THE CORBOMITE MANEUVER

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'"The Corbomite Maneuver"' is a first season episode of '', 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.

Contents

Plot

40th Anniversary remastering

Notes

References

External links

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 10 minutes to pray to their deities before their demise.
Mr. Spock cannot offer any advice, comparing the situation to a game of chess; when one player is checkmated, the game is over. Kirk tells Spock that the answer may be found in poker, not 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 volunteers to remain on Balok's ship as an emissary of the Federation.

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.

Notes

★ 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. Inside Star Trek: The Real Story, Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman, , , Pocket Books, 1996, ISBN 0-671-00974-5

★ Clint Howard reprised his role briefly as a grown-up Balok for the Comedy Central roast of William Shatner that aired August 20, 2006. Also, just like this episode, his voice was dubbed. He went on to appear as a delusional "invisible man" in '', and as a Ferengi in ''.

★ Balok's voice, as heard for most of the episode, was performed by Ted Cassidy. The real Balok was voiced by Vic Perrin.

★ Balok was parodied in the ''Mr. Show with Bob and David'' episode "Sad Songs are Nature's Onions."

★ An undistorted version of the Balok puppet's face is used among the closing stills of many episodes; in particular it is the final still for every second season episode. Associate Producer Robert Justman, who was responsible for selecting the closing still and coordinating them with the production credits, chose to rib Desilu production exeuctive Herbert Solow by superimposing his name over Balok's face. This still is parodied in the closing credits of the ''Futurama'' episode "Where No Fan Has Gone Before".

★ According to Clint Howard, "Tranya" was nothing more than a mix of grapefruit juice and orange juice. William Shatner stated in ''Star Trek Memories'' that the resulting drink was disgusting.

★ In this early production episode, costumes had not been finalised, hence Uhura wears a gold, rather than red uniform (also seen in "Mudd's Women"). Some of the black collars on the uniform shirts are also larger than in later episodes because they were retrofitted, not quite expertly, onto old uniforms from the first two pilots.

References

External links

★ The Corbomite Maneuver side-by-side comparisons

★ Script Review