"The Return of the Archons" (season one, episode twenty-one; production code: 022; 9 February 1967): Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: "The Return of the Archons" is an even more thorough refutation of Star Trek: Picard than "Court Martial" (season one, episode twenty). The Enterprise visits the planet Beta III, which is ruled over by the god-like Landru, who appears as a holographic projection. In the course of events, it is revealed that Landru was a Betan sage of six thousand years earlier, who led his people back to a simpler existence after a period of technological advancement marred by violence & social disorder. The "Landru" that rules Beta III in the present day is a sophisticated computer, programmed by Landru with all his knowledge, to continue shepherding the Betan people. At some point, "Landru" took direct control of the Betans, telepathically controlling those who have been "absorbed" into "the Body." (More on absorption & the Body in a moment.)
"Landru" insists that it is Landru, indistinguishable from the man who programmed it, but Kirk rightly insists that it is not, that as a machine "Landru" is simply not able to possess Landru's discerning wisdom. Kirk argues that due to that lack of wisdom, "Landru" has violated its own prime directive, the "good of the Body": Yes, the Betans of the Body are physically alive, but they have no creativity, no agency; their society is stagnant. "Landru," unable to reconcile having failed in its prime directive, goes haywire, crying out to Landru the sage, "Help me! Help me! Help me!" The Korby android in "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" (season one, episode seven) insisted that it was the man Dr. Roger Korby, but it was not. The Landru mainframe computer insisted that it was the man Landru, but it was not. The Picard android in "Et in Arcadia Ego" (Picard season one, episodes nine & ten, & all of seasons two & three) insisted that it was the man Jean-Luc Picard, but it is not. Case closed.
"Absorption" is the process of becoming telepathically controlled by "Landru." Humans are as vulnerable to being absorbed as are Betans & no one is freed from absorption until "Landru" melts down. Certain members of Betan society are immune to absorption & form an underground resistance movement. There are parallels between being "absorbed" into the Body & being assimilated into the Borg Collective.
The weakest part of "The Return of the Archons" is the clumsy anti-religious sentiment. Those who are being controlled by "Landru" as spoken of as "the Body" & "being one in Landru." The Lawgivers who serve as enforcers are dressed in cowled robes, looking something like monks. Marplon, a member of the underground who has access to the Hall of Audiences, where it is possible to "commune" with Landru, is similarly robed. These clerical robes contrast with the dress of the rest of the Body. These are clumsy & lazy attacks because "Landru" doesn't propose a moral code to follow, "Landru" directly controls the Body. No major religion proposes a god whose adherents are mere puppets.
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