Star Trek’s best Q episodes

Decades before the letter “Q” gained a sinister political connotation (and during a rare fallow period for the James Bond film franchise), the alphabet’s most quizzical consonant became synonymous with Star Trek. John de Lancie portrays Q, an omnipotent trickster God. He first appeared in series premiere. Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987 and developed into the show’s signature antagonist, the perfect foil for disciplined, steadfastly moral Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Q is still a popular Star Trek guest character, appearing in five seasons including the new series of Star Trek: Picard.

Q owes his longevity as a character to de Lancie’s magnetic performance and to the multiple ways he can be employed in a Star Trek story. Q is an all-powerful authority, casting judgment over humanity and enforcing the cosmic status quo of the Q Continuum, but he’s also a cartoonish agent of chaos who takes delight in befuddling straight-laced Starfleet Captains. Most of the best Q episodes find a balance between Q’s two extremes, depicting him as part bully, part teacher, and part comic relief.

In recognition of the delicate chemistry that goes into creating a good Q episode, Polygon’s scientists have developed the Q Scale, a method of measuring the ratio of Authoritative Q to Chaotic Q in a given story. The Q Scale is similar to the pH Scale. It starts at zero (Fully Authoritarian), and ends at 14, (Fully Chaotic). A median of 7 represents a healthy balance between these extremes.

This excludes his appearance in the Lower Decks episode “Veritas” (which is too slight to include here) and his recurring role in Picard’s second season (which shouldn’t be judged until it’s completed), we’ve ranked every appearance of Q based on where it sits on the Q Scale, ​​in ascending order of chaos.

12. “Encounter at Farpoint”

Next GenerationSeason 1 Episode 1

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The series premiered in Star Trek: The Next GenerationQ orders the Enterprise’s crew to face trial in behalf of humanity. Q introduces himself to the world as an agent of a supreme ruling body that has decided our species is far too violent and savage to continue expanding across the galaxy. The episode contains the seeds of the flamboyant, hedonistic Q of his later appearances — namely, his love of playing dress-up — but most of what makes Q pop in “Farpoint” comes from John de Lancie’s performance rather than from the script itself. de Lancie was chosen by TrekGene Roddenberry was chosen for this role because of his talent to lift the material. Future appearances will be written keeping in mind his theatre strengths.

Q Level: 1 (Wholly authoritarian)

The Facts: The character of Q was a late addition to the script for “Encounter at Farpoint.” Writer Dorothy “D.C.” Fontana had been instructed to write a script for a 90-minute series premiere, and when the episode was expanded to two hours, Roddenberry wrote a 30-minute “envelope” story to pad out the episode, adding the “trial for humanity” subplot. Fontana, with fellow Trek writer David Gerrold later theorized that Roddenberry did this in order to deliberately pocket what would have been Fontana’s contractual bonus for writing a double-sized episode.

11. “True Q”

Next Generation Season 6, Episode 6

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This is how it works Next Generation episode, young Enterprise intern Amanda Rogers (Olivia d’Abo) discovers that she’s actually a Q, born on Earth to two outcasts from the Continuum who chose to live as humans. As her abilities are now apparent, Captain Picard orders that Q not be sent to her rescue. This is Q’s sixth appearance. TNGBecause of his love and knowledge about Picard, he is more open to compromise. Q attempts to sway Amanda by claiming that the point of being Q is to do whatever you want, but this doesn’t hold water given that he also threatens to kill her if she doesn’t cooperate with the Continuum. This episode is Q’s least enjoyable, with him being an annoying teenager girl for most of it.

Q Level: 2 (Highly authoritarian)

The Facts: Writer René Echevarria tried to name the young Q “Samantha” after the protagonist of the 1960s sitcom BewitchedHowever, Rick Berman (executive producer) noticed the reference and rejected the idea.

10. “Death Wish”

Voyager Season 2, Episode 18

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After Next GenerationQ started guest-starring in its next spinoff. Star Trek Voyager. He was his first Voyager episode, “Death Wish,” is undoubtedly his best, and the most successful attempt at exploring the internal politics of the Q Continuum. In “Death Wish,” Voyager encounters a second Q (who calls himself “Quinn” to avoid confusion) whose desire to become mortal has made him a political enemy of the Continuum. When Quinn applies for asylum aboard Voyager, the powers that be dispatch our old familiar Q to represent their interests in a hearing to determine Quinn’s fate. “Death Wish” is the best of the more authoritarian Q episodes, not only because it explores a complex moral dilemma in the classic Star Trek tradition, but because it interrogates the duality of Q’s character. Quinn forces Q to look at himself and realize that he’s lost his sense of mischief and sold out to The Man.

Q Level: 3 (Skeptically authoritarian)

The Facts: John de Lancie and Kate Mulgrew (Voyager’s Captain Janeway) have been close friends since long before Star Trek, which no doubt contributed to the pair’s chemistry on screen.

9. “Q2”

Voyager Season 7 Episode 18

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In Q’s final appearance on Voyager, we get acquainted with his son, Q (or “Junior,” played by John de Lancie’s real-life son Keegan). Since Junior is the first child born in the Continuum, the inexperienced Q ditches his unruly adolescent offspring with Captain “Aunt Kathy” Janeway in the hopes that she can teach him some discipline. The Continuum expects Junior to help maintain order in the universe and threatens him with severe punishment if he fails to shape up, but Q himself plays only a minor role in turning his son’s life around, letting the VoyagerCrew set an example of responsible behavior. When Q does finally participate, it’s by staging a cruel costume drama that tricks Junior into believing that he’s put his new friend Icheb’s life in danger. Junior is scared by Q’s classic hijinx. He makes Starfleet crew members laugh and tries to make them more responsible.

Q Level: 4 (Nominally authoritarian)

The Facts: This is Keegan de Lancie’s final acting credit. He works currently for the US State Department.

8. “All Good Things…”

Next Generation Season 7, Episode 25

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Finale of the series Next Generation resumes the trial that began in “Encounter at Farpoint,” returning Picard to the scene of his first conflict with Q as well as showing him a glimpse of a possible future. As it turns out, Q has been directed by the Continuum to put Picard through one more deadly test that will either prove humanity’s potential or destroy all organic life in the galaxy. Q not only follows the orders of Picard, but also gets permission to speak to Picard. Picard has been pestering Q for seven years, and Q now finds it less interesting to control or pass judgment on humanity. Q wants us all to reach our maximum potential.

Q Level: 5 (Barely authoritarian)

The Facts: “All Good Things…” is, to date, the fourth and final Star Trek episode to win the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. Between 1966 and 2018, 25 movies and episodes were nominated.

7. “Tapestry”

Next Generation Season 6, Episode 15

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In “Tapestry,” arguably the best Q episode of all time, Captain Picard dies after suffering damage to his artificial heart. Picard is greeted by Q in the supposed afterlife, and Q offers Picard the opportunity to revisit a crucial moment in his youth: the bar fight which resulted his replacement cardiac valve. Q acts as Picard’s guardian angel on a time-bending journey painted with shades of Christmas CarolAnd It’s a Wonderful Life, teaching Picard to value the wilder parts of himself, the traits that he just happens to share with Q. Q finds the exercise amusing, sure, but he seems motivated primarily by the desire to help his “pet” human learn a difficult lesson, and to save his life in the process. Picard is permitted to make his own choices throughout the entire experience, and while he does encounter a cruel twist, it’s one of his own making and Q provides a way out of it.

Q Level: 6 (Benignly authoritarian)

The Facts: Writer Roland D. Moore considered using “Tapestry” to visit more than one pivotal moment in Picard’s life, including the never-seen death of his best friend Jack Crusher aboard the USS Stargazer.

6. “Qpid”

Next Generation Season 4, Episode 20

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Picard believes he owes Q an apology for their past adventure. Q demands Picard does a favour. Since Picard refuses to offer any suggestions apart from “Go away,” Q decides to interject into Picard’s love life, forcing him to confront his feelings for the rogue archeologist Vash (Jennifer Hetrick). Picard and Vash are taken by Q to be part of a recreation about Robin Hood. Once in motion, the fantasy is beyond even Q’s own control, and Picard and company have mere hours to storm Nottingham Castle and rescue Vash/Maid Marian from her scheduled execution. Q is the one who creates this game. However, Q also adheres to them. Picard and Q all benefit.

Q Level: 7(Equally chaotic and autoritarian)

The Facts: In the episode’s climactic battle, all of the male Enterprise crew members draw swords while Dr. Crusher and Counselor Troi smash vases over the heads of their opponents. Ironically, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, and Patrick Stewart were the only ones with fencing experience.

5. “Hide and Q”

Next GenerationSeason 1, Episode 10

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Picard insists that Commander Riker resist the temptation of Q’s second appearance. Q then gives Commander Riker power similar to his own. While Q is still acting on the authority of the Continuum and in the interests of better understanding humanity, “Hide and Q” doubles down on John de Lancie’s whimsy, casting Q even more like a tempestuous child who plays with the fates of individuals and entire species for his amusement. Q devises a high-stakes contest for the crew that is, by his own admission, “entirely unfair.” When his attempts to woo Riker to godhood fail anyway, the Continuum forces Q to abide by the conditions of his own game and leave the Enterprise alone.

Q Level: 9 (Noticeably chaotic)

The Facts:A draft from an earlier episode of this episode showed that only three Q members were present.

4. “The Q and the Grey”

VoyagerSeason 3 Episode 11

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Q, inspired by Quinn’s experiences with Quinn leads a revolutionary movement which launches the Continuum to civil war. Q wants to change the status quo that he used to uphold by creating the first Q since eons. He also desires Captain Janeway as its mother. This episode does not mention Amanda Rogers. Q’s maturity level swings wildly between adulthood and adolescence throughout the episode. His goal is to strike down the old order and establish a new one that is less restrictive to individual freedoms and more receptive to new ideas, but his plan hinges on some pretty wild assumptions, namely that a half-Q, half-human baby will be greeted as a messiah and that reproducing with one of his own, like his longtime “associate” Q (Suzie Plakson), would be impossible. It is embarrassing to see his sexism and attempts to seduce Janeway.

Q Level: 10 (Actively chaotic)

The Facts: Prior to playing a Q, Suzie Plakson portrayed Vulcan Dr. Selar the Klingon Ambassador K’Ehleyr on Next Generation. There are winks to both of these roles in her dialogue in “The Q and the Grey.”

3. “Q Who”

Next GenerationSeason 2, Episode 16

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Q appears on Enterprise as Picard, offering to help the crew. He will even renounce all his powers if required. Picard rejects Q, feeling that Q is far too dangerous for him to be trusted. Q handles this rejection by shoving the Enterprise deep into unexplored space, where they encounter an enemy too powerful to confront without his help — the Borg. Q’s point is well-proven when the Enterprise comes into contact with the Borg, a species which would endanger billions of people and alter the Federation’s face over the next fifteen years. While there’s still plenty of “teacher Q” in this action, it’s also an impulsive, unilateral decision with massive repercussions that he barely seems to consider. So long as he’s properly shaken Picard, he’s satisfied.

Q Level: 11 (Maliciously chaotic)

The Facts: Maurice Hurley had originally planned for the main villain in Season Two to appear as a race or insects. But that plan was rejected by writers. Although the Borg retain the original idea’s hive mind, they were instead depicted as humanoid Cyborgs.

2. “Deja Q”

Next GenerationSeason 3, Episode 13

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Embarrassed by his clownish antics and galaxy-spanning reputation for wanton cruelty, the Continuum casts Q out and drops him on Picard’s doorstep. Q, now trapped in a human body must depend on the compassion and generosity of Enterprise crew members to survive. While he can’t get up to much trouble in his human form “Deja Q” is the first episode to depict Q as a liar and cheater who’s spent eternity tormenting weaker beings for sport. Much in the way that “Death Wish” makes Q second-guess his authoritarian bent, “Deja Q” challenges his desire to wreak havoc and force-feeds him some of his own medicine.

Q Level: 13 (Proudly chaotic)

The Facts:The teaser trailer for Episode X shows the naked Q arriving on Enterprise’s bridge. John de Lancie chose to perform the scene nude after director Les Landau failed to discover a camera trickery that would achieve the desired result.

1. “Q-Less”

Deep Space NineSeason 1 Episode 6

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Q only makes one appearance TNG’s first spin-off, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in an episode that serves as a sequel to “Qpid.” After two years exploring the galaxy as Q’s companion, archeologist Vash catches a lift back to Federation space via the Bajoran Wormhole and arranges to spend some time aboard the show’s titular space station. Vash tries unsuccessfully to get away from Q. However, he insists on staying with her. He spends the rest of the week harassing her and all members of the DS9 team who are in his path. In “Q-Less,” Q has no goal beyond stalking a woman who’s rejected him, and has no involvement or interest in an existential threat to the station that rears its head during his visit. He’s purely there to goof off and make mischief. The episode has one memorable moment, in which Sisko is unable to control his anger and locks him in the jaw. Q was not the right fit for the scene and tone. DS9They have never been seen again.

Q Level: 14“Bugs Bunny chaos”

The Facts: The Deep Space Nine Companion, John de Lancie was dissatisfied with the depiction of Q in this episode, feeling that “skirt-chasing” was a motivation unworthy of his character.