I did not find this episode to be the worst in the series. The pseudo-patriotic ending was to be expected from NBC in December 1967, when this was filmed. This was before Vietnam's TET offensive and My Lai Massacre and the CIA murder of MLK. By 1968, even the uber-patriotic US South/Midwest began to have doubts about the Vietnam War, but anti-war protests were only ever on college campuses anyway. Love/peace hippiedom was unknown outside of the West Coast and Northeast. The phoniness of the Pledge of Allegiance was only beginning to be realized, so Kirk's BS speech at the end reflected the trust in our government that the "greatest generation" had at the time and that the baby boomers laughably still have, depending on if the POTUS is R or D. I enjoyed the action in this episode. TV western actor Morgan Woodward made a good villain. Spock got to show that "put your hand on my shoulder" is quite effective, as usual. All in all, an OK episode.
Review of The Omega Glory
