36 Years Ago, Star Trek Delivered a Surprising Character Return (And Gave Birth to an Iconic Meme)

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Star Trek: The Next Generation was all the proof fans needed that the franchise could transcend the beloved Original Series. It laid out its own set of rules and created a slew of new references that Trekkies have now been talking, joking, and arguing about for decades. In the days of yore, before the ubiquitous presence of the World Wide Web, TNG unknowingly captured an image that would someday become one of the most widely used memes on the internet, in a top-tier episode that also brought back a fan-favorite character in the most unexpected way. 

On February 5, 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation brought back the mischievous character Q, played by John de Lancie, in the episode “Deja Q.” However, this time Q wasn’t all-powerful or immortal. The episode is also famous for a now-iconic reaction shot of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Sir Patrick Stewart, which has become a memorable moment not just in Star Trek, but in pop culture – it’s known as the Picard Facepalm.

Q Returns Without His Powers in The Next Generation’s “Deja Q”

As a longtime Trek fan, I remember when “Deja Q” hit during the third season. By that point, Q had really established himself as the unpredictable element on TNG. From the very first episode, “Encounter at Farpoint,” John de Lancie’s Q wasn’t your typical bad guy. He was more of an unbelievably powerful pest who loved to point out everything wrong with humanity, and he did it with a really annoying smugness. All of his early appearances were basically built around showing off how godlike he was, how much he looked down on us humans, and Captain Picard’s total refusal to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

It was really surprising when Q showed up on the Enterprise again in “Deja Q.” He wasn’t his normal, all-powerful, and annoying self at all! He seemed lost and weak, like someone who’d been stripped of everything. Apparently, the Continuum had taken away his powers as punishment and made him live life as a regular human being, just like us.

This episode takes a largely humorous look at what happens when Q experiences things like hunger, injury, and fear for the first time. Because Q has always been all-powerful, seeing him vulnerable in “Deja Q” is both surprising and rewarding. The crew’s reactions to a suddenly powerless Q force them to be more patient and, surprisingly, to feel some sympathy for him. It’s one of the best episodes to show Q as a complex character who can grow and change, even if he doesn’t want to. In fact, Q’s actions in this episode are what inspired a famous internet meme.

The Picard Facepalm Meme in the Context of “Deja Q” and Beyond

The famous moment known as the “Picard Facepalm” happens early in the episode, right after Q appears on the bridge. Q, temporarily human, is already bothering the Enterprise crew, switching between feeling sorry for himself and acting arrogant as usual. He demands attention and sympathy but won’t take any responsibility for his problems. Captain Picard, who is already stressed about a moon threatening the planet Bre’el IV, finally reaches his breaking point.

As a huge Star Trek fan, I’ll always remember how the ‘Picard Facepalm’ came about. It really started with Captain Picard just being completely exasperated by Q’s childish antics. It was a perfect combination of the writers’ vision and the incredible performances by John de Lancie and Patrick Stewart that created that iconic moment. Now, decades later, divorced from the actual story, that image has taken on a life of its own. When reaction images first became popular online, Picard’s facepalm quickly became the way to express frustration or secondhand embarrassment. It spread everywhere – forums, blogs, and then social media – and became this universal shorthand for ‘Ugh, people!’ Honestly, even with how quickly the internet changes, you still see that facepalm popping up all the time. It’s a classic for a reason!

Did you discover the movie “Deja Q” before or after the facepalm meme became popular? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 18:16