I've had a similar conversation psychopathic ex girlfriend. I don't mean psychopath to be cute either...as in diagnosable Anti Social Personality disorder. In a way its not surprising looking back both thought they were God among mortals.
Riker alerts the crew that Pikard has gone senile and is complaining about his imaginary friend "Q" again. Everybody humors him for the remainder of the episode by pretending to see him.
Byron MacGreggor Picard's interactions with Q could've been the perfect way for Riker to get that promotion he was angling for. "Starfleet Command? This is Commander Riker of the Enterprise. Captain Picard is talking to his imaginary friend "Q" again. He says Q owes him a favor and is trying to set the Captain up on a date with Councillor Vash. Yeah I know it sounds crazy. I recommend confining Picard to his quarters and that I assume command of this ship. "
I love the fact that Picard resolutely denied Q at every turn until Q brought up archaeology, and with that, managed to intrigue the Captain for a moment.
Pick'n'Roll82 they wrote star fleet reports that even Sisco and janeway read. It's only fair that they'd have some drills. I can only imagine how they went. "And remember, most importantly of all; never anger a being that can de-evolve you."
Q was one of the best parts about TNG, and there were a lot of "best parts." Moments like this make me appreciate him even more, especially at the end when Riker and Picard get ready to prepare for the inevitable.
Q offers to do Picard's homework and get an A. Picard resolves to stand by his own work. This is the kind of character development and minor tension that this scene creates. Excellent writing.
Love the way de Lancie played Q. Made him very layered, could be playful one minute, threatening the next. But he never overdid it, he always knew when to pull back and let others take the scene. A nice lesson in acting for anyone.
Acting should be like an orchestra, with different instruments all having their moments to shine. A song where one instrument dominates or even drowns out all others is a bad song.
I love the look on Picard's face when he tells Riker, "He wants to do something 'nice' for me." And Riker immediately knows they have to brace themselves for disaster. XD
I like the pauses on Picard’s side of the conversation when Q talks about taking him to see the ruins. He lets you know he’s determined to stick to his guns, but is not immune from temptation.
Totally agree! As interested as Picard is in ancient civilizations and archaeology, he wanted nothing more at that moment than what Q was offering. And he knew Q could do it. But he realizes it's a deal with the devil.
Picard's next report to star fleet: "I once again got contacted by that incomprehensibly powerful being which could destroy us in an instant if it so desired. It said it felt in my debt and would do almost anything to return the favor. Only our imagination sets the limit of how much this could benefit humanity. We could secure peace for millenia, achieve scientific breakthroughs, spread prosperity, develop as a species and so much more ...so my natural response was to insult him as I've always done. Oh, by the way, it has a history of tormenting species that pisses it off. Cheerio, lads!"
@@seamusburke639 Doesnt mean you should be rude to the entity that could literally destroy the Federation with a snap. I am sure the rest of the Q would step in if its members did anything too insane but there is a limit to their caring. They did not care when the Dowd destroyed an aggressive hostile interstellar civilization.
@FreymanArt Even if Q had the best intentions and it couldn't go wrong in any way, in this timeline the Federation and humans in particular want to better themselves and achieve things with their own efforts. They don't want to be given things.
@@limemobber Idk, the point at which they step in could be if one of them is about to destroy an entire universe or something... It's not gonna be if they mildly, to extremely torture just a single person; they don't see it worth the effort.
@@jdgindustries2734 in Q's case there isn't a difference. You would have to strip their power and immorality in order to be banished other wise it's an open door back
@@jdgindustries2734 There is no difference I believe. For example, when Q regains his powers in "Deja Q" he associates his powers with his un-banishment, saying( ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kl2nJQrpksc.html ): "I'm forgiven. My brothers and sisters in the continuum have taken me back. I'm immortal again! Omnipotent again!" As to Quinn, he may have been under different circumstances. However, I believe that under *Q's circumstances* of banishment - whether they were a result of a unique banishment, or just what the Continuum usually does and did in that instance - are that the banishment usually means being striped of status AND power. After all, there's no other equally powerful beings in Star Trek (to my knowledge), anything that resembles the power of a Q, someone that could've left the continuum and still had the powers.
The best part of Q and Picard's banter is that neither can yield now. Their relationship is established - Picard must remain resolute, and Q must always offer everything. Their battle is a verbal one, but more importantly it's a battle of attrition, wit, and promise.
My favorite part of this scene is that, despite his best efforts, Picard can't help but be charmed by Q's radical freedom. There's a moment where he hesitates and seriously considers saying yes. Who wouldn't enjoy having a genie for a friend?
I really think Picard was grudgingly amused that Q took so much of an interest in him. He wants to act annoyed but deep down he really is a friend to Q. Q is pretty much omnipotent yet takes such a fascination with mere mortal Picard it's charming.
Indeed I agree. The character could have been and should of been used more often and could have been borrowed for network commercials. Opportunities squandered....
I hated him based on the "farpoint" episode but gradually came to really enjoy him. Worf say "I AM NOT A MERRY MAN!" will always be one of my favorite STNG scenes.
I still think Q really felt like he owed Picard a lot more even after this episode. We can assume the REAL sign of gratitude was when Q helped Picard to find peace with himself in that season 6 episode "Tapestry". There's something i always loved about this whole character dynamics and character development of Q from resentment and mockery in the beginning which then started to ease up and became more curiosity, mixed with a little more respect and he even actually cared for Picard. And yet Q was still playful since he's a Q after all. It is absolutely fantastic what John de Lancie did with this character :)
This is the sole TNG episode that I enjoy watching on network TV. The implied five minutes of shocked silence before he snaps at Q are comedy at its finest.
I love how Picard showed temptation at the offer of visiting the ruins. It reinforces his passion for archaeology and shows his strength of character. I love the acting
2:20 We see two of Captain Picard's strongest motivations coming into conflict with each other. His passion for archaeology and exploration was telling him to take Q up on his offer, while his moral principles were telling him to refuse to violate the planet's laws. I really liked how they showed Picard hesitating, weighing the possibilities, fighting the temptation to accept Q's offer. It showed that Picard was still human, and had his weaknesses just like everybody else. Although his respect for the planet's laws ultimately won out, it was still a struggle for Picard to set aside his desire to see the planet's ruins for himself.
@doctorwho0077 Five words: The 'Vulcan Love Slave' series. Erotic holonovels are VERY popular throughout the Federation, and holosuites are very commonly used for this purpose. (Remember what Bashir told Garak in 'Our Man Bashir' - how breaking into someone's holosuite uninvited while they're running a program is a criminal offense?) I don't think that using the image of an actual person is severely criminal (a misdemeanor, maybe), but definitely improper and immoral - like masturbating in a public place. Security will come along to take you away for it, with punishment of a decent fine or community service. Just running an erotic holoprogram isn't an issue, I'd think. If it was, Riker would be doing hard time... so to speak, because that's what he's doing in the Holodeck in the first place!
If you cum in the holodeck, does it like, just fall on the floor when the program ends? Do they have nanobot cum scrubbers? Important questions, that hopefully the new Picard Trek show will answer.
The only Star Trek which does it for me. I'd never go back and rewatch TOS and I certainly am not going to watch Voyager or DS9. TNG 100x times over, is my thing.
Q: "I'll do anything for you, Jean-Luc! Just name it!" Picard: "No thanks." Q: "Really? Nothing at all?" P: "No." Q: "Not even, say... Genociding the Borg?" P: "No. We need them for spin-offs and movies. Just give me an obnoxious morality play for the next 40 minutes." Q: "Splendid!"
The issue with Genociding the Borg is that it's made up of living, unwilling slaves who we have seen CAN be saved. Imagine having that on your conscience.
Whenever John De Lancie and Patrick Stewart share a stage, an angel gets its wings. And a dog gets a good home. And a student finds a $5'er in the their pocket.
I just realized that Q episodes become even better than they already are if you pretend that Q is a figment of Picard's imagination, and the entire crew is just humoring him.
If I was Picard, I would have made Q my best friend and make him grant some favors... Imagine what Q could give away as favor, He could make whole space time upside down, change the past, present and future.. update the ship system to anything one likes, take one to the tour of the universe from birth to it's death, etc, etc.. He could fulfill all the dreams one can think of in the snap of the finger.. Q could be my very best friend.. amazing.... :0)
num lock well Picard´s girlfriend Vash spent a very long time with Q and then she found out how he really was a when she told him to let her be, Q was outwardly cruel and caused her pain till Sisko intervened, while Vash was on DS9.. not to mention the notoriously known annoying visits on USS Voyager.. I liked Janeway´s way of handling Q... in The Q and the Grey she told Q that they´re gonna get home but they´ll do it through hard workl and determination and that they don´t look for some quick fix... that´s what gives a human life a meaning... and that´s what you lose if you´re gonna try exploit any offer, advance or advice given by Q... you´ll become worthless.. the way of thinking will change and you may become relying and dependable what is not an value nor ability that Q continuum and human themselves see as valuable in humans...
Lex Smith Q was by far the most philosophically developed aspect of the series and by far my favorite character. He was the embodiment of an old African spiritual concept known as Exu. The "man at the cross-roads" testing people with life choices and reveling in human strife, as it is in strife that humans truly learn. His epithets include "He who throws to stone tomorrow to strike the bird yesterday", "The knower of all roads" and "The one small enough to fit millions of times on the head of a needle and large enough to encompass the universe". Even the colors of the robe he wore when he sat in judgement on the first episode "Red and Black" are the symbolic colors of Exu.
Brahima Arsalan this comment is far too religious-like... Q ain´t the only one of his kind !! If there was someone who truly "moves the rock" then it was Quinn. The first Q who commited suicide.. and let´s not forget that it was captain Kathryn Janeway who made it possible.. (and of course Tuvok, cuz how Q (de Lancie ) himself stated - "VULCANS!!!" ) When Quinn, still as Q at a time, was stripped of his powers right after the judgement which allowed him to commit suicide, Q gave him deadly poison to allow him to commit suicide. So you see it was Quinn who moved and changed Q and the Q continuum itself. Q stated himself that Quinn was the one who changed him and made him see the change is needed and that he always admired his rebelliousness. Q was even thrown out from Q continuum due to the fact that others considered his actions and doings unacceptable and wrong !! And only because he showed one of many human qualities (there´s that lil´ thing of a selfless act.. remember?!! ) he was reinstated by Q2 (not Q junior) back as Q with his powers. He wasn´t the most philosophically developed aspect, he was only the most volatile and powerful element in Star trek universe (multiverse). The most philosophically developed aspect was the captain trio composed of Picard, Janeway and Sisko !! they had to deal with people, directives, morals and actual doings (meaning the orders they had to give or carry out).
"i could take you back to Taguis 2 billion years ago. they REALLY knew how to party in those days..." One of the less significant reasons why i love Q. such a great sense of humor xD
Q: "Jean Luc it's wonderful to see you again. How about a big hug?" Young Jean Luc Picard: NO, WE ARE NOT FRIENDS Star Trek Picard: Your wish is granted.
Looking back at these episodes I can understand why Q is the way he is. You're talking about an immortal being who, as he says here, knows what people were doing 2 billion years ago and is witness to their fading into obscurity with any individual names and personalities and merited achievements turning into nothing. Just imagine what he is saying to some starship captain billions of years from now writing a speech on the ruins of Earth. Behaving like this is probably an escape mechanism for Q so he doesn't have to face up to the reality of his condition.
its reasons like that why i wouldnt want to live forever. Super powers like a q, or just plain flesh and bone. Sooner or later, time would make me a miserable man. 1000 years is too long....but 70-100 years is too damn short...... Id be happy with a 300-400 year life. (:
If I were a Q I would want to make sure the people are remembered somehow. Then I would feel like I'm honoring the people that died. Also I would feel a sense of duty to saving lives and keeping the universe's largest history book. I would also be a prankster too and create mariachi bands out of thin air
That's quite the dilemma, tackled by many different writers since before film and TV were even invented. The question basically remains the same, though: "Would you want to live forever, if you were the only one?"
Thing is... Q isn't bound by linear time. To his perception, those people 2 billion years ago would be just as alive as Picard, because he exists in their time simultaneously to Picard's time and the time of that hypothetical captain billions of years later and his conversations with Picard are both fleeting moments and endless eternities at the same time.
+mrspidey80 Yeah I think that was the only time I had ever seen Picard genuinely tempted by one of Q's "offers." Usually Q just blackmails and threatens him, but that time he was actually about to willingly accept something from Q. I thought that was pretty funny. The "We all make mistakes" line was hilarious :)
"If JJ Abrams ever takes over this series and a supernova that travels faster than the speed of light somehow wipes out the Romulan Empire and takes Spock to an alternate timeline where Millennials run Starfleet, you must appear and undo it."
The writing for this entire scene is just remarkably good, the acting brings the script to life, the music scoring is a great addition, the camera placement and movements are pleasing, the edits are professional. Really just one of the most impressively produced TV series in history.
God the acting in this show is spectacular. Just the little hesitation from Picard when Q offers to take him to the ruins, a slight pause where you can see him consider it and imagine himself being there, before shaking it off and saying 'No'. What a fantastic show.
Picard: I've just been paid a visit from Q. Riker: Q? Any idea what he's up to? Picard: He wants to do something nice for me. Riker: I'll alert the crew. I don't know why but this killed me.
One of the things I like about Q is that for all his power he recognizes Picard as a much better, braver, wiser, more compassionate person than he is and craves his approval, but at the same time resents that he's so outclassed by such a tiny creature, and feels even guiltier and more self-conscious for it, which he covers up with omnipotent bluster. People throughout all of time and space rightly recognize Q as a huge asshole, since he's basically the intergalactic version of a kid frying ants with a magnifying glass (though he seems more interested in taunting and humiliating people than hurting them), but similarly that means he doesn't care what they think of him, except for Picard, who is the one being in the universe who can make him feel guilty, and whose respect and friendship is the one thing he wants but can't have at a whim.
I swear, the only thing that changes about John's roles is the name of the character. He's always the same loveable psycho, be it on a Federation starship, or in a world full of magical talking horses.
Q and Discord are the same character though... they are meant to be the exact same person I imagine that Q is able to visit different universes and one of those universes happens to be the my little pony one xD (he gets turned into stone and just acts as though it has an effect... leaves them alone for some time until getting interested again when Twilight does her thing)
also the game "Quandrum conundrum" is with him... he doesn't play Q, but there are a few hints on that it might be Q or something? They have "Q" written all over the game :P
He also played a judge on an episode of Law & Order. You could really tell he was trying to dial back the "Q at Farpoint Station" but he only managed to bring it down about half way, which was of course fantastic. I think they should have just let him go full Q, robes and throne and everything.
I really enjoyed the discord episodes. Now you've got me thinking Discord was just what Q was doing off-screen when he decided to bother other beings in another universe. The dragonipus was just the form he took to appear to the ponies. :D
Ok, I get that Picard doesn't want to break Taguan Law, that's fine. ... So let Q take him to the ruins ~before~ they made it illegal. I'm just sayin'... PS: Make sure to promise not to strand you in the past.
TheClassiestFox Picard's not a time agent, and besides if not for a little bit of time travel, earth would have been wiped out by Star Trek 4's alien probe. Q got frustrated once and introduced the Federation to the Borg. Frustrating Q is not a healthy activity.
Sabrecho The Temporal Prime Directive still applies, you don't need to be a time traveler. "The first mention of a Temporal Prime Directive was by Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in 2368." (TNG: "A Matter of Time") That is far before the Temporal Ships and Agents came into play in the shows. Furthermore Picard challenges the Temporal Prime Directive in the same episode. However as with the standard Prime Directive, Captain Picard (And Janeway, Kirk, and Sisko) has broken both Directives when it's been the right thing to do.
I'm just gonna say that the very episode you mention, Picard is merely guessing at the existence of "Some kind of Temporal equivalent of that Directive". And, though he doesn't realize it at the time, he's arguing with a charlatan who, if there was anything remotely like some sort of Temporal police, would have been busted before showing up. I'm just sayin' ~if~ there really are time cops, wouldn't they bust a time travelling criminal before even potentially damaging the time line?
antifusion At the end of TNG it’s presented that all of Q’s interactions with Picard and crew have been part of researching/testing humans. Then that’s basically thrown out in Voyager.
@Evi1M4chine ha I dont disagree with you on the star trek side of things, I actually meant just in general. The only other thing I think I've seen him in is a small role in Multiplicity
This is Captain Picard to all crew - let it be known that at this time a gift basket and fluffy pink teddy bear were found in my ready room. We have reason to believe Q aims to be 'nice' to me again - if this was the action of a secret admirer; would he or she come forward NOW before we give up all hope?
Just a great scene with great acting! Love how Picard is constantly tempted by Q and deep down really wanted to say yes but it wouldn't be right. It's the small subtleties that takes this to the next level.
This man really did knock the role of Q out of the park. I’d like to think it is not easy to be a dominating appearance when you’re alone in a scene with Patrick Stewart
Q - "I have a debt to repay." "Tell me what is it you wish?" Picard - "Just be gone!" The Fans - "Produce a better quality of Star Trek in 2018-2020 Q to The Fans - "That's beyond even MY power!"
I’ve never understood how Picard was so dismissive and calm around Q. When he came across the being that lost his wife and could’ve destroyed them with a thought he showed a lot of respect but for Q he’s like “oh you again” but Q could erase all humanity
Because Picard understands Q's psychology. Q likes the challenge and banter, and the possibility that Picard might sometimes admit Q is superior. Q understands that Picard won't change who he is for powerful beings, and can provide entertainment. As Data once said "Q's relationship with you is not unlike a master with a beloved pet." Picard is a snappy little terrier for Q. You might find yourself put out by your pet doing what it wants, but you enjoy it and don't snap it out of existence.
Because Q likes Picard for who he is, and doesn't respect sycophants. Q also likes jokes, so would inevitably turn anything Picard asked for into a disaster. Picard being dismissive and calm is safer than being submissive or going along with Q's plan.
