In the sixth episode of the sixth season of The Next Generation, the Enterprise gets a very strange new passenger. Intrigued? Then it’s time for Mark to watch The Next Generation.
Trigger Warning: For talk of consent
Well, this was a quietly devastating little episode, wasn’t it? It’s interesting to me that this is more or less a giant trope: What would a normal do if they suddenly started getting superpowers? It’s not at all a unique story, and yet, “True Q” is totally unique, both within the genre and for The Next Generation. I mean, the very idea that the Q could create a human version of themselves through human reproduction is wild enough, but the writers find a way to craft this beautiful and heartbreaking story of a young woman who is torn between doing what is right and what is expected of her and what she wants to do. Those distinctions are incredibly important, too, and I think “True Q” does a fantastic job of addressing.
Let’s just start with the obvious: SHE BROUGHT A DOZEN PUPPIES TO HER WHEN SHE MISSED HER DOGS, AND THERE IS NO BETTER POWER THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN AND I WANT IT RIGHT NOW. Could you imagine? Feeling sad and then POOF! A literal pile of puppies is available for you. Oh, how dare this show give me this but not really give it to me.
Anyway, I was shocked by the episode title because usually this show doesn’t spoil its own content that way, but I also thought it was super interesting to open with the PUPPY SCENE, only to follow it with a huge clue as to why Amanda can do such wonderful things. Initially, I thought that maybe she was Q in disguise. But I’m so glad that the writers went this direction instead. It’s way more amusing and fulfilling to see Q act surprised and off his game, you know? And Amanda constantly either impresses him or shocks him. And how could she not? Raised as a human, she doesn’t have the moral system or the understanding of the universe as Q does. Why should she? Her powers bloomed late, and up until this point, she’s believed that something was wrong with her.
And now, her life has changed irrevocably in an instant. That’s one of the reasons this episode is so intense. It becomes very clear that Amanda cannot simply imagine this all away, nor can she quietly ignore her burgeoning powers either. Despite asking for Dr. Crusher to treat her as if she’s normal, Amanda discovers how hard that is for others, especially if she chooses to use her powers. Even for good! It’s wonderful that her experiment takes half the time as it usually does for Dr. Crusher, but Amanda won’t be around permanently. The speed doesn’t actually help Dr. Crusher!
Q doesn’t really help Amanda either. He’s pushy, overbearing, and extremely arrogant. He assumes that just because her parents were part of the Continuum, that means she’ll instantly prefer to be a part of it, too. He dismisses her entire experience as a human, too! Which is justified in his view because there’s no middle ground for her. You’re a Q or you’re not. He believes this so fully that he was sent to determine whether or not she was a hybrid SO THAT HE COULD KILL HER IF SHE DIDN’T COME WITH HIM. The Q Continuum already killed her parents, so it’s not like this threat was empty and meaningless. Oh, no, it was a very real threat.
Yet I wasn’t surprised by Amanda’s decision to remain as a human and eschew her powers instead. She wanted to be human because that was the life she had always lived! Her powers were only a recent development, and she wasn’t ready to give up her humanity. (I’m surprised the show didn’t evoke Data in these moments, given his desire for humanity.) Unfortunately, I’m willing to believe that Q purposely manipulated events down on that planet to test Amanda’s commitment to decision. He claims he didn’t, but isn’t it quintessential Q? He meddles, he interferes, and he tests everyone around him.
I am just as unsurprised that Amanda could not resist the temptation to help others. This episode shows us that she was a charitable person, one who was desperate to help others. So what was she going to do? Let the people on that planet perish, despite being perfectly able to save them? I think Q knew that, and he made sure to confirm his suspicions. It’s heartbreaking to watch because I imagine that Amanda will never truly feel like she belongs to any single group. She’ll leave humans behind and evolve closer towards being Q, but will she ever fit in with them? Probably not. So we’re left with an open ending, and it’s disturbing, and THAT’S IT. I think it’s a fantastic conclusion, for what it’s worth, and I think this was done really well. I was super worried during that Riker scene that this was going to go into NOPE Territory real fast, but even then, this script is well aware of the implications of Amanda’s powers. I appreciate that.
The video for “True Q” can be downloaded here for $0.99.
Mark Links Stuff
– I am now on Patreon!!! MANY SURPRISES ARE IN STORE FOR YOU IF YOU SUPPORT ME.
– IÂ will be at Borderlands Books, Book Riot Live, and Windycon this fall! Check the full list of events on my Tour Dates / Appearances page.
– My Master Schedule is updated for the near and distant future for most projects, so please check it often. My next Double Features for Mark Watches will be Kings, season 1 of Sense8, season 1 of Agent Carter, seasons 1 & 2 of The 100, Death Note, and Neon Genesis Evangelion. On Mark Reads, Diane Duane’s Young Wizards series will replace the Emelan books.
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