It cannot be overstated how limited budgets led to some of the best writing on TV. And this episode is one of the best-written in the entire franchise.

It’s also my absolute favorite shot of Uhura:

Lieutenant Uhura, sitting at the Navigation console, watching the Romulan ship explode on the viewscreen along with Lieutenant Sulu and Captain Kirk at their respective stations.

Ensign Skippy was getting a little too political, so Uhura replaced him and fired the death blow against the Romulan Bird of Prey. And she just leans back and takes it in during this dolly shot of the bridge. Stone Cold.

  • @aeronmelonOP
    4•3 months ago

    Aww, did I spoil the episode for you? As punishment for my mistake, you get to watch all of TOS right away. :)

    I think the issue with the console was that it started scanning and the Romulans could detect the scanner emissions. However, they were creeping around the bridge like the slightest noise would give them away, so maybe that’s not the watertight excuse I was hoping for.

    • @[email protected]
      4•3 months ago

      Lol no spoilers!
      I do need to watch TOS . I haven’t seen any of them in like 30 years.

      For a first run at ship combat it looks like they did pretty damn well, all in all. It’s impressive.