Television Review: Qpid (Star Trek: The Next Generation, S4X20, 1991)

Qpid (S04E20)

Airdate: 22 April 1991

Written by: Randee Russell & Ira Steven Behr
Directed by: Cliff Bole

Running Time: 46 minutes

Season 4 of Star Trek: The Next Generation may not have reached the creative zenith that Season 3 so magnificently achieved, yet it nonetheless stands as one of the finer periods in the franchise's storied history. That, of course, does not mean that even within what many enthusiasts refer to as the Golden Age of Star Trek there were not occasional disappointments. One such letdown is the episode titled "Qpid," an instalment that promised much but delivered considerably less than its pedigree suggested.

The narrative commences with the USS Enterprise-D arriving in orbit around Tagus III, a planet renowned among scholars for its extraordinary treasure troves of archaeological artefacts which have remained sealed to outsiders for a century. The vessel is tasked with hosting a conference of the Federation Archaeology Council, and Captain Picard approaches this duty with palpable enthusiasm, diligently preparing the keynote speech he is to deliver before his academic peers. This setup promises an intellectually stimulating episode, one befitting the series' tradition of exploring science, culture, and philosophy through the lens of futuristic archaeology.

As Picard busies himself with preparations, he retires to his quarters only to discover Vash—a woman with whom, precisely one year prior, he shared a brief but passionate romance whilst on holiday at the pleasure planet Risa. Picard naturally assumes that Vash's presence aboard the Enterprise has motivations extending far beyond scholarly interest in archaeology, knowing full well that she has never been above engaging in morally questionable enterprises. Nevertheless, these concerns are temporarily relegated to the background as he faces the more immediate task of introducing Vash to his vessel and crew. Many among them, including Dr. Crusher, express considerable amazement that the Captain had never once mentioned this woman following his well-publicised vacation—a revelation that adds a welcome touch of character-driven humour to the proceedings.

Before long, another familiar visage materialises upon the Enterprise: Q, the omnipotent trickster who claims to have arrived specifically to offer his personal gratitude to Picard for the assistance rendered during his time of crisis one year earlier. Picard, ever the pragmatist, remains deeply distrustful of this entity's motives and wishes nothing more than to see him depart. Meanwhile, a private conversation between Picard and Vash—following the Captain's realisation that she is in pursuit of valuable archaeological artefacts for personal gain—is inadvertently overheard by Q. The all-powerful being appears to have identified precisely where Picard is most vulnerable.

The following morning, Picard and his senior staff find themselves abruptly transported to what resembles twelfth-century England, clad in period-appropriate attire. Picard has apparently been cast in the role of Robin Hood, with his officers assuming the positions of the Merry Men. Q appears as the Sheriff of Nottingham and elucidates the stakes: Vash has become Maid Marian and will be executed by Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Clive Revill) unless Picard intervenes. Despite Picard's explicit instructions that his crew should not interfere, the Merry Men disregard their leader's commands and assist in the rescue. Vash is saved, and Q restores everyone to the Enterprise. In an unexpected twist, Vash elects to accompany Q on his travels through the universe, having apparently discovered numerous complementary traits in the entity's character. For Picard, Q assuming responsibility for Vash constitutes adequate compensation for the Captain's previous services.

Qpid is undeniably an episode anchored in continuity. It functions as a direct sequel to the Season 3 instalment Captain's Holiday, which first introduced the character of Vash, whilst also marking the return of the iconic Q following his appearance in the Season 3 classic Deja Q. Although the former episode remains among the less celebrated entries in the Trekkie canon, the latter is widely regarded as one of the series' finer achievements. Written by Randee Russell and Ira Steven Behr—the creative force behind Captain's Holiday—Qpid was ostensibly conceived to provide a light-hearted romp whilst offering fan service through the return of the programme's most beloved recurring antagonist.

Reports indicate that the cast and crew thoroughly enjoyed the production process, relishing the rare opportunity to don medieval costumes and offer their own interpretations of classic Hollywood swashbuckling adventures such as The Adventures of Robin Hood. Sir Patrick Stewart, in particular, was said to have welcomed the chance to work once more alongside Jennifer Hetrick, with whom he had previously maintained a widely publicised romantic relationship.

This lightheartedness, regrettably, failed to translate effectively to the screen. Cliff Bole, undeniably one of the most accomplished directors in the Next Generation roster, performs his duties with characteristic professionalism. Yet the script itself proves silly, uninspired, and burdened with predominantly feeble humour, connected by the most tenuous narrative tissue to what Star Trek: The Next Generation ostensibly represents. A handful of amusing dialogue exchanges and energetic action sequences provide momentary diversion, and there is initial pleasure in observing beloved characters in unfamiliar period costume. However, the novelty dissipates with remarkable rapidity, leaving behind an episode that feels hollow and inconsequential.

One cannot ignore that the producers' decision to construct an entire episode around the Robin Hood mythos was almost certainly influenced by the considerable hype surrounding the impending Hollywood blockbuster Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. The series' attempt to exploit this cultural moment in such a laboured and unnecessary manner remains baffling. In an amusing footnote to this episode's production, Sir Patrick Stewart would later pay sly homage to both Qpid and Prince of Thieves by appearing as King Richard the Lionheart in Mel Brooks' 1993 parody Robin Hood: Men in Tights—a film that, ironically, demonstrated considerably more successful comedic execution than this Star Trek misfire.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

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