re: #198 Belafon
The Q were, literally, TNG’s god-in-a-box. The introduction of such characters really stretched ST deep into fantasy territory.
Yes, TOS had a couple of episodes with antagonists who were super-beings, and such episodes gave the TNG writers cover in defending the idea of introducing the Q.
While I think Picard will make great use of the tease that Q could poof Picard back into a different outcome than in the finale of the first season, I also believe it will be a tease.
Because Patrick Stewart is now at an age where he needs to play the final Picard episode. As much as people love him, Stewart is now getting to that very old age where his time on screen is coming to an end.