OVEG: The Q and The Grey

Description: The crew watches a supernova (tech: a star exploding) with great joy, reveling in the destruction of others. Unfortunately, it's a sign of bad things to come: the episode. Janeway is paid a visit by Q, who wants to screw her in a big way. She says no. Q then seeks advice from the two most likely to get an answer on how to woo the captain: Tom and Harry. This is good thinking, because Tom is quite successful with the ladies, and it's all Harry ever ever thinks about. They decline. He gets so desperate he even asks Neelix, but he doesn't have a clue.

Anyway, a female Q shows up, and Janeway and the real Q disappear into the continuum. There we see the Q war as represented by the Civil War. Q gets shot, Janeway goes to surrender, and both are sentenced to execution. Janeway has suggested to Q that he mate with another Q to end the war. No one likes the idea, including Q.

Meanwhile, the lady Q brings Voyager into the continuum, and they succeed in kicking the crap out of the entire Q continuum. For a race of omnipotent beings, they sure suck. The war ends, Q and the lady Q mate (violating the PG rating of the episode), and Voyager is returned to normal space.

Comments: In the Next Generation era of Star Trek, I don't think anyone can truly top John de Lancie. His performance of Q since that series began has been remarkable. And yet, even he can't save this episode. I used to think that no Q episode was worse than Encounter at Farpoint; I was horribly, horribly mistaken. Just like the emasculation of the Borg, Voyager has succeeded in turning the Q, the most powerful and interesting villains in Star Trek, into a bunch of weinies. Bravo. I'm sorry, but watching Tom Paris hold the Q hostage with a musket is a sad sad day for Star Trek. On the other hand, having pissed off an entire race of omnipotent beings, I doubt they're getting home any time soon.

Special Kneebler Commentary: I'd just like to point out that there are some great things in this episode, and some really confusing and horrible things in this episode. Okay, great thing: Q calls Neelix a "bar rodent", the best description I've ever heard of him. Then you have the horrible things, let's see: Voyager, in their never ending effort to piss off every race they meet, trashes the Q continuum. Horrible thing #2: Janeway's order of evasive maneuvers to avoid a shockwave. Maybe we'll fake it out. Horrible thing #3: The female Q tells Belana some instructions, and Belana immediately agrees, stating that the shields will suddenly be increased by a power of 10; nobody has thought of this before?! If they had that they could fly THROUGH ships, take on all the Borg if they wanted to. Well, I'm ranting, I'll save it for another episode.

Rating: 5

Best Moment: The assorted nicknames Q throws out for the crew. Besides the aforementioned "bar rodent", we also have first officer "Chuckles" and "Helm Boy". Isn't he a superhero?

Stupid Bar Rodent Moment: "WOW!" "WOW!" Just shut up shithead.

Continuity Question: Nobody thinks to ask for some help to get home. Now let me get this straight: we'll steal things from Borg cubes and make deals with evil aliens, but we won't ask Q. THAT makes sense.

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