Will Riker refusing own command

[J.T.B.]

Also, try and remember that one of the ships that Riker was offered was destroyed at Wolf 359 so staying on the Enterprise was probably the right decision overall.

So, better some other SOB die in command of Melbourne. Risk is not Will Riker's business, I guess.

 

[Mojochi]

Actually, 2 of the ships he was offered met with ill fated ends, the Melbourne & the Drake

BTW, I've always wondered. Is Riker a Will or Wil? Ironically, the answer to the question "Will Riker?" is apparently "Not for a long damn time"

 

[Lance]

Ironically, the answer to the question ''Will Riker?'' is apparently ''Not for a long damn time''

 

[Trekker4747]

But with Riker in command of that ship it might have survived, and Riker would have saved all or most of it crew.

Perhaps you're not remembering what happens, or almost happens, pretty much every time he's solely in charge of the Enterprise?

 

[Shark]

I've been re-watching a lot of TNG lately and, when taking in all references of it together at once, the writers seemed to, for lack of a better word, neuter the Riker character. It made him seem lazy. From a certain perspective. They would have done the character more justice if they'd simply not introduced that plot line at all. I think it was more of a writing problem.

 

[Makarov]

Personally I really like it because it speaks to finding where you want to be in life and allowing yourself to change, not living for other people's standards. And it says something about Picard & the enterprise that Riker wants to stay.

 

[Mojochi]

I still think if you factor in The Pegasus & ENT's TaTV, it displays something of a deep seated guilt that has subconsciously stymied his advancement. They seem to have subtly suggested that he has revealed a self doubt about his worth as an officer, who has prospered in promotion through support from a corrupt 1st captain's influence

 

[Lance]

I still think if you factor in The Pegasus & ENT's TaTV, it displays something of a deep seated guilt that has subconsciously stymied his advancement. They seem to have subtly suggested that he has revealed a self doubt about his worth as an officer, who has prospered in promotion through support from a corrupt 1st captain's influence

I tend to lean towards this. As I said earlier in this very thread, my feeling is that his meteoric rise through the ranks early in his career seen him begin to question, subconsciously, whether he was getting there by merit or nepotism. And as he learned more about what ''really'' happened on Pegasus, he probably came to dislike, over time, the shadow that his loyalty to Pressman had cast over him and his career. His reaction when Admiral Pressman comes to the Enterprise is one of conflicted emotion, like he's spent a long, long time considering the events aboard Pegasus, and that Pressman's arrival is opening a raw wound for him...

 

[Kilana2]

Spoiler: Riker Novels

While Riker's career progressed slowly in the show and in the movies, it seems to be accelerated in the novels as he is now Admiral. I'm a bit behind reading with having The Fall straight ahead, so I'm curious how this came to pass.

 

[Disco]

I still think if you factor in The Pegasus & ENT's TaTV, it displays something of a deep seated guilt that has subconsciously stymied his advancement. They seem to have subtly suggested that he has revealed a self doubt about his worth as an officer, who has prospered in promotion through support from a corrupt 1st captain's influence

I tend to lean towards this. As I said earlier in this very thread, my feeling is that his meteoric rise through the ranks early in his career seen him begin to question, subconsciously, whether he was getting there by merit or nepotism. And as he learned more about what ''really'' happened on Pegasus, he probably came to dislike, over time, the shadow that his loyalty to Pressman had cast over him and his career. His reaction when Admiral Pressman comes to the Enterprise is one of conflicted emotion, like he's spent a long, long time considering the events aboard Pegasus, and that Pressman's arrival is opening a raw wound for him...

I like this theory. Between initially wanting to learn more from Picard and later dealing with the Pegasus incident it explains his reasons for staying. It also shows a lot more character development than there appears to be initially.

 

[STEPhon IT]

I once enjoyed a number one for a long time (too many lagers).

Why command a nothing ship charting a bland little nebula for three weeks when you can be second in command of the Enterprise (which is involved in significantly more interesting adventures due to its status as the flagship). Riker knew he'd be captain one day so what did it matter that it was put off?

I totally get his decision and what's more, I think his decision actually showed more ambition not less.

All true, but underlying thing he mentioned over and over again was he wanted to Captain of the Enterprise, and nothing less. I can't blame him for waiting. It's the Enterprise.

 

[Mojochi]

All true, but underlying thing he mentioned over and over again was he wanted to Captain of the Enterprise, and nothing less. I can't blame him for waiting. It's the Enterprise.

But there's just nothing to support that such a thing is even plausible in their institution. An XO & a captain are not the same job, & therefore, their skill set is not entirely translatable, (General officer qualities are, I'd imagine) & many things have been said over the years which show that to be so, like Jellico, or Pressman indicating that they prefer an XO who answers directly without fail, or Picard suggesting he actually prefers one that will hold opposing viewpoints or be a voice of counterbalance. No matter what captains may view as being good qualities for an XO, it's clear NONE of those qualities are completely similar to the qualities that are essential for being a good captain. It's a very personal decision for a captain to decide to groom an XO for potential captaincy. It's not a mandate that I've ever understood

Nope. The most logical way to become the captain of a great ship like Enterprise, is be a great captain, (i.e. Picard) not to be a great 1st officer. THAT job just means you are great at answering directly TO a captain, or covering for one on the off chance that the captain isn't present, which in TNG's era is much less prevalent, BECAUSE they specifically have a 1st officer that handles a large amount of the other stuff that might interfere with a captain captaining. However, in most normal situations when an XO is filling in for the captain, it's still doing things the way the captain would want.

They aren't the captain, unless it's under a situation where the captain is missing or presumed dead, then the XO needs to act as captain, until one is posted, but he's still only an acting captain, & no one should assume that there'd be enough of those situations happening that it would allow them to distinguish themselves as being worthy of a posting to a prime captaincy. The truth be told, if there's a lot of times when the captain is missing or presumed dead, then the XO isn't very good at their job either. lol

 

[iMike]

If I recall correctly Picard captained the Stargazer for well over a decade. Sticking around as XO for 15 years doesn't in my opinion make Riker seem weak for not taking his own command. After all, if I was spoiled by being the XO of the flagship why would I leave until a better command - i.e. USS Titan - came along?

 

[woodstock]

Given the devastating loss of life at Wolf 359, you'd have thought Starfleet would be in desperate need of experienced captains as they rebuilt their fleet. Realistically, they'd either have to have promoted Picard to the Admiralty and made Riker the captain of Enterprise. Or kept Picard in place and forcibly transferred Riker to another ship.

I would tend to agree, it would seem that they lost a lot of experienced officers and would need surviving XOs like Riker and other senior officers placed in command, but in command of what? As the fleet was rebuilt, they would be needed, but after a year or more, perhaps their personnel issues weren't that bad.

On a side note, they took the devastation wrought by the Borg attack too lightly. There could have been several awesome follow up episodes where they had to deal with a more aggressive Cardassia or Romulus knowing the Federations' weakened state, but maybe that's for another thread?

 

[WarpFactorZ]

All true, but underlying thing he mentioned over and over again was he wanted to Captain of the Enterprise, and nothing less. I can't blame him for waiting. It's the Enterprise.

David Letterman wanted nothing less but the Tonight Show for years. Turns out, the alternative was the better decision. It defined his career and status as a legend. Riker should have studied up on history.

 

[BillJ]

Either one is a leader or they aren't. The name that is painted on the hull shouldn't matter, the ship will take on the character of its commanding officer.

 

[MacLeod]

Did the man make the ship or the ship the man?