"The Savage Curtain" drapes good and evil around a plot shuffle of "Arena" and "Spectre of the Gun." Credited to Roddenberry the story is heavy with Great Bird-ish issues but light on resolution. The sheer audacity of this episode however ("Lincoln fights Genghis Khan!") stands above other third season weaknesses. Also ambitious is Trek's second attempt at a stone species. Yarnek is not as convincing as the Horta maybe, yet manages well enough for a "living rock" with clicking taunts and ominous foreclaw gestures!

Background details (particularly planetside) and bright characterizations saturate the show. Lee Bergere's portrayal of Lincoln is outstanding (though why Kirk admires him so much is perplexing). Barry Atwater's iconic performance as Surak sadly gets short shrift late in Series 5, as does Philip Pine's deliciously despicable depiction of Colonel Green. So also for the ruthless (and voice-talented) "Sam" Kahless, whose portrayal is unmatched by TNG's clone. Whoever thought Genghis Khan never speaks a word? (Though he can outwrestle superhuman Spock, another indication that these are indeed illusions of some sort). Similarly silent is stuntwoman Carol Daniels as the silent Frankenstein's bride coiffed Zora, the only fictional character not explored elsewhere in the franchise. (If the "good" team emerged from the memories of Kirk and Spock, so also the "evil" team? Maybe Genghis and Green for Kirk, Zora and Kahless for Spock. Why is Zora Spock's second most evil figure?)

Strangely it's Kirk who's not himself, fawning over Lincoln and ignorant of Surak. What redeems him is the inspirational "risk is our business" type speech in which he correctly identifies contact with new life as their motivation. Extended scenes favor Nichelle Nichols in her last series appearance, and while Sulu gets some good time in the captain's chair Scott and McCoy hide mostly in the scenery and caution safety. (Note after Kirk and Spock beam down, presumably only a few minutes, both McCoy and Scotty change out of their dress uniforms and return to the transporter room to try and communicate with the landing party.)

At the end it's hard to say how the situation will develop. The Excalbians possess powers similar to the Talosians yet don't care about the Federation. The editing on this episode altogether is awful, with unexpected effects and reversed clips, therefore it's hard to tell if a cut is relevant or just shoved in for ballast. Yet when Spock mentions "perhaps it's our belief in peace that is actually being tested" the camera cuts to Yarnek. I like to think that's so.