Q turns up like a bad penny. On board the Enterprise is Amanda, who is shown immediately to have some interesting powers (retrieving and sending back her pets to some unknown place--possibly like the cloud). She is a bright, pretty 18 year old who is newly arrived from Star Fleet Academy, working with Dr. Crusher. Q informs the crew that she is Q and is being observed by the masters to see if she should live or die. She is the daughter of adoptive parents because her actual parents were destroyed by the Continuum. Q asks to be her to allow him to be her tutor. She is caught between her need to be human and the powers that she has inherited. She develops a connection with Beverly and tries to sort out all he implications--a decision which will eventually determine what she will become. This is what makes this episode provocative. Q is his usually obnoxious self, treating the girl with a heavy hand (she seems to have powers that are a step above his). What would we do if we found ourselves with these gifts.
18 Reviews
Sub-Par for a Q Episode
zombiemockingbird13 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I always like the Q episodes, but this one made the mistake of including Amanda. I found her character flat, uninteresting and rather unlikeable. Not sure if it was bad writing or bad acting, but she sure didn't have the wit and charisma of John de Lancie. She was wooden but over-acting at the same time. I find it hard to believe she had no idea about her powers until she arrived on the Enterprise. And isn't she supposed to be a young girl? Her attraction to Riker and the whole romantic abduction to the garden where she tried to seduce him was cringy and kind of distasteful. Picard's morality speech to Q just made him sound like a pompous blowhard. The girl is a Q; what business is it of Picard's, or any of them, what the Q continuum does with her? If she's Q, then she isn't human, so isn't he going against the holy Prime Directive by interfering at all? The only thing that saves this episode is John de Lancie who is excellent as always.
Another Q?
Tweekums30 July 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A young intern, Amanda Rogers, has joined the Enterprise to work under Dr Crusher but it soon becomes apparent that she isn't like ordinary people; as a crate falls and is about to hit Riker she causes it to miss him. It soon becomes apparent that it isn't just telekinesis; Q turns up claiming that Amanda is actually a Q. She knew that her natural parents had died when she was a baby but had no idea that they were Q who had chosen to live as human. Q is on a mission to determine whether she is fully Q or whether her human birth means she is something else. He tutors her to use her abilities but doesn't tell her that her parents were killed by the Q and the same fate will await her if she continues to use her powers without returning to the continuum.
The Q have the potential to be one of the most annoying Star Trek aliens thanks to their omnipotence but John de Lancie manage to save the Q we see most of; making him an interesting and amusing character. The fact that Amanda is only coming to terms with being a Q at this point makes her character interesting too; Olivia d'Abo does a decent job in the role even though the character isn't the most dynamic. The ending nicely sets up a choice for Amanda then gives us a nice twist as she ultimately accepts what she is. Overall not a classic episode but still enjoyable.
The Q have the potential to be one of the most annoying Star Trek aliens thanks to their omnipotence but John de Lancie manage to save the Q we see most of; making him an interesting and amusing character. The fact that Amanda is only coming to terms with being a Q at this point makes her character interesting too; Olivia d'Abo does a decent job in the role even though the character isn't the most dynamic. The ending nicely sets up a choice for Amanda then gives us a nice twist as she ultimately accepts what she is. Overall not a classic episode but still enjoyable.
What is the definition of a Q?
russem3129 April 2006
Warning: Spoilers
ST:TNG:132 - "True Q" (Stardate: 46192.3) - this is the 6th episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
While en route to an ecologically devastated planet called Tagra IV, the Enterprise welcomes Amanda, who is a young honor student chosen to study onboard the ship. However, when she single-handedly saves the ship from destruction, she reveals to have the powers of Q.
Soon Q (John de Lancie in another hilarious appearance) himself appears and announces that she is a Q. Now she must choose whether to be human or become a Q. And of course, Q has a few tricks up his sleeve too.
Trivia note: Dr. Crusher mentions Nurse Ogawa. And watch out for Dr. Crusher turning into a dog!
While en route to an ecologically devastated planet called Tagra IV, the Enterprise welcomes Amanda, who is a young honor student chosen to study onboard the ship. However, when she single-handedly saves the ship from destruction, she reveals to have the powers of Q.
Soon Q (John de Lancie in another hilarious appearance) himself appears and announces that she is a Q. Now she must choose whether to be human or become a Q. And of course, Q has a few tricks up his sleeve too.
Trivia note: Dr. Crusher mentions Nurse Ogawa. And watch out for Dr. Crusher turning into a dog!
Good
dpowelldwp5 April 2022
I'm a bit surprised about the low scores - I think that folks tend to rate depending on whether they agree with what happened in an episode rather than how well it was done. This is one of my favorite episodes and one I remember very well 40 years later.
REVIEW 2022
iamirwar24 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
It's nice to get back to Starbase 112. Time for some much needed R&R, whilst relief supplies are loaded on board in preparation for our next mission. Tagra IV is an ecologically devastated planet in the Argolis Cluster, so I am sure we will be heading out that way as soon as we've picked up a few things at the stations duty-free shop. And we've got a pretty face in Miss Rogers. Of course, whenever a pretty young thing comes aboard it seems to be the duty of the second-in-command to show her to her quarters.
That round-plate wall-hanging certainly gets around, or did the decorators buy up a warehouse lot?
I should say at this stage, that thirty years ago I had a big crush on Olivia d'Abo. I remember her from the Wonder Years, and a few other shows and films. Isn't TV amazing the way it brings back memories of old crushes you had long-ago forgotten about?
From the episode title we know it's going to be a Q show. Let's brace ourselves. It seems like our Miss Rogers has a touch of the Q about her too. It's good to have her about, she might prove useful.
A promising start but we have taken a side-street with questions of continuum paternity. Amanda's examining her own feelings having suddenly learned that she's a Q. But she's spent her lifetime living as a human girl, playing with dolls, eating pizza, going to the mall, 24th century style.
It's an interesting story and a great idea, but a bit light-weight.
This Episodes Clue: Handbags and Gladrags, Build Me Up Buttercup.
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
That round-plate wall-hanging certainly gets around, or did the decorators buy up a warehouse lot?
I should say at this stage, that thirty years ago I had a big crush on Olivia d'Abo. I remember her from the Wonder Years, and a few other shows and films. Isn't TV amazing the way it brings back memories of old crushes you had long-ago forgotten about?
From the episode title we know it's going to be a Q show. Let's brace ourselves. It seems like our Miss Rogers has a touch of the Q about her too. It's good to have her about, she might prove useful.
A promising start but we have taken a side-street with questions of continuum paternity. Amanda's examining her own feelings having suddenly learned that she's a Q. But she's spent her lifetime living as a human girl, playing with dolls, eating pizza, going to the mall, 24th century style.
It's an interesting story and a great idea, but a bit light-weight.
This Episodes Clue: Handbags and Gladrags, Build Me Up Buttercup.
(Answer's to all episode clues will appear in the reviews of season seven, episode 25: All Good Things, Part One.)
The Continuum Gets a New Q
Samuel-Shovel9 June 2020
Warning: Spoilers
In "True Q" a young Enterprise intern exhibits exceptional powers. When Q shows up and claims her as a member of the Continuum, the lady must decide for herself what path she wants to take.
Q episodes are hit or miss for me but this is a solid hit. Most episodes involving Q focus on him primarily, but here Amanda is our focus. Without going into the history or lore of Q too much, we get a nice little background story that maintains their mystery but give us just enough to have a nice plot, a fun late series Q.
Q episodes are hit or miss for me but this is a solid hit. Most episodes involving Q focus on him primarily, but here Amanda is our focus. Without going into the history or lore of Q too much, we get a nice little background story that maintains their mystery but give us just enough to have a nice plot, a fun late series Q.
Great episode
Filmreader1 May 2022
It's Q....though he's not quite as much fun this time.
planktonrules27 November 2014
Amanda Rogers--Olivia d'Abo Aside from the two-part episode that began "Star Trek: The Next Generation" ("Encounter at Farpoint"), I really enjoyed the shows that featured Q. Although I never understood why Picard hated him so much, he was often very helpful to the crew and the shows were pretty fun. I would consider "True Q" to be among the least of these episodes--worth seeing but less fun than usual.
The show begins with a bright young lady, Amanda Rogers (Olivia d'Abo) coming aboard the ship and working with the Doctor. It seems that she's some sort of prodigy and the Doctor is teaching her. However, in the middle of this, Q unexpectedly arrives and announces that Amanda is NOT a human but actually a member of the Continuum. And, because of this, he's ready to take her back to be with her people. While this means a lot of power...it also is not an easy choice for Amanda. Interestingly, the Captain doesn't argue with Q but gives him full access to the ship...which he would have taken anyway.
The biggest problem is the Q is just too restrained in this one and the show is much more serious in tone. Not bad, but a tad disappointing.
The show begins with a bright young lady, Amanda Rogers (Olivia d'Abo) coming aboard the ship and working with the Doctor. It seems that she's some sort of prodigy and the Doctor is teaching her. However, in the middle of this, Q unexpectedly arrives and announces that Amanda is NOT a human but actually a member of the Continuum. And, because of this, he's ready to take her back to be with her people. While this means a lot of power...it also is not an easy choice for Amanda. Interestingly, the Captain doesn't argue with Q but gives him full access to the ship...which he would have taken anyway.
The biggest problem is the Q is just too restrained in this one and the show is much more serious in tone. Not bad, but a tad disappointing.
"She's quite a little spitfire now, isn't she?"
classicsoncall16 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I always get a kick out of the Q-centric episodes. This one has the Continuum's most humorous member aboard the Enterprise attempting to entice a young woman with extraordinary abilities to give up her humanity and submit to her Q side. John de Lancie as Q declares himself an expert on humanity and does his level best to convince Amanda Rogers (Olivia d'Abo) that she's wasting her time performing medical tasks for Dr. Crusher (Gates McFadden) when she could be out there in the infinite galaxy exploring the wonders of the universe in an instant. Which is a pretty strong argument if I have to say so myself, sort of like an offer one can't refuse. Q convincingly demonstrates what Miss Rogers can accomplish when he teaches her how to connect with her parents, who died when she was only five years old. I thought the story was going for some kind of 'Wizard of Oz' connection when it was stated her parents died in a tornado in Kansas, but even if that idea went nowhere, the possibility that they were still alive was posited since they were also part of the Continuum and subject to immortality. Ultimately, the desire to become Q overcame Miss Rogers' initial reluctance, and she decided to turn herself over to the Continuum. My favorite moment in this story occurred when Captain Picard encouraged Q to act civil in his presence while communicating with Amanda, to which Q responded by proffering a sidearm hug with the Captain and calling themselves 'pals'! The look on Picard's face said it all!
P. S. I didn't mention it in the prior episode, but I don't care for Counselor Troi's (Marina Sirtis) new hairdo. The curls are not complimentary to her face.
P. S. I didn't mention it in the prior episode, but I don't care for Counselor Troi's (Marina Sirtis) new hairdo. The curls are not complimentary to her face.
Okay but there are better Q episodes
snoozejonc11 November 2021
Enterprise welcomes a new intern who shows signs of having Q powers.
This is an okay episode for me but nothing particularly memorable.
The plot is similar to a Q episode in past seasons where we see someone faced with a choice of having Q powers or not after trying them out in numerous scenes beforehand. This one does not work as well for me as the character of Amanda is not that interesting.
There are dialogue exchanges involving Q that are good, as John De Lancie is on good form as always, along with a Patrick Stewart, Gates McFadden, and Jonathan Frakes. There is some good discussion on the subject of omnipotence as always in these types of episodes.
The character of Amanda does not grip me very much. She is someone not seen before on the show so I was not invested in her fate one way or the other. Plus I thought the performance of Olivia d'Abo was a little bit flat at times.
I have read the show creators were trying to put some sense of threat back into the character of Q with this episode, but personally after they had already played it for laughs (Robin Hood etc) in previous episodes, I think that was a bit of a lost cause.
There were plenty of decent visuals such as the warp core breach and other scenes of the Q powers on display.
This is an okay episode for me but nothing particularly memorable.
The plot is similar to a Q episode in past seasons where we see someone faced with a choice of having Q powers or not after trying them out in numerous scenes beforehand. This one does not work as well for me as the character of Amanda is not that interesting.
There are dialogue exchanges involving Q that are good, as John De Lancie is on good form as always, along with a Patrick Stewart, Gates McFadden, and Jonathan Frakes. There is some good discussion on the subject of omnipotence as always in these types of episodes.
The character of Amanda does not grip me very much. She is someone not seen before on the show so I was not invested in her fate one way or the other. Plus I thought the performance of Olivia d'Abo was a little bit flat at times.
I have read the show creators were trying to put some sense of threat back into the character of Q with this episode, but personally after they had already played it for laughs (Robin Hood etc) in previous episodes, I think that was a bit of a lost cause.
There were plenty of decent visuals such as the warp core breach and other scenes of the Q powers on display.
Breaking Immersion
loralen24 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The Q have never made less sense. They are initially described as being something like a single brain that can replicate itself and take many forms, but just like the Borg before them, the Q become less consistent with their original selves with each appearance, this time introducing a young girl who appears as a human, unaware she is Q. On top of that, the Q's powers don't make any sense and feel out of place in Star Trek. They can apparently actualise any desire they imagine, and yet in previous episodes Q is unable to make Picard or Riker bend to his will...why not?
The Q are hypocrites
sloopnp19 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
So the Q are a bunch of murderous hypocrites? They held the Enterprise responsible for all human atrocities, but here they are murdering this woman's parents then forcing her to spend the rest of her life with their killers. Doesn't this sound messed up? This episode was terrible for me because I couldn't get over the fact that she left with her parent's killers. I wouldn't. I'd go out Klingon-style.
Great Q Put-Down Lines In This One
StuOz23 November 2016
Another Q, a young female, is on the Enterprise.
One of my very favourite TNG episodes as it is loaded with funny lines from Q: "I thought she would never leave" says Q about the ship's Doctor as she leaves the room.
Q describes the other Q as "a real spitfire" after she throws him across the room.
And I would not dare reveal Q's line to Captain Picard after he does one of his long speeches.
I re-watch True Q about once a year just to re-live these sort of moments.
One of my very favourite TNG episodes as it is loaded with funny lines from Q: "I thought she would never leave" says Q about the ship's Doctor as she leaves the room.
Q describes the other Q as "a real spitfire" after she throws him across the room.
And I would not dare reveal Q's line to Captain Picard after he does one of his long speeches.
I re-watch True Q about once a year just to re-live these sort of moments.
The Q Continuum recruits
bkoganbing4 September 2019
This episode has us learning that by the century of TNG we've learned to control
the weather somewhat. But the all powerful Q Continuum can override our
controls if need be.
John DeLancie as Q makes another appearance here, this time he's here looking over young Olivia D'Abo who is studying under Dr. Crusher and showing she's got certain powers and abilities quite out of the ordinary. Q wants D'Abo for the Continuum, but Captain Picard says the choice is her's.
There was only one way for this one to go. Still D'Abo is great as an ordinary young woman who finds out she's not so ordinary.
John DeLancie as Q makes another appearance here, this time he's here looking over young Olivia D'Abo who is studying under Dr. Crusher and showing she's got certain powers and abilities quite out of the ordinary. Q wants D'Abo for the Continuum, but Captain Picard says the choice is her's.
There was only one way for this one to go. Still D'Abo is great as an ordinary young woman who finds out she's not so ordinary.
The Q call back to the season 1 episode.
thevacinstaller17 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A snoozer of an episode.
Putting aside my disbelief that these Q powers only happened to present themselves when Amanda boarded the Enterprise was a bit a hurdle to get over but I managed it.
This is a plot that we have done before with that terrible season 1 episode when Riker is given Q powers. There is a bit of a twist on the plot with the dilemma being the death of Amanda or her acceptance into the Q continuum.
I guess if you leave the Q clubhouse you will be murdered if you lose your powers. Amanda is ultimately pretty chill when she discovers the truth behind her parents 'accidental' death. I think I would have held a grudge and would have told Q to go pound sand.
The Amanda character could have used some more development. I did not feel the weight of her dilemma in this episode ---- it just had no impact for me.
Maybe if the character was a bridge crew officer? Heck, even a background extra would suffice.
My recommendation ---- No more stories about human's with Q-God powers.
Putting aside my disbelief that these Q powers only happened to present themselves when Amanda boarded the Enterprise was a bit a hurdle to get over but I managed it.
This is a plot that we have done before with that terrible season 1 episode when Riker is given Q powers. There is a bit of a twist on the plot with the dilemma being the death of Amanda or her acceptance into the Q continuum.
I guess if you leave the Q clubhouse you will be murdered if you lose your powers. Amanda is ultimately pretty chill when she discovers the truth behind her parents 'accidental' death. I think I would have held a grudge and would have told Q to go pound sand.
The Amanda character could have used some more development. I did not feel the weight of her dilemma in this episode ---- it just had no impact for me.
Maybe if the character was a bridge crew officer? Heck, even a background extra would suffice.
My recommendation ---- No more stories about human's with Q-God powers.
Funny but needed some changes
darkdementress2 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I always found the Q episodes to be funny yet interesting. But this one.. it's really stupid how all these young women want Reiker, that would never happen. Did they do that to appeal to all the older men watching with their pervy fantasies? She would of thought he was a old gross man. Trust me I've been a 18 year old girl.. There is some funny moments and i did laugh so it gets a extra star there. The rest of the story is ok..
A Senior Trekker writes..................
celineduchain20 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Golden Age of Star Trek: we had the 6th Season of The Next Generation and the 1st Season of Deep Space Nice on our televisions, Generations on view in our cinemas and First Contact due out soon. This season of TNG contains some excellent stand-alone episodes and several spectacular two-parters, with only the occasional make-weight. Despite the length of time it had already been on the air, it still represents some of the highest standard of television Science Fiction ever broadcast.
John de Lancie returns to our screens as Q after two years in this, my least favourite of his episodes. I guess I didn't like the way in which the writers were messing about with the Q-girl's origins and didn't just tell us the truth. Of course he was her father.
British actress, Olivia d'Abo as the young Amanda Rogers seems badly miscast as a wide-eyed adolescent. She was 23 at the time and had already been in the business for nearly a decade. Despite the ridiculously childish pinafore dresses, her measured self-assurance is completely wrong for the role and makes her schoolgirl crush on Commander Riker distinctly creepy.
The episode features ANOTHER planet which has been polluted by over-industrialisation. The solution in this case - having a Q-Being wave a magic finger - is a bit "out there" but kudos to Star Trek for keeping an unpopular subject to the forefront of its storytelling.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
John de Lancie returns to our screens as Q after two years in this, my least favourite of his episodes. I guess I didn't like the way in which the writers were messing about with the Q-girl's origins and didn't just tell us the truth. Of course he was her father.
British actress, Olivia d'Abo as the young Amanda Rogers seems badly miscast as a wide-eyed adolescent. She was 23 at the time and had already been in the business for nearly a decade. Despite the ridiculously childish pinafore dresses, her measured self-assurance is completely wrong for the role and makes her schoolgirl crush on Commander Riker distinctly creepy.
The episode features ANOTHER planet which has been polluted by over-industrialisation. The solution in this case - having a Q-Being wave a magic finger - is a bit "out there" but kudos to Star Trek for keeping an unpopular subject to the forefront of its storytelling.
Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5.
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