Amac Productions

Freaking Q is back and he’s playing more games.

Except this time, he wants to play a game with Riker instead of Picard.

Picard appeared to be a mixture of relieved not to be the focus of Q, but concerned, and confident about what’s happening. It’s a wonderfully wild mix of emotions.

Also, why is Deanna not here? I love her and feel like she’s not getting enough focus. Not like she did in the first episode. It’s very annoying to me.

Because come on, that scene where Riker is giving everyone what they supposedly want more than anything else in the world would have been hilarious with Deanna kindly telling him, he’s an idiot. Not to mention, I would have loved to see what she wanted more than anything else.

Like Geordi getting his eyesight back was a no brainer.

Giving Wesley age was weird. Not to mention, him asking to give it back felt wildly out of character to me. He loves being the smartest person in the room. Or at least, thinking that he’s the smartest person in the room.

Like last episode when he magically has the answer that a bunch of highly trained Starfleet officers missed. Apparently.

If he could have everything he wanted, including being able to apply for Starfleet now. He’d take it. Giving it back was the most out of character moment. If you do not believe me, just look at how fast Beverly tried to get her son out of that room. She also knew what her son would want. That he would take it if he could.

So weird that he gave it back.

Not weird that Geordi or Worf tried to give back their gifts.

They’d be trading away Riker.

Who is a good friend of them. Clearly Geordi more so. Since they appeared to know each other prior to serving on the Enterprise together. Also given that Geordi was overly familiar with Riker when he started to deliver his message until Riker corrected him.

I really enjoyed everyone else declining their gifts.

Not trusting the Q. Not wanting to lose Riker. For whatever reason, and Picard knowing full well that would be the outcome. That his people would choose to do the right thing, by themselves, and by Riker.

Which leads to Picard telling Riker he should feel like a fool.

However, he also never doubted that Riker would come to his senses. He’s a good man. Smart. Everyone is susceptible to something.

For Riker, he wanted to make things easier for the people he cares for. Be able to protect them.

When Wesley is stabbed, everything changes. Riker loses his rational thought and gives into the emotional of wanting to protect the people he cares about. He’s come to care for Wesley. For the people he serves with. All the power Q has bestowed upon him could help them. The universe.

Except, it’s not really their place. Right?

I don’t even think it’s Q’s place.

Since, of course, even his own… people are ticked with him by the end of the episode.

This episode is another wonderful example of how well Picard and Riker play off each other, as well as respect each other. Because while Riker might have doubted himself for a moment or two. Especially after realizing he was duped a little by Q’s power. Picard never lost faith in him.

Much like last episode when Riker never really loses faith in Picard. Not for a moment to think he would fire on a ship only wanting to have a truce.

In this episode, we also have their first real conflict between them.

As Riker begins to regret promising not to use his powers when they are finally able to get on with their rescue mission. Can I just express how happy I am that Q didn’t cause a bunch of people to die by holding them in the middle of space to play a little game?

Which also brings out another great moment as both Picard and Riker would happily play all the games that Q wants after they rescue people. Just please don’t let people die.

It is nice to know that Q is not that horrible.

While also knowing that Riker would struggle not to use his powers to help people if he can. Which I cannot blame him for being upset. A little girl died in front of him and he knew he had the power to save them.

Speaking to Riker’s character in multiple ways.

First, that he gave Picard his word. That he would not break. Even though he desperately wanted to.

However, he would argue about it with Picard when all is said and done because you try having this power. Not using it. And watching people die. I imagine that would not be fun.

You know what else I want to say about this episode?

I hate Q.

I didn’t like him before. I don’t like him now. I won’t like him if he ever comes back. And I know he’s going to come back because this entity is incapable of sticking to anything. He couldn’t keep his word in the first episode, not even for two seconds. Then in this one, he’s claiming that he knew nothing of the deal he made with Picard.

Love that Picard doubled down on Q.

Love that he held Q to it and so did his bosses. His overlords? What the hell are the Q?

You know what? I don’t want to know.

Just go away and never come back Q. Which I just know is asking too much. Q enjoys screwing with them too much. Although, maybe perhaps the Q people or things behind the one we’ve met won’t let him come out to play anymore.

Maybe he’ll be grounded until the next series and I’ll get lucky and never need to deal with him again. Right? Right?

I watched this episode with my dad. A longtime Star Trek fan who watched this series while it aired. His face did not reassurance me when I asked him the same question. Sigh.

Maybe I’ll get a little break.

Like when this episode opened and I saw the Q thing stopping them, I shouted out loud. NO! NO! NO! Why? NO!

So you can clearly see I have no love lost for Q. I laughed my butt off when he was whisked away. Goodbye. Don’t hurry back. Someone give Riker a hug. Preferably Deanna.

What I would like answered is what did the Q actually hope to accomplish here?

Q clearly came this time with an entirely new agenda. Instead of condemning humanity, it was more like they wanted to study them now. Except, I don’t trust a freaking word that came out of Q’s mouth. Since he just cannot stick to anything he says.

Why should I trust anything that comes out of his mouth?

So, what did the Q, as a whole, really want from this? Was Q even supposed to do anything of this nature?

Can we get a representative of the Q, who is not biased, that could explain this one to me? Please. I would appreciate it.

Well now, onto the next! If you enjoy my content here, please consider supporting me!

Thanks for reading! Spread the love and read on!