John de Lancie teases the arrival of a more mature Q in Star Trek: Picard season 2. The road to Picard's sophomore run has been longer than many expected, but it might be drawing to a close soon. Star Trek: Picard first premiered on Paramount+ nearly two years ago in January 2020. Season 2 was set to begin filming later that year, but the coronavirus pandemic pushed it back to 2021. Now Paramount+ is looking to start Picard season 2 in February while filming on the already-ordered season 3 continues. Recently, Picard shut down briefly due to 50+ positive Covid cases, but it has since picked back up again.
Fans are likely very relieved that season 2 is finally getting closer, since Star Trek: Picard has some exciting twists ahead. Fresh off the game-changing season 1 finale that saw Jean-Luc (Patrick Stewart) die and transfer his consciousness to a synthetic body, Picard will find him coming face to face with an old frenemy: The Next Generation's Q. The wily troublemaker played a prominent role in the previous Star Trek series, constantly challenging Picard and his crew in inventive ways. He'll do the same in Picard season 2, but there will be some new layers to him as well.
Speaking during a guest panel for the Trek Talks Telethon (via TrekMovie.com), de Lancie opened up about how Q has evolved since fans saw him last. Q has appeared in a number of Star Trek projects over the years, but it's Picard that promises to show the most growth with him, according to de Lancie. He said:
It isn’t in fact a Q of 34 years years ago. It would be unseemly to be playing it that way. He’s older, more mature, a little more focused individual, with a very strong internal motivation and a desire to get Picard to do something. But if I tried to do it the way I acted back then, I think it wouldn’t be good. It is different and it’s intended to be a little different.
This description of a more mature Q falls in line with some of de Lancie's previous comments, where he hinted Star Trek: Picard season 2 will have a very different Q. It's fair for de Lancie to believe Q needs to have changed by the time he appears on Picard. Fans have come to enjoy (or loathe) Q's absurd nature, but no person remains the same after several decades. Even Picard himself has undergone some major development just in the first season alone, so the same should be expected of Q.
If anything, this makes Star Trek: Picard season 2 even more intriguing. Watching Picard and Q back together again will be familiar, yet new all at once. These characters have a long history together, yet they've experienced a lot in the years apart. That should make their scenes in Picard season 2 extra compelling. Plus, Jean-Luc won't be the only TNG character Q will interact with, as Jonathan Frakes confirmed Riker and Q have a great scene together. There will be plenty of opportunities for fans to enjoy this new, mature Q, even as he wreaks havoc on their favorite characters.
Star Trek: Picard season 2 premieres in February on Paramount+.
Source: TrekMovie.com