When Star Trek: The Next Generation premiered in 1987, it had some mighty big shoes to fill. By this time, Trekkies had the entire and beloved Star Trek: The Original Series to enjoy, plus The Animated Series and four major motion pictures by the time Next Gen came along.
Fans were divided about TNG, which didn't truly pick up until season 3, but there was one aspect most of us agreed on, and that was the introduction of Q, played by the talented and delightful John de Lancie.
Q appeared in only eight episodes during the show's run, but the character's comedic and dramatic appeal make him so memorable that his hijinks are the stuff of legend! With that in mind, the following are the most hilarious encounters with Q from TNG.
1. "Qpid"
While this isn't the first episode to feature Q, it is one of the most quotable and side-splitting episodes in the entire series. Q absolutely loves to LARP with the Enterprise-D crew, as he repays Captain Jean-Luc Picard's good deeds in "Deja Q" by helping him try to win an old flame, Vash.
In a flash, Picard, Commander Riker, Lt. Commander Data, Geordi La Forge, Lt. Worf, Counsellor Troi, and Dr. Crusher all find themselves in Sherwood Forest dressed as Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
Worf is a hilariously bad fit with anything merry, and he expresses this by growling at Picard, "Sir, I must protest! I am not a merry man!" He proved this a bit later by taking a mandolin La Forge was noodling with and then smashed it into a tree before handing back the broken instrument and apologizing. Michael Dorn is such a treasure!
Q sets himself in the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham, which is so on point that it's almost camp, and Vash is Picard's Maid Marian. Q delights in her attempts to reach Picard and her cunning. He seems truly intrigued by Vash but still orders her execution.
Q's so droll in this episode that he gives Alan Rickman's interpretation of the Sheriff of Nottingham a run for its money! Picard, you never realized what a great wingman you had, at least until Q snuck up and stole Vash away in the end.