This was better than most Q episodes. I've said before that the fact that the Continuum exists makes it hard to think that anything that happens is important. Here, the son of Q is given over to Janeway to straighten him out. It turns out that having unlimited powers has spoiled him. So when his powers are taken away, he must act as a human and learn as a human would learn. It is good fun, but full of the same kind of shenanigans that every Q episode has.
9 Reviews
Q times two
Tweekums25 May 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Not being a big fan of Q I had low expectations for this episode and when we got not only Q but his son, also called Q I fear the worst. Q Snr. informs Captain Janeway that she must look after Q Jnr. This does not go well as he abuses his powers for his own entertainment and endangers the crew. Q Snr. has a new idea; Jnr. must live on Voyager for a week with neither his powers nor his immortality. At first he still tries to avoid doing work but eventually buckles down and tries hard. Unfortunately his father is unimpressed with his progress so he goes off the rails again and takes the Delta Flyer for a joyride along with Icheb who thought he was just going to help Jnr with some repairs. A confrontation with an alien species leaves Icheb critically injured; to save Icheb he must accept responsibility for his actions even if that means suffering an undisclosed punishment.
After a less than promising start this episode picked up nicely and proved my initial fears were unwarranted. Keegan de Lancie did a reasonable job as Q Jnr, and John de Lancie, his real life father, was fine as Q Snr. It was good that Jnr lost his powers so we didn't just have an episode full of Voyager being used as his toy. As the episode concluded both Qs had learnt a lesson which was well handled. Over all it was a decent episode which I preferred to many Q episodes.
After a less than promising start this episode picked up nicely and proved my initial fears were unwarranted. Keegan de Lancie did a reasonable job as Q Jnr, and John de Lancie, his real life father, was fine as Q Snr. It was good that Jnr lost his powers so we didn't just have an episode full of Voyager being used as his toy. As the episode concluded both Qs had learnt a lesson which was well handled. Over all it was a decent episode which I preferred to many Q episodes.
Not the best use of Q
snoozejonc10 August 2020
Q leaves his son (also called Q) bereft of power on Voyager for a week to prove himself worthy of being part of the continuum.
When TNG was first broadcast on BBC2 many years ago, I liked the concept of the continuum, but as the seasons went on it felt like Q had lost most of the intrigue with so many appearances. Once I knew who he is and what powers he had, that impacted the interest level I had in the character, aside from the entertainment value of John de Lancie on screen.
In this episode we have a 'coming of age' style plot about cocky teenage Q with Daddy Q hovering about in the background. There is a little twist in the story towards the end that is quite good, but overall another Q story is a struggle for me.
All that said, if you are a fan of these characters and plots involving the continuum you will likely enjoy.
For me it's a 5.5/10, but I round upwards.
When TNG was first broadcast on BBC2 many years ago, I liked the concept of the continuum, but as the seasons went on it felt like Q had lost most of the intrigue with so many appearances. Once I knew who he is and what powers he had, that impacted the interest level I had in the character, aside from the entertainment value of John de Lancie on screen.
In this episode we have a 'coming of age' style plot about cocky teenage Q with Daddy Q hovering about in the background. There is a little twist in the story towards the end that is quite good, but overall another Q story is a struggle for me.
All that said, if you are a fan of these characters and plots involving the continuum you will likely enjoy.
For me it's a 5.5/10, but I round upwards.
Don't you aunt Kathy me!
tomsly-4001510 February 2024
First of all: The Q episodes on the Enterprise and the eloquent exchanges with Picard were better than the everyday problems that are on the agenda during Q's visits aboard Voyager. These basically just revolve around relationship and parenting problems.
However, one would imagine an omnipotent pubescent teenager just like Q's son. Basically a kid with a magnifying glass standing next to an ant hill not knowing what to do with his power and his time. A player on the chessboard of the cosmos for whom every sentient life form is merely a pawn that can be sacrificed without guilt to relieve the boredom and infinity of one's own immortality.
The change from Saul to Paul happens a little too quickly for my taste. A spoiled brat whose toys and privileges are taken away doesn't become a saint in a week. Unfortunately, Star Trek also usually falls short in emphasizing their powerful messages. If Q's son had ended up being banished from the continuum as a mortal without any omnipotence and had he joined the Voyager crew and then changed from a bad god to a better human, that would have been a bigger bang. Instead, there is sunshine again in house Q and father and son will travel the universes together in a spirit of adventure.
I don't know why the writers were always so afraid of setting a real, incisive counterpoint. If only episodes like this had been written after Game of Thrones came out. Red wedding and stuff. Have a main character walking the plank. Or confront them with the Q-lessness of life: illness, despair, loss and death. Breaking established rules of storytelling. A mortal Q as a member of the Voyager crew could have been an interesting change (ensign Q*bert for example). Although this then should have happened in an earlier season. Unfortunately, in the end this episode is just another short detour for Q on the Voyager without any long-term consequences.
However, one would imagine an omnipotent pubescent teenager just like Q's son. Basically a kid with a magnifying glass standing next to an ant hill not knowing what to do with his power and his time. A player on the chessboard of the cosmos for whom every sentient life form is merely a pawn that can be sacrificed without guilt to relieve the boredom and infinity of one's own immortality.
The change from Saul to Paul happens a little too quickly for my taste. A spoiled brat whose toys and privileges are taken away doesn't become a saint in a week. Unfortunately, Star Trek also usually falls short in emphasizing their powerful messages. If Q's son had ended up being banished from the continuum as a mortal without any omnipotence and had he joined the Voyager crew and then changed from a bad god to a better human, that would have been a bigger bang. Instead, there is sunshine again in house Q and father and son will travel the universes together in a spirit of adventure.
I don't know why the writers were always so afraid of setting a real, incisive counterpoint. If only episodes like this had been written after Game of Thrones came out. Red wedding and stuff. Have a main character walking the plank. Or confront them with the Q-lessness of life: illness, despair, loss and death. Breaking established rules of storytelling. A mortal Q as a member of the Voyager crew could have been an interesting change (ensign Q*bert for example). Although this then should have happened in an earlier season. Unfortunately, in the end this episode is just another short detour for Q on the Voyager without any long-term consequences.
I sure would love to have Q2 remain on Voyager!
planktonrules8 March 2015
This is a fun episode that not only brings Q to Voyager but his son, Q2! Interestingly, the REAL son of actor John de Lancie (Keegan) plays the lad--and he's a lot of fun to watch. This is because Q2 is a total brat who EVERYONE soon hates! Q has decided to help the boy grow up by leaving him with the Captain--and soon Q2 shows that he's a nasty jerk! But, when his powers are stripped away (after all, the Continuum can only take so much), he quickly learns his lesson and becomes a bit less of a jerk!
Overall, this episode is good mindless fun--as are all the Q episodes. And, inexplicably, instead of just going with the experience and having a good time (as the experiences always end up working out fine and often even to the crew's advantage), they once again seem perturbed by Q and Q2's visit--at least initially. I say WELCOME them--they sure were welcome for me, as these shows always brighten up the show-- which, otherwise, can sometimes be a bit dreary.
Overall, this episode is good mindless fun--as are all the Q episodes. And, inexplicably, instead of just going with the experience and having a good time (as the experiences always end up working out fine and often even to the crew's advantage), they once again seem perturbed by Q and Q2's visit--at least initially. I say WELCOME them--they sure were welcome for me, as these shows always brighten up the show-- which, otherwise, can sometimes be a bit dreary.
Engineering makes a great night club!
XweAponX29 July 2022
The son of Q- Keegan De Lancey- plays the son of Q!
And he quickly falls into his father's footsteps, er, his father's missteps...
Of course, he actually had a point: Icheb had written an extremely boring report on Captain Kirk, even Janeway had trouble keeping awake.
And he correctly observed that on Voyager, we had "bipeds scanning, pushing buttons, aligning equipment, writing reports..."- I think I added that thing about writing reports. It seems that half the time spent by any character in Star Trek, they are writing a report of some sort...
Not enough raves occurring in engineering, that was one great party! But Be'lanna Torres was Nonplussed.
Neither was the scantily clad 7-of-9...
Question: If Q2 had access to Q's knowledge of the best parties of the last 4 billion years, wouldn't you be interested? I know I would be. And Qx10exp2 has access to this knowledge even without his powers of Q. Just ask the Chokuzzan... more about them, later.
And so, Q unceremoniously dumps his offspring on Voyager expecting Aunt Kathy to take care of the diapers.
At first this is merely an inconvenience for Aunt Kathy. Pretty soon we have a situation not unlike "Deja Q"...
Well, without the "Calamarain" that is. But instead, there is more fun stuff.
How do you solve a problem like Q2? You use Icheb of course.
Q2 is actually one bright kid. Even without his powers he can continue to get himself in all kinds of trouble. We have to assume the Q was not pulling our leg when he claimed that his IQ was slightly over 1000. And his son appears to have that same trait.
This was the best way for Q to exit the Star Trek continuum, unfortunately this was the last time we ever got to see him until the 25th/21st centuries.
Unfortunately Keegan quit acting, so there's no possibility of Q2 being seen soon: he actually took upon himself a position of responsibility, working for the state department. If the trivia for this episode is current, that is.
Of course, we have seen John De Lancey in several Neveldine/Taylor films, including Crank, Crank 2, and Gamer.
Nevertheless this episode was a lot of fun and it gives Q the best going away party ever!
Somebody really should build a nightclub using a Voyager engineering-deck theme.
And he quickly falls into his father's footsteps, er, his father's missteps...
Of course, he actually had a point: Icheb had written an extremely boring report on Captain Kirk, even Janeway had trouble keeping awake.
And he correctly observed that on Voyager, we had "bipeds scanning, pushing buttons, aligning equipment, writing reports..."- I think I added that thing about writing reports. It seems that half the time spent by any character in Star Trek, they are writing a report of some sort...
Not enough raves occurring in engineering, that was one great party! But Be'lanna Torres was Nonplussed.
Neither was the scantily clad 7-of-9...
Question: If Q2 had access to Q's knowledge of the best parties of the last 4 billion years, wouldn't you be interested? I know I would be. And Qx10exp2 has access to this knowledge even without his powers of Q. Just ask the Chokuzzan... more about them, later.
And so, Q unceremoniously dumps his offspring on Voyager expecting Aunt Kathy to take care of the diapers.
At first this is merely an inconvenience for Aunt Kathy. Pretty soon we have a situation not unlike "Deja Q"...
Well, without the "Calamarain" that is. But instead, there is more fun stuff.
How do you solve a problem like Q2? You use Icheb of course.
Q2 is actually one bright kid. Even without his powers he can continue to get himself in all kinds of trouble. We have to assume the Q was not pulling our leg when he claimed that his IQ was slightly over 1000. And his son appears to have that same trait.
This was the best way for Q to exit the Star Trek continuum, unfortunately this was the last time we ever got to see him until the 25th/21st centuries.
Unfortunately Keegan quit acting, so there's no possibility of Q2 being seen soon: he actually took upon himself a position of responsibility, working for the state department. If the trivia for this episode is current, that is.
Of course, we have seen John De Lancey in several Neveldine/Taylor films, including Crank, Crank 2, and Gamer.
Nevertheless this episode was a lot of fun and it gives Q the best going away party ever!
Somebody really should build a nightclub using a Voyager engineering-deck theme.
Double the Q, Double the Fun!
spasek2 August 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Q is still my all-time favorite Star Trek antagonist, and seeing an episode with Q always puts a smile on my face.
This time Q shows up with his son (wonderfully portrayed by Keegan De Lancie)--if you recall the previous Q episode in which he tries to convince Janeway to mate with him.
Q junior is now a teenager (what that means in terms of years to a Q, one can only guess). Of course, Q junior is wreaking havoc across the cosmos, abusing his powers as he playfully puts beings in danger simply for his own amusement. Sound familiar?
Q, unable to parent his son properly, and being urged by the continuum to do something about it, Q seeks out Janeway with the hopes that she can implement some much needed structure and discipline. But then, how do you give structure and discipline to an all-powerful being? It only began to take some effect once Q junior's powers are stripped and he's forced to undergo instruction.
If you recall the episode in STNG when Q was kicked out of the continuum, and Data ended up being his mentor, there is a bit of a parallel here with Janeway and Q junior.
Q episodes are always a lot of fun with John De Lancie's masterful role as the master of jest, fun, and danger all combined.
I've wondered about the discussion about Q that Janeway and Picard might have if they ever met. What stories to tell!
This time Q shows up with his son (wonderfully portrayed by Keegan De Lancie)--if you recall the previous Q episode in which he tries to convince Janeway to mate with him.
Q junior is now a teenager (what that means in terms of years to a Q, one can only guess). Of course, Q junior is wreaking havoc across the cosmos, abusing his powers as he playfully puts beings in danger simply for his own amusement. Sound familiar?
Q, unable to parent his son properly, and being urged by the continuum to do something about it, Q seeks out Janeway with the hopes that she can implement some much needed structure and discipline. But then, how do you give structure and discipline to an all-powerful being? It only began to take some effect once Q junior's powers are stripped and he's forced to undergo instruction.
If you recall the episode in STNG when Q was kicked out of the continuum, and Data ended up being his mentor, there is a bit of a parallel here with Janeway and Q junior.
Q episodes are always a lot of fun with John De Lancie's masterful role as the master of jest, fun, and danger all combined.
I've wondered about the discussion about Q that Janeway and Picard might have if they ever met. What stories to tell!
The Parable I Need
ellenesther23 February 2023
Several hours ago I thought, VOYAGER - modern fairy tales (not too modern). Then this.
Good Q episode. A special treat to see a portrayal of father and son who look alike, act alike and who are father and son. Writing, acting and casting, a good job all around.
It's curious that another reviewer doesn't mention J de Lancie's appearances on Stargate.
And if true, kind of fascinating that K de Lancie went to work for the US State Department - his father portrayed a variant of a universal diplomat on Star Trek and a US civil servant (military?), if nefarious, on Stargate. Initially w/ a UN department concerning international migration . . . More recently as a Japanese Language Student as fact followed fiction. Well done, young man, and best wishes.
Hopefully Q2 learns to do the next right thing, an example I can use. A dose of hope with some humor. And behind the scenes, the story of a person inspired to see and serve the world.
Yes, I started and ended this review w/ sentences about myself. I'm self-centered and mentally ill; get over it. Enjoy the episode. Hope. Do Better.
I left out: Directed by LeVar Burton, our Reading Rainbow man. And, his father - daughter team-up now playing on Picard.
Good Q episode. A special treat to see a portrayal of father and son who look alike, act alike and who are father and son. Writing, acting and casting, a good job all around.
It's curious that another reviewer doesn't mention J de Lancie's appearances on Stargate.
And if true, kind of fascinating that K de Lancie went to work for the US State Department - his father portrayed a variant of a universal diplomat on Star Trek and a US civil servant (military?), if nefarious, on Stargate. Initially w/ a UN department concerning international migration . . . More recently as a Japanese Language Student as fact followed fiction. Well done, young man, and best wishes.
Hopefully Q2 learns to do the next right thing, an example I can use. A dose of hope with some humor. And behind the scenes, the story of a person inspired to see and serve the world.
Yes, I started and ended this review w/ sentences about myself. I'm self-centered and mentally ill; get over it. Enjoy the episode. Hope. Do Better.
I left out: Directed by LeVar Burton, our Reading Rainbow man. And, his father - daughter team-up now playing on Picard.
Q Brat
Hughmanity6 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I've had fun with Q episodes over the years but this was the worst one thus far. Watching Q's brat son cause trouble with a petulant attitude was annoying and entirely predictable.
He finally realizes his actions have consequences and finds his morality as a result, gee what a surprise. There's a mild twist with Q Senior but it's not worth it.
John de Lancie has done an incredible job with the Q role over the years but it may be time to retire the bit.
All Good Things...
He finally realizes his actions have consequences and finds his morality as a result, gee what a surprise. There's a mild twist with Q Senior but it's not worth it.
John de Lancie has done an incredible job with the Q role over the years but it may be time to retire the bit.
All Good Things...
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