After making three guest appearances on “Star Trek: Voyager,” making a single appearance on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” and voicing Q for multiple video games, John de Lancie has had the opportunity to bring the character’s story full circle thanks to “Star Trek: Picard.” The main antagonist for “Picard” Season 2, Q bursts back into his frenemy’s life once more to prove his worth and mettle as an opponent for all time, spiriting him away to a different timeline. The season-long odyssey pits Picard against the inhabitants of an earth that has enslaved all other alien races across the galaxy. While the captain battles to get home with his friends and crew, he also must fight the very recesses of his own mind — horrible childhood memories and feelings of self-doubt about his ability to love. There’s also another clash with the Borg and its queen in the offing, as well as an evil version of Adam Soong (Brent Spiner) to be dealt with.
It soon turns out that Q has a personal stake in the contest — he is dying, and this last duel with Picard is part of a quest to prove that his own life has purpose. It also has a sub-point — to convince Picard he’s worthy of love and needs to let go of his emotional scars. Ultimately, Q accepts Picard’s victory and transfers him and his crew back to the proper timeline before his apparent death. One can’t assume that his passing is permanent — it’s the “Star Trek” universe, after all — but if it’s the last time audiences ever see Q, it’s certainly a fitting farewell.
