Star Trek: 10 Biggest Mysteries About Guinan

4. What Exactly Are Her Powers?

Star Trek Guinan Yesterdays Enterprise
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There is enough intrigue and power in Guinan to make Q hesitate before attacking. To repeat, Q doesn't simply blink her out of existence when she threatens him. This is one of the oldest mysteries about this character, so what exactly is her skill-set? Is she, in fact, a being that has the power to rival Q?

By the events of Q Who, she is said to be identifying under a new alias and is described as an 'imp' by the near-omnipotent being, Q. The audience isn't shown, beyond a defensive posture, anything in her that could possibly explain how she could inspire such fear.

In Yesterday's Enterprise, Guinan is able to recognize that everything in the universe has changed, thanks to the arrival of the Enterprise-C into the future. Though she isn't able to pinpoint exactly what has happened, she has enough insight to know that things are off. By this time in their relationship, Jean-Luc Picard is secure enough to know that she would never insist upon him unless she was certain. He has enough faith in her knowledge to send the Enterprise-C back, which restores reality.

Again, Guinan seems aware of this. At least, she is conscious enough to smile contentedly in the knowledge that things have been set to rights. Though some of the novels have attributed her time in the Nexus as the genesis of this power, it seems intrinsic to her being and an incredibly handy tool in a pinch.

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"