The Corbomite Maneuver
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| Star Trek: TOS episode | |
| "The Corbomite Maneuvre" | |
 The Enterprise encounters the Fesarius |
|
| Episode no. | 10 |
|---|---|
| Prod. code | 003 |
| Remastered no. | 14 |
| Airdate | November 10, 1966 |
| Writer(s) | Jerry Sohl |
| Director | Joseph Sargent |
| Guest star(s) | Clint Howard Anthony Call Vic Perrin Ted Cassidy Eddie Paskey William Blackburn Frank da Vinci Ron Veto Sean Morgan Mittie Lawrence Ena Hartman Gloria Calomee Bruce Mars John Gabriel Jonathan Lippe Stewart Moss |
| Year | 2266 |
| Stardate | 1512.2 |
| Episode chronology | |
| Previous | "Dagger of the Mind" |
| Next | "The Menagerie (Parts 1 & 2)" |
"The Corbomite Maneuver" is a first season episode of Star Trek: The Original Series, first aired November 10, 1966, and repeated May 11, 1967. It is episode #10, production #3, the first regular episode of Star Trek produced after the two pilots, although it was aired later in the season. It was written by Jerry Sohl, directed by Joseph Sargent, and created and produced by Gene Roddenberry.
The episode features a very young Clint Howard, brother of actor-turned-director Ron Howard, who plays the alien "child" at the end (with an overdubbed, deep voice provided by Vic Perrin). This was also the first episode in which DeForest Kelley played Dr. Leonard McCoy, Nichelle Nichols played Lt. Uhura and Grace Lee Whitney played Yeoman Rand, although viewers saw them for the first time in "The Man Trap".
Overview: The USS Enterprise encounters a massive starship and its unusual pilot.
[edit] Plot
On stardate 1512.2, the USS Enterprise, commanded by Captain James T. Kirk, finishes a third day of mapping stars when novice navigator Lt. Dave Bailey encounters a large spinning colored cube floating in space. Helmsman Sulu sounds an alert.
Down in sick bay, Dr. McCoy is giving Captain Kirk his annual physical exam. McCoy notices the flashing alert light, but does not mention it to Kirk. Kirk is annoyed that McCoy didn't mention the light, where McCoy stubbornly states that he isn't about to jump and panic over every alert. Spock calls to inform Kirk about the cube, which is holding steady. In Kirk's quarters, Yeoman Rand brings Kirk an unappetizing salad, per Dr. McCoy's orders. McCoy tells the Captain he restricted his diet because he has gained weight.
On the bridge, Mr. Scott studies the cube but is at a loss to how it works. A nervous and inexperienced Bailey advocates attacking it with phasers. Kirk arrives and instead orders the ship to back away from the object. The cube responds by coming even closer and emitting harmful radiation. Kirk is finally forced to destroy it.
Responding to the object's destruction – which the crew soon learn was a boundary marker – a gigantic glowing sphere quickly approaches the Enterprise. It fills the bridge viewscreen even at low magnification. The vessel's controller, Balok, identifies his ship as the Fesarius, the flagship of the "First Federation".
Mr. Spock manages to get a visual of Balok, a grotesque green-skinned humanoid with a frightening face. Balok ignores Kirk's greetings, and announces that he will destroy the Enterprise for trespassing into First Federation territory and destroying the marker buoy. Balok informs the crew they have ten minutes to pray to their deities before their demise.
Mr. Spock compares the situation to a game of chess; when one player is checkmated, the game is over. Kirk replies that the solution is closer to poker than chess. He bluffs Balok, telling him that the Enterprise has a powerful defense based on the substance "Corbomite". Kirk says it will redirect any attack against the attacker, destroying it.
Apparently falling for the ruse, Balok does not destroy the ship as previously announced. A tug ship detaches from the Fesarius and tows the Enterprise deep into First Federation space where Balok announces he will intern the crew and destroy the Enterprise. Under tow, Kirk orders the Enterprise to increasingly resist the tug ship's tractor beam. Just as the Enterprise's engines are about to explode from the overload, it breaks free. This disables the alien vessel. With the power supply nearly drained the tug cannot even call for help from the bigger ship.
Rather than flee, Kirk, McCoy, and Bailey form a landing party to render assistance. Scotty, operating the transporter, tells them to bend down as the alien ship has a very low ceiling and they have to "stoop" over. Beaming over, they quickly discover that Balok who appeared on their monitor is just a dummy. The real Balok resembles a hyperintelligent human child. He enthusiastically welcomes them aboard, offering them "tranya", his favorite beverage.
Balok explains that he was merely testing the Enterprise and its crew to discover their true intentions. Although he had read the Enterprise computer records, he felt they could have been a deception. He created his dummy alter-ego as he knew his true appearance would never frighten anyone.
Kirk and company finally relax. Balok says that he runs the Fesarius entirely by himself and greatly misses company and conversation. He expresses his desire to learn more about humans and their culture, and Lt. Bailey is volunteered by Kirk to remain on Balok's ship as an emissary of the Federation.
[edit] Production
The episode was the first episode of the regular series to be produced, after the two pilots, "The Cage" and "Where No Man Has Gone Before", which had been made in 1964 and 1965. It was shot at a different stage, in Hollywood. Sets were transferred from Desilu's Culver City location, and a new engine room set constructed. Shooting started on May 24, 1966. The episode was held back until November, becoming the 10th episode to be broadcast, as it was decided to focus on planet-based stories early in the show's run.[1]
[edit] 40th Anniversary remastering
This episode was remastered in 2006 and first aired December 10, 2006 as part of the remastered Original Series. It was preceded a week earlier by "The Menagerie, Part II" and followed after a three week holiday break by "Friday's Child". Aside from remastered video and audio, and the all-CGI animation of the USS Enterprise that is standard among the revisions, specific changes to this episode also include:
- The buoy cube appeared as a CGI effect. The yellow, blue, and red light from the buoy reflects off the hull of the Enterprise.
- The Fesarius and the alien tug ship both appeared as CGI elements. The domes of the Fesarius were given a faceted glass-like appearance.
- The Enterprise bridge chronometer as well as the engine temperature readouts were given face lifts. The computer screen in the meeting lounge was given a detailed star chart image.
[edit] Notes
The Enterprise is established as approximately 280 metres long, Scott says the cube measures 107 metres on each side, and Bailey says the cube is over 1,593 metres away. Yet, the cube is far smaller than the saucer section, and appears less than 100 metres away, even in the remastered version.
[edit] References
- ^ Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman (1996). Inside Star Trek: The Real Story. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-671-00974-5.
[edit] External links
- The Corbomite Maneuver side-by-side comparisons
- The Corbomite Maneuver article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
- Script Review
| Last produced: "Where No Man Has Gone Before" |
Star Trek: TOS episodes Season 1 |
Next produced: "Mudd's Women" |
| Last transmitted: "Dagger of the Mind" |
Next transmitted: "The Menagerie (parts 1 & 2)" |
