‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ Retro Recap – ‘True Q’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It is definitely safe to say, that the vast majority of us are quite well versed in our family’s history. For our parents are happy to discuss it when the time is right, and we are eager to learn about it. For we know little outside of our immediate world and hearing more about where we come from and how we reached this point, is simply fascinating and oddly fulfilling. Primarily because, that knowledge gives us a powerful sense of belonging and purpose for that matter as well. Since it reminds us to do our best to add to our rich lineage. But you’ll note that this particular observation was not one hundred percent inclusive and there is good reason for that. Because not everyone knows their family’s backstory inside and out.

That could be because there are some dark periods in the family’s past, the kind that bring about embarrassment when they are spoken to. Or… someone simply doesn’t know it in the slightest. Because it was never discussed or because they never knew their family well enough to gather that history and when that happens, the party that is without knowledge… has quite the decision to make at some point in their lives. In that, they can stick with what they know and forge their own legacy and never once worry about the past… or they can dig hard and learn everything there is to know about their family and endure the risk of pain if they uncover something ugly and well, it is that choice that is central to the next episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

A feat that ‘True Q’ accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Amanda Rogers who is forging her own path in the galaxy in quite the positive manner. For she is extremely intelligent and eager to learn and execute every theory that science has to offer, and that keen mind and her powerful observations and contributions to the scientific community, has brought her to the Enterprise for an opportunity to learn and grow out there in the void. But there is also a sorrowful side to Amanda, for her parents died when she was extremely young, and she knows nothing about them or the history of her family. But a few odd surprises on board the ship, are going to make her face the choice in question. For it turns out that Amanda has some odd abilities, the kind that allow for her to shape the universe as she sees fit and there is good reason for that. 

Because it turns out, that she is a member of the Q Continuum, and so were her parents and their inability to keep their powers in check, motivated the Q to end their lives and spare hers and see what she would do when the time arrived for her powers to blossom. Which means our favorite Q returns to the Enterprise to ask her to face her past and learn it and all the risks that come with being a Q and well, that leads to a powerful journey. One where Amanda really does take the time to weigh the wonder and the horror of being a Q and that allows for her to make quite the powerful decision. In that, she decides in the end to embrace her past and what the Continuum stands for. Not because she believes it to be a better life, since she’s seen wonders untold in the corporeal universe, but because she realizes that her powers and her strength can cause harm when human emotion comes into play.

If anything, this was just a fascinating episode when all is said and done, one that really did a fine job of digging into the grey areas that accompany exploring one’s history. Because the truth is, there is a lot of struggle and strife that can come with that when we don’t know it, and fear too, since the unknown hangs over us when we head out into this journey and well… it is the realism of this story that makes it work so well, alongside a very nuanced performance from John de Lancie as Q. Since here, he is quite curious about Amanda and restrained since he understands her power and her abilities and it really was quite amazing to see that side of Q and see him grow and really dive into a story that reminds us how hard it is to find our way, when we don’t know where we’ve come from. Until next time.  

---