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This curious episode re-introduced the meddling Q (John de Lancie) to the show, following the quasi-villain's key role in
The Next Generation's two-part pilot, "Encounter at Farpoint." Establishing a pattern for all his visits to the
Enterprise, Q simply pops up on the starship's bridge while Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) makes haste for an important mission. In this instance, Q transports key personnel (Data, Geordi, Tasha, Wesley, Worf, and Riker) to a barren planet, where they battle horrid creatures wearing the uniforms of Napoleon's army. Most importantly, Q bestows his powers onto Riker (Jonathan Frakes), who then struggles not to use them--and fails spectacularly. The script by series staff writer Maurice Hurley (under the pen name C.J. Holland) was stripped of action by Gene Roddenberry in favor of a talky, philosophical approach to questions concerning human destiny. Things look and feel even more dry on the alien planet set, which looks like a holdover from the zero-budget third season of the original series. More positively, a climactic scene in which Riker attempts to grant his
Enterprise friends their most cherished dreams is quite singular in its ensemble work and drama.
--Tom Keogh
From the Back Cover
While rushing to aid survivors on an explosion-rocked planet, the
Enterprise is confronted by the omnipotent "Q" entity that tried to thwart the Farpoint mission several months earlier. This time, "Q" (John DeLancie) demands the crew stop its mission to play a deadly game of his choosing.
The major player in this game is Riker (Jonathan Frakes), to whom "Q" entrusts his own godlike powers. "Q" tempts Riker by telling him that if he joins the continuum he will have the chance to realize the crew's most impossible dreams. Now Riker is faced with the most important decision of his life-one that will forever change the course of the Enterprise.
