The Q and the Grey
- FIRST SHOWN (US)
- 27 November 1996
- ON
- UPN
- STARDATE
- 50384.2
- DIRECTED BY
- Cliff Bole
- PRODUCTION NO.
- 153
WRITTEN BYTeleplay by Kenneth Biller; story by Shawn Piller
Q turns up in Janeway's quarters with gifts and a startling proposal, while Voyager witnesses a wave of supernovae that may be linked to trouble in the Continuum.
Red alert: the full plot, ending included. Haven't watched yet?REVEAL SYNOPSIS
After Voyager observes a spectacular supernova, Q appears in Janeway's quarters and begins a determined courtship, complete with flowers and a puppy. Janeway refuses, and Q finally explains himself: the death of Quinn has split the Q Continuum into rival factions, and the resulting civil war is spilling into normal space as a string of supernovae. Q believes a child with a human would bring new life to his people. A female Q arrives, unimpressed by his interest in a mortal, and when Q spirits Janeway away to the Continuum, it appears as an American Civil War battlefield. The opposing side captures both of them and sentences them to execution. With the female Q's help, Chakotay and the crew modify Voyager to enter the Continuum and stage a rescue. Q and the female Q reconcile and create a child together, which ends the war. Q later returns with his son and asks Janeway to be godmother.
- 01The title plays on “The Blue and the Gray”, a poem about the American Civil War by Francis Miles Finch.
- 02The story grew from a pitch by Shawn Piller, son of Voyager co-creator Michael Piller, about Q wanting a child with Janeway.
- 03Suzie Plakson had already played Dr Selar and K'Ehleyr in The Next Generation before appearing here as the female Q.