Star Trek: Voyager (TV Series) The Q and the Grey (1996) User Reviews

The Continuum at war

[Tweekums · 6/10 · 17 August 2010]

As the episode opens the crew are excited to witness a supernova; an event most members of Star Fleet will never get to see. For the captain the joy is short lived as when she returns to her quarters she finds she has a visitor. It is Q and he has an unappealing proposition; he wishes to mate with her! She is sure that there is more to his proposal than first meets the eye and soon we learn that he already has a partner, a female Q who is unimpressed with his desire to mate with a lesser species. Their arguments are put on hold when Voyager encounters further supernovas. Q takes Janeway to the Continuum where he explains that the novas aren't natural but are the by-product of a civil war within the Continuum. So that Janeway, and the audience, can understand the nature of their war it is viewed as though it was the American Civil War, with Q a Union officer and those who oppose change taking the role of the Confederates. While Janeway is trying to resolve the civil war the female Q is trying to bring Voyager to the Continuum.

This wasn't one of my favourite episodes; even though John de Lancie does a fine job in the role of Q I'm not too keen on the character or the Continuum as a whole. There was one good laugh though when we learn what sex entails for the Q; I won't spoil it but will say that when Janeway learnt what it involved she didn't think she'd missed much by turning Q down.

Silly but enjoyable fluff

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 18 February 2015]

This is what I would call a slight episode, that's for sure. The plot really does nothing to advance the overall theme of the show and is one you could easily skip. Now I am NOT saying you should skip it--it's enjoyable and silly fun.

When the show begins, Q unexpectedly arrives and tries to woo Janeway into being the carrier of his seed. Yep, Q wants to make love to the Captain so that he can have a child! Naturally, his motives are far more complicated than just a desire for a booty call, and the Captain is having none of this. However, through the course of the show, she also comes to realize that perhaps something like this is necessary, as there's a civil war brewing in the Continuum and perhaps a child might heal the rift.

This is a silly little show--one that you'll either enjoy (if you like the Q characters) or you'll probably find annoying. All I know is that I like these shows and they are a welcome relief from the ultra-seriousness of most episodes of "Voyager".

Just about rescued by performances

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 31 December 2022]

Q appears and wants to have a child with Janeway.

This is an okay episode with some amusing scenes.

Despite some moderately funny moments, for me this is not the most inspired Q story. I prefer the traditional Q plots where the spotlight is put on humanity and the continuum is portrayed as mysterious and immortal. The plot here seems a bit silly and contrived to bring about certain visual sequences and get the cast dressed in period costume. That being said these scenes are pretty well realised by the filmmakers.

As always though John de Lancie is good value for his screen time. He and Katie Mulgrew make the best of some mostly average material. Susie Plakson is charismatic and entertaining in another good Trek cameo.

Voyager saves the Q Continuum, neglects to ask for a ride home in return

[Ar_Pharazon_the_golden · 6/10 · 26 March 2019]

The Q Continuum is in the middle of a civil war, and Q (the usual one) thinks that the way to end a civil war is by making a Q baby. That makes perfect sense to Captain Janeway, who endorses this clever plan, because babies are the way to save a society of childish gods as well as a marriage.

Of course it takes a while for this to happen, because the Continuum's Civil War is urgent business (causing supernovae along the way) so naturally Q wastes half an episode pretending to court the captain. Voyager's first Q episode was dealing with heavy issues, so it was easy to overlook all the things that usually make Q-centric episodes kinda lame. Here, without a serious subject matter, there is the typical lighthearted approach by John De Lancie (who grows on you after 20 or so episodes across Star Treks), but not much else. A silly civil war by a bunch of silly deities that keep revolving around humans. A series of supernovae, which would presumably not be happening solely around Voyager, so you know, quadrillions of dead in Federation space. And of course, a Captain Janeway that, having helped saved the Q Continuum, does not even think of asking if this grateful omnipotent god would maybe get them home.

Q's Your Daddy

[Bolesroor · 9/10 · 2 February 2011]

As usual, John DeLancie as Q is a lot of fun and breathes new life into the show.

In this episode Q wants to mate with Janeway, to produce a half-human child that he believes will save the Continuum from its bloody Civil War. The return of Suzie Plakson (from TNG)- this time as a Q- is fun, as well as the Old South representation of the ongoing battle.

Some nice story beats keep this episode alive until the very end, and the final scene in which Q plays with his infant son is sweet and funny. A great outing for Voyager.

GRADE: A

Q Complexity

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 24 August 2018]

They seem to make up the continuum as they go along. I suppose what we have here is eternity on two ends. Which we can't fathom. But the product is a group of silly creatures that don't seem satisfied with their eternal roles. Eventually, they take on human traits and forget about their gifts. Of course, this is what we have with the gods of Greek mythology (or any mythology for that matter). When they have nothing to do and become bored, the wreak havoc on the poor mortals. I've never cared much for Q or his ilk and want to see the episodes speed along. In this one, the object of his affection is, again, Captain Janeway. She fends him off as long as she can, but this leads him to more destruction and distress. Oh, well. Perhaps he won't show up again this season which would be fine.

Good fun

[dougp01 · 9/10 · 4 March 2020]

A nice departure from the typical theme. So many Q at one time and even a Q Horse in the camp. I can't help but wonder if the horse has any Q powers.

Star Trek: Voyager - Q and the Grey

[Scarecrow-88 · 7/10 · 21 January 2017]

Follow-up to the excellent, Death Wish, has John De Lancie returning to his most famous role, Q, wanting to stop a civil war within the Continuum, caused by his lead of a freedom rally among those of omnipotent nature wanting to embrace individualism, hoping Janeway will procreate a child with him! Meanwhile the civil war is causing supernovas in the galaxy, certain to harm the Voyager if this ordeal isn't solved. Arriving to balk in her superior-to-puny-mortals attitude is a female Q (Suzie Plakston, who is good fun), calling Q to task for choosing Janeway as romantic mate over her! Q, hoping to convince Janeway, takes her to the battlefront where the old- fashioned Q (dressed as the Confederacy) wage war with him, articulating the conflict in a format of the American Civil War, De Lancie representing the Union! When De Lancie is hit by a bullet and bleeds, Janeway knows the situation is dire, not helped by Harve Presnell's Colonel Q who seems unyielding in resolving matters with violence. Whether or not Q having a "Baby Jane" is conclusively silly, I think De Lancie is such a delight to watch, and his repartee with decisively opposing Janeway so much fun, the episode is hard to resist. Plakston annoying the Voyager crew also included, only adds to the joy of it all. I especially liked Torres not taking her lip, certainly offering barbs at her over losing the Q powers, with Plakston amused at her spunk. Tuvok and Chakotay tolerating her bold remarks and commands, pointing out she needs them just as much as they need her is a pleasant development considering how the Q omnipotence is always shoved in the face of mortals. But this series should be commended for further developing the story of the Q and the never-aging De Lancie doesn't miss a beat. Seeing Q evolve also, as he does when seeing Quinn die previously in Death Wish and pleads with Presnell to spare Janeway's life in this episode has been a real pleasure. Q could have ended with the culmination of the Next Generation run, but Voyager further continued his story...and this fan of the character is happy they did! The baby introduced to Janeway might have been a bit much, but De Lancie charms with the boy on his knee, and this episode extends their relationship beyond just a god annoying a starship captain. That intercourse between Q be a touch of fingers is fitting with how they operate.

it is a bit much.q

[ignisgeodacius · 8/10 · 4 April 2022]

Q is a bit much here, but Katherine Mulgrew does a fantastic job keeping this episode together.

Q is pretty weak ass on this ep, but he does a good job.

I'm all Q'd out.

[thevacinstaller · 5/10 · 18 July 2021]

I am going to plant my flag in the idea that the Q are more interesting by knowing less about them. This episode portrays this immortal species as possessing the human failings of war/violence/factions and political unrest. The fun of the Q is the mystery behind their intentions and they worked best when slightly menacing.

Don't get me wrong ---- I absolute adore three episodes from TNG with Q but based on what I see here, they should have just stopped with Q at the series finale of TNG.

My favorite episodes of the Q all provided some insight in humanity (Overconfidence, Regret, Friendship bonds) but this episode is just the forward momentum of the q civil war plot.

I did enjoy the previous Voyager Q episode that presented the subject of 'right to die' in an elegant manner ---- This is far weaker a Q episode in comparison.

Boring and lacking imagination

[pilotgav · 3/10 · 17 February 2020]

Seriously... The civil war? No one could think of a more exciting and "omnipotent" setting to represent the Continuum's conflict?

And why the heck wouldn't they ask Q to send them home as a thank you?

Janeway is so Dumb again

[newarkinvaders · 1/10 · 12 May 2022]

Janeway this week decides " We are not looking for a short cut we are going to get home with hard work "

What an idiot. Also pretty sure this goes against everything she has ever said before.

This time the price asked for a trip home is far less than the last time and effects only Janeway .

So the usually self sacrificing Janeway decides she is definitely not interested and her actions nearly destroy the universe .

After they get lucky and are saved at the last moment by the crew of the voyager . They go on there merry way . Forgetting to ask for a lift home. Probably because it wouldn't be hard work enough to satisfy Janeway ...

Q sucks.

[justin_9282517 · 1/10 · 15 December 2020]

Q is the worst. Q stories are the worst. Q shouldn't exist. Q is bad writing. Q sucks.

Hollywood please never ever do fake cliches again

[silikonchips · 3/10 · 19 May 2021]

By "fake cliches", I mean an American Civil War that's not real, or a "boxing episode" that's not actual boxers, or Space Nazis.

Ok, Voyager gets a bit of a pass for it's Space Nazi story because that was a holodeck simulation.

Circus

[rwseidel · 4/10 · 6 September 2021]

This series has more tentpoling than the Barnum and Bailey circus. As much as I enjoy Q, I find this too much of a good thing, diluting his appeal in the ennui of the repetitious Janeway journey. It might be the failure of the basic premise of the series, which requires the continuous injection of successful characters from earlier incarnations of the franchise, or it just may be the intellectual shortcomings of the writers, but it will soon be the injection of Jeri Ryan that prolaongs the agaony.

Not good

[danielacadien · 2/10 · 26 February 2022]

The romanticizing of americans writers by americans writing of the civil war. Just a bad episode. The typical southern belle saving the day. Blah, blah, blah.