E plebnista

The Inglorious Omega Glory

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.

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Until next time,

LOVE long…and prosper.

Neil

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Star Trekking is written and edited by Neil Shurley, except where noted.

Star Trekking logo art by James H. Dargie.

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