2.14 death wish

Voyager investigates an asteroid-like object; when they beam a bit of it in for examination, a man materializes on the transporter instead. He says his name is Q (although he doesn’t look like the Q Star Trek NextGen fans are familiar with) and he wants to commit suicide – his first attempt to do so makes all the men on Voyager (temporarily) disappear. Soon the other, more familiar Q shows up to bring the men back and explain that this member of the Q continuum wishes to terminate his immortal life, having done everything there is to do. Q1 asks for asylum; Janeway agrees to a hearing to decide if it is merited; Tuvok is asked and agrees to argue the case for Q1. Q2 calls witnesses to prove Q1’s worth; one of them is Commander Riker of NextGen. It is revealed that the continuum, having been everywhere and done everything, is stagnant and scared of change. Janeway rules in favor of Q1, hoping to integrate him into the crew, but he really does not want to go on living, and, in a moment of revelation, Q2 assists in his suicide and hopes it will shake up the continuum.

This is a really fun episode; John DeLancie always has a great time insulting the crew and referring to them in unusual ways: he examines Chakotay’s facial tattoo ("Face art! How...wilderness of you.") And he addresses Janeway as "Madame Captain". He also shows up in Janeway’s bed, promising to zap Voyager back into the Delta quadrant if she will agree to rule in his favor (and perhaps be his lover). Janeway looks great in her silk jammies, and plays the entire episode completely straight, making her a great foil for Q2. But although it’s a silly episode at times, it is also a very touching and serious look at assisted suicide.