SinceStar Trek’s premiere in 1966, audiences have seen new iterations with each passing generation. From the original series to the original cast movies, to the Berman era in the 1990s and early 2000s (known for executive producerRick Berman) and now, each addition to the decade-spanning franchise has been able to introduce new elements and elaborate on the old.Star Trek: Picardcapitalizes onStar Treknostalgia even more than its predecessor,Star Trek: Discovery,serving as a character study on the fan-favorite Jean-Luc Picard (Sir Patrick Stewart) ofStar Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2 not only sees the return of Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg), but also the mostly omnipotent Q (John de Lancie) as he hurdles Picard into the next test he must face amidst reflecting over the decisions he’s made throughout his life.
ButPicarddoesn’t quite give the audience a detailed refresher of the history of Q or his relationship with Picard other than a few expository references. So, if you need a refresher on a 30-year-old show, or are a newer Star Trek fan born after 1994 but don’t have the time totrekon a 178 episode binge ofThe Next Generation, this feature is for you.
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Q is a member of The Q, a race of beings who have the ability to alter matter and energy, and therefore time, at their whims. They can inhabit the dimension/reality that humanity exists in, but also have their own plane of existence called “The Q Continuum.” Their society is organized, but highly reactive to change due to their powerful, almost god-like status. Many of the appearances of the Q sees minute questioning and change start a wildfire throughout the Continuum. Just like an overprotective father, they need control.
The Q also have the ability to present themselves in different forms, but Q almost always presents himself as a human male dressed in a Starfleet uniform, though he makes a point to age and matches Picard in his latest appearance – becoming decades older and in civilian clothing with his signature snap. Q, as an individual, is boastful, emotional, and manipulative. He has an inflated ego, to say the last. Even among the Continuum, he’s known for his chaotic and brash behavior and is reprimanded for it at one point.
He appears across 5 series (The Next Generation,Deep Space 9,Voyager,Lower Decks, andPicard), but his first and probably most memorable appearance comes in the premiere ofThe Next Generation, “Encounter at Farpoint.” This first encounter sets the stage for most of Q’s appearance, especially much of those with Picard. When Q stops the crew of the Enterprise-D on its maiden voyage, he warns Picard and crew that humanity isn’t worthy of space travel, and if they don’t return to Earth they will be put on trial for confirmation. The Enterprise is able to pass Q’s test, freeing a space creature captured and used for energy on a colony.
Perhaps the most relevant Q appearance comes inThe Next Generation’s 3rd season episode, “Q Who,” which includes many of the highlight elements returning toStar TrekviaPicard.This time, instead of a trial or a game, Q requests to join the Enterprise as a guide, as he has knowledge that could help humanity as they venture to where no man has gone before. Picard unsurprisingly declines, and Q angrily transports the ship to an unknown location in the Delta quadrant where they encounter a Borg cube. The Enterprise is almost destroyed, but Picard asks Q for help in the last moment, serving Picard a harsh message about what enemies awaited them. Not only is this the first appearance of the Borg chronologically inStar Trek, but this episode also introduces a vague hostile history between Q and Guinan, both special guest stars on this season ofPicard.
In addition to his fascination with Jean-Luc, Q also made quite a few appearances to Starfleet personnel and other civilizations in the 2360s and 2370s which put him on the Federation’s radar. The organizations began briefing officers of his existence as a result. Q followed Vash, a woman whom he provided Q abilities, to Deep Space 9, but found Sisko boring compared to Picard. He also appears to crew members of the Cerritos, putting them through trials similarly to his antics on the Enterprise.
Q doesn’t mess with only humans either, although you could say he has an affinity for humanity. When the Q Continuum doesn’t allow his chaos to go unnoticed, he tries to seek asylum on Picard’s Enterprise when he’s punished by being made human. He doesn’t say it aloud, but Picard can deduce that he’s seeking protection from other civilizationsQmade enemies of. This is temporary, of course, when Q shows progress and leaves the Enterprise to protect the people he torments so often. This experience also enlightens him in a profound way as he interacts with Data (Brent Spiner), who has a unique relationship with humanity on his own.
Q’s arc onVoyageris possibly more consequential than even the introduction of the Borg to the alpha quadrant, even although he only appears in 3 episodes. When Voyager accidentally releases an imprisoned Q (known by Quinn) from a comet, Q becomes involved in a Q civil war over the idea of changing their status quo. Q became one of the leaders supporting change. To end the civil war, he has a child with a female Q – the first Q offspring in over a millennium.
Despite the galactic scale consequences of the fate of the Q Continuum,Qhas always been revered for his relationship with Picard and humanity. The last time he meets Picard inThe Next Generation, it’s been some time since Q has put humanity on trial. In the series finale, Picard once again passes the mind-bending test, but Q advises, “The trial never ends.” That same line teases the continuation of the story between the man and the Q.
