10 Star Trek Episodes Based On Real-Life Events

10. Balance Of Terror

Balance of Terror introduced the Romulans to Star Trek, with the Enterprise hunting down the invisible Romulan Bird-of-Prey. The episode is an exercise in tension, with frequent visits to the bridges of both ships. The big reveal, that the Romulans are off-shoots of the Vulcans, leads to an exploration of bigotry and racism in the Star Trek universe as well.

The episode is Star Trek's answer to the 1957 film The Enemy Below, an adaptation of the 1956 novel of the same name. Both were based on the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign during the Second World War. It began just after the declaration of war in 1939 and lasted until the surrender of NAZI Germany in 1945. It was a strategic victory for the Allied forces, with the German blockade of Britain etc failing, though it was a pyrrhic victory, with thousands of lives lost.

In the episode, the action is confined to two vessels, with the Romulans playing the part of the U-Boats. Though the Enterprise emerges victorious, both commanders reflect on the pointlessness of the battles they are waging. Balance of Terror is one of the most sombre episodes of Star Trek, frequently appearing on top ten lists of the show.