Star Trek: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Q
2. Writer Were Nervous To Use Him Too Much
Given Q is such a beloved and iconic figure - who can be used as either a protagonist or an antagonist - it may surprise many fans watching or rewatching the show to learn how relatively few episodes he's in.
It's even more surprising to learn that this is a purposeful move. Although many writers were both excited and unnerved by the prospect of portraying a character who could do basically anything, even those desperate to write him realised one thing: using Q too much would effectively nerf the character.
Because, since he's so dang powerful, having the crew continuously be around him would either prove them way overpowered, since they'd presumably have to outsmart him at some point, or otherwise remove any sense of threat from the series, as Q does seem to have a soft spot for them to some degree.
Those who adore the character are sure to wish he was in near enough every episode, so it's hard to come to terms with the practical side of things; that while we love the Napoleon-esque trickster immensely, it's also for the best that his appearances are a rare treat.