More Inspiration; John De Lanices's Q

[GhostFaceSaint]

I have been posting on a topic at the Next Generation forum called: 'Monster? Q the teacher in "Tepestry", Q the judge in "All Good Things"' and came to this train of thought:

Q was dangerous but by the end of the TNG series I believe he was definitely something more than just Q the monster, he took Picard through a tempering process and Picard came out of the fire a better man.

As a quick side note, I would have loved to have seen Q in one of the TNG films, however I think he could easily work in Kirk's time too in one of the new films. I have often wondered why they didn't use John De Lancie's character in the films. Q in JJ's universe could work today, using De Lancie with Q he would have to be older but that could work with a young Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Bones McCoy we could get a different chemistry than we have seen already and it would be fresh and new. If Kirk were to go through a his own crucible under Q what would he come out like. Q could play the father figure, or Q could be the wise Priest, he could bring in that classic humor that would fit with old Trek and he would certainly be no Harry Mudd.

Q was a great idea and character in Star Trek and demonstrates the sophistication that Star Trek had. I feel that the story-telling had lost that kind of intellect by Enterprise with it's terribly obvious messages and unrealisticly flawless human characters, who should have been far more three-dimensional than they were portrayed.

I would like a more ambiguous character like Q in future Star Trek stories, not the god-like powers, but the ability to question the main characters and their motives again. I think we could find that in old characters like Commander Kor who could easily come back as a noble yet dangerous Klingon who challenges Kirk again as an antagonist, even to tempt Kirk in someway, either through anger or glory. We need something other than another Nero who was two-dimensional (he still worked in XI). Khan could be brought back but take away Khan's anger and need for revenge, give him some good and noble qualities, give him some questions for Kirk to struggle with, heck he could become Kirk's close friend before having a falling out and a conflict of sorts. So you see ambiguity fits with the modern movie goers sensibilities right now, Q became very ambiguous by the end of TNG and that style of character can and should inspire future Trek characters.

So I am going to continue my train of thought here, so how about it, is Q a good idea as a character, or, as inspiration for future characters in Star Trek such as XII and XIII?

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Oops I should have checked my spelling its
"More Inspiration; John De Lancie's Q"

 

[Shazam!]

Q turning up would be yet another reminder that the 'real' Trek universe is happening somewhere else. I'm not sure that's a direction they should take.

 

[GhostFaceSaint]

Well I wasn't just thinking of Q, necessarily, I was thinking about what Q's character could inspire Orci and Kurtzman to do with future Trek characters especially antagonists. A simple two dimensional antagonist has been done already in XI, someone more ambiguous. It doesn't hurt to go read the TNG original post about Q and then read my thoughts on what Q could inspire.

That said I still think that if done right Q could work in film, but only if done carefully otherwise it wouldn't work.

 

[Anwar]

Q turning up would be yet another reminder that the 'real' Trek universe is happening somewhere else. I'm not sure that's a direction they should take.

Or they could just use him in the same capacity as he was used in the Prime Universe, after all we have no idea how old Q is so he could've existed before TOS.

 

[Cheapjack]

I can't see how Q would fit into Kirk's universe. The point of Q is that he tested Picard, to see whether he would resort to violence to solve his problems, and whether he would attack something just because it was different. At least, the Q in encounter was like that. Maybe he could be shoehorned into this new Kirk universe, but I think he would taunt the new Kirk for being a brat, and how would a brat respond? Would the new Kirk fling a tantrum with his photon torpedoes, or would he mature?

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Q turning up would be yet another reminder that the 'real' Trek universe is happening somewhere else. I'm not sure that's a direction they should take.

How can there be a 'real' universe, is both universes are almost exactly the same?

 

[Jayson]

I think Q could work really well in the new movie. I do think they should get another actor to play the role though, except still get Delancie to make a cameo. What if we see what the Q were like before they evolved into what we know they will become. Let's see what they were like as a mortal race before they evolved into the powerful beings they will become. Just a idea but what if the Q are the race that was working with Gary Seven. They evolved into the Q and Gary Seven is basically let without anyplace to go, since his mission on earth was long ago completed.

Jason

 

[xortex]

Picard never asked him how or why does he have absolute power. The answer may be more of a shocking mystery than it seems. What gives him this power or does he exist outside the system like the matrix and then hand him over to the Klingons which he might be controlling anyway telepathically.

 

[xortex]

Star Trek needs thinkers to develop some heavy duty metaphysical mysteries ala Q and maybe some new characters tied into that mystery. Where's Joe Menosky when you need him. Somebody go to Italy and drag him back here.

 

[john titor]

Don't think it would work, Q's character was perfectly brought out at the end of TNG, his purpose was perfectly expressed. In addition he needs particular kind of character to bounce off, like Picard, someone who is introverted, contemplative and imaginative. Therefore no Kirks, Jellicos or Janeways.