10 Star Trek Episodes Based On Real-Life Events
These may be set in the Final Frontier but each of these episodes are based on a True Story.
Star Trek has always been able to shine a light on contemporary issues by depicting them through the lens of SciFi. This gives them great licence in how they can approach topics that may be considered sensitive for prime time viewing, though of course this is less of an issue in the age of streaming.
Star Trek's Original Series took many stories of then-modern incidents, particularly those in WW2 and the Cold War, bringing them to life on-screen. The Romulans have stood in for both the Russians and the Chinese Superpowers from time to time, with the Klingons also taking their share of the former's time as well.
Disease, poverty and violence are all heady topics to tackle in a show about space exploration, yet the franchise has managed in its almost sixty year span to bring some incredibly serious historical moments into the canon, whether it be a certain Victorian Ripper or devastating epidemics.
There are 'true' stories out there to be mined as well, including a little story from the United States, featuring a downed weather balloon, some little green men and a big army conspiracy. And for proof on that one, we have [REDACTED].
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.