Hide and Q
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 23 November 1987
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 41590.5
- DIRECTED BY
- Cliff Bole
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 111
WRITTEN BYTeleplay by C.J. Holland & Gene Roddenberry; story by C.J. Holland
C.J. Holland is a pseudonym for Maurice Hurley, who asked for it in protest at Gene Roddenberry's extensive rewrites.
On the way to help injured colonists, the Enterprise is stopped by Q, who returns with a new game and a surprising offer for Commander Riker.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise is racing to help colonists hurt in an explosion on Quadra Sigma when Q reappears. He whisks Riker and most of the bridge crew to a barren planet to play a deadly game, leaving Picard behind. Q's real purpose soon emerges: the Q Continuum wants to test whether Riker should be given Q's powers. Picard and Q make a wager. If Riker accepts, Q wins; if he refuses, Q must stay away from humanity. After animal-like soldiers kill Worf and Wesley, Riker uses his new power to restore them. Back aboard, he struggles to keep his promise not to use it, even when a child dies at the colony. Finally he offers each friend a gift: adulthood for Wesley, sight for Geordi, humanity for Data and a Klingon mate for Worf. Each one refuses. Riker gives up the power, and Q is summoned back to the Continuum.
- 01Maurice Hurley later called the credit dispute a misunderstanding and a turning point for the series: afterwards Roddenberry spent less time on detailed rewrites.
- 02Marina Sirtis, whose character is absent here and from three other episodes, believed at the time that she was about to be cut from the show.
- 03John de Lancie's next appearance as Q came in the second season episode “Q Who”.