UNCUT - True Q (TNG S6E6) | Star Trek Journey 240

John Delancie is just so good in this role that we all tend to forget that most Q episodes are lacking. I think Olivia D'Abo was capable of giving a better performance. She had spent 4 years on the Wonder Years at this point and had Q-esque arrogance in Conan the Destroyer. Either she or the director made wrong choices.

I think it needed the whole community to kick Q out in Deja Q

forget ST:VI, The Deja Q slander must stop...

I am one of those people who's here for ideas and concepts. So I like this episode a lot from that standpoint. I find myself thinking about this one a lot just like The Host. However, like The Host, I can see that the execution here isn't the greatest, and I get why it's pretty mediocre for most people.

I never realized how mediocre most of the Q episodes were. I always had this vague nostalgia feeling that Q Eps were always great. But it turns out they mostly weren't.

The good news is: there is not much of TNG Q left but I think you will enjoy it. I do.

as far as Colm Meany's absence the last several episodes - I believe he was filming his role in the Steven Segal movie "Under Siege"

"nothing that you're really going to remember". I guess we're all getting old; Olivia d'Abo was a serious crush for this 14-year-old back in '95

Having mulled on it overnight, what seems like quick progression for you guys isn't so quick for us. I think many of us view this stage of the season as the Appetisers, which are nice, but we're chomping at the bit for you to get to the Entrées! ;)

Further comment, looking forward to the reaction to next episode, I’m predicting your number 1 favourite…

I really like this one and disagree on the points made about the acting, I think she did well. Although I like the episode as a whole, I think it’s the writing that’s a bit sub par - the points you made about her and Picard having little reaction to her parents being killed, also everyone being relaxed about the near warp core breach. If I could rewrite, I’d have it build up to the reveal of her learning of her parents, then have a huge spectacular battle with her and Q that destroys half of the Enterprise, no expense spared

The guest actress was rather flat and the lack of score compounded that trait, but Q was still mischievous enough to make it fun. The little Hide and Seek game they played was hilarious especially with Q squatting inside of a barrel. I loved Picard's speech in this one, as always, it's the highlight of the episode. Only other note to add, I think Q could have taken her powers from her, but he acted as if he couldn't because if he offered to remove the powers for her, she'd have opted to do that, and they'd have lost another potential Q member. That's my head cannon anyways. Overall, in the C+ to B- range. And don't worry Alex, many giga God-tier episodes remain ahead of us, for years to come.

Season six is the best season of TNG

One of the most lowkey hilarious parts of this episode is at the end, when Amanda brings Beverly on to the bridge. Tricorder in hand, "wtf?" look on her face...I always chuckle at that

One of my favorite reviewers / rewatchers of TNG is Keith Decandido, who has written and published many TNG extended universe novels. He has great insights on what makes these episodes great or.. not so great. A lot of people think Season 3 was the high point, and he agrees it was a good season, and season 4 was good too. Season 5 was good, but a notch below Season 4. But his (and my) favorite season is Season 6. A spoiler-free note: "where the third had the bad stuff mixed in here and there amidst the brilliance, most of the awfulness of this season was stuffed into the first nine episodes." I really enjoy the latter 2/3 of this season, it's maybe not as mind-blowing incredible as The Inner Light or Reunion or Redemption, but it's just one solid banger after another. And you'll get to savor those a little more, since I'm assuming you'll be interleaving DS9 Season 1 in there as well. As much as it might feel like you're really rushing through TNG, you're about to slow down (I hope. Wouldn't want to overload you with Star Trek. Binging sucks)

The very definition of “its fine” for me, a little repetitive with themes Trek has done before. Never have much to say on this one some of it feels like a half hearted course correction for Q’s character too after The previous two outings

This is a pretty typical C tier ep for me. Some people really seem to hate it, but it's just mediocre to me. In regards to why they didn't just take away her powers, if I'm generous to the episode, perhaps the Q could take away her powers, but they wanted to force a fake choice knowing she wouldn't be able to resist and would therefore have to return to the continuum. It might well be that there hasn't been a new Q in many millions of years. They might have been able to depower her quite easily, but perhaps they forced the whole false choice because they wanted to nudge her into going to the continuum. The prospect of "new blood" might have been too tempting to just throw away. A lot of people criticize First Contact for the Lanel scene, but since she had no obligation to help him and could have suffered pretty severe consequences for doing so, I saw it more as a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours"(maybe literally😉) kind of situation. Besides Riker hardly seemed all that upset afterward. Amanda literally forcing Riker to love her was much more rapey in my book. Now thankfully she stopped herself, but overriding someone's free will is pretty disturbing. It also makes Q's concerns more understandably. Maybe it starts with a little "harmless" love spell, but if Amanda fully embraces her powers, she'd be immortal. After a few million or a billion years with nobody to set boundaries, how far might she end up going? But can you imagine if that barrel hit Riker and he had to ask Worf to help him kill himself because he didn't want to live as a cripple, and Worf was all "Ohh, so when you're paralyzed it's all well and good, but when it happens to me AND it's part of my culture, you start making excuses".

I’ve always liked the scene between Q and Picard when they talk about how Amanda’s parents died. Q doesn’t have to entertain this interrogation but he does. He speaks to Picard with an element of respect even though they aren’t equals in any sense.

The episode is decently good, but not great. I don't understand the fixation with the score. I suppose this episode is a bit more dialog-heavy than average. and correspondingly the score is a bit more subdued than average. But that basic feel of reducing the score during dialog-heavy scenes has been part of the style for like 3 seasons now. I genuinely have no idea why this episode would particularly stand out in that regard in anyone's mind.

I was really dreading this episode, cuz I remember it being so goddayum dull. When you introduce and then discard a Mary Sue within 45 minutes, you don't have a very compelling storyline. It's one reason why I disliked The Offspring so much, while most people seem to lurve it. But, per usual, watching it along with y'all makes even something mundane feel more entertaining. Funny how the Picard speech is the only really good part of this episode, just like the Picard speech in the A Matter of Time was the only good piece of that. Nice that Patrick Stewart still put in the work, regardless of the plot. I used to always think that S3 and S4 of TNG were the peak of that particular show. But the "wow" factor really seems to drop off way more dramatically on this watch through with you guys. That's not to say that all of the good is GONE. There are still bangers. But boy are there some true stinkers~

Were seasons 3-5 the best? Probably. But that doesn't mean that it's all downhill and that seasons 6-7 are all terrible episodes. There are a few really awful episodes to come (one absolute E and a handful of Ds) and there are several that I consider to be the best of the series. But most of the episodes in the next two seasons are just what Star Trek should be: great stories that really deliver some fun sci-fi and good character moments. (For the record, that's where I rate this episode: it's certainly not the best episode ever and it has its flaws, but it still provided a solid story that I can say I enjoy). So although the next two seasons are not full of top rated episodes, I would say that there are more successes than absolute disasters. I would certainly place season 6-7 over season 1-2.

I really like these new skits that tie into the episodes. I had no interest in the old skits. But since these tie into the episodes now, they add a nice a touch before watching.

On this episode feeling weird… the overwhelming flatness, visually and musically, has always bugged me about this era of trek. It robs every story of punch or real drama. True Q really could’ve benefited from a season 3/4 “vibe”

I don't know what it is about this episode. It's not bad, but not good either, but not average either. It's like a literal no stakes random day on the enterprise but unfortunately this day revolves around somewhere we've never met before. De lancie and Stewart do make a lot of their scenes fun though. It's cool to get a bit of a glimpse into Q politics/society though.

I don’t find this boring. Pace is off for sure, but I enjoyed the scenario presented. A good but not great episode.

BTW guys, volume is good. The guy who complained already left, so fuck him.

Emporer Q was manipulating her from moment 1. My take is that the actual choice was still join the Q or die. The fake “pinkeye swear you won’t use them” was bullshit. It was designed (and succeeded) in getting her to join the Q willingly. If she hadn’t used her powers and then said she was coming- he or the shadow Q would have smoked her.

This is one of those episodes where it's hard to put a finger on something being bad per se, but everything is so low stakes. We don't care enough about the guest of the week for there to be much suspense and the moral conundrum is similarly small potatoes. It is nice to see Q back in bastard trickster mode, but that's not much of a high point.

I think a disappointment for me was the opportunity for Riker to talk to her about the time he was given Q powers and was unable to resist using them. That would have been a much more impactful scene than Riker being forced to romance her. And even though doctors are capable of counseling duties, Troi was criminally underutilized in this episode. And the B plot stakes just never felt impactful.

The worst episode of all the Q episodes - not because it's bad, but because it's so boring that it makes me wish it *were* bad so I could at least feel *something* at some point during the hour.

This episode is exactly like the one that was I think sandwiched between "Sarek" and "Best", where the guy comes on the ship ready to ascend to godhood, only instead of being like Gary Mitchell and having that lead to a life and death struggle, he was all "oh I'm still a nice guy" and there was no story whatsoever. It's quintessential TNG.

It is a plot hole that they could take the powers from Q (our Q) but for some unexplained reason couldn't take her powers. Just not brought up. Lol

First time I ever heard that time goes faster as you get older was from my dad about 13 years. I don't think he had heard it elsewhere. It was something he observed for himself, and he said it in a most depressing way. He was 79...having a ton of health problems, and was a month away from his death. I think he was reviewing his life at that point. It wasn't really hitting me at that point. But now at 45? I look back at events that seem like they were maybe two years and I realize it was 20 years ago....then I realize in 20 years ill be 65. An age that isn't too far off the death of many people in my family... Sorry to be depressing. But that should get you in the mood for DS9. Lol

Haven't watched the whole reaction yet, but I want you to know that opening gag is easily my favourite one you guys have ever done!! XDD

I think Starfleet needs a training seminar on how to secure these barrels that are always falling off that level of the cargo bay.

I don’t think it’s that the Q couldn’t take her powers away it’s that they at least wanted to give her the choice. & test her? I think Q knew she couldn’t resist for altruistic reasons. Also maybe all the Q have to gang up on one rogue to rob them of their powers otherwise you just have a super shootout between two “gods” so it’s easier to take her home and depower her.

Honestly, I think they kind of cheated by having those puppies not appear and disappear in a flash of light. Because if they used the same effect as they did when Q does that stuff, it would've given everything away. At least, ya know, assuming no one knew the episode title or plot in advance, as we often did back in the day.

A better title for this episode would have been Q Too

I give this credit for decentralising Q, as Seasons 1 through 4 the episodes always revolved around Q whereas here he's more of a catalyst for the guest character's story arc. Edit: Also the "Mon Capitan" was Chef's Kiss. =D

On the subject of people's favorite seasons, there are definitely people who rate season 6 the highest - notably including Ron Moore.

Pretty much agree with your takes on this episode (except that, since I do like "Deja Q" and "QPid", I'd call this one of the weaker Q episodes). Not a terrible episode, but the guest actor's performance wasn't great, and between that and the lack of score, it was dull.

The only thing I like in this episode is Q turning Dr. Crusher into an Irish Setter.

"the continuity of Q" I would say take nothing at face value and imagine there are far more complex things going on here. Q may be a trickster god, but I think he is also not what he appears to be.

1:08:17 It's always been my understanding that a bitch is a female adult dog that is intact and fertile (e.g. not a puppy, and has not been spayed and can get pregnant). But I can't quickly find any source to corroborate all that.

A more benign version of Charlie X from TOS. An okay episode (B/C), but nothing great here, except Olivia D'Abo is easier on the eyes than Charlie.

eh, I think you fail to realize how it would really be irrestiable to use the power of a god. Maybe :Picard could hold out for awhile, but most people, no way.

I was won over by her cuteness

Q realizes hes on a tv show, duh. In the infinite multiverse, of course he is

"of all the places this could have happened" You're forgetting the trial never ended. Picard is still on trial as a stand in for humanity. None of this is coincidence. You're thinking too linearly. If the Q know all and have always been, everything that came before and happens since is all part of the Q putting humanity on trial with Picard as the stand in.

The phrase that kept entering my mind during rewatching this one was "by the numbers". A lackluster execution of a good idea.

I don't know if this is gonna be seen by some as a "woke" take, but besides the possible "bitch" implication in this episode, Q at times makes some sexist remarks. Earlier he calls Crusher shrill, which I've always found is usually a term reserved for annoying women only.

The time speeding up sounds so right. Like it's crazy to me to think the whole COVID thing started about 5 years ago. Feels to me like it was at the very most 2 years. But especially spot on using high school as an example. It's a big, long life changing experience back in the day. Now 4 years is nothing.

1:00:50 I'm glad you brought up "Hide and Q" ... Riker had experience he could have given her counsel from, but that was totally ignored. Unless it was wiped from his memory. "Plot convenience and not keeping up with the continuity of the show" = poor writing

Ah yes, good old Dobo.

59:28 The whole episode is weird. Q breeding like humans and making a human-but-later-Q baby? Dumb.

For me this is B/C borderline. My amusement at Crusher being turned into a dog just about pushes it to low B.

56:54 When the show shows the facts of who's in it, that's called a hook. The pre-titles may not have been enough to keep people interested and watching, but for someone familiar with Q, the title and guest star could. This is why I state that the episode can't spoil itself. Just because you know what kind of car it is doesn't mean it's obvious how it will be driven. That still has to play out within the episode.

I'm 67 I can really relate to time speeding up.

I have never been happier in a review than hearing Alex use the word milquetoast. No worries Gents, this was a low bar but it's the start of some serious fun with off-beat stories. Can't wait for the next couple!

I like this episode more than TA, but I agree that it falls a little flat in places. This is where a typical Ron Jones more immersive score could have helped a bit. Too bad Rick Berman let him go a few seasons earlier.

I agree with everything y'all said.

textbook definition of a C episode IMO.

Rene E is a man. Rene is a French name for a man, Renee is for a woman.

I enjoy the nitpicking on this one because the slightest adjustments could have improved it. While I love the concept, I think to explore it properly, it needs more than 45 minutes and while it's cool... it ain't worth two parts. I will say, I always get a chill when Q says "The jury is still out" on humanity's trial, it's said nonchalantly but seeing how cool he is about potentially executing Amanda, it feels a bit threatening. Plus, it's a cool callback.

Having two daughters who were once 18 like Amanda is in this episode, I’d say her behavior and decisions changing from one minute to the next is fairly accurate. I know when I was 18, I was very impulsive and making decisions without considering possible consequences and I was very impatient.

I didn't hate this one on a rewatch as much as I remember. But the lack of consistency on the Q still irks me. Can you take their powers or not? can you kill them or not? Are they supposed to be allowed to do 'anything' or not?

43:30 Yep. Plot hole. Just make her human again.

The Dr Crusher dog scene is absolutely priceless… 😂

You are exactly right about time speeding up as you age. I started noticing it after I turned 30. Every decade has gotten faster. My 40s flew by and I’m 56 now and my 50s have been a blink basically.

i can attest to time getting faster as you get older. it felt like eternity to get through high school. and then i woke up yesterday and i'm 45. having kids really accelerates things- but you guys dont have that problem

And another banger opening 👏👏👏 Could have been worse, Alex. He could have DeJa'd Q you.