Just watched "The Omega Glory"

[ZapBrannigan]

Being a Canadian, this episode definitely came acoss ( especially later in life) as overtly rah rah American/patriotic. But Regardless of that, It hasn't aged well. Some parts of it I still like weirdly enough ( probably for campy nostalgia) but definitely not one of my favorites. Probably would rate it in my "bottom" 15.

Actors like good words to say. Shatner is Canadian too, but he gave the Preamble a power and authority that embraced the American audience and lifted us up. He was bold and masterful. It was theatrical television.

Come the 70s, I was shocked to read David Gerrold trashing the episode in one of his books. It turns out that, even among American citizens, a lot of people do not like the Constitution, and they hate the concept of American Exceptionalism. So, there went my innocence.

 

[FredH]

Come the 70s, I was shocked to read David Gerrold trashing the episode in one of his books. It turns out that, even among American citizens, a lot of people do not like the Constitution, and they hate the concept of American Exceptionalism. So, there went my innocence.

Don’t know the Gerrold position, but feel I should note those are two very different things. Disliking the whole American Exceptionalism thing I can see, even more so lately. Disliking the Constitution itself is a much bigger and more dangerous thing.

 

[johnnybear]

The only thing I really liked about it was Morgan Woodward, but he's always been terrific in everything he appeared in.

Irene Kelley was a pretty sexy lady too.
JB

 

[Maurice]

The only thing I really liked about it was Morgan Woodward, but he's always been terrific in everything he appeared in.

He was even compelling as a corpse on Hill Street Blues.

 

[Rowdy Roddy McDowall]

He was even compelling as a corpse on Hill Street Blues.

I won't deny that show's final year had some plot redundancy and less compelling plots, but I hope you binge-enjoyed it to the very end. The final episode didn't get sentimental ot monumental, so in a sense it was easier to say farewell to it. ST. ELSEWHERE, however, was quite the opposite and gave me major withdrawal symptoms.

Woodward looked quite old on HSB, but he stuck around almost more decades.

 

[Maurice]

I won't deny that show's final year had some plot redundancy and less compelling plots, but I hope you binge-enjoyed it to the very end. The final episode didn't get sentimental ot monumental, so in a sense it was easier to say farewell to it. ST. ELSEWHERE, however, was quite the opposite and gave me major withdrawal symptoms.

Woodward looked quite old on HSB, but he stuck around almost more decades.

I watched all of it on its original run.

 

[Roundabout]

And, not for anything. Shatner's passionate reading of the US Constitution, along with his "they must apply to everyone! Or they mean nothing!" is a timeless message that should speak to every human on this planet, no matter where you hail from.

No question about it, Kirk gave a stirring recitation of the Preamble.

And Kirk's "they must apply to everyone or they mean nothing!" are good words.

But if Chief Cloud knew any better, he could have replied, "That's rich, coming from you. You arrest Tracey for violating the Prime Directive, yet here you are, right now, violating the Prime Directive with impunity."



I enjoyed "The Omega Glory". But I am going to sound like a nitpicking party pooper on this point, that I'm going to make.



So, Kirk is a stickler for adhering to the Prime Directive when it comes to Tracey. But when it comes to his own PD violation, rules be damned.

At the end, even Spock knew there was something amiss with Kirk's actions. That's why Spock asked Kirk, "there's no question about his guilt, Captain, but does our involvement here also constitute a violation of the Prime Directive?"

Kirk didn't deny that he violated the PD. He justified it by unilaterally carving out an exception to the rule for himself (that's not new). Talk about double standard and hypocrisy.

What about those high minded words "they must apply to everyone or they mean nothing"? The PD applies to Tracey, but not to Kirk? The PD means nothing then.

I get that the context of Tracey's PD violation and Kirk's violation are different. But a PD violation is a PD violation. I didn't make the rules. Those are their rules, Starfleet rules, as Kirk and Spock described them, "regulations are quite harsh."

As I wrote earlier, I enjoy watching "The Omega Glory". Shatner/Kirk gave an excellent memorable performance.

It is just in recent viewings, that Kirk's double standard had become glaringly clear. I wouldn't blame Chief Cloud if he was confused by all this double standard.

 

[Maurice]

Tracy had already upset the apple cart. There was no putting things back to the way they were before, as too much blood had been shed. Kirk's choices were to leave the situation as bloody as Tracy had made it, or try to calm it down.