- The trial never ends.
(fingers snapping)
(dramatic music)
- [Narrator] When it comes to "Star Trek" and Picard,
Q has been there from the beginning.
At 5 minutes and 43 seconds of the pilot episode
of "Star Trek: The Next Generation,
Encounter at Farpoint," Q enters Picard's life
to judge humanity and set the new series in motion,
and like bookends to a fantastic story,
Q is also there in the finale episode seven years later
to say goodbye to the most popular
"Star Trek" series to date,
and while the series officially ended,
the story with Q actually ends in a cliffhanger.
Fans forget because the episode closes out
with Picard joining the officers' poker game
he'd always avoided, but Q left us
with something ominous to think about,
and now we have waited 27 years
to find out what happens next.
The cliffhanger is finally getting its continuation,
and based on the trailers, interviews
and Q's words at the end of TNG,
we believe "Picard," Season Two
is going to be a wild ride.
If you jumped for joy because
we'd be getting a cameo of Q during "Picard,"
then someone is going to have to
peel you off the ceiling when you find out
that he plays a much more significant role
across several episodes during the season.
If what we believe is right,
the events about to unfold during
the upcoming season of "Picard"
will not only make you think of Q differently,
but it will also make you question the motives
of everything that has happened in Trek
since Q entered our lives.
If you can't get enough of Q,
then this is the video for you
because we are about to show you
why the trial never ends for humanity,
and how Q will turn the entire
"Star Trek" universe upside down
during "Picard," Season Two.
You aren't going to want to miss this video,
but before we share this mind-blowing theory,
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Q is featured in 13 episodes of "Star Trek"
and appeared in all three series
based in the 24th century, "The Next Generation,"
"Deep Space Nine," and "Voyager."
He is interwoven into the very fabric
of the "Star Trek" story.
His actions have had huge implications on the franchise
and much of canon as we know it
is shaped by his very hands.
"Star Trek" history would look
significantly different without him,
but let's get back to that in a moment.
- No!
- [Narrator] Following "The Next Generation,"
Q would go on to have a physical altercation
with Captain Sisko on "DS9,"
and verbal brawls with Captain Janeway on "Voyager,"
but the truth of the matter is
that it was always about Picard for Q.
- What are you doing with that dog?
I'm not talking about the puppy.
- [Narrator] In 1997, Ron Moore, a Next Generation producer
and co-writer for the finale episode,
"All Good Things," which featured Q
said the secret to the Q and Picard relationship
was that Q was in love with Picard for some reason.
That was why when he came to "DS9,"
he wasn't as effective a character.
The weird love affair that he had going with Jean-Luc
was what made the whole thing work.
Data would describe Picard and Q's relationship as...
- A master and his beloved pet.
That was...
- [Narrator] And while that could be one way
to describe it, the likely reason
Q has feelings for the captain is because
Picard has a deep, unwavering set of ideals
that can't be changed even in the face
of an omnipotent, godlike creature
who could erase him with a thought.
Following the trial at Farpoint,
Q became more intrigued with humanity
despite his claims that it is
a dangerous, savage child race.
Q's feelings for Picard would repeatedly
send him back to the Enterprise,
not only to tease and torment,
but also when he needed help or support.
Q's relationship with Picard can best be summed up
with his own words.
- Because in all the universe,
you're the closest thing I have to a friend, Jean-Luc.
- [Narrator] And as a result,
despite all of Q's hi jinks and frustrating games,
he ended up helping Picard and the Enterprise
more frequently than he hurt it,
and by the end of the series,
his fondness was obvious.
The Continuum wanted to test Picard,
but Q gave him a helping hand so he might succeed.
So, what does all of this have to do
with "Picard," Season Two?
Everything, the first thing we need to look at
is how Q left him in "The Next Gen" finale.
Picard, not sure if he was able to save humanity,
suddenly finds himself in Judge Q's chamber,
the two of them alone.
Q confirms Picard has saved humanity
with a sardonic, eyebrow-raising, once again.
- You saved humanity once again.
- [Narrator] But, the captain understands
that he did not do it without help,
and he thanks Q with a deep sincerity
that he's never spoken to him with before.
The captain is truly grateful.
This must please Q immensely,
receiving this positive affirmation from Picard.
Usually, the being would respond with a sarcastic quip,
but in this case, he takes responsibility
for putting Picard through the ordeal
ordered by The Continuum, but he smiles
knowing that helping the captain was his idea.
The captain says that he hopes this is the last time
he finds himself in this situation,
but Q quickly mocks him, saying...
- You just don't get it, do you, Jean-Luc?
The trial never ends.
- [Narrator] In this rare moment of honesty,
Q tells Picard the motivation of The Continuum.
They wanted to know if humanity was capable
of evolving to a higher level of intelligence.
When Picard proved that it was possible
by figuring out the paradox,
Q insists that humanity's future
is exploring a higher evolution of thinking
and chartiong the unknown possibilities of existence,
not mapping stars and nebula.
Picard doesn't understand and asks Q
what he is trying to tell him.
Q leans forward momentarily to whisper into his ear,
but instead, leans back and says...
- You'll find out.
- [Narrator] Ominous, right?
It almost seems to say, our story isn't over.
In fact, the scene ends with Q
telling Picard he'll be watching.
- And if you're very lucky,
I'll drop by to say hello from time to time.
- [Narrator] And apparently, that dropping in
is finally happening 30 years later
as the events of "Picard," Season Two unfold,
and while we don't know the precise details
of what is about to happen,
we now understand Q's motivation
when it comes to Picard and humanity.
Based on that knowledge and what we've seen
from the Season Two trailers and interviews
with cast and crew, we believe we know
what will happen when Q returns
and the life-changing effects it will not only have
on Picard, but the rest of humanity as well,
and this realization is going to send shock waves
through the fandom that most people
have never even considered,
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- [Narrator] This is what we know for sure.
During First Contact Day, Patrick Stewart explained
in an interview with Wil Wheaton that Q's arrival
is utterly unexpected, but also comes
at a shattering moment in the episode.
Stewart explained that there is significant trauma
around Picard for most of the episode,
and then, suddenly, Q arrives.
What is this trauma?
Picard has a new body and a new lease on life,
but perhaps the demons of Locutus
and the battle of wolf 3-5-9
still weigh heavily on his mind,
but let's get back to that in a moment.
First, let's explore something else we know.
John de Lancie, who plays Q,
said in a Trek movie interview
that he will appear in six episodes.
He also explained that they are shooting
Season Two and Three at the same time.
This likely means the storyline is going to be epic
and cover both seasons with
a nice little cliffhanger at the end of Season Two.
Stewart told Wheaton he wishes he could blurt out
all of the new storylines and situations and times
you're going to be seeing in this next season.
There are events coming up in Season Two
that have never been seen before.
So, we know we are going to be traveling through time,
which is a Q specialty, but why?
What happens that will make Q decide
Picard needs another lesson?
In "Picard's" trailer monologue,
he says, "The true final frontier is time.
Time can change our most impulsive,
most ill-considered actions into history."
Is he talking about Wolf 3-5-9
and the 11,000 lives he helped The Borg take as Locutus?
He was helpless in his actions,
but Picard always felt he should have
had the power to resist.
Picard's monologue also says,
"Time offers so many opportunities,
but never second chances."
Does that mean Picard will be able
to right his wrongs in a second chance
during "Picard," Season Two?
And then Q's voice is heard saying,
"Welcome to the very end of the road not taken."
Does this mean Picard and his new crew
will be taking the path they didn't choose before?
That's exactly what we think it means.
We believe Picard's emotional trauma
from his experience with The Borg
will return in Season Two.
Something strange will be occurring at the same time.
In the trailer, we see Picard yelling for Laris
and asking, "What is going on?"
In his interview with Wil Wheaton,
Stewart explains that what's happening
may or may not be connected to Q,
but as we've known in the past,
Q's work often begins before he arrives.
So, it would not be a surprise
if Q was already putting Picard
under some sort of pressure before he appears.
We believe Q is returning to directly deal
with the anguish that Picard is suffering
as a result of his actions with The Borg.
Q will see this as an opportunity to help Picard,
give him perspective, and perhaps,
help humanity grow a little more.
Picard will not be happy to see Q.
We can hear Picard already. "Q, is this your doing?"
To which Q will likely say, "No, Picard. It is yours."
It's so easy to fall back into their same routine,
although this time, in his anger and frustration,
Picard will blame Q for what has happened to him
by introducing humanity to The Borg
earlier than it should have happened.
Q will likely respond by feigning injury from Picard's words
and then ask him if he really wishes
that event never happened.
When Picard says yes, Q will say,
"Fine, have it your way," and then promptly disappear.
And this is where the universe gets turned upside down.
The implications that Q never introduced
The Borg to humanity have much more impact
than anyone realizes.
If you've seen, "It's a Wonderful Life,"
then you know what is about to happen.
Q will wipe the events from episode "Q Who,"
where he sends Picard and the Enterprise
7,000 light years away into the Beta Quadrant.
More than two-and-a-half years away
from the closest star base at maximum warp,
Q sent the Enterprise to System J25,
which is located near The Borg trans-warp network.
A special note here is that Whoopi Goldberg
will be reprising her role as Guinan in "Picard,"
and she played a significant role
in the "Q Who" episode.
So perhaps we will see her here in this context
during the upcoming season.
Perhaps we will also learn why Q thinks
Guinan is so dangerous.
If the Enterprise isn't sent to the Beta Quadrant by Q
to meet The Borg, not only does The Federation
never have a chance to prepare for then,
but now that The Borg are unaware of humanity,
they are no longer rushing to the Alpha Quadrant
in pursuit of the Enterprise
as Guinan suggested they would be.
Now, stay with us here because
this could get a little bit tricky.
"Star Trek" writers created a paradox
with The Borg when they sent them into the past
during "Star Trek First Contact,"
and froze them on Earth, but hold on
to that thought for a moment.
With the events of "Q Who" wiped away,
Picard and his team will find themselves
in a changed future where The Borg
are only now invading Starfleet territory
and The Federation is totally unprepared
for defense against assimilation.
This is why in the trailer, Picard says,
"We can save the future."
But, in the timeline where Picard never meet The Borg,
the events in the movie "First Contact"
never happen either.
The Borg never went into the past
and Picard didn't follow them.
So, the Borg were never frozen
on the Earth in the Arctic,
and drones never sent a message
back to the Delta Quadrant during
the "Star Trek Enterprise" episode, "Regeneration,"
which would have let the collective know Earth's location.
This also means Annika Hansen's parents
never study The Borg and Seven of Nine
never joined the collective.
Remember the moment in Picard's Season Two trailer
where Seven wakes up and she no longer has Borg implants?
Perhaps this is the version of her
that was never assimilated.
If Seven never joins The Borg,
"Voyager" likely doesn't make it home.
Without Seven joining the Voyager crew,
they likely never survive assimilation
in the Delta Quadrant.
Now, if Voyager gets assimilated,
The Borg know everything they need to know
about humanity, and as Guinan told Picard,
when they know who you are, they come after you.
It was going to take Voyager 70 years
to get home from the Delta Quadrant.
Stranded in 2371, that would have put them home
40 years after the current events of "Picard."
Once assimilated, The Borg would have
started toward the Alpha Quadrant,
using their trans-wrap conduits.
As a result, The Borg could have easily arrived
in the Alpha Quadrant during Picard's present time.
We know that's hard to wrap your head around,
but this is where "Star Trek" writers led us.
We'll go deeper into this paradox in our next video.
In the meantime, just know that Q,
removing this act from the timeline,
changes so many things in the future.
Without the trauma of becoming Locutus,
and the battle of Wolf 3-5-9,
Picard never retires from Starfleet
as we see him addressing Federation worlds in the trailer.
Q will attempt to show Picard
that all of the pain and suffering
caused by the events of "Q Who" are part
of what made Picard, the Federation
and humanity what they are today.
They are better and stronger as a result of going through
these terrible experiences.
11,0000 people may have died during Wolf 3-5-9,
but how many people in the future were saved
because of that tragic event?
How many races were saved?
Q will show Picard in a trip through history
that the trial never ends for humanity
because the trial is what makes humanity grow and evolve,
but more on that in a future video.
Whatever happens during "Picard," Season Two,
we know for sure that the relationship
between Q and Jean-Luc will likely be a key
for the next two seasons.
Q's care for Picard and desire for humanity
to evolve and be worthy existence is clear.
Picard and his team will likely succeed,
but as long as humanity needs to evolve and grow,
Q will be there watching
because the trial never ends.
- See you out there.
(dramatic music)
(fingers snapping)
- [Narrator] How do you feel about
"Picard," Seasons Two and Three?
Are you excited to see Q with Picard again?
Let's talk about it in the comments below.
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(dramatic music)