I've ranked the "Q-centric" episodes from TNG, DS9 and Voyager best to worst with some random notes.
Tapestry | TNG S6E15
This one is classic in the way all the best Trek episodes are. While it is 40ish minutes long, there is a clear beginning, middle and end to the outing. Within the story is a wide range of emotion. The episode is also very colourful. And we learn a new word,
guramba. And how Q has personal space issues. But Picard gets some, so that's all that matters, right?
Q Who | TNG S2E16
I'll say being kidnapped by a seemingly all-powerful being is almost as terrifying as having that same questionable being thrust you and your crew into the path of another bunch of mad creatures. Also, Picard is an idiot for disregarding Guinan's serious recommendation to high-tail it out of that space.
All Good Things... | TNG S7E25
Okay, so Q isn't exactly front and center here. But he is often teased in the background when we don't actually see him, much like in a certain modern Trek show. We get all the versions of Q de Lancie. And a veiled promise to drop in again sometime.
Deja Q | TNG S3E13
Red alert indeed. And still Q is a jerk until depression gets the better of him as it probably would any defrocked super being. Great additions to this episode are Guinan's talent with a fork, Worf's reactions to Q, and Q's gift to our favourite android. Oh, and Picard's due-diligence about shuttlecrafts which backfires. Only scene missing is Q having a counselling session with Troi. But he still managed to get in a dig at Crusher.
Death Wish | VOY S2E18
Possibly the most thoughtful of the dozen. We should have seen more of Quinn in Voyager, although obviously that would have meant extending the themes beyond this episode. The one part where Q de Lancie brings in himself as an expert makes me think there might be more than one version of him out there. Neelix had a funny line. Loved the touch of playing golf with planets.
True Q | TNG S6E6
We definitely needed more Amanda Rogers. Is Q de Lancie attracted to her? She's cute that's for sure. We learn Q de Lancie basically show up only to hear Picard's speeches. Also, adorable puppies!
Q-Less | DS9 S1E6
Q gets the punch he's deserved for eons. He actually tries to help the DS9 motley crew, but in his usual riddley way. I wonder though, when Q makes somebody disappear, where do they go? We've seen it happen a few times, and every time they're brought back the people look around confused as if they were in a form of stasis or something. Maybe the series would've had less trouble with the Cardassians if Q had taken O'Brien's request for him to go torment some?
Qpid | TNG S4E20
Q gets in another shot at Worf by making him a merry man. Q suggests he could have shown up to Picard as a female, which opens up all manner of interesting possibilities. And Q 's game probably saved those poor people from a boring-ass speech from mon capitaine.
The Q and the Grey | VOY S3E11
Suzie Plakson ftw. Her comment to Tom Paris is excellently dismissive. And the baby is incredibly adorable and cute in his Starfleet uniform. Oh, and we see another cute puppy. If the "good" Q are the arrogant ones we usually interact with, how bad are the "bad" ones? For a tick there Colonel Q seemed cool.
Encounter at Farpoint | TNG S1E1
Q is an arrogant jerk know-it-all right out of the gate, who claims to be all-powerful yet also says how surprised he is when the Enterprise crew solves the mystery he tasked them with. And seems out of date with his knowledge of humanity. Some clues to chinks in his armour...
Hide and Q | TNG S1E9
Q was probably hoping Riker would chose to snap a beard onto his face. Picard comforting Tasha was sweet, and atypical at the time. I've never much cared for Geordie, and here he gives a great example why. I'm legally blind and would jump at the chance not to be. And his absurdly weird personal question to Worf. I love Q's abrupt exit; reminds me of Trelane's summoning.
Q2 | VOY S7E18
Clutch move casting John de Lancie's son as Junior. But this one feels in many places like a tepid retread of the much more superior 'Deja Q'. Neat seeing another Q wearing the judge outfit though.
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What say you? Or should I ask, what say Q?
