Everybody in the galaxy seems to either develop exactly like earth, or want badly to be like earth. The Omega Glory is an example of the former. But where it would make sense for societies to parallel each other, in this case they are our exact duplicate up until the Trek 1990's. Down to the font choice for the constitution this planet is has a culture exactly like america, only devastated by disease hundreds of years ago. The story the episode appears to be telling about a starship captain who has lost his way gives way to the way cheesier, "who is the real prophet of post-apocalyptic america?"
The episode opens with the Enterprise encountering the USS Exeter in orbit around Omega IV. The ship appears undamaged, but also unoccupied. Kirk beams over along with Spock, McCoy and a red shirt. They find the crew has been transformed into piles of chemicals devoid of water. They discover the ships medical log contains a warning to flee the ship to the planets surface. On the surface they interrupt an execution being overseen by the former captain of the Exeter, Ronald Tracey. The natives recognize their phasers and Tracey explains the Asian people he is living with are under constant siege from a Caucasian group who are completely psychotic and attack without reason.
As they discuss how Tracey has clearly violated the prime directive and needs to be arrested Tracey busts in and kills the red shirt when he reaches for a phaser. The rest are imprissoned other than McCoy who is tasked with discovering a cure for the disease that killed the Exeter crew. Tracey tries to explain to Kirk that the natives live for hundreds of years so that is why he used his phaser to slaughter hundreds of the rival group. Kirk doesn't buy it and is thrown into a cell with the savages. They fight for hours, but stop when Kirk says freedom. Suddenly the savage is willing to speak with him after Kirk spoke a, "holy word." Kirk shows them how to break out the bars on the window, but when it is done the native knocks Kirk out and escapes.
When Kirk regains consciousness he and Spock escape, but are caught by a now bloodied Tracey. The natives who escaped warned the others who attacked and won. Kirk and Tracey fight until the savages show up and tie everybody up. They take them to their leader who brings out an American flag. Kirk impresses them by saying the pledge of allegiance. They are apparently the descendants of parallel Americans and agree to let Kirk and Tracey fight to determine who is evil or something. Just as Kirk wins, but refuses to kill Spock contacts the ship and Sulu beams down with armed security. Kirk gives a nice speech freedom being for everybody and their are on their way.
Cheese factor: I am not sure if the writers actually think that life on other planets will be exactly the same as on earth and will even develop the same culture that we have or if they are just lazy. Probably lazy. The story about a captain corrupting a primitive culture with his technical know how was more interesting than the American twist at the end. Not boring, but pretty silly.
4 out of 10
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