Summary
- Q and Guinan have a mysterious history that has yet to be fully explored in the Star Trek franchise.
- Their interactions suggest a personal connection and potential abilities that have not been fully revealed.
- Future Star Trek projects could delve deeper into the complicated relationship between Q and Guinan, offering more insight into their past.
Q (John de Lancie) and Guinan (Whoopi Goldberg) had a strong reaction to one another when they first met on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and their backstory has yet to be fully explored. Q made his debut in the premiere episode of TNG, and popped up about once per season, much to the annoyance of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the crew of the USS Enterprise-D. Guinan joined the cast of TNG in the show’s second season as the enigmatic Ten Forward bartender who had a history with Captain Picard.
Since their introduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation, both Q and Guinan have been mysterious characters, with little snippets of their histories being revealed slowly over time. When the two met on screen for the first time in TNG season 2, episode 16, “Q Who,” it was clear they had conflicted with one another in the past. Q seemed frightened of Guinan, telling Picard that she is “not what she appears to be,” and that Picard should remove her from the Enterprise. Considering Q’s abilities, it’s unclear why he would be afraid of Guinan, and Star Trek has never offered a real explanation for Q’s reaction.
Star Trek Hasn’t Explained Why Q Feared Guinan In TNG
Does Guinan have more abilities that have yet to be revealed?
When Guinan and Q meet in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Q Who,” Guinan raises her hands in defense, as if she possesses some kind of ability to block Q’s powers or attack him with powers of her own. Although Captain Picard diffuses the situation before either Q or Guinan act against one another, it’s never established exactly what Guinan was trying to do. Q also remarks that Guinan had a different name when he knew her, and Guinan reveals that she had “dealings” with Q two centuries ago. This would place their interactions sometime in the 22nd century, during the time of Star Trek: Enterprise and the founding of the United Federation of Planets.
Guinan and Q have obvious animosity toward one another, but TNG only provides hints about their histories.
Q and Guinan meet again in TNG season 3, episode 13, “Deja Q,” when Q loses his powers and requests asylum on the Enterprise. Guinan enjoys seeing Q as a human, and she even stabs him in the hand with a fork to verify his humanity. Guinan and Q have obvious animosity toward one another, but TNG only provides hints about their histories. Much of what’s revealed about Guinan in TNG relates to her lengthy friendship with Captain Picard. Guinan’s species was not even given the name El-Aurian until Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 2, episode 11, “Rivals,” before Star Trek Generations revealed more about her species.
What We Learned About Guinan & Q In Star Trek: Picard
Picard season 2 provided some answers, but still left lingering questions.
Guinan and Q both return in Star Trek: Picard season 2, and while the season provides some answers, it raises even more questions. By the year 2401, Guinan runs a bar at 10 Forward Avenue in Los Angeles, and she has adjusted her physical age to appear older (an ability Q also possesses). As part of Picard season 2’s main storyline, Q dramatically altered the past, prompting Admiral Picard and his friends to travel back in time to the 21st century to restore the proper future. In 2024, the young Guinan (Ito Aghayere) still runs her Los Angeles bar but is preparing to leave Earth.
In Star Trek:Picard season 2, episode 7, “Monster,” Picard asks Guinan about Q, and she says: “A long time ago, after a long cold war, my people and the denizens of the Q Continuum struck a truce.” Guinan then reveals that she has the ability to summon a Q, but when she tries, it doesn’t work right away. Since arriving in the 21st century, Q has been experiencing difficulties with his powers, but he finally contacts Guinan in Picard season 2, episode 8, “Mercy.” Guinan then senses that Q is dying, which surprises even her.
It’s possible that the El-Aurians’ ability to summon a Q is what frightened Q in TNG, but his strong reaction to Guinan seemed to be based on something more personal than that.
A Future Star Trek Sequel Or Prequel Could Provide Answers About Guinan & Q
Much about Guinan and Q remains a mystery.
Q appears to die in the final episode of Star Trek:Picard season 2, but the omnipotent being returns, seemingly with his powers intact, at the end of Picard season 3. Since Q does not experience time linearly, it’s still possible that his Picard season 2 death is his final death, and his life will eventually loop back around to that moment. Regardless, Picard season 2 left many lingering questions about Q, his supposed immortality, and his relationship with Guinan. Picard season 2 introduced the idea of a cold war between the Q and the El Aurians, but Star Trek has yet to depict the “dealings” between Q and Guinan in the 22nd century.
Whatever the future holds, Guinan and Q have become incredibly important figures in the Star Trek franchise, and in the life of Jean-Luc Picard.
A future Star Trek project could dive further into these two mysterious species, and offer more insight into their complicated history with one another. Q’s appearance in Picard season 3 suggests that he will be a part of Star Trek: Legacy if the proposed spin-off ever happens, which could be one option to reveal more about his past. If the Star Trek franchise begins leaning toward movies, they could also do a prequel movie about Q and Guinan’s history, perhaps with a new actor as Q and Ito Aghayere reprising the role of a young Guinan. (John de Lancie and Whoopi Goldberg could appear, too, if time travel is involved). Whatever the future holds, Guinan and Q have become incredibly important figures in the Star Trek franchise, and in the life of Jean-Luc Picard, since their debut in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
