The Corbomite Maneuver
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 10 November 1966
- ON
- NBC
- STARDATE
- 1512.2
- DIRECTED BY
- Joseph Sargent
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 03
WRITTEN BYWritten by Jerry Sohl
Deep in uncharted space, the Enterprise is trapped by a vast alien ship whose commander, Balok, gives the crew ten minutes to prepare for destruction.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
While mapping an unexplored region, the Enterprise is blocked by a spinning cube that refuses to let it pass. When the cube starts to give off dangerous radiation, Kirk destroys it. Soon a huge glowing sphere appears, the Fesarius, flagship of the First Federation. Its commander, Balok, appears on the viewscreen as a menacing face and declares that the intruders will be destroyed in ten minutes. Navigator Lt Bailey cracks under the pressure. Out of options, Kirk tries a bluff: he warns Balok that the Enterprise carries corbomite, a substance that will destroy any attacker. Balok holds back and sends a small ship to tow the Enterprise away for internment instead, but Kirk breaks free and the tug is crippled. Kirk, McCoy and Bailey board it to help, and find that the fearsome Balok was a puppet. The real Balok is a friendly, childlike being who was testing them. Bailey stays behind as an envoy to learn about Balok's people.
- 01The first regular episode filmed after the two pilots, with shooting starting on 24 May 1966. Its many unfinished effects shots held it back until November.
- 02The first episode filmed with McCoy, Uhura and Yeoman Rand as regulars. The red operations uniforms and short skirts for women also debut.
- 03Clint Howard played the real Balok, with his voice dubbed by Walker Edmiston. Ted Cassidy voiced the puppet Balok without credit.