodology. Perhaps that helps us see something of ourselves in the enemy, which is the start of perhaps coming to something better for both parties. 

What's Next?

Now that I have completed looking at aliens and opponents, my next post will start looking at the crew of the Enterprise. Until next time, Live Long and Prosper!

Please watch this video about one of the greatest TOS episodes "Balance of Terror"