10 Best Star Trek Characters In One Scene Only
8. Balok
Balok is one of the earliest characters in Star Trek, played by the unique Clint Howard. Howard would return in both Deep Space Nine and Discovery, making him one of the only actors from the Original Series to appear in this later interation. Back in 1966 however, Howard was playing the child-like represenative of the First Federation.
The crew of the Enterprise had been teased with the Balok puppet - a grey eyed, bobble-headed creature that took inspiration from the alleged aliens of Roswell, New Mexico. The Fesarius, the huge spherical ship that overpowers the Enterprise, seems to have the upper hand - until Balok's pilot ship detaches and the Enterprise damages it.
Kirk, McCoy and Crewman Dave Bailey beam aboard and meet the true Balok. What follows is a warm scene of two cultures meeting, coming to understand each other and becoming emissaries for their people. Balok is lonely on his search for new life, so Crewman Bailey remains on board as an ambassador for Starfleet (at least he didn't die, ok?).
The image of Balok remains one of the most striking in Star Trek - here is all of the power in the hands of a child.