Why was Q scared of Guinan?

[Gingerbread Demon]

I didn't think this really belonged in the TNG section as it's a more general sort of question but are there any theories as to why Q was so fearful of Guinan?

In the episode Q Who he seemed genuinely afraid of her, and I've always wished they would have expanded on that ..

 

[hux]

I wish it had never happened.

It was silly. Especially when she put her hands up as if she was gonna start shooting hadoukens at him or something.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

I wish it had never happened.

It was silly. Especially when she put her hands up as if she was gonna start shooting hadoukens at him or something.

I thought it was very cat like.... as if she was going to strike him down.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

I wish it had never happened.

It was silly. Especially when she put her hands up as if she was gonna start shooting hadoukens at him or something.

You beat me to it. Cringeworthy.

I suspect it was done to give Guinan some mystique and make viewers say, "Whoa! What is she about?" But I further suspect that there wasn't any theory behind it, and the writers just figured they'd have total leeway later to fill it in with anything they wanted.

 

[AntonyF]

I suspect it was done to give Guinan some mystique and make viewers say, "Whoa! What is she about?" But I further suspect that there wasn't any theory behind it, and the writers just figured they'd have total leeway later to fill it in with anything they wanted.

That's exactly how I interpret it.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

I always thought of the El-Aurians as Force-wielding Time Lords. Who wouldn't be afraid of that?

 

[Timo]

But I further suspect that there wasn't any theory behind it, and the writers just figured they'd have total leeway later to fill it in with anything they wanted.

Isn't that how Star Trek normally works? "We have this nifty android - his backstory (once we invent it) will be stunning!"; "The Klingons are mighty adversaries with a long history in opposing our heroes. Just wait till we come up with that history!"; "Here our valiant heroes fly in spaaace in a staaaaarship and have adventures! Soon enough, we will invent a reason for that. Does United Earth Police Department sound good? Space Service? Planetfleet?"

Timo Saloniemi

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

It's probably fear of bad puns. The droid and noid joke... He was worried if she might make a joke about his first name being Fur... as in Fur Q...

 

[Hawku]

Could be Guinan's extra-sensory abilities, and she might've messed up one of Q's mischief things with some group or species by exposing him.

 

[Richard Baker]

Guinan seemed to be a character who would do what was needed to move a story along- extra long lifespan, time/reality sensors, able to stand off a Q..
I for one was disappointed to find out that she just had a thing for weird disk shaped hats- I wanted her to have some weird head shape underneath them like the Coneheads dressing up as Abraham Lincoln or a fairytale princess to disguise.

 

[YJAGG]

I always thought of the El-Aurians as Force-wielding Time Lords. Who wouldn't be afraid of that?

And yet the Borg destroyed her home world?, I think it was just a throw away line

 

[svenden]

Well I'll be the first to admit that I loooooved Guinan. And I loved that they never explicitly explained her, her past, or her 'powers'. I agree none of it was likely intentional, it just happened that way, but I really like the intrigue it created.

Reminds me of listening to Nick Meyer's commentary on TWOK director's cut, explaining why the one glove that Khan keeps on his hand the entire movie is a small detail that is never explained, yet adds to the character.

Guinan was obviously a bigger deal than a glove, but I feel like the same applies. I love imagining what she and/or her race are really capable of.

Oh, one other note. I'm pretty sure Peter David was the author, of a trek novel from decades ago called Vendetta. It explored Picard's and Guinan's shared past, including with the Borg. First trek novel I ever read, and I recall really enjoying it. Should see if I still have it...

 

[137th Gebirg]

^^^ I read that one - really good book; loved them talking about the Doomsday Machines, too, and others like it.

Yeah, I would agree with what's been said, in that I think it was largely throw-away line to show that the Q have enemies. Extremely awkward in its concept and execution.

However, there may have been more behind it than we were ever told on-screen. It had been oft-demonstrated that not only do El-Aurians have long lifespans, but have an innate awareness of space-time outside the norm of other humanoid capabilities. "Yesterday's Enterprise" and "Time's Arrow" definitely seemed to showcase this specific trait. They seem to be on a higher level of evolution than their galactic neighbors, and possibly the next in line to "ascend" into a higher plane, which may be why the Q fear them, and why the Borg tried to wipe them out instead of assimilating them.

They may very well have begun "charting the unknown possibilities of existence".

 

[Granola Gwen]

^^ Yeah, I think Guinan's race could have evolved into something like an immortal being if the Borg hadn't wiped so many of them out. I wish in general her character on screen was expanded than just references.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

They never really told us all of Guinan's secrets. For all we know she has Q connections or somehow her extrasensory knowledge also gives her insight into Q vulnerabilities.

 

[Amaris]

Big fan of Guinan here, but yeah, like most folks I figure it was just a throwaway moment meant to foster curiosity as to Guinan's origins and abilities.

 

[Terok Nor]

Guinan was Q's crazy ex girlfriend.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Guinan was Q's crazy ex girlfriend.

I know I shouldn't but I kind of like this idea...

 

[bbailey861]

Guinan was Q's crazy ex girlfriend.

I know I shouldn't but I kind of like this idea...

Me, too. This idea could sponsor a few juicy stories.

 

[Nerys Myk]

She's the bartender he would share his sorrows with. She knows things about him he'd rather keep secret.