10 Star Trek Characters That Gained SUPERPOWERS
1. William Q Riker
Gary Mitchell had already warned the universe what happens when a Starfleet officer gets drunk on power...and William Riker said "hold my beer".
Despite the Enterprise being on an urgent mission of mercy, Q decides it's the perfect time to play games. Q soon grows bored of an all-too-realistic game of war and moves on to his real test: granting Riker the power of the Q. Of course, the upstanding first officer refuses the gift, but he's soon forced to use it to save the lives of Worf and Wesley. Q - 1, Riker - 0.
Picard, clearly seeing where this is headed, has Riker promise to resist using his new powers, no matter what. At least he wasn't planning on marooning or killing him. Yet.
Riker's convinced he's up to the challenge...until he has to allow a young girl to die in order to keep his promise. It leads to an inevitable confrontation with Picard, who remains adamant that power corrupts, even when initially used for good. Interesting that he didn't voice any objections to Riker saving Worf and Wesley, though...
In the fastest supervillain arc known to man, Riker smugly embraces his Q powers, offering gifts to his friends in an effort to win them over. He turns Wesley into a fully grown dreamboat, gives La Forge organic sight, and grants Worf a far too specific sexual fantasy. They all refuse, claiming the price is too high, so Riker relents, calling himself an idiot...and empathetic Picard readily agrees.
It's clear the message has progressed from 'power corrupts' to 'no one has the right to play god'. Full stop. But let's be honest, Riker is just the unfortunate middleman in Q's continuing duel with Picard. If Picard had pigtails, Q would be pulling them.