The wisdom of Star Fleet's Prime Directive never had a better example in the history of the Star Trek franchise than in this episode where an earth cultural observer played by David Brian decided to play God with a warlike people and introduce Nazism into the population. He had intentions of being a benevolent Fuehrer, but some very ambitious underlings led by Skip Homeier turn the Nazi movement on their planet of Ekos to what it resembled on Earth. They're also more powerful than what they were on Earth as witness by the fact that the Enterprise is attacked with hydrogen bomb missile.
That's a taste of what the Ekotians plan to do to their neighboring planet of Zaon. Zaon hating and scapegoating is the favorite past time of the Nazis of Ekos.
After that attack and seeing how the Prime Directive has been violated the mission and the duty of the Enterprise is clear. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy come down to investigate and if possible stop a wholesale slaughter. Later on they're joined by DeForest Kelley.
Can a totalitarian type movement ever be benevolent? Turn that one over in your minds when you watch this Star Trek story.
That's a taste of what the Ekotians plan to do to their neighboring planet of Zaon. Zaon hating and scapegoating is the favorite past time of the Nazis of Ekos.
After that attack and seeing how the Prime Directive has been violated the mission and the duty of the Enterprise is clear. William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy come down to investigate and if possible stop a wholesale slaughter. Later on they're joined by DeForest Kelley.
Can a totalitarian type movement ever be benevolent? Turn that one over in your minds when you watch this Star Trek story.