The Enterprise Incident

Episode aired Sep 27, 1968
TV-PG
51m

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

Leonard Nimoy and Joanne Linville in Star Trek (1966)

Action Adventure Drama Sci-Fi

An apparently insane Capt. Kirk has the Enterprise deliberately enter the Romulan Neutral Zone where the ship is immediately captured by the enemy.An apparently insane Capt. Kirk has the Enterprise deliberately enter the Romulan Neutral Zone where the ship is immediately captured by the enemy.An apparently insane Capt. Kirk has the Enterprise deliberately enter the Romulan Neutral Zone where the ship is immediately captured by the enemy.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.4/10

4.2K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
This episode is the first to feature a female starship commander.

Goofs
The Enterprise crew are shocked to learn that their surprise capture may be due to a new cloaking technology possessed by the Romulans. Kirk and crew already encountered cloaked Romulans two years earlier in Balance of Terror (1966). However, the cloaking technology in The Enterprise Incident is new because it is improved. The Enterprise was still able to track a Romulan ship, though not accurately, in 'Balance of Terror' and cannot detect them at all with this improved version.

Quotes
Romulan Commander: We were not aware of Vulcans aboard the Enterprise.
Spock: Starfleet is not in the habit of informing Romulans of its ship's personnel.

Alternate versions
Special Enhanced version Digitally Remastered with new exterior shots and remade opening theme song

Connections
Featured in William Shatner's Star Trek Memories (1995)

Soundtracks
Theme
Music credited to Alexander Courage
Sung by Loulie Jean Norman

User reviews32

Featured review

9/10

You underestimate yourself, Commander

Captain Kirk inexplicably orders the Enterprise into the Romulan neutral zone.

This is a great episode with an intriguing story and strong character moments.

The plot is quite engrossing as it hooks you with some unusual behaviour on the part of the lead characters and swiftly changes direction in an interesting way. It does require some suspension of disbelief for some of the key moments of espionage to work, but it's Star Trek.

Kirk and Spock lead well as they have the most memorable scenes. William Shatner goes through a range of emotions with the character and is quite compelling. Leonard Nimoy whilst retaining all his cool Vulcan persona portrays Spock in a quite calculating yet human light during his interactions with a guest character.

Bones and Scotty also make good contributions to the episode. DeForest Kelley and James Doohan are typically entertaining.

Joanne Linville is excellent as the Romulan commander and gives one of the most memorable guest appearances on the original series. For me she is the standout performer in this episode.

Visually it is solid, with the restrained physical contact between Nimoy and Linville used sensually and to great effect. The mattes, costuming, and make-up effects are also well designed.

For me it's an 8.5/10 but I round upwards.