The Enterprise Incident

Season 3, Episode 2, Aired
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Episode Summary

Captain Kirk becomes increasingly erratic and orders the Enterprise into Romulan space...where the ship is captured by a beautiful Romulan commander.
8.7
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Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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  • This is one of those episodes that broke new ground in serialized storytelling.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By williamwanker, Sep 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    This episode has always stood out in my mind-ever since I first saw it way back in the 70's. The opening segment with that image of the Enterprise surrounded by three Romulan bird's of prey (using Klingon design) is so iconic and representative of Star Trek TOS. I'm not quite sure why, in the Remastered and Enhanced version of the episode, the scene has been redone so that there are only two Klingon-design ships-one of them, presumingly the Commander's flagship, is still the old flat iron design reminiscent of a ship from some old Buck Rogers/Flash Gordon serial. I feel prompted to pose the question to the remasterers, "Why do you think the Romulans adopted the Klingon design in the first place?" Because their ships were so stupid-looking, that's why. Also, artistically, the change just spoils the balance, the composition of the image.

    Returning to the episode itself-it's one of those episodes that broke new ground in serialized storytelling. You are gripped from the very beginning by McCoy's voice-over expressing his concerns over Captain Kirk, who's been showing signs of increasing tension and emotional stress. Our hold on familiarity in a strange situation (i.e., the 23rd century)-our unwavering faith and trust in the captain of the Enterprise-is shaken, perhaps for the first time. And for more than twenty minutes or so, we are kept off balance, and left wondering what the hell is going on.

    Forget that the cloaking device generator Kirk steals from the Romulan vessel looks not unlike the V'ger-robot from Season 2, Episode 3, "The Changeling." Remember-it's the 1960's we're talking about. It's called "recycling."moreless

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    2 1

  • A little bit too hard to believe

    5.5
    "Mediocre"
    By Neenach, Sep 15, 2011 Report Abuse
    I'm going to "dis" this episode much to the chagrin of most Star Trek fans for the following reason. So the cloaking device gives the Romulans an unfair advantage over the Federation of Planets. Shouldn't some other diplomatic option be done before risking war with the Romulans by invading their space and getting involved in some kind of CIA like plot to steal the cloaking device? Isn't faking it by making Captain Kirk into some kind of arrogant maverick risky? For the Romulans to believe that a Vulcan would take sides against Kirk is hard to swallow. Finally, the episode feels forced in that it's only intention is to see how William Shatner looks in Romulan ears. The whole episode feels manipulated only for that purpose. As Spock has once said, military secrets are fleeting and the Federation of Planets would have duplicated the device on their own inventions without coming up with the complicated plot of this episode to acquire it. But no Star Trek is without merit. It's Joanne Linville that saves this episode. A female Romulan commander gives the episode an allure. I enjoy her attraction to Spock and her willingless to drop her military mind just to have Spock as her mate. However, this episode goes against Spock's commitment to "not bluff" and I find it working against his character to go along with the whole charade. That's the problem with the episode...too much of the whole operation being a charade just too get their hands on the device.moreless

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    3 5

  • The Enterprise is sent on a secret mission and captured by Romulans.

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Celedorian, Dec 11, 2010 Report Abuse
    This is espionage episode is favorite among the Trekkers because of its ambitious premise and action packed execution. Nimoy and Shatner seem to enjoy it too. For once Nimoy gets to play the sleazy, lying romancer while Shatner gets to wear the pointy ears and upswept eyebrows. Joanne Linville stars as the Romulan Commander and is great in the part, but the writing makes her character seem rather foolish when smitten, falling for obvious lies. You'd think the Romulans or all species would have someone less easily tricked in command. (Then again, you'd think the Romulan commander would have the luxury of wearing something other than a mini skirt she has to tug down to keep her underthings from showing.) This one is a fun episode, but at times it's a bit hard to believe.moreless

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  • An erratic acting Captain Kirk orders the Enterprise into the Neutral Zone, where the ship is surrounded by Romulan warbirds. Kirk is charged with espionage - but there is much more to the situation than first appears. One of the season's better offeringsmoreless

    9.5
    "Superb"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Dec 11, 2008 Report Abuse
    This review contains spoilers.

    After the dire "Spock's Brain", things pick up considerably with this great instalment, which probably stands as one of the third season's best.
    This episode would have made a much better season opener than "Spock's Brain"; it has an infinitely better story, and a strong Spock plot one of the reason's "Spock's Brain" was selected to air first.

    Anyway, Kirk is acting erratic and tense, but from the outset you know that there's more to the situation than that. As it turns out, it is a case of a Federation plot to steal a Romulan cloaking device. The plot unfolds very well, and has several good twists.

    For a Romulan, the Commander (Joanne Linville) is very appealing, and Linville plays the part both powerful and seductive at the same time.

    This is also a good episode for Mr. Scott, who has several good moments to shine. Scotty is one of my favourite characters, and it's good to see him have his moment in the spotlight.

    As is very often the case, the Enterprise comes across new technology that is never used again; in this case, they secure the Romulan cloaking device, and hook it up to the Enterprise to make their escape, but the technology is not incorporated into subsequent episodes. One must assume that it did not meld well with Federation Starships!

    One thing I will say is that the preview trailer, featured (as with all episodes) on the DVD release, does spoil the story somewhat, and if you are going into the episode without knowing the outcome, I would strongly recommend not viewing the trailer until afterwards, so as not to spoil the story.

    All-in-all, this is a very good episode by third season standards, even if you do have to suspend your belief at a couple of points. It doesn't quite make a perfect 10 for me, as there are a couple of spots where the story sags slightly, but it is still an extremely good episode. It's a shame more of the third season episodes weren't of this standard.moreless

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  • Kirk is eratic and depressed. He takes the crew into forbidden space.

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By daisyduke71, Jan 27, 2007 Report Abuse
    This to me is the best episode I have ever seen. It starts out with Dr. McCoy talking medically about the captain. Then goes to the bridge where he acts erratically. He then sends the ship into Romulan space and gets charged with espionage which he denies. Spock says he had no authority to do this. Bones comes on the ship and they tell him about the Federation going for the device that makes the ship invisible. Spock while on the ship betrays Jim (which makes him very mad not surprisingly). Jim attacks Spock and Spock gives him 'The Vulcan Death Grip' which makes him appear dead. It was actually a nerve pinch to simulate death. He goes back to ship and gets his ears bobbed to make him look like a Romulan. He then goes back to the Romulan ship gets the clocking device and returns to the Enterprise with it. Scotty puts it on their sensors. While all this happening Spock is giving his right to speak speech. He is beamed back to the ship with the Commander. Then as they are about ready to be destroyed they disappear and are safely taken back to their Federation space.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Somehow, just before Spock is being beamed back to the Enterprise, the Romulan Commander hears the transporter sound effect and quickly gets in proximity to him, getting beamed away with him. However, the sound effect is usually heard at the same time the transportee begins to vanish, not before. Edit
    • There seems to be no reason for the Romulan Commander to believe Kirk is still aboard the Romulan ship with the cloaking device. For one thing, he uses the transporter to escape and that should have been detected. Even if it wasn't, why would she believe the intruder was still on the ship? Instead, she seems to assume the thief is still on the ship and wastes time searching. Edit
    • Kirk rather handily disposes of two Romulan guards, with a single punch and later a single kick. It's hard to imagine him knocking out Spock so readily, compared to these trained warriors. Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • In the Remastered Edition of this episode, the three Romulan ships surrounding the Enterprise are two designed like the Klingon battle cruiser and a single Romulan Bird of Prey. The Klingon-style ships bear the Romulan Bird of Prey insignia on their ventral side. Edit
    • Features the first appearance of the Klingon battle cruiser. The Romulans were using this ship so the producers could save on the cost it took to actually build the cruiser. [Editor's note: Technically, "Elaan of Troyius" (#60043-57) featured the first appearance of the Klingon battle cruiser since it was made before this episode. (#60043-59)] Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Kirk: The design of the ship is the same. Mr. Spock? You said you had a theory on why your sensors didn't pick up the new ships until they were upon us. Spock: I believe the Romulans have developed a cloaking device which renders our tracking sensors useless. Kirk: If so, the Romulans could attack into Federation territory before we would know they were there. Before a vessel or a planet could even begin to get their defenses up. Scott: They caught us right enough. Kirk: Well that's a brilliant observation, Mr. Scott. Do you have any other helpful opinions? Edit
    • Romulan Commander: There is no force I could use on a Vulcan that would make him speak. There are, however, methods that are completely effective against humans, and human weaknesses. Spock: They would prove ineffective against the Captain. Romulan Commander: Then they will leave him dead, or what might be worse than dead. Edit
    • Uhura: Doctor, beam aboard the Romulan flagship immediately. There's been an injury. McCoy: I don't make house calls. Edit

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