S1E10 Hide and Q

Season 1 Episode 10: Hide and Q

Watchability: Extra Credit
Short Answer: Q makes a second appearance. I'd recommend it on that alone, but it also shows a little more of Riker's character.
Notables: Q, 'nuff said.

This episode marks Q's second appearance and once again he is bent on testing humanity. The payoff for that comes at the end of the episode, so I am loath to spoil too much about it. If you enjoyed the quirky personality of Q, or you want to see a Shakespeare-off between Picard and Q, this episode is definitely worth watching.

I will say that unlike the previous Q episode, this episode tests Riker instead of Picard. What I really enjoyed about the episode is the trust that Picard places in Riker. Q threatens to tempt Riker with the ultimate gift. Picard's reaction is almost that of relief. His confidence in the people under his command is such a difference from a lot of SciFi. It mirrors the same same optimism that he expresses for humanity in general. In the end, Riker does grow as a character, and Picard does chastise him for some of his naiveté, but as his one-on-one conversation with Q demonstrates, he has confidence that Riker will get there.