Q is stripped of his powers and takes refuge on the Enterprise.
The Enterprise finds a naked, powerless Q who has been stripped of his abilities by the Continuum for his misdeeds. He asks to be taken in as a member of the crew. Picard and the crew are doubtful, and the Calamarain, a race of gaseous beings with a grudge against him, are in pursuit.
Q's attempts to adapt to human life are humorous, with Data trying to help him, while Guinan is quietly suspicious. The episode combines comedy with a more serious look at what it takes to be a person, and ends with a surprising act of generosity. It is one of the most beloved Q stories, and it gives the character more depth than he had before.