History Recap / StarTrekS3E2TheEnterpriseIncident

* PantyShot: The Romulan Commander's uniform may be ''the'' most DangerouslyShortSkirt in the entire ''Original Series'' there's hardly a scene that ''doesn't'' flash a shot of her underwear. It makes her SlipIntoSomethingMoreComfortable almost comical in the fact her slinky evening gown is in many ways ''less'' revealing than her uniform.

* PlugAndPlayTechnology: The Romulan cloaking device is compatible with a Federation ship? Maybe Scotty has an adapter in his bag of tricks. {{Downplayed}}; Scotty notes that it's a slapdash job, likely to overload and blow out the cloak or cause any other number of problems. His wince when he "throws the switch" per Kirk's orders indicates at least one of those potential problems was a fatally large boom.

* SubspaceAnsible: Even then it would take three weeks for a message to get to Starfleet.

** The bridge crew are so astonished that Kirk is alive and wearing PointyEars that he has to add, "That is not a request, gentlemen" before they rush to obey his orders.

* IntertwinedFingers: For Vulcans, this is practically passionate kissing. Romulans get off on it too. Spock's parents do a more reserved variation of it in [[Recap/StarTrekS2E10JourneytoBabel Journey to Babel]].

* SlipIntoSomethingMoreComfortable: The commander leaves Spock to change from her uniform to a more feminine dress, giving Spock a chance to send a signal to Kirk about the location of the cloaking device.

* LensmanArmsRace: Starfleet has to steal the cloaking device to keep the BalanceOfPower with the Romulans. Ironically it's revealed in TNG that Starfleet gave up their right to use cloaking devices as part of a peace treaty with the Romulans - possibly because of their cloak being stolen Romulan tech, although it's never directly stated.

!!!Tropes for this episode include:

* PlugAndPlayTechnology: The Romulan cloaking device is compatible with a Federation ship? Maybe Scotty has an adapter in his bag of tricks.

* CannotTellALie: Discussed. The Romulan Commander asks Spock if it's true that Vulcans are incapable of lying, and he replies that they are incapable of making statements that they know to be untrue, but are capable of selectively withholding the truth. He then proceeds to lie like a rug for the rest of the scene.

* YouJustToldMe: Kirk tells the Romulan guard that there's a spy on board attempting to steal the cloaking device. The guards' eyes instinctively go to the glowing ball thingy, tipping off Kirk that that's his objective.

* ForcefieldDoor: Kirk gets injured throwing himself at it, causing Dr McCoy to beam over.

* BittersweetingEnding: The Federation has acquired the cloaking device, but it's just one more shot in a LensmanArmsRace. Meanwhile Spock implies that he was [[NotSoStoic not impervious to the Romulan commander's attractions]], but [[LovedINotHonorMore he had to put duty before love]] and she would not have respected any other decision.

* ScottyTime: Kirk gives Scotty fifteen minutes to rig up the cloak. Spock meanwhile gives a 20 minute formal statement justifying his crimes, which is almost up by the time Scotty is finished. Unfortunately Scotty's first attempt doesn't work; a HyperspeedEscape is needed to gain enough time before the pursuing Romulans catch up.
* SomeKindOfForceField: The doorway of the brig on the Romulan ship is covered by a forcefield that's invisible except when Kirk tries to get through it.

* UnspokenPlanGuarantee: It helps that until halfway through the episode, there's no indication that there's a plan going on.

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: The two Romulan guards that were beamed over in exchange for Kirk and Spock are presumably still in the brig at the end of the episode (one in his skivvies, since Kirk needed to borrow his uniform to sneak around on the Romulan ship).

* ScottyTime: Kirk gives Scotty fifteen minutes to rig up the cloak. Spock meanwhile gives a 20 minute formal statement justifying his crimes, which is almost up by the time Scotty is finished.

* PrisonerExchange: As Kirk and Spock beam over to the Romulan vessel, two Romulan officers beam over simultaneously as hostages. This comes in handy when Kirk needs to [[DressingAsTheEnemy borrow an enemy uniform]].

* UnfinishedUntestedUsedAnyway: Scotty hooking up the cloaking device. It doesn't work immediately, but he still makes it happen. [[ScottyTime In fifteen minutes]].

* ThroughHisStomach: The Romulan commander uses her people's cuisine as further incentive for Spock to defect.

* UptightLovesWild: Invoked by the commander, who holds out the attraction of the passionate Romulan female as opposed to the sterility of pure logic and emotional-denial.

* ForbiddenZone: The guarded door that is restricted to "loyal Romulans" contains the cloaking device.

* ThatsAnOrder: The Romulan commander orders her NumberTwo to destroy the ''Enterprise'', even though she's currently aboard.

* UnfinishedUntestedUsedAnyway: Scotty hooking up the cloaking device. It doesn't work immediately, but he still makes it happen.

* UptightLovesWild: Invoked by the commander, who holds out the attraction of the passionate Romulan female as opposed to the sterility of Vulcan logic and self-denial.