310 - The Orb of Q

Writing a DS9 "Q" Episode

The trickster Q bedeviled both Captains Picard and Janeway in his many outrageous appearances. However, there was only one "Deep Space Nine" episode that featured the omnipotent being in "Q-Less", a first season episode that is largely forgettable. It seemed for most that Q just didn't work in the world of Sisko and the tone of DS9 stories.

The trio put on their writing hats and tackle another outing for Q on the space station - how could it work in the later seasons of DS9? They look at how Q would interact with the other "god-like" beings of the series, the Prophets (or "wormhole aliens"). Sisko centers his role as the Emissary, as Q joins him in an adventure that examines both the role of the Emissary and the mysterious agenda of The Prophets. This leads to a larger discussion about what the nature of these beings living in the Celestial Temple.