TNG took a couple seasons to develop its identity and not just be more of TOS with new actors, and random gods, including Apollo, showing up is something that happened pretty regularly in TOS. The various gods in TOS are ultimately depicted as probably not being real gods and just being aliens with very advanced tech and maybe some weird biology, and there’s some indication that the Q are the same. Like the Prophets, they’re from a not-fully-corporeal reality adjacent to our own, and they have seemingly magical technology that we’re able to use; the Orbs from the Prophets, the Q weapons from the Q.
and there’s some indication that the Q are the same
some indication is an understatement, it is stated outright. although it is fair to ask at what point is the technology so advanced that it stops making sense making the distinction. when you can manipulate spacetime and hide yourself at the moment of big bang, i think you are quite close. if you were a god, what power or skill would you like to have that Q does not have?
QUINN: But you mustn’t think of us as omnipotent, no matter what the Continuum would like you to believe. You and your ship seem incredibly powerful to lifeforms without your technical expertise. It’s no different with us. We may appear omnipotent to you, but believe me, we’re not.
TNG took a couple seasons to develop its identity and not just be more of TOS with new actors, and random gods, including Apollo, showing up is something that happened pretty regularly in TOS. The various gods in TOS are ultimately depicted as probably not being real gods and just being aliens with very advanced tech and maybe some weird biology, and there’s some indication that the Q are the same. Like the Prophets, they’re from a not-fully-corporeal reality adjacent to our own, and they have seemingly magical technology that we’re able to use; the Orbs from the Prophets, the Q weapons from the Q.
some indication is an understatement, it is stated outright. although it is fair to ask at what point is the technology so advanced that it stops making sense making the distinction. when you can manipulate spacetime and hide yourself at the moment of big bang, i think you are quite close. if you were a god, what power or skill would you like to have that Q does not have?
QUINN: But you mustn’t think of us as omnipotent, no matter what the Continuum would like you to believe. You and your ship seem incredibly powerful to lifeforms without your technical expertise. It’s no different with us. We may appear omnipotent to you, but believe me, we’re not.
voyager - death wish
https://www.chakoteya.net/Voyager/210.htm