10 PERFECT Scenes In Hated Star Trek Episodes

10. I'm Not Picard - Q, Less

How does the meme go? When Q arrived on the Enterprise, Picard quoted Shakespeare at him, and couldn’t get rid of him on a bet. When Q arrived on Deep Space Nine, Sisko punched him in the face. 

Never dealt with him again. 10/10. 

The inclusion of Q, much like the earlier inclusion of the Duras Sisters, in the first season of Deep Space Nine was a clear attempt at unifying the Star Trek universe. Though a completely understandable motive, the truth was that as fabulous as John De Lancie is, the character simply didn’t work within the world of the Prophets. It was cute having O’Brien recognise him straight away, but the joke wears off quickly. 

The writers had the wherewithal to showcase the differences between Picard and Sisko early - proving that the latter was no slouch when it came to dealing with Demi-gods. Q may believe Sisko easier to provoke, but let him just be glad he’s not a Romulan senator. The entire plot line focusing on the auction in Quarks, featuring a returning Jennifer Hettrick as Vash, simply drags. The station’s going to be crushed by the wormhole, but no one seems to care. 

The only true moment of life in the episode is that bout of boxing between the commander and the Q. It’s honestly funny, with the direction and camera angles leaning into the joke. Sisko’s advice/warning to Q - ‘I’m not Picard’ - rings perfectly through the scene’s end, making the slog of the episode worth the effort alone.