"Whom Gods Destroy" upends the maddening "inmates running the asylum" trope with a subtle premise that the Federation cares about the health of even those "few remaining incorrigible, criminally insane" inhabitants of Elba II. The Enterprise brings medicine (not merely a treatment, rather something in a bottle that can be reproduced aboard the ship) that apparently applies as well to species varied from Andorian to Tellarite. Despite the great Battle of Axanar (whatever it meant besides a ribbon for Kirk) Starfleet is now committed to peace, that sense of brotherhood acknowledged by both Kirk and Spock.

This all spirals around the late Steve Ihnat's confident but crazy Captain Garth . (Is there a trekker alive who doesn't reflexively exclaim, "LORD Garth!"?) His sly intelligence emerges throughout the show, particularly his successful ruse as Cory, his almost successful ruse as Spock, and his not so successful ruse as Kirk. (And after being phasered, the stunned Garth-Kirk falls yet re-stands his chair. That takes some brains!) It's not clear why Kirk holds such admiration for the former fleet captain now, master of the universe, or for that matter how one barely older than Kirk was able to accomplish so much. (Ihnat was actually younger than Shatner, though it's also likely Garth is not an earthling and as such may age differently.)

Further helping redeem the effort is Keye Luke's masterly portrayed Governor Cory and the lovely Yvonne Craig as the "green widow" Marta, perhaps the most "well coordinated" if overly clothed Orion Slave Girl ever. Strangely even the Kirk vs. Kirk fight (with suitably convincing stand-in) however is remarkably well done. Sadly budget strains are everywhere. Some are OK, like the re-use of the Tantalus "torture chair" and the well-directed spartan sets (consider the coronation). However the poorly recycled costumes are not, and the unfocussed "bwaah" effect to transition Garth's shape-changing is cheap and weak. It even seems a scene is missing from the teaser as afterwards a stunned Spock is dragged away and an incarcerated Kirk endures questioning.

Yet from the beginning Kirk and Spock stay on their toes trying to salvage the situation. Without knowing in advance about Garth's shape-changing (cellular metamorphosis) why would Kirk use the chess sign/countersign trick in the first place? Spock as decision-maker makes a supposedly logical decision to wait it out, but in the end follows orders (to shoot both…just in order). There's a loyalty, a humanity, found here that reclaims those almost lost to madness. Whom gods might destroy, a stronger power might preserve.