3 Qs about Q.

[junkdata]

1 Can we get an exhaustive list of feats for Q and the continuum?

2 Given the sheer breadth and potency of Qs magic/superpowers, where would he rank as a Marvel/DC super character? Who actually compares to him in fiction?

3 Given the above, was Q perhaps a bit of shark jump and a bad thing for the series? I mean it could be argued he changed the intrinsic nature of the universe depicted, and was only saved by the fact he was in the first episode (everyone gets one shark jump rule) and his presence was only intermittent in the usually coherent world TNG?

 

[T'Girl]

Like the Borg, Q was trotted out way too often. He should have been in three episodes tops. And never seen in Voyager.

That said, it would have been interesting to explore why he was openly scared of Guinan.

 

[Tiberius]

Q was never about the amazing things he could do. He was about making the characters face something deep, like in Q Who when he made Picard deal with humility, or Tapestry where he made Picard deal with the recklessness of his earlier life and how it was important in shaping him.

That's why he failed miserably in DS9, because he didn't do anything like that.

 

[HIjol]

Q was never about the amazing things he could do. He was about making the characters face something deep, like in Q Who when he made Picard deal with humility, or Tapestry where he made Picard deal with the recklessness of his earlier life and how it was important in shaping him.

That's why he failed miserably in DS9, because he didn't do anything like that.

Agreed, Tiberius...with respect to T-Girl, I am overall glad Q appeared as much as he did...I would add to Tiberius's thoughts, however, in that while he did "test" Jean-Luc in the "...face(ing) something deep..." arenas, he also was a version of evil and danger to "us"...much as Ardra was...IMHO, neither would have hesitated to kill or punish...

 

[Melakon]

Along with what Tiberius says, Q was at his best when he was making Picard and us ponder on issues of humanity. Our strengths, weaknesses, to learn to recognize them, and so on. But he's too tempting for the writers to play with, and sometimes gets put into a comedy where he is sometimes the butt of a joke. DeLancie is fine in comedy, but I like Q best when treated as a threat, not a clown.

Regarding a question in the OP:

Who actually compares to him in fiction?

God.

 

[AgentCoop]

Given the sheer breadth and potency of Qs magic/superpowers, where would he rank as a Marvel/DC super character? Who actually compares to him in fiction?

I always thought Q was basically a Trek version of Mr. Mxyzptlk, the 5th-dimensional being who likes to torment Superman.

 

[Tiberius]

Q was never about the amazing things he could do. He was about making the characters face something deep, like in Q Who when he made Picard deal with humility, or Tapestry where he made Picard deal with the recklessness of his earlier life and how it was important in shaping him.

That's why he failed miserably in DS9, because he didn't do anything like that.

Agreed, Tiberius...with respect to T-Girl, I am overall glad Q appeared as much as he did...I would add to Tiberius's thoughts, however, in that while he did "test" Jean-Luc in the "...face(ing) something deep..." arenas, he also was a version of evil and danger to "us"...much as Ardra was...IMHO, neither would have hesitated to kill or punish...

I don't think Q ever acted with an intent to cause suffering or harm. Face it, if he wanted to do that, he could have snapped his fingers and Picard would be in agony. Q always seemed to want to impart some important lesson (except for the DS9 episode which shall not be referred to).

 

[junkdata]

Q was never about the amazing things he could do. He was about making the characters face something deep, like in Q Who when he made Picard deal with humility, or Tapestry where he made Picard deal with the recklessness of his earlier life and how it was important in shaping him.

That's why he failed miserably in DS9, because he didn't do anything like that.

Agreed, Tiberius...with respect to T-Girl, I am overall glad Q appeared as much as he did...I would add to Tiberius's thoughts, however, in that while he did "test" Jean-Luc in the "...face(ing) something deep..." arenas, he also was a version of evil and danger to "us"...much as Ardra was...IMHO, neither would have hesitated to kill or punish...

I don't think Q ever acted with an intent to cause suffering or harm. Face it, if he wanted to do that, he could have snapped his fingers and Picard would be in agony. Q always seemed to want to impart some important lesson (except for the DS9 episode which shall not be referred to).

kenard

 

[Tiberius]

Agreed, Tiberius...with respect to T-Girl, I am overall glad Q appeared as much as he did...I would add to Tiberius's thoughts, however, in that while he did "test" Jean-Luc in the "...face(ing) something deep..." arenas, he also was a version of evil and danger to "us"...much as Ardra was...IMHO, neither would have hesitated to kill or punish...

I don't think Q ever acted with an intent to cause suffering or harm. Face it, if he wanted to do that, he could have snapped his fingers and Picard would be in agony. Q always seemed to want to impart some important lesson (except for the DS9 episode which shall not be referred to).

kenard

Huh?

 

[junkdata]

I don't think Q ever acted with an intent to cause suffering or harm. Face it, if he wanted to do that, he could have snapped his fingers and Picard would be in agony. Q always seemed to want to impart some important lesson (except for the DS9 episode which shall not be referred to).

kenard

Huh?

Reminded me of that kid in The wire that tortured the cat and then killed omar. Some of you must have stolkholm syndrome, because Q was a mofo of the worst order in quite a few ways. Didnt he single-handedly threaten humanity and bring them into contact with the borg?

If I go out and hold court on some small animals, threaten to genocide them and then forgive the ones that have "personality", does that make me a good person? Id get done by peta for that one.

Q reaffirms americas ideas about its own exceptionalism, through the lens of human exceptionalism, - something ST does a lot. How many non cute animals did Q put to death by genocide? He is basically the dowd "for fun" and frankly its easy to ceonceptualise him as a good guy, or an etheral presence, when in reality, it is factually correct that the man is a total sh--t, and the worse threat to humanity in history.

Im not saying I dont like him on some level, or that he aint "cool", but lets not forget the actual facts here, amongst the charm of the plot and characterisation.

The real angle I have, is questioning if he was necessary and if he was too Deus ex machina. Are we watching the author plant himself into the plot, as an actual character?

 

[junkdata]

God.

Thats not really accurate. Fiction doesn't purport to be real. It purports to be made up. Religion is more in line with philosophy section.

 

[varek]

Q was never about the amazing things he could do. He was about making the characters face something deep, like in Q Who when he made Picard deal with humility, or Tapestry where he made Picard deal with the recklessness of his earlier life and how it was important in shaping him.

That's why he failed miserably in DS9, because he didn't do anything like that.

As you say, Q was at his best when making mortals examine themselves and forcing us to grow. However, he became too convenient an escape button when the writers were stumped.

I once attended a conference where John de Lancie was the guest star. He was very cordial, sophisticated and intelligent. At that time, he announced that he and Leonard Nimoy were working on a couple of projects. What became of them?

 

[Push The Button]

DeLancie's Q always seemed to be a rebel, at odds with the rest of the continuum. I think the Q as a group were much more benevolent and mature, maybe like the Organians.

 

[T'Girl]

I don't think Q ever acted with an intent to cause suffering or harm.

If we're at the zoo, and I throw you into the loin enclosure and you're killed, can I stand smugly to the side and say "oh, it was the loins that killed him."

When Q threw the Enterprise into the path of the Borg, it was Q who killed several Enterprise crewmembers.

 

[HIjol]

...Q reaffirms americas ideas about its own exceptionalism, through the lens of human exceptionalism...

...sorry...what was that about America you said in your quote above?...could you please clarify?...

 

[junkdata]

...Q reaffirms americas ideas about its own exceptionalism, through the lens of human exceptionalism...

...sorry...what was that about America you said in your quote above?...could you please clarify?...

The idea of american exceptionalism is in a lot of ST, only its translated into human exceptionalism. "We are special and different". We arent the fastest, we arent the strongest, or even the smartest, but (imagine one of kirks speeches) there...is...something...unique....about....us...as...a...people....

Dude was all about the human exceptionalism, which was an extension of american exceptionalism in space to an extent. The federation was basically Americas idealised image of itself leading the world, and the aliens...

Kirk was often known to win the day with his "humanity" while spock served as contrast with his cold dispassionate logic.

If you go forward to TNG, Q is fascinated with these humans, and their uniqueness.

Fact is, who is to say other species arent more charming, funnier, wittier, better gamblers, and more courageous than the humans? This ever redeeming human charm, and this special and different exceptionalism is Americas idealised image of itself writ large.

Im not necessarily knocking it, but its a factor in ST.

 

[wulfio]

2 Given the sheer breadth and potency of Qs magic/superpowers, where would he rank as a Marvel/DC super character? Who actually compares to him in fiction?

I would equate him to the Beyonder in Marvel.

 

[CorporalClegg]

Who actually compares to him in fiction?

God.

And Dumbledore.

 

[T'Girl]

The idea of american exceptionalism is in a lot of ST, only its translated into human exceptionalism. .

4 of the 5 hero captains are Americans (present day borders), a fair number of the other Human officers too.

 

[Last Redshirt]

I thought he was best in TNG. Stewart and de Lancie really had chemistry and could handle the verbal dueling better than Brooks or Mulgrew did. Q's worst appearance was in DS9, though. I would've liked to have seen him interact with the DS9 crew a bit more, though. The more gritty and darker feel to the show would've been very interesting for Q to look at.