This page is about the character Q; for the race, see Q Continuum.

Q
Q in the guise of "God" in "Tapestry"
Species:	Q
Gender:	none (male as chosen form of appearance)
Home planet:	N/A; originates from the Q Continuum
Portrayed by:	John de Lancie

Q, played by John de Lancie, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe who appears in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. The name "Q" is also shared by other members of the Q Continuum. Gene Roddenberry chose the letter "Q" for the character and race in honor of his friend, Janet Quarton.^{[citation needed]} Q In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Q are a race of near-omnipotent, near-omniscient god-like beings from a parallel existence called the Q Continuum. ... Image File history File links Q_portrait. ... This article discusses the term God in the context of monotheism and henotheism. ... Tapestry is an episode of season six of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biodiversity. ... Q In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Q are a race of near-omnipotent, near-omniscient god-like beings from a parallel existence called the Q Continuum. ... Gender in common usage refers to the sexual distinction between male and female. ... Q In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Q are a race of near-omnipotent, near-omniscient god-like beings from a parallel existence called the Q Continuum. ... For the oboist, see John de Lancie (oboist) John de Lancie (born March 20, 1948) is an American character actor. ... For the oboist, see John de Lancie (oboist) John de Lancie (born March 20, 1948) is an American character actor. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ... The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Space station Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (ST:DS9 or STDS9 or DS9 for short) is a science fiction television series produced by Paramount and set in the Star Trek universe. ... The starship Voyager (NCC-74656), an Intrepid-class starship. ... Q In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Q are a race of near-omnipotent, near-omniscient god-like beings from a parallel existence called the Q Continuum. ... Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was an American scriptwriter and producer. ...

Q is a mischievous, seemingly omnipotent being who has taken an interest in humans. Q's power is limited only in that he cannot overcome others in the Q Continuum. However, they can kill each other (as can non Q continuum members) if they have the right weapons. He also has a flair for the dramatic, with a mercurial personality that switches between a joking, camp style and a more ominous and even dangerous manner. While he is boastful, condescending and threatening, he arguably has humanity's best interests at heart, as seen in the series finale, All Good Things..., in which he causes Jean-Luc Picard to shift through time periods, giving him a chance to save humanity. In his portrayal of Q, John de Lancie used as his inspiration a description attributed to Lord Byron: "Mad, bad and dangerous to know."^[1] Omnipotence (literally, all power) is the power to do absolutely anything. ... Q In the Star Trek fictional universe, the Q are a race of near-omnipotent, near-omniscient god-like beings from a parallel existence called the Q Continuum. ... Camp is an aesthetic in which something has appeal because of its bad taste or ironic value. ... All Good Things. ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, is a character from the Star Trek franchise who appears in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, in the movies Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis, and makes a cameo appearence in... Lord Byron, English poet Lord Byron (1803), as painted by Elisabeth Vigee-Lebrun George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, (January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824) was the most widely read English language poet of his day. ...

Beginning with the pilot episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Q became a popular recurring character, in large part because of the comedic and dramatic chemistry between de Lancie and Patrick Stewart (who played Captain Jean-Luc Picard). Interestingly enough, de Lancie always felt that each portrayal of Q was the last time he'd take up the role.^{[citation needed]} The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Patrick Stewart OBE (born July 13, 1940) is an Emmy- and Golden Globe-nominated English film, television and stage actor. ... Captain is a commissioned rank of the Starfleet in the fictional universe of Star Trek. ... Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, is a character from the Star Trek franchise who appears in the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation, in the movies Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, and Star Trek: Nemesis, and makes a cameo appearence in...

Overview

Q (John de Lancie) first appears as a villain, putting Picard and the Enterprise crew on trial for venturing beyond humanity's abilities and threatening all of humanity with annihilation. In later episodes, he becomes more of a trickster. Q evolved into a sympathetic, and sometimes even pitiable character. In "Déjà Q", Q is punished by the Q Continuum by being turned into a mortal; his commission of an uncharacteristically selfless act garners the return of his powers. In the same episode, Q says that Picard is "the closest thing in this universe that I have to a friend." Toward the end of The Next Generation, Q is less antagonistic toward Picard, even in "Tapestry", apparently saving Picard's life and helping the captain better understand himself. In the series finale, "All Good Things...", Q gives Picard a "helping hand" in saving humanity. The trickster figure Reynard the Fox as depicted in an 1869 childrens book by Michel Rodange. ... Déjà Q was the 61st episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation and the 13th episode of the third season. ... Tapestry is an episode of season six of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ...

Picard often thinks of Q as an annoyance, and Q often is surprised by Picard and the other humans he encounters. In "Q Who?", when Picard argues that humanity is capable of dealing with anything, Q whisks the USS Enterprise to the Delta Quadrant for humanity's first encounter with the Borg. Picard resorts to asking for Q to save the ship. Surprised, Q brings the Enterprise home and tells Picard that most men would rather have died than ask for help. Q Who? is an episode from the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ... The USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D) (or Enterprise-D, to distinguish it from prior starships with the same name) is a 24th century starship in the Star Trek fictional universe and the principal setting of the Star Trek: The Next Generation television series. ... The quadrant arrangement of the Star Trek Galaxy. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ...

In Q's later appearances on Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, he is less concerned with humanity as a whole, and is more of a comic relief character. In the DS9 episode "Q-Less", Q at one point goads Commander Benjamin Sisko into a bare-knuckle boxing match, all the while belittling and insulting him. When Sisko loses his temper and knocks Q down, an astonished Q says, "You hit me! Picard never hit me!" Sisko counters frankly that "I'm not Picard." Q responds with a smile, saying "No...you're much easier to provoke." Comic relief is the inclusion of a humorous character or scene or witty dialogue in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension. ... Q-Less is a first-season episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... Commander is a commissioned Starfleet officer rank in the fictional Star Trek universe. ... Captain Benjamin Lafayette Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, is a Starfleet officer and the main character of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ... See also bare-knuckle for other uses. ...

Q in a Starfleet uniform.

Q enjoys goading humans, Klingons, and other races to display their savage side, and when they refuse he dismisses them as no fun; this seems to be just a game for Q; however, and when characters show genuine compassion or restraint, he will usually admit to being impressed that their "tiny human minds" were capable of such actions. Image File history File links Q_(Star_Trek). ... Image File history File links Q_(Star_Trek). ... This page is about the race. ...

Later, on Voyager, Q has started a civil war among the continuum in a campaign for personal freedoms. The war goes badly for his side however, and Q comes to the conclusion that the creation, or birth, of a new member of the continuum could revitalize the Q. Q first seeks Captain Janeway to be the mother of his child but she refuses and eventually Q procreates with a female Q he had previously been involved with. Kathryn Janeway (Born: May 20, 2332 in Bloomington, Indiana), played by Kate Mulgrew, is a Starfleet officer in the fictional Star Trek universe. ...

The child is born entirely conscious and with all the powers of any other Q. As could be imagined, such power in the hands of an immature child goes terribly wrong. Q's son causes no end of trouble for the continuum and Q turns to Captain Janeway for help. Eventually they agree that the boy will remain on Voyager, without his powers, and either learn how to be a responsible, productive citizen of the cosmos, or spend eternity as an amoeba. Eventually the young Q comes around but the continuum is not entirely convinced, so in negotiations with Q, they work out an agreement. Q must eternally guard, observe, and accompany the boy to ensure he behaves. The two set out together with a much better relationship, and Q offers Janeway a gift in thanks by showing her how to cut a few years off their trip back to Federation space. When asked why he won't send them all the way, he replies that doing all the work for them would set a bad example for his son. Alternate meanings: Amoeboid, Amoebozoa For other uses, see Amoeba (disambiguation). ...

Appearances

Episodes featuring Q often have titles that play on the letter "Q".

References

1. ^ Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD, disc 7, extras

External links

• Q article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki
• Q Continuum article at Memory Alpha, a Star Trek wiki