Balance of Terror

What can one say about 'Balance of Terror' that hasn't already been said? This episode is consistently voted as the most popular/best episode of TOS. A classic battle of wills. Two commanders, each as brilliant as the other, engage in a game of cat and mouse; each using every trick in their books to outsmart the other. There is much at stake as the action takes place along the Neutral Zone between the Romulan Empire and Federation controlled space, and any incursion by the Enterprise into Romulan Space could spark an interstellar war. And the Romulans are testing new technology (cloaking device) and a new weapon, which may well make them a real threat to the Federation. Everything about this episode is perfect; the script is tight, the action enthralling, the performances brilliant and the emotional content intense.

There are two powerful sub-plots: the imminent marriage between Angela Martine and Robert Tomlinson and the prejudice displayed by navigator Andrew Stiles. One resolved in a negative way (in the death of Tomlinson) and the other in a positive way (Stiles over-coming his bigotry). And probably the most beautiful scene in TOS, between Kirk and McCoy, as Kirk questions his ability to lead:

KIRK: I wish I were on a long sea voyage somewhere. Not too much deck tennis, no frantic dancing, and no responsibility. Why me? I look around that Bridge, and I see the men waiting for me to make the next move. And Bones, what if I'm wrong?

MCCOY: Captain, I...

KIRK: No, I don't really expect an answer.

MCCOY: But I've got one. Something I seldom say to a customer, Jim. In this galaxy, there's a mathematical probability of three million Earth-type planets. And in all of the universe, three million million galaxies like this. And in all of that, and perhaps more, only one of each of us. Don't destroy the one named Kirk.

There is no overt slash in this episode, however the silent bond between Kirk and Spock is still on display. When Stiles makes a snide comment about Spock being related to the Romulan enemies, Kirk immediately and vehemently confronts the crewman on his remark, defending Spock's honour in effect.

Charlie X

KIRK: Charlie, there are a million things in this universe you can have and there are a million things you can't have. It's no fun facing that, but that's the way things are.
CHARLIE: Then what am I going to do?
KIRK: Hang on tight and survive. Everybody does.
CHARLIE: You don't.
KIRK: Everybody, Charlie. Me, too.
CHARLIE: I'm trying, but I don't know how.


"Charlie X' is bitter tale of teenage angst and confusion made all the more painful by the fact that the teenager concerned has almost god-like powers to affect people and objects around him.

Although there is not much in the way of overt slashiness in this episode, there are a number of slashy moments worth mentioning.

Charlie is found alone on a planet, having apparently raised himself from the age of three. He has had no human contact and is eager to meet the members of the Enterprise, however he finds it difficult to fit in and express himself. He falls instantly in love with Janice Rand, who is kind to him, but not willing to encourage his crush. Jim Kirk tries to get Doctor McCoy to take responsibility for educating Charlie in the birds and the bees, but Bones insists that Charlie needs a father figure. Jim is very unwilling to take on the role, which is odd considering he acts this way with the crew so easily. He seems very uncomfortable trying to explain women and inter-personal relationships. He even tries to palm Charlie off on Spock. At this point we get to see a lovely slashy game of Chess between Kirk and Spock, which is always a pleasure.

Kirk tries to encourage Charlie to workout as a way of relieving the urgings of his hormones and we are treated to an extended scene of a Shirtless Kirk. Jim is finally forced to act when Charlie's frustrations boil over. A battle of wills is the result and eventually Charlie takes over control of the Enterprise. Kirk, Spock and McCoy discuss how to handle him and Spock is most concerned that Charlie will harm Jim, but it is decided that he is the only one with enough authority to control the boy. Charlie's powers are stretched to the limit controlling the ship by himself and at one point breaks Kirk's ribs and Spock's leg in a fit of anger. WE see Jim at his most intense when he orders Charlie to fix Spock:

KIRK: Mister Spock?
SPOCK: My legs. They're broken.
KIRK: Let him go, too, Charlie.
CHARLIE: Why?
KIRK: Because I'm telling you to. Because you need me to run the ship, and I need him.

A nice little piece of slash right there.
Ultimately Charlie is unable to control the Enterprise by himself and before he can make everyone on the ship 'disappear' the Thasians, the incorporeal beings who really raised Charlie, return to take their charge back to the planet of his exile. The final scene is one of the most moving in all of TOS. Charlie's desperate pleas to be allowed to stay amongst his own kind are tragic beyond belief and I have always wondered why Kirk doesn't try harder to get the Thasians to let Charlie stay. So sad.