Rating: 
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST DVD'S IN THE CLASSIC STAR TREK COLLECTION!!!
Review: Volume 4 is one of the better pair of episodes that The Star Trek Original Series DVD collection has to offer. Both are classics and have been considered some of the series better Trek stories.The first one here is "CHARLIE X" which was one of the first Trek episodes I ever saw. It is a rather tragic tale about a bizarre young teenage boy with extra ordinary powers. Charlie (played by Robert Walker Jr.) was the only survivor in a ship crash when he was a little baby. Somehow he survived for 17 years until he was rescued by The Antaris another space ship. However when he is brought aboard the Enterprise, a misunderstood Charlie tries to fit in and if he is unsuccessful the crewmen feel the rath of his powers.
Pretty soon the crew feels fairly threatend by the teenager especialy Yeoman Janis Rand who Charlie has began to show a liking to. It is up to Capt. Kirk to stop Charlie from destroying the enitre Enterprise crew. It turns out the Charlie was raised by a group of bizarre aliens who gave him those powers however because he was not taught the human way of life, Charlie is considered extraordinarily dangerous and is not allowed to lead a normal huan life. Therefore the tragic thing is a misunderstood human boy must spend the rest of his life with a group of aliens who have no feelings or emotions. Somewhat of a sad end if you ask me. The second episode is "THE BALANCE OF TERROR" which remains a favourite among many fans of the show including me. Capt. Kirk is sent to investigate and help earth outposts that have been attack by a mysterious vessel. It turns out to be the Romulans ,whose star system is close by. As the Romulan ship begins to head for home, the Enterprise begins to pursue it. For if it reaches the neutral zone between the Federation and Romulan star empires it could lead to an intergalactic war. This episode is like a submarine movie almost which pits the strategic mind of Kirk against The Romulan Commander (Mark Lenard whom would later play Spock's dad!). Overall Volume 4 is perhaps one of the best DVD's is this series. It features two great episodes that have aged quite well. This is a must for all Trekkies or just plain fans of the how like me. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Two Outstanding Episodes of Classic Trek
Review: Volume 4 of Paramount's reissue and refurbishment of Classic Trek contains two outstanding stories which provide continuous entertainment and enlightenment. Charlie X is a remarkably frank and moving study of adolescence, with a supernatural twist. Robert Walker, Jr's. awkward Charlie Evans may well be the most sympathetic "villain" in the Trek canon. Anyone who has ever embarrassed himself during adolescence (who among us hasn't?) will feel for Charlie and the agonizing loneliness he endures. William Shatner has some surprisingly subtle moments as Kirk tries to explain the facts of life to Charlie. This episode also contains a glaring continuity error: When Kirk enters the turbolift en route to the bridge, he's wearing his standard gold tunic, but when the turbolift doors on the bridge open, he's wearing his green v-necked pullover! Balance of Terror consistently winds up on nearly every Trekker's top ten list. This story gets a lot of its flavor from the classic submarine film Run Silent, Run Deep. Viewers who have also seen the recent U-571 can also see the influence of this episode on that movie: Both stories contain an "enemy alien," Spock in this episode, Wentz in U-571. Kirk's forthright confrontation with prejudice ("Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on my bridge.") should be part of a training manual for company managers. Mark Lenard's scenes aboard the Romulan ship have an almost Shakespearean gravitas. The picture is remarkably clean, considering the source elements are over 35 years old. The sound has been enhanced with stereo effects, although this has not been overdone.
Rating:
Summary: Give Charlie X Its Due!
Review: Yes, yes, yes - "Balance of Terror" is an outstanding episode, featuring some of the best acting (by both regular cast and guest stars) of the series. However, I feel I should stick up for "Charlie X", which has been overlooked by the other reviewers. Robert Walker, Jr. turns in what is arguably one of the top 5 best guest performances (in my opinion, the best) of the series, capturing all of a teenager's desperate desire to fit in, and rage at himself and the universe for his failure to do so. The story is touching, and the conflicts between Kirk and McCoy as to who should assume the "father figure" role are interesting. (Incidentally - to watch Shatner in the 1st season is really a revelation - I had forgotten how subtle, subdued, and wonderful he was in that amazing year.)
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