Q Continuum (Star Trek)
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In the Star Trek universe, the Q Continuum is an extradimensional plane of existence inhabited by a race of omnipotent, immortal and omniscient hyperintelligent godlike beings known as the Q. Although they have individual, flawed personalities (they seem prone to arrogance, for instance) their power seems unlimited ("I have unlimited control over space, matter and time" -Q2). They claim to be largely indifferent to the affairs of the non-Q beings living in normal space, or in the many dimensions parallel to their own, considering them to be insignificant and childlike; however they are clearly very interested in human beings in particular, subjecting the human race to various tests. It is implied that they are intrigued but also threatened by humanity's potential. The Q have appeared on episodes of [[Star Trek: The Next Generation]], [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]], [[Star Trek: Voyager]], and possibly even the original [[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]] (see below).
Overview
The Q are apparently all individually named Q, and while this would be very confusing for humans the Q themselves don't seem to have a problem with it. The most notable of the Q is played by John de Lancie, a mischievous Q who, having taken an interest in humans, periodically harasses the crews of starships and space stations. He also has a flair for the dramatic, whisking away the crew to exotic locations, engaging in elaborate speeches, and snapping his fingers to engender many of his manifestations. He has a highly mercurial personality, switching rapidly between a joking, campy style and a much more ominious and even dangerous manner. While he is very boastful, condescending and occasionally threatening, he ultimately seems to have humanity's best interests at heart. This Q was apparently something of a rebel within the Q race, and his antics occasionally got him into trouble with his fellow Q and served as an inspiration for the Q that the Voyager crew would know as Quinn, who admired his restlessness and inquisitiveness. Quinn eventually became a rogue Q who demanded to be allowed to commit suicide.
Some other members of the Continuum featured in Star Trek are Q2 and Amanda Rogers who was raised like a human but eventually discovered her true identity.
Some episodes have suggested that the Q evolved since the Big Bang to their current state, and that possibly they were like humans very early on. One member of the Q once referred to a "New Era" among the Continuum, during which an important change occurred in the species. No further details were given, although the New Era may have been the time at which the ancient Q finally abandoned their material bodies and became incorporeal about 10,000 B.C. It has been suggested by Quinn that when the Q gave up their physicality and achieved their godlike powers, they also gave up any chance of growth or evolution since change was unnecessary.
Known members of the Q Continuum
- Q - most frequently-appearing representative of the Continuum during the various Trek series from Next generation on.
- Q2 (Corbin Bernsen) - manifested as a blond man, was responsible for getting Q kicked out and stripped of his powers, and his subsequent reinstatement; once misplaced the Deltived asteroid belt
- Amanda Rogers (Olivia D'Abo) - born to two Q who took human appearance and, living in Kansas on Earth, conceived her in the "vulgar" human fashion; her parents were killed by a powerful Q-caused tornado that only destroyed one house. While she longs to live as a normal human, eventually this proves to be impractical and she leaves to explore her powers with the other Q.
- Unknown Q representative, or composite of several Q, who queried Q on his progress with Amanda. This Q was represented as a shadowy form
- Quinn (Gerrit Graham) - name taken by one of the Continuum's philosopher-writers who felt that the Q had become stagnant in their quest for development of their species and who longed to commmit suicide
- "Mrs." Q (Suzie Plakson) - whimsically "Suzie Q", she has had a long friendship with Q, and they finally married circa 2373 and had a child
- q (Keegan de Lancie), aka "Junior" - son of Q and Mrs. Q
(several other Q appeared in "The Q and the Gray", although only the "Confederate" colonel (Harve Presnell) and "Mrs." Q had speaking roles.)
Possible Q from [[Star Trek: The Original Series|The Original Series]]
- Trelane (William Campbell) - omnipotent entity who, with his parents, was encountered by James T. Kirk. Trelane is a very Q-like character, but Trelane relied on a machine to assist him with the use of his power, and the Q apparently don't need machines. It's possible Trelane's youth - he is eventually revealed to literally be the child form of his race - made machines neccessary.†
- Charles Evans - Charlie Evans was a young man who was given Q-like powers by a race called the Thasians, when he was found as the only survivor on their desolate homeworld.
Episodes featuring one or more Q
- [[Star Trek: The Original Series]]
- *"The Squire of Gothos" – conjectured, not canon †
- [[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]
- *"Encounter at Farpoint"
- *"Hide and Q"
- *"Q Who?"
- *"Déjà Q"
- *"Q-Pid"
- *"True Q"
- *"Tapestry"
- *"All Good Things..."
- [[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]
- *"Q-Less"
- [[Star Trek: Voyager]]
- *"Death Wish"
- *"The Q and the Grey"
- *"Q2"
- Novels:
- *Q-in-Law
- *Q-Squared
- *I, Q
- *Star Trek The Q Continuum (Q-Zone, Q-Space, Q-Strike)
- Computer game
- *[[Star Trek: Borg]]
- Radio Dramas:
- *Alien Voices - Spock vs. Q
- *Alien Voices - Spock vs. Q - The Sequel
External links
- #redirect [[Template:Memoryalpha]]
- #redirect [[Template:Memoryalpha]]
- [Q Rules!] - An Unauthorized History by Atara Stein
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