In Atara Stein's "The Byronic Hero in Film, Fiction, and Television" (2009), she compared the role of Q in both "Q-Less" and "True Q" as one where he reprises his "satanic role" and "in each case to lure a woman to join him". Stein also explains the Q/Vash relationship, saying "Q's demeanor toward Vash is clearly coded as that of a potential rapist. He pushes her onto a bed and shows no compunction about threatening and brutalizing her." She explained that despite this treatment and the feminist stance taken by Vash, Q is treated sympathetically by the writers of the episode. It is made clear that Q could have won Vash around if he chose to, and so the character seemed "sensitive and vulnerable, and Vash seems cold-hearted by comparison.".