Summary
The Romulans became one ofStar Trek’smost iconic villains after appearing in only two episodes ofStar Trek: The Original Series. The Romulans made quite an impression during their first appearance inTOSseason 1, episode 14, “Balance of Terror,” asa cunning Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard) faced off against Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner). “Balance of Terror” not only revealed the Romulans to related to Vulcans but also established the militaristic nature of Romulan civilization.
The Romulans would go on to appear in 21 episodes ofStar Trek: The Next Generationand 16 episodes ofStar Trek: Deep Space Nine,making them one of the franchise’s most prolific villains.Romulans have often been depicted as duplicitous and manipulative, using their intelligence and military prowess to achieve their goals. InStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 3, episode 2, “The Enterprise Incident,“Spock (Leonard Nimoy) grew close to a female RomulanCommander (Joanne Linville), and her characterization added nuance to the Romulans.
Romulans Stopped Being Star Trek Villains In TNG
Star Trek: The Next Generation acknowledged that not all Romulans were duplicitous villains decades before Star Trek: Picard.
Romulans Made A Huge Impact In Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1
“Balance of Terror” remains one of Star Trek’s most celebrated episodes.
InStar Trek: The Original Series' “Balance of Terror,” the USS Enterprise investigates the destruction of Federation outposts near the Neutral Zone, eventually discovering the culprit to be a cloaked Romulan ship. When the Enterprise detects a message from the ship, they gain access to a visual feed of the bridge.Captain Kirk and the Enterprise creware shocked to discover how much the Romulans resemble Vulcans. Spock is just as surprised as the rest of the crew and surmises that the Romulans are an offshoot of the Vulcans. Because of this,Spock urges Kirk to attack the Romulan vessel,as the Romulans could be just as dangerously violent as the Vulcans once were.
Mark Lenard’s Romulan Commander is one of the most well-realized and compelling guest stars ofStar Trek: The Original Series.
The Romulan Commander anticipates some of Captain Kirk’s moves, just as Kirk anticipates some of his. Nearly evenly matched, the two ships end up in a game of cat and mouse until the Romulan ship is disabled.The Romulan Commander destroys his own ship rather than let it be taken by the Federation,lamenting that he and Kirk might have been friends in a different situation. Mark Lenard’s Romulan Commander is one of the most well-realized and compelling guest stars ofStar Trek: The Original Series, and his presence alone cements the Romulans as formidable villains.
Balance Of Terror: Star Trek Did Its First Romulan Episode Twice
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds revisited the classic Star Trek: The Original Series episode that introduced the Romulans, with very different results.
Star Trek: The Original Series Season 3 Set Up The Romulans' Future
As an ambassador, Spock worked to reunite the Romulans and Vulcans.
When Captain Kirk takes the Starship Enterprise into Romulan space inStar Trek: The Original Seriesseason 3’s “The Enterprise Incident,” the Captain and his First Officer are invited aboard the Romulan flagship. Kirk and Spock meet with the Romulan Commander, and Spock declares that Kirk has gone insane. Kirk and Spock’s actions are eventually revealed to be part of a Federation mission to steal a Romulan cloaking device. Throughout the episode,Spock grows close with the Romulan Commander, developing a real connection with her despite his true motives. Spock’s liaison with the Romulan Commander foreshadows his eventual work to reunite the Romulan and Vulcan civilizations.
Not only is the Romulan Commander in “The Enterprise Incident” the first female starship commander featured inStar Trek,but she also offers another fully realized, nuanced portrayal of a Romulan.
InStar Trek: The Next Generation’s “Unification” two-parter,Ambassador Spock helps further an underground movement among the Romulans to embrace the ways of Vulcan. Although reunification would not be achieved during his lifetime, the Romulans and Vulcans live together on theplanet Ni’Var (formerly Vulcan)by the 32nd century. With guest stars as compelling as the Romulan Commanders portrayed by Mark Lenard and Joanne Linville, it’s not surprising that the Romulans became one ofStar Trek’smost interesting villains after only two episodes ofStar Trek: The Original Series.
