You'll remember Fleet Captain Garth, of course, from "Whom Gods Destroy." I recently rewatched this, and it's a rather good time, especially if you embrace the over-the-top lunacy of good Captain (Lord!) Garth. The goofballery is entertaining, but I particularly enjoyed the ending of the piece, which actually brings a certain amount of meaning and message that had otherwise eluded a romp of an episode (deadly spousal abuse notwithstanding, of course). In the closing scenes of this episode, we see Garth, and the surviving members of his league of the insane, well on the road to recovery and rehabilitation, thanks to radical new pharmocological solutions, the unwavering devotion of a courageous (not to mention physically and mentally robust) therapist, and, in a nice nod to continuity, what are presumably neural neutralizer treatments used for good instead of ill (see "Dagger of the Mind" to witness its use for ill). In other words, it has a happy ending, and not an altogether conventional one at that. The villain doesn't die, and he isn't even punished--he's healed. 
However, as a nitpicker, I rapidly noticed that he twice referred to Kirk as an "Earthman." Now, this is easily explicable if he was simply born off world, on some distant colony or something, even if it is a rather weird and provincial prejudice to have, especially given that Garth spent at least three or four years on Earth himself, while attending Starfleet Academy--and perhaps longer.
However, when coupled with Garth's bizarre "cellular metamorphosis" technique--shapeshifting--it's really difficult to sustain a presumption of (biological) humanity for the fellow.
Finally, what the hell kind of name is Garth of Izar, anyway?
I'm leaning toward declaring Garth a product of another species than humanity. Izari? Who knows.
I would not be averse to the speculation that he was an Antosian colonist, perhaps far generationally and culturally removed from the Antosians, ala the Vulcans and Romulans, but who would naturally take to their cellular metamorphosis trick following the horrible accident he apparently suffered, but he didn't have the emotional ruggedness for it, and wound up going batshit insane and trying to kill his Antosian cousins.
(It would also be neat to have a more diverse Starfleet at such an early stage of the game, but that's another issue entirely. )
An alternative theory is that he was, once, human--but the cellular metamorphosis treatment is more like an infection by some kind of parasite that permits the reactivation of totipotency in cells (i.e., returning them to stem cells). Human neurochemistry, unlike Antosians, aren't capable of handling this (explaining why there aren't cellular metamorphosis gurus hanging out and teaching class all over the Federation, as I'm sure the technique would be rather popular). Thus, after being "infected" with this purported cure, Garth wound up going batshit, etc.
Indeed, there's not much evidence at all to say what he is, but I think there is definitely a preponderance of evidence to say what he is not--that is, totally human.
I'm also wondering if any apocrypha has Garth fully rehabilitated, maybe even back in Starfleet. That'd be a nice touch, very Roddenberry-esque.
However, as a nitpicker, I rapidly noticed that he twice referred to Kirk as an "Earthman." Now, this is easily explicable if he was simply born off world, on some distant colony or something, even if it is a rather weird and provincial prejudice to have, especially given that Garth spent at least three or four years on Earth himself, while attending Starfleet Academy--and perhaps longer.
However, when coupled with Garth's bizarre "cellular metamorphosis" technique--shapeshifting--it's really difficult to sustain a presumption of (biological) humanity for the fellow.
Finally, what the hell kind of name is Garth of Izar, anyway?
I'm leaning toward declaring Garth a product of another species than humanity. Izari? Who knows.
I would not be averse to the speculation that he was an Antosian colonist, perhaps far generationally and culturally removed from the Antosians, ala the Vulcans and Romulans, but who would naturally take to their cellular metamorphosis trick following the horrible accident he apparently suffered, but he didn't have the emotional ruggedness for it, and wound up going batshit insane and trying to kill his Antosian cousins.
(It would also be neat to have a more diverse Starfleet at such an early stage of the game, but that's another issue entirely.
)An alternative theory is that he was, once, human--but the cellular metamorphosis treatment is more like an infection by some kind of parasite that permits the reactivation of totipotency in cells (i.e., returning them to stem cells). Human neurochemistry, unlike Antosians, aren't capable of handling this (explaining why there aren't cellular metamorphosis gurus hanging out and teaching class all over the Federation, as I'm sure the technique would be rather popular). Thus, after being "infected" with this purported cure, Garth wound up going batshit, etc.
Indeed, there's not much evidence at all to say what he is, but I think there is definitely a preponderance of evidence to say what he is not--that is, totally human.
I'm also wondering if any apocrypha has Garth fully rehabilitated, maybe even back in Starfleet. That'd be a nice touch, very Roddenberry-esque.
