History Recap / StarTrekTheNextGenerationS3E13DejaQ

** Also Guinan towards Q.
--->'''Guinan:''' How the mighty have fallen...

Q eventually gets hungry, and goes to Ten-Forward with Data. Being new to the whole concept of having to consume nutrition, Q struggles decide on what he should eat for his first meal, so Data remarks that Counselor Troi often eats a chocolate sundae them when she feels depressed. Q reasons that since he is an absolutely dreadful mood from being made human, the solution must be to eat ten chocolate sundaes. As they wait for Q's order, Guinan decides to check on them, much to Q's outspoken chagrin. Having heard that Q has lost his powers, Guinan decides to test it by stabbing his hand with a fork. "Seems human enough to me," she quips as Q cries out in pain. When the sundaes arrive, Q grumbles that he's lost his appetite.

On the ''Enterprise'', they find no further reading from the shuttle, and Picard conclude that maybe this could really the last they will ever hear of Q. A strangely wistful moment of silence manages to pass amongst the crew passes, before the shuttle is suddenly back in its bay and Q appears on the bridge, shouting "Au contraire, mon capitaine! He's back!", at the top of his lungs, before breaking into a trumpet solo with a Mariachi band accompanying him. Happy to have his powers and immortality back, he declares that he is in the mood to celebrate and everybody gets cigars! Two women appear on each side of Commander Riker, fawning over him. Riker says, "I don't need your Fantasy Women, Q," to which Q replies, taken aback, "Oh, you're so stolid! You weren't like that before the beard!" Riker gives him a rather cryptic look, and in a flash, the same women appear next to a bewildered Worf. Picard gets angry and tells Q to get rid of everything, the band, the women, "ALL of it, Q!" and the cigars.

As Doctor Crusher and Geordi tries to repair the damaged Data in sickbay, Crusher notices that if Data had been mortal, he would have been done far. Q sulks that he actually is mortal, but managed to survive the attack, and points out Data is stronger than him, so obviously it should not be that big of a problem for him, prompting Picard to chew Q out for his selfishness and orders him escorted out. Georgie tells Picard that while they can continue with the current plan to accomplish their mission, it would require lowering the shields which probably prompt the Calamarain to try to attack Q again, but in Georgie's opinion Q is not worth saving.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and he definitely knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he figured that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some means of protection against them. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and he therefore reasoned that the crew of the ''Enterprise'' would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send back him to Engineering to continue to help Georgie and Data to with the problem.

Q eventually gets hungry, and goes to Ten-Forward with Data. Being new to the whole concept of having to consume nutrition, Q struggles decide on what he should eat for his first meal, so Data remarks that Counselor Troi often eats a chocolate sundae them when she feels depressed. Q reasons that since he is an absolutely dreadful mood from being made human, the solution must be to eat ten chocolate sundaes. As they wait for Q's order, Guinan decides to check on them, much to Q's outspoken chagrin. Having heard that Q has lost his powers, Guinan decides to test it by stabbing his hand with a fork. "Seems human enough to me." When the sundaes arrive, Q grumbles that he's lost his appetite.

Picard has Worf escort Q to the brig after Q insists on being treated like just any other human. After spending some time there, Q begs Picard to let him out, telling him that he can assist him with the whole moon problem. Picard finally agrees to let him out, and puts Data in charge of him. While working with Data and Geordi, Q comes up with the idea of changing the gravitational constant of the Universe. Geordi scoffs that changing the nature of the universe is not within their power, but then realizes that proper application of the ship's power could create a local gravitational adjustment sufficient to solve the problem.

After being given clothes to put on (which he whines about, since the gray-and-green jumpsuit is not the captain's uniform he usually adopts), Q tells them that the Q Continuum has banished him to a mortal form. Given a fraction of a second to decide what to be turned into and where to be sent, he chose human form and requested to be sent to the ''Enterprise''. Since Q has toyed with the crew of the ''Enterprise'' on numerous occasions already, Picard is not convinced that this isn't some attempt by Q at a "puerile joke" and demands that Q fix the moon. Q insists he cannot, because he has no powers. Picard is still skeptical. When Q further insists, asking what it would take to prove that he is indeed mortal now, Worf quips that he should "die".

After being given clothes to put on (which he whines about, since the gray-and-green jumpsuit is not the captain's uniform he usually adopts), Q tells them that the Q Continuum has banished him to a mortal form. Given a fraction of a second to decide what to be turned into and where to be sent, he chose human form and requested to be sent to the ''Enterprise''. Since Q has toyed with the crew of the ''Enterprise'' on numerous occasions already, Picard is not convinced that this isn't some attempt by Q at a "puerile joke" and demands that Q fix the moon. Q insists he cannot, because he has no powers. Picard is still skeptical. When Q further insists, asking what it would take to prove that he is indeed mortal Worf quips that he should "die".

After being given clothes to put on (which he whines about, since the gray-and-green jumpsuit is not the captain's uniform he usually adopts), Q tells them that the Q Continuum has banished him to a mortal form. Given a fraction of a second to decide what to be turned into and where to be sent, he chose human form and requested to be sent to the ''Enterprise''. Since Q has toyed with the crew of the ''Enterprise'' on numerous occasions already, Picard is not convinced that this isn't some attempt by Q at a "puerile joke" and demands that Q fix the moon. Q insists he cannot, because he has no powers. Picard is still skeptical. When Q further insists, Worf quips that he should "die" if he is indeed mortal.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and he definitely knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he figured that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some means of protection against them. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and he therefore reasoned that the crew of the ''Enterprise'' would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send him to down to engineering to with the problem.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and he definitely knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he figured that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some means of protection against them. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and he therefore reasoned that the crew of the Enterprise would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send him to down to engineering to with the problem.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and he definitely knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he reasoned that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some means of protection against them. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and he therefore figured that the crew of the Enterprise would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send him to down to engineering to with the problem.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and he definitely knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he figured that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some protection. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and therefore figured that the crew of the Enterprise would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send him to down to engineering to with the problem.

Riker and Picard question Q on the appearance of the Calamarain, asking Q what exactly he did to make them so angry at him. "Nothing bizarre, nothing grotesque," answers Q, trying to be vague, but Riker effortlessly sees through this: Q, as usual, used his powers to torment them for kicks. Picard then figures that Q actually had a ulterior motive in asking to become a human and be placed on the ''Enterprise''. Q being Q, he must have made numerous lifeforms across the universe mad at him for some reason or another, and knew some of them would be angry enough to try to exact revenge on him now that he was mortal. And he figured that being placed on the ''Enterprise'' could offer him some protection. Q answers that he is indeed right; he knows that it is in human nature to value forgiveness and compassion, and therefore figured that the crew of the Enterprise would feel compelled to protect him, even if they disliked him. Riker points out that keeping Q's enemies at bay could easily become a full time job; a really annoying one. Picard agrees, and says he is sorely tempted to drop off Q at the nearest starbase and let them deal with him. Q protests that now that he is human, he has the ability to learn to better himself and could prove a valuable member of the crew. Data vouches for him, pointing that he did indeed help Geordi with coming up with the solution to the moon problem. Realizing the logic in Data's statement, the crew reluctantly agrees to have Q stay for now and send him to down to engineering to with the problem.

Q visits the now conscious Data in the sickbay, and thanks him for saving his life, earnestly telling him that while he still finds the android's desire to be more human weird and ridiculous, he has already proven that he is a better human than himself. Q then takes a shuttlecraft out to distract the Calamarain so that the ''Enterprise'' can try another tractor beam on the moon. Picard contacts the shuttlecraft and tries to talk Q out of it, but Q refuses, dismissing his life as a human as a "dismal failure", and hopes that with this act of self-sacrifice he can at least achieve something worthwhile before he dies. Against Picard's better judgment, the crew tries to rescue him, but finds that all of the controls that could retrieve or protect the shuttlecraft are suddenly non-functional, without any explanation.

Q eventually gets hungry, and goes to Ten-Forward with Data, where he orders 10 chocolate sundaes after Data remarks that Counselor Troi often eats them when she's depressed. Here they run into Guinan, who decides to test Q's lack of powers by stabbing his hand with a fork. "Seems human enough to me." When the sundaes arrive, Q says he's lost his appetite.

The presence of the Calamarain is starting to interfere with the ''Enterprise'''s mission, resulting in Data getting damaged after they attack Q again. The ''Enterprise'' is knocked into the planet's atmosphere and Picard gives Q a dressing down on how selfish he's been. After visiting Data in the medbay, Q realizes that he should probably leave. He takes a shuttlecraft out to distract the Calamarain so that the ''Enterprise'' can try another tractor beam on the moon. Against Picard's better judgment, the crew tries to rescue him, but finds that all of the controls that could retrieve or protect the shuttlecraft are suddenly non-functional.

Another Q joins him on the shuttle and explains that, due to the selfless act he just committed, the Continuum decided he could have his powers back. (Besides, if Q actually died, there would be questions and investigations for millennia.) Q snaps his fingers and gets his Starfleet uniform back. The other Q disappears. The Calamarain reappear, and Q gathers them into a tiny little ball that he can hold in the palm of his hand, and begins to say that if they thought he tormented them ''before''... but then Other Q's head appears in the wall. "Just checking to see if you were still watching," Q says, then blows on the Calamarain as if blowing out a candle, sending them away.

On the ''Enterprise'', they find no further reading from the shuttle, but then it's back in its bay and Q appears, with a Mariachi band accompanying him. Since he has his powers back, he's restored the moon to its natural orbit, and everybody gets cigars! Two women appear on each side of Commander Riker, fawning over him. Riker says, "I don't need your Fantasy Women, Q," to which Q replies, taken aback, "Oh, you're so stolid! You weren't like that before the beard!" Riker gives him a rather cryptic look, and in a flash, the same women appear next to a bewildered Worf. Picard gets angry and tells Q to get rid of everything, the band, the women, "ALL of it, Q!" and the cigars.

Q reluctantly complies, but then says he wants to give a special gift to Data, his tutor in the humanities. Data says, "If your intent is to make me human, sir--" and Q quickly says, "No, no, I would never curse you by making you human. Think of it as a going-away present." Q disappears, and seconds later, Data makes a snerking sound, like he's trying to suppress a laugh. He does it again, and then breaks out into full-blown hysterical laughter. Geordi asks why he's laughing; Data says he doesn't know, but it's a wonderful... feeling.

'''Q:''' [[IncomingHam AU CONTRAIRE, MON CAPITAN! HEEEEEE'S BACK!]]

--->'''Q:''' I'm forgiven. My brothers and sisters of the Continuum have taken me back. I'm immortal again! Omnipotent again!\\

* HesBack: The ending. Complete with Mariachis.

[floatboxright:
Series: ''Series/{{Star Trek The Next Generation}}''\\
Episode: Season 3, Episode 13\\
Title: "Deja Q"\\
Previous: "The High Ground"\\
Next: "A Matter of Perspective"\\
Recapper: Koby_Fish]

''[{{beat}} as Riker [[{{corpsing}} tries desperately not to explode with laughter]]]\\

* BigDamnHeroes: {{Lampshaded}} by Q; {{Defied}} by the other Q.
* BigEater: Q orders 10 chocolate sundaes. Guinan spoils his appetite before he can eat them, however.

-->'''Q:''' [[BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord A subjective term, Riker]]. One creature's torment, is another creature's delight.
* CassandraTruth: Nobody believes Q after being told he's been thrown out of the continuum and stripped of his powers. Of course, the last time Q showed up in "Q Who", [[CryingWolf he'd used the same explanation]] before introducing everyone to the Borg.

* CoolAndUnusualPunishment

* DeadpanSnarker: Worf gets his jollies with a single word.
-->'''Q''': I have no powers! Q, the ordinary!\\
'''Picard''': Q, the liar! Q, the misanthrope!\\
'''Q''': Q, the miserable! Q, the desperate! What must I do to convince you people?!\\
'''Worf''': Die.\\
({{beat}} as Riker [[{{corpsing}} tries desperately not to explode with laughter]])\\
'''Q''': Oh, ''very'' clever, Worf. Eat any good books lately?

-->'''Picard''': Mr. Worf, throw him in the brig.\\
'''Worf''': Delighted, Captain.

-->'''Q:''' I'm forgiven. My brothers and sisters of the Continuum have taken me back. I'm immortal again! Omnipotent again!\\

* DrivenToSuicide: Eventually Q realizes that he simply cannot stand all the limitations of being a human and that he will never be a good person, and opts to kill himself [[HeroicSacrifice by hijacking a shuttlecraft and leading the Calamarains away from the Enterprise]].

* EpunymousTitle: As would be tradition with Q episodes.

* {{Facepalm}}: Source of the [[MemeticMutation iconic]] "Picard Single Hand Facepalm Maneuver".
** Which should tell you a lot about this episode.

* HeroicSacrifice: Subverted. Q almost made one of these, but his selfless actions impress the Continuum so much that they give him his powers back.

* HesBack: The ending.
* HumanityEnsues
* HumansAreSpecial: Why Q chooses to be sent to the Enterprise. Or possibly "Humans are nice enough that they'll look after me and protect me when they realize I'm actually in trouble despite the fact that I've been a jerkass to them in the past". Either way, he's right. The second Q acknowledges his astonishment that they would still try to save him despite getting nothing but grief.

* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: The Calamarain. Riker predicts that a bunch more of Q's old victims would line up to do the same, to the point that protecting him would be a full-time job.

-->'''Guinan:''' How the mighty have fallen...
* LeaningOnTheFourthWall:

* NakedOnArrival:

* PassiveRescue: Attempted. As Q attempts his HeroicSacrifice, Picard, noting this "goes against his better judgement," decides to save Q...by focusing on saving the shuttle. As he notes to Riker, "It's a perfectly good shuttlecraft."
* PetTheDog: Q tries to do this to the ''Enterprise'' crew after becoming omnipotent again. First, giving Riker some beautiful women fawning for him, then giving them to Worf when Riker turns them down. He finally succeeds, giving Data one brief laugh.

* PlanetOfSteves: This episode establishes that everybody in the Q Continuum is called "Q". However, for simplicity's sake, Creator/JohnDeLancie's Q is referred to as ''the'' Q.
* RealityWarper: Q's solution for solving the falling moon problem is to change the gravitational constant of the universe, which he obviously can't do anymore (and would mess everywhere else up!) Geordi realizes, however, that he can use the ''Enterprise''`s warp drive to do the same thing on a smaller scale.

-->"You will walk or I will carry you!"

--> "This is not a moment I've been looking forward to."
* YouHaveGotToBeKiddingMe: Picard's reaction to Q's request for compassion.

Series:Series/{{Star Trek The Next Generation}}\\

Title: Deja Q\\
Previous: The High Ground\\
Next: A Matter of Perspective\\

The Enterprise is preparing to help the planet of Bre'el IV; a moon is slipping out of orbit ([[WesternAnimation/ThreeTwoOnePenguins no, it's not caused by the planet's inhabitants constantly lying]]), and if they don't do something, it will strike the planet and cause immense devastation. Suddenly Q appears, suspended high in midair and completely naked. He falls lightly to the floor and says cheekily, "Red alert."

After being given clothes to put on, Q tells them that the Q Continuum has banished him to a mortal form. Given a fraction of a second to decide what to be turned into and where to be sent, he chose human form and requested to be sent to the Enterprise. Since Q has toyed with the crew of the Enterprise on numerous occasions already, Picard is not convinced that this isn't some attempt by Q at a 'puerile joke' and insists that Q fix the moon. Q insists he cannot, because he has no powers. Picard is still skeptical. When Q further insists, Worf quips that he should "die" if he is indeed mortal.

Q eventually gets hungry, and goes to Ten-Forward with Data. Here he runs into Guinan, who decides to test Q's lack of powers by stabbing his hand with a fork. "Seems human enough to me."

Afterwards, Q orders 10 chocolate sundaes after Data remarks that Counselor Troi often eats them when she's depressed. But when the sundaes arrive, Q says he's lost his appetite.

While Q is in Ten-Forward, aliens called the Calamarain find and attack him. Guinan remarks that some of Q's old enemies found out he was now mortal and have come to [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown 'look him up']]. Raising the shields succeeds in discouraging the Calamarain. Q remarks that they have no sense of humor.

The presence of the Calamarain going after Q is starting to interfere with the Enterprise's mission, resulting in Data getting damaged after they attack Q again. The Enterprise is knocked into the planet's atmosphere and Picard gives Q a dressing down on how selfish he's been. After visiting Data in the medbay, Q realizes that he should probably leave. He takes a shuttle craft out to distract them so that the Enterprise can try another tractor beam on the Moon.

On the Enterprise, they find no further reading from the shuttle, but then it's back in its bay and Q appears, with a Mariachi band accompanying him. Since he has his powers back, he's restored the moon to its natural orbit, and everybody gets cigars! Two women appear on each side of Commander Riker, fawning over him. Riker says, "I don't need your Fantasy Women, Q." to which Q replies, taken aback, "Oh, you're so stolid! You weren't like that before the beard!" Riker gives him a rather cryptic look, and in a flash, the same women appear next to a bewildered Worf. Picard gets angry and tells Q to get rid of everything, the band, the women. "ALL of it, Q!" and the cigars.

Q reluctantly complies, but then says he wants to give a special gift to Data, his tutor in the humanities. Data says, "If your intent is to make me human, sir-" and Q quickly says, "No, no, I would never curse you by making you human. Think of it as a going-away present." Q disappears, and seconds later, Data makes a snerking sound, like he's trying to suppress a laugh. He does it again, and then breaks out into full-blown hysterical laughter. Geordi asks why he's laughing; Data says he doesn't know, but it's a wonderful...feeling.

Soon afterwards, the inhabitants of Bre'el IV contact the ship and say, "Picard, you've done it!" Their moon is back in a stable orbit. Picard is naturally confused, but humbly accepts the credit for saving their world. Picard prepares to get the ship underway, and muses, "Perhaps there's a ...residue of humanity in Q after all." He raises his hand to say Engage, getting as far as "En-" when a cigar flashes into his hand and Q's face appears in the smoke, saying, '''"Don't bet on it, Picard."'''

!Tropes:

* HumansAreSpecial: Why Q chooses to be sent to the Enterprise. Or possibly "Humans are nice enough that they'll look after me and protect me when they realize I'm actually in trouble despite the fact that I've been a jerkass to them in the past". Either way, he's right.

Picard has Worf escort Q to the brig after Q insists on being treated like just any other human. After spending some time there, Q begs Picard to let him out, telling him that he can assist him with the whole moon problem. Picard finally agrees to let him out, and puts Data in charge of him. While working with Data and Geordi, Q comes up with the idea of changing the gravitational constant of the Universe, which Geordi quickly points out is not within their power.