Hide and Q

The idea is that Riker is being tempted with the power of being a Q. The problem with that is Riker instantly changes into a smug jerk.

His behavior is so instantly and extremely out of line for the character that the only conclusion is he is possessed. It's basically Gary Mitchell all over again. If he's possessed, then it's not temptation.

I guess we have advanced intellectually and emotionally by the time we reach the future Gene Roddenberry envisions. Not too many of us could have rejected what John DeLancie offers Commander Riker. I'm not sure I would have.

Q with the Enterprise, its Captain and its crew are like behavioral lab rats in his capricious experiments testing human nature. DeLancie as the capricious immortal being makes his annual appearance on TNG for the first time since the pilot episode.

Put simply he offers Jonathan Frakes a chance to become a being like him and Frakes seriously thinks it over. But time and reason and the behavior of others of his comrades makes reexamine the proposal.

I don't know anybody today who would refuse. Let's hope that in the future the human race gets to be as intelligent as the Enterprise crew.

Initially, I strongly disliked the Q episodes...though over time they got better and better--and seemed to have a point to them. But at this point, he still appears to be a butt-head who simply takes delight in jerking the Federation around and toying with the Enterprise. In this case, he takes a group of crew members (led by Riker) to a lonely planet and treats them as honored guests...at least initially. During this meeting, he proposes a game-- one where he endows Riker with AMAZING Q-like powers. And, you wonder if all this power might corrupt Riker...how it might change him into something other than a loyal member of the Federation.

Overall, this comes off as a VERY preachy episode of the series and really doesn't do a lot to endear the viewer towards Q--a being you'll come to really like in later episodes. A bit dull and far from enjoyable.

But unfortunately they undo their show of goodwill and make him ten years older instead. What's most upsetting about this transformation is that Riker confesses to a deep "friendship" in which he and Wesley share "long talks". They've known each other for what, ten episodes? In universe time that's about six months so maybe, but what is Riker doing hanging out with Wesley when he's off duty? The moment would be believable if we had seen one of those talks, or if they had shared more screen time, which leads me to the real problem with this episode: the enterprise crew is not a family yet.

Riker just met all these people six months ago and he is their commanding officer. While they would certainly be familiar, Riker would be in no position to fulfill the deepest desires of the bridge crew, least of all those of Wesley Crusher. Still, there is something poignant here. If you had that power of the Q, why wouldn't you use it? Would you be able to use if for good? Could you use it for good even if you wanted to? What is power without wisdom? These are important questions and the episode makes a reasonable attempt at exploring them, but because the characters are under developed at this point in the series it doesn't really work.

The writers really do get a few things right though. Their portrayal of the French soldiers is incredibly accurate. They don't just get the costume right but the skin tone and facial features as well. They also tip their hand about Picard's innate admiration for imperial conquest as Q reveals that he created the scenario based on Picard's inner thoughts. I offer this as more evidence that Picard fired on a defenseless Ferengi ship when he was captain of the Star Gazer as it appears the spirit of Napoleonic conquest is never far from his mind.

Verdict: Worth watching, but forgettable.

Enterprise has another encounter with Q who temps Riker with power.

This is a fairly solid episode with some strong themes about the corruption of power, albeit presented in a very unsubtle way.

The plot is rather simplistic and predictable as it gets the point across, but it provides some fine character moments for Picard, Q, Riker, Worf and Data.

Riker's closely scrutinised behaviour with the addition of superpowers is an interesting arc and is done well. Whether or not the crux of the episode is an effective way to resolve the situation is debatable, but it works for me. There is an groan-inducing level of cynicism in me that requires a big suspension of disbelief for it to work though.

The visuals are pretty good, with an 80s Star Trek standard of planet set design which is all part of the fun. The various costumes and guises of Q are entertaining.

Most performances are good, especially Patrick Stewart and John de Lancie who light up the screen with their exchanges, particularly when quoting Shakespeare.

Jonathan Frakes is solid portraying Riker with a slight change of attitude. He carries the episode quite well with an imposing presence and delivers his lines with a good balance of control and emotion.

Denise Crosby displays a more vulnerable side to Yar very well. Brent Spiner is excellent, particularly when delivering Data's response to Riker's gift offer. Gates McFadden is okay but feels like she is reciting lines in some scenes. Michael Dorn is bizarre with his growling and comical Klingon mannerisms. LeVar Burton lacks conviction in most of his lines.