Who wins when words fail?
Posted by Dalakaar@reddit | TNG | View on Reddit | 31 comments

Left is Delenn from Babylon 5's pilot, "The Gathering".
When words fail these ladies have some weird shit going on.
Little-Bed2024@reddit
Kai Wynn
Foulmouthedleon@reddit
Guinean did that gesture with her hands in a few episodes. What is it that she could “do”, actually?
SpookyScaryBlueberry@reddit
I saw this explanation on Trek Culture so I’m unsure of the original source. Apparently the original intention was to have something like lightning shoot from her hands when they first met but scrapped the idea for financial, narrative, or time constraints. They kept the hand gesture over time though since it’s mysterious and vague like much of her character, but given Q notes her people are vicious I think she’s reving up to do some crazy alien martial arts.
AvoidableAccident@reddit
Thank god for budget constraints, that sounds awful
Med_irsa_655@reddit
Very satisfying
AvoidableAccident@reddit
Absolutely nothing.
KatNeedsABiggerBoat@reddit
She also does it in the novel Q-in-Law by Peter David. Maybe it’s the equivalent of the hand gesture you use to ward off the evil eye.
ThePizzaNoid@reddit
Oh no shit? Peter David wrote another Q novel? Neat. I only ever read Q-Squared. Is it any good?
KatNeedsABiggerBoat@reddit
So, due to stress and anxiety and a load of other things, I literally haven’t been able to read in a few years. Couldn’t even finish novellas. Q-in-Law kept me reading, and I really, really enjoyed it. It’s got Lwaxana in it, and I’ve got a huge soft spot for her, as irritating as she can be sometimes. So. It was fun!
ThePizzaNoid@reddit
I haven't read it since I was a teenager in the 90's but I remember absolutely loving it at the time. Q was my favorite guest character on TNG at the time and that book was like catnip to young nerdy me. It ties into the TOS episode The Squire of Gothos and it turns out that Trelane from that episode was Q's son or something.
Anyway I'm not a big Lwaxana fan but it does sound interesting. I'll add it to my reading list.
KatNeedsABiggerBoat@reddit
Lwaxana has grown on me over the years. I used to loathe her. But now, a few decades later, I really appreciate her fly in the ointment style.
Dalakaar@reddit (OP)
I think she truly hits her stride in the bottle episode in DS9 with her and Odo in the turbolift.
She grew a lot on me too over the many rewatches.
KatNeedsABiggerBoat@reddit
I think it’s that exact episode that turned the tide for my dislike of her into a “wow” moment. That was such good writing.
Nivekk_@reddit
She actually did it again in Picard season 2, but frustratingly, we still didnt get to see what it does!
Vnxei@reddit
They intentionally leave it unclear.
Rad1Red@reddit
Her.
Wrong franchise, but somehow works. 😉
sorotomotor@reddit
Who wins when words fail?
Darmok and Jalad, at Tanagra.
Dalakaar@reddit (OP)
Pikachu, his mouth agape.
bcnjake@reddit
DiCaprio, his hands clapping slowly.
Steely-Dave@reddit
Kirk and McCoy, their heads nodding.
cr1t1calkn1ght@reddit
Seeing Whoopie putting her hands up like that never fails to make me laugh 😂
Lynckage@reddit
Traditional-Gas-6011@reddit
bones10145@reddit
That B5 pilot make up was rough. I'm glad they steered away from the manly look.
bcnjake@reddit
Does Delenn have access to the White Star fleet? Is she still a member of the Grey Council and/or Rangers? If so, I'm gonna have to go with Delenn (as much as I love Guinan).
I mean, Guinan is theoretically super powerful (though those powers are left very vague and our only real hint is "Q had a scared"). Delenn is "we demonstrated it in universe" powerful. She more-or-less singlehandedly changed the fate of the universe. She stopped the Earth/Minbari war basically by herself, balanced out the prophecy of Valen, forced Earthforce to retreat from B5 by threatening to wipe them off the map, and led the Rangers (among other total badassery). She was part of a group that essentially kicked God out of the universe.
The other thing I'd point out is that Guinan's most demonstrated skill is her empathy and skill as a communicator. I'd lay money on Guinan having a better chance of not letting it get to the point where words fail because time after time, that's what she's really good at. Every time she plays a heroic role, it's because she finds a way to say the right thing to the right person at the right time (e.g., "If you don't go back to San Fransisco, we'll never meet," "You need to let Picard go," and "This ship is wrong, it's supposed to have children and families on it," come to mind.).
TL;DR: Guinan has a better chance of not letting the shit hit the fan, but when it does, I think Delenn stands a better chance of coming out on the other side.
Unhappy_Run8154@reddit
That fake force doesn't work. Just ask the Borg
The1Ylrebmik@reddit
Guinan, the writers left her opened ended so they could write anything they wanted down the line. By Picard Season 2 the El-Aurians were on par with the Q. By the time of the Babylon 5 crossover Guinan would be soloing the combined forces of the Continuum, the Beyonders, the Celestials, the Holy Host, and several supreme beings.
Accurate_Classroom_2@reddit
Satai Delenn 🩵
AlwaysSaysRepost@reddit
Given that Guinan’s hand gestures were enough to worry Q, I wouldn’t dismiss them. That being said, I have the impression they were defensive
TheTrivialPsychic@reddit
Delenn had a 'ring of power' at her disposal. Nuff said.
Rattlecruiser@reddit
grouchy?