Q, Star Trek’s omnipotent trickster god, has explained why he is so obsessed with humanity. In Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Q, Q possesses Captain Jean-Luc Picard, on the eve of tense diplomatic negotiations. While in possession of Picard, Q explains why he is so fascinated with humans and other “lower” life forms.
Q, (or “The Q” as his species is called) is one of the many god-like beings that populate the Star Trek universe. Q first appeared in the Star Trek: The Next Generation pilot episode “Encounter at Farpoint,” where he put the crew of the Enterprise on trial for the crimes of humanity. Q would often return throughout The Next Generation’s seven-season run; he even appeared on its spinoffs: Deep Space Nine and Voyager. Q’s most recent appearance, in season two of Star Trek: Picard saw the trickster embrace his impending death–but not without one last hurrah with Jean-Luc. Q has a contradictory nature: he is endlessly fascinated with humans, but he also considers them lower life forms. Where does Q’s fascination with humans stem from? One Star Trek comic provided the answer.
The one-shot by Scott and David Tipton as well as Elena Cassagrande opens with Q taking possession of Captain Picard’s body. Picard and the crew of the Enterprise are participating in some particularly dicey peace talks–and Q’s interference is the last thing they need. Picard protests, telling Q lives are at stake. Q replies, saying: “you humans are always concerned with cause and effect, as if you have any control over them anyway.” Later, after Q has returned Picard’s body to him, he pontificates on the multiple possibilities that lay before humans, and how they make decisions blindly, without knowing the consequences of their actions. Picard tells Q they had little choice in the matter; Q goes on to admit that Picard’s solution to their dilemma was “elegant.” Picard then tells him he is not surprised that the “concept of charity” is foreign to Q.
Q's Fascination With Humans Stems From Our Limitations
In Q’s first appearance, he put Jean-Luc and the crew of the Enterprise on trial for humanity’s crimes–and this fascination with humans and other lower life forms would persist across Q’s other appearances on The Next Generation and the franchise as a whole. While it can be argued that perhaps Q’s obsession with humans is no different from a researcher experimenting on animals, it in fact runs deeper–and Star Trek Alien Spotlight: Q shows why. As a god-like, omniscient being, Q can see time and space in a way Star Trek's humans cannot; he can see the causes of a situation, but also its effects–even before it happens. Humans have no such capabilities, and thus must make decisions based on evidence and experience; humans may not be aware of all the consequences of their actions, but they make tough decisions anyway. And sometimes, if they are lucky, those decisions are praised by Q himself.
Q (Usually) Acts in Humanity's Interests
Q’s actions across his various appearances, despite initial impressions, usually benefit humanity in some capacity; for example, Q initiated the first formal contact between the Federation and the Borg. The Borg had already been making inroads into the Alpha Quadrant, and thus Q’s actions could be viewed as preparing humanity for what lies ahead. Likewise, Q helped Picard deal with his biggest regret in life, and showed him how it made him into who he is today. All of these deeds stem from Q’s fascination with humanity in Star Trek.