Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 17, 1994 TAG: 9405170093
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ian Spelling
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Q does, but neither he nor John de Lancie, the mere mortal who plays Picard's (Patrick Stewart) playful and seemingly omnipotent nemesis, are revealing much about the eagerly anticipated "Next Gen" finale, which will air next week.
"Picard has one more major hurdle to overcome, and it's a complicated puzzle involving Q," de Lancie says by phone from the Los Angeles home he shares with his wife and two young sons.
"Not unlike the seven other ("Next Gen") shows in which Q has been involved, there's something to be learned."
The major difference between the finale and the other Q episodes is that Q seems to have a vested interest in Picard's solving this particular puzzle, de Lancie says.
And solving the puzzle requires Picard to jump through time, from the Enterprise of his present to that of the "Encounter at Farpoint" pilot seven years ago to that of the Enterprise 25 years into the future.
"I'd also say the finale further develops the idea introduced in (the sixth-season episode) "Tapestry," that maybe having Q on your side isn't always a detriment that it could be helpful," de Lancie says.
Then he pauses.
"You know, I'd hate to give any more away and spoil all the surprises."
With that said, the conversation turns to the question Trekkers have been asking since day one: Who or what is Q?
To some he's a god; to others he's a pest. Some argue that Q is related to Trelane (William Campbell), while others see him as a nifty plot device created by Gene Roddenberry to transform the "Farpoint" plot from one to two at Paramount's insistence.
De Lancie prefers to remain vague on the subject. Providing too definitive a response, he says, would squash the imagination of millions of fans who have concrete opinions about who or what Q truly is.
Still, he offers the following: "I'd really like to think Picard and Q are each other's Jekyll and Hyde. That's an interesting way to look at their relationship, and it gives you a pretty good idea of who Q is."
De Lancie, who was born and reared in Philadelphia, is the quintessential character actor, leaping from role to role with abandon.
Among his many credits are the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" (on which he played a psychopath); the films "The Fisher King" (1991), "The Hand that Rocks the Cradle" (1992), "Fearless" (1993) and "Arcade" (1994); and numerous guest spots on television series, including the recent "Mission: Impossible" remake and "Time Trax."
Future projects for the 46-year-old actor include everything from a lead role in "Arcade II" to providing the narration for an audiocassette version of Peter David's upcoming Q-themed novel "Q-Squared" to starring with Kelly Lynch in a pilot for a dramatic TV series, "On the Line."
When he is not working on a film or television set, de Lancie teaches classes at a Los Angeles acting school. He also directs and performs radio plays for National Public Radio and often shows up as a guest at "Trek" conventions.
Though the "Next Gen" series is going off the air, de Lancie says Trekkers may not have seen the last of Q. He could pop up in a future "Next Gen" movie, put in another "DS9" appearance or torment the crew of the upcoming series "Voyager."
"When I did 'Farpoint,' I didn't even know I was going to do a second show, and the experience went on for seven years," de Lancie says.
"I don't make those decisions, but if they ask me to come back and the script is good, sure, I'd be happy to come back again. Q is a terrific part."
Trek alert
If you have Trek news or Trivia to share - or if you have question related to "Star Trek - write to Ian Spelling, in care of the features department, Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke, Va. 24010-2491. Be sure to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like a reply.
by CNB