""The Omega Glory" has unique provenance, candidate for second series pilot early in an evolving Star Trek and penned by the Great Bird himself. In true Roddenberry style this formative episode defines the ambitious intent of the Prime Directive. To that theme the material thankfully matured before production winds into the distilled "patriotic bathos" even Shatner must struggle to deliver (albeit with respectable effort). Up until the incongruous reveal however it's an excellent romp full of action and intrigue, and enough captain-beatings to suggest Jonathan Archer. Good thing only the last fight matters.

The story develops smoothly from discovery of Enterprise's barren sister Exeter, her engineering section dark yet bridge alive and bright. (The shot of the two ships in orbit is a personal Trek favorite!) The reunion with Captain Tracey is quickly dashed to anguish however as a dutiful Kirk must honor the solemn oath his comrade disregards, and consistently as somebody or the other's captive. The action largely carries him towards his sole purpose of truth bearing. (But how come Spock didn't figure out "E Plebmnista" anyway? Too busy exercising mysterious "suggestion" powers perhaps.) McCoy's medical expertise (ignoring the 96% thing) is a more efficacious defense against Tracey's madness (the inevitable result from starship crew loss it seems) as does his grounded observation about "good being very, very careful."

Morgan Woodward plays an astonishing Ron Tracey, admirable in every way except deranged judgement under unimaginable stress. It's sad Trek never redeems him, as he is no doubt as capable physically if not more so than Kirk. This captain is preternaturally quick in both sinew and wit, lean and mean and fit from a time when men of such constitution served Starfleet unlike effete swagger sticks to come. (Killing Galloway is another unforced error on Tracey's part, simply stun him and take his phaser.)

Speaking of constitution ... time to deal with the most surreal ending in Star Trek. Clearly the Kohms have just been massacred, but the Holy Words are for them as well. Oops. But parallel planet theory can only go so far, and somehow the timing's not right for an Omegamerican revolution (Wu being what, a 19th century Asian that maybe fought in the war?). But to conjure a similar scene without leveraging the viewer's familiarity with the concepts would take far longer than the over the top but efficiently delivered presentation here. Just turn the sound down at the very end if you already know the words. Up till then, enjoy a rollicking, thought-provoking show.