Here in the colonies, today is Independence Day, a celebration of our intent to liberate ourselves from our foppish overlords.
So it seemed like a good time to revisit what is widely considered one of the worst episodes of the original series. I always found it startling that The Omega Glory was one of the first three scripts Roddenberry developed for the series.
Tell me again how Star Trek isn’t political.
Anyway, I admit to being swayed by David Gerrold’s opinion. In The World of Star Trek he includes it in a list of “poor” episodes hampered by a “bad script.”
A thinly disguised anti-war statement. “Yangs” and “Kohms” fight an endless series of battles until the good Captain quotes the pledge of allegiance at them.
And that was my standard response about the episode. An eye roll and “ugh, the one where Captain Kirk quotes the pledge of allegiance at them.”
I haven’t seen it in years. Decades. Maybe not since I was a kid, because the received wisdom was, it’s terrible, not worth my time.
So today I decided I’d give it a chance.
A few things that popped out at me while watching:
“A star captain’s most solemn oath”
Star captain? Is that an official title? Hello there, folks who complain about canon. Star Trek didn’t even have a consistent canon during its original run.
1990’s biological warfare experiments
Hoo boy.
“Pity you can’t teach me that.” “I have tried, Captain.”
I’d like to see that, Spock trying to teach Kirk how to perform the Vulcan nerve pinch. No doubt they’d practice on Lt. Leslie.
“The yellow civilization.”
Hoo boy.
Freedom is a “worship word.”
In today’s politics, too, freedom is a worship word - and almost a troubling one. Freedom to be a jerk to anyone who disagrees with your definition of freedom.
Standing when the flag is brought into the room.
Star Trek was always pro-American democracy. Kirk continually overthrew despots in an attempt to encourage rule by all the people. But this episode is almost fetishistic in its reverence for the flag. Did the USA still exist in the 23rd century?
Spock’s psychic power of suggestion.
This could have come in handy in a number of other instances over the years. Shame he forgot he could do that.
“These words were not meant for chiefs.”
In an episode that is blatantly about the Vietnam war, Kirk proclaims that the US constitution must apply to everyone or else the words “mean nothing.” Yangs and Kohms need to live together in peace. All he is saying is give peace a chance?
(Image from https://dieastra.livejournal.com/298661.html)
I don’t have a lot of deep thoughts to share with you about the episode. I just don’t have the headspace for that right now. But I was surprised that I didn’t hate every second of it. It moves along pretty well, so that’s good I guess?
I’m not going to encourage you to take another look at The Omega Glory, with its creepy race politics and crazed one dimensional villain (is there any Captain in Starfleet besides Kirk who is not presented as maniacal?). It’s Independence Day weekend and I’m going to attend a baseball game and grill some meat and bake a pie.
And I’ll doff my hat when they play our National Anthem. And in my mind I’ll recite the e plebnista.
And remember that liberty and freedom have to be more than just words. For instance, they could also be written in frosting on a nice sheet cake and eaten as a tasty treat.
Mmmm, cake.
Until next time,
LOVE long…and prosper.
Omega Glory and Turnabout Intruder are my 2 least favourite TOS episodes (also the epilogue of Bread and Circuses). But I think the idea in Omega Glory is really solid - that you can make an idol of something really good, true and beautiful and turn it into a weapon of oppression and hate. Sputtering gibberish with no understanding of - or caring about - the meaning and intent, taking something that should be joyful, diverse, life-affirming and inclusive and making it into a club of believers who brook no discussion.
Some religions, some politicians, and yes, some Star Trek fans.
Now that you've highlighted it, I think I will use "E plebnista" as shorthand (for myself at least) for times when people seem to entirely miss the point about the thing they are foaming hatefully about. Thanks for the reflection!
“Pity you can’t teach me that.” “I have tried, Captain.”
Have you seen "Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (SNW S2E3) yet? This business of Kirk learning the neck pinch resonates on!
I gave "Omega Glory" another look in early 2021, in the wake of the attempted insurrection in DC: https://bibliomike.com/timely-trek-the-omega-glory/ - I still find some things of worth in it, despite its (as you rightly say) fetishism for the flag.
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