Déjà Q
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 5 February 1990
- ON
- First-run syndication
- STARDATE
- 43539.1
- DIRECTED BY
- Les Landau
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 161
WRITTEN BYWritten by Richard Danus
Q turns up on the Enterprise bridge naked and claiming to have lost his powers, just as the crew is struggling to stop a moon from falling out of orbit.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
The Enterprise is trying to stop the moon of Bre'el IV from crashing into the planet when Q appears on the bridge, naked and mortal. The Q Continuum has stripped him of his powers as punishment, and he asks for asylum. Picard doubts the story and puts him in the brig, and Data is later assigned to watch him. Q struggles with hunger and back pain, and finds little sympathy, especially from Guinan, who stabs him with a fork. His idea of altering the moon's gravitational constant inspires La Forge, but a test lowers the shields just as the Calamarain, gaseous beings Q once tormented, attack him. Data is injured protecting Q. Realising he is a danger to the crew, Q leaves in a shuttle to draw the Calamarain away. Another Q appears and, impressed by this selfless act, restores his powers. Q celebrates, gives Data a burst of laughter as a gift, and the moon is saved.
- 01Corbin Bernsen, then starring in L.A. Law, appears uncredited as the second Q who restores Q's powers.
- 02Picard's exasperated reaction in this episode is the origin of the popular “Picard facepalm” internet meme.
- 03Q's first appearance since “Q Who”, and the first time we see him with no powers at all.