Rating: 
Summary: One very good, and one great episode
Review: Charlie X-This strong episode is about an awkward and lonely young man with exceptional powers. The episode explores the transition from boyhood to adulthood, as well as the subtleties and arbitrariness of much of interpersonal interaction. The twist is that Charlie has the power to force adults, and the viewer, not to trivialize his plight. This episode also devotes attention to personality development through casual, leisure scenes including chess and music. Unfortunately, later shows almost completely got away from trying to give us a full portrait of life on the starship, as the episodes became more formulaic. But here, a simple, tight script, augmented by the fleshing out of details, generated a strong show. The solid writing and attention to human detail allows us to feel empathetic towards Charlie at the end, despite all the harm he's caused. You wouldn't see such subtlety in later years. (4 stars)Balance of Terror-This Romulan battle episode was one of Star Trek's best shows. This episode demonstrates that while science fiction expands the range of possible stories, generally some of the best stories are the most universal. This episode could easily have been transported to the deep, and renamed Das Boot. The basic premise is simple enough, but the story is divided into discrete sections, each of which contains a surprise. I can't think of an episode which more often faded to commercial with actual drama. We are allowed right inside the Captains' minds, so we feel both their uncertainty and fear about encountering each other, and see them reformulating their strategies and estimations of each other as the chess match unfolds.
The episode is further assisted by Mark Leonard's acting (he's even better here than in Journey to Babel) and a dramatic score. The wedding scene also does not detract, since it reminds us that everything is affected by war. Kirk also is at his best here. Over the course of the episode he shows brilliance, compassion, and forgiveness. He also consoles, mediates, accepts criticism, is decisive, and stands up to injustice. Other pluses here include the stance taken on racism, and the fact that the brain trust, even at this early stage in the show, was not afraid to give Kirk a worthy adversary. (5 stars)
Rating:
Summary: Worth the money
Review: I agree with the other reviewer here: "Balance of Terror" is one of the best of the Original Series episodes, and worth the price of the disk by itself. The episode illuminates both the excitement and horror of war as Kirk and the Romulan commander trade strategy and tactics, with the fate of millions resting on the outcome of their decisions. The story also weaves in a subplot on prejudice when it is discovered Spock looks very much like a Romulan. The DVD itself is light on features, but the quality of the video is superb. The DVD insert lists all of the volumes in the collection and the episodes on each, but alas, gives no expected availability date for the remaining releases other than "coming to DVD in the new millenium." Hurry up Volume 18! (The Doomsday Machine)
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek on DVD!!!!
Review: I am an absolute Star Trek fan and my favorite Star Trek is the Original Series. I was astounded to hear about it when it was first released and am glad to see that Paramount is continuing to put the episodes on DVD format. If you love Star Trek as much as I do, you got to have these. Even if you don't like the old series, they still make good collector's items.
Rating: 
Summary: Classic Trek fun!
Review: I hadn't seen Balance of Terror before, and I must say, it's one of the best episode. It's sort of Das 'Boot in space and the introduction of the Federations first space-bound enemies, the Romulans. Charlie X was ok, I liked the scenes where Kirk is being a father figure, and it was kind of creepy that you didn't want to make the kid mad because of his powers. Think "Twilight Zone: The Movie". Some behind the scenes stuff would be cool, but why include it when they can sell it seperately right?
Rating:
Summary: Star Trek the Original Series Vol 04
Review: I loved re-discovering it again. But I gave the DVD 4 stars for the lack of Spanish in the dubbed/subtitled options. A huge portion of the U.S.A. is hispanic and I being married to one would enjoy this much better if my wife who speaks english as well as spanish could also enjoy it in spanish which of course she understands better. Please add more languages in the future releases!
Rating:
Summary: Balance of Terror one of the best ST:TOS; Charlie X OK
Review: I saw with some disappointment that Balance of Terror had been bundled with Charlie X. A better match would have been a more action-oriented episode, such as Amok Time. Still, Balance of Terror is worth the price of the bundle. In my opinion, it is one of the top 5 ST:TOS eps, and also one of the most "adult." The nobility, professionalism and skill of the two soldiers (Kirk and the Romulan captain) are admirable as the story twists and turns through basically a 45-minute battle. The opening and closing, with the married couple who suffers a loss, is a final dramatic touch. Along with City on the Edge of Forever, Balance of Terror is classic, classic Trek. I have to say, though, that the lack of DVD extras is extremely disappointing. The clarity is nice, but when you are talking about 30+-year-old TV shows, the DVD package should include extras to add value for the many loyal Trek fans. Paramount goofed on this.
Rating:
Summary: FASTER PARAMOUNT, PRINT FASTER!
Review: I was surprised to see they bumped the schedule run on these and we will have 6 discs by the end of the year (and with any hope that will hop to 8). The transfers are gorgeous, though the audio does drop out here and there (problem of remixing mono to stereo...and certainly harder to make mono surround). I think the Sci-Fi channel interviews would have been cool to add to these episodes, but I also understand that licensing doesn't always go smoothly. Perhaps we can get some DVD's at the end of the series release that has all the interviews on a single disc? (maybe even with a coupon in the last few discs that will give you the interview disc(s) free with proofs of purchase of several of the episodes?) If you own the series on VHS, I HIGHLY recommend you upgrade to these digital transfers, they are so much cleaner, brighter, and sharper than ANY of the VHS transfers I have ever seen.
Rating:
Summary: An ultimate showdown!
Review: In Charlie X, one of the two episdoes on this DVD, puberty and other "forbidden" social issues are explored and discussed. Nature vs. Nuture is a largely posed question - role models and thier importance another. (Big notice: Uhura sings in this episdoe, worth the price alone! ) The second episode, Balance of Terror, the Federation is finally "tainted" with an enemy. The Romulan Empire, while never really explored again until TNG, plants a very powerul seed of dread and "terror". Both episdoes are very entertaining, and enjoyable. A fun addition to any collection.
Rating:
Summary: No hokey monsters...just plain good storytelling.
Review: Mudd's Women and Enemy Within deal less with aliens and monsters but rather look inward and explores the issues of physical beauty vs inner beauty (Mudd's Women) and good vs evil (Enemy Within). The cinamatography of Mudd's Women is particularly beautiful...employing the classic "hollywood" soft focus look. This episode features the first use of the "tractor beam" during the opening chase sequence. The drain of the ship's power systems through clever sound and light effects are simple but very effective. A transporter malfunction creates duplicates a good and an evil Kirk in the episode The Enemy Within. This episode features some classic "Shatner" moments including the bizarre uplighting on Kirk's face when the "evil" Kirk is about to go on a spree as well as the "I WANNA LIVE!" outburst.
Rating:
Summary: No hokey monsters...just plain good storytelling.
Review: Mudd's Women and Enemy Within deal less with aliens and monsters but rather look inward and explores the issues of physical beauty vs inner beauty (Mudd's Women) and good vs evil (Enemy Within). The cinamatography of Mudd's Women is particularly beautiful...employing the classic "hollywood" soft focus look. This episode features the first use of the "tractor beam" during the opening chase sequence. The drain of the ship's power systems through clever sound and light effects are simple but very effective. A transporter malfunction creates duplicates a good and an evil Kirk in the episode The Enemy Within. This episode features some classic "Shatner" moments including the bizarre uplighting on Kirk's face when the "evil" Kirk is about to go on a spree as well as the "I WANNA LIVE!" outburst.
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