The Death of William T. Riker

[Crewman6]

Removing Frakes isn't necessary anyway, if you have the Tom story in the back pocket. Following BoBW, Riker is given command of another ship.
Data becomes first officer, they have a fill in ops officer for an episode or 2, discover Thomas who happens to already be a yellow shirt ops officer before Will switched to command. He's given a promotion to Lt Cmdr because he earned that promotion just as much as the original Riker did, and Lt Cmdr Tom Riker becomes the new ops officer.

The next episode then focuses on Deanna helping him through his PTSD from his exile..

TNG was, at the end of the day, a very conservative TV show, both in terms of its storytelling choices and, frankly, its politics.

There's absolutely zero chance such an out-there idea would have flown under the tenure of Mr. Berman.

Even today, it's hard to imagine most shows having the guts to do something so goofy.

 

[kkt]

So instead they let DS9 in "Defiant" take care of the Thomas loose end after TNG concluded. Nice.

 

[Phoenix219]

A little context: I was born in '76 and can't remember a time without Star Trek. My older brother and I watched TOS reruns daily and then the TOS films hundreds of times on video by the time TNG was announced.

In those days, we only had Starlog, newspaper coverage, and the occasional entertainment TV magazine info. I was thrilled by the prospect of more Star Trek, and even though the Enterprise-D design left me a bit cold (the refit 1701 remains my first starship love), I was excited by the little I'd read and seen before the debut.

I instantly liked Will Riker, not only because he was similar to Kirk but also because of Frakes' performance. The Riker of the first, second, and early half of the third season was warm, adventurous, curious, bold, and courageous. He was becoming his own character and the fact that he'd been offered command several times by the third season only cemented my hope that somehow, he'd become captain.

TBoBW hit, and I read somewhere (TV Guide? Starlog?) that Stewart was considering leaving the show. Of course, this didn't happen, and while Picard had grown on me by that point, I was still disappointed that Captain Riker didn't stick around.

The truth is, though, that William Riker didn't stick around, either. His character peaked when he attained the goal we were shown he wanted from his debut: command of a starship. Once he achieved that goal and then gave it up, he longer had any purpose or direction. His arc was over.

The Riker that followed seemed angry a lot of the time. He was essentially redundant and the narrative explanation of "He's happy where he is" didn't cut it. Riker became a piece of familiar set dressing like the horseshoe console on the bridge. He rarely had any stories that truly moved his character forward because he'd already peaked.

For years now, I've wondered how this might have been fixed. The truth is, Berman didn't care about real character development beyond Picard and Data, a fact evidenced by the focus they received in the subpar TNG films.

Do you think Riker could have been fixed, or was he destined to become an exposition-dumper and piece of backdrop in Picard's shadow?

I think the only way this situation could have been fixed was to go with the alleged suggestion that Will Riker be replaced by Thomas Riker.

Instead of happening in the last season, the crew would discover Thomas Riker toward the end of season four. Will sacrifices himself to save Thomas. Will is mourned and Picard promote Data to commander and XO. Worf becomes second officer and mans Ops, leaving Thomas Riker to become the new chief of security.

It's not pretty, but it solves the problem of dead-end Riker and the loss of Frakes from the show.

Thoughts?

You could do that without killing Will - he could finally get his Captaincy and end his arc, while starting Tom's.

I always wanted Picard to stay as Locutus and give them an arc for the rest of the series, with him as a recurring enemy that might get saved near the end of the series. Proceed with Captain Riker, Shelby and Data. (And yes, I've felt this way since I was like 12.

But yes, Riker lost all of his charm and charisma halfway through the series, and just becomes a prick.

 

[DGCatAniSiri]

I did a thought experiment a while back of mapping out a revamp of TNG, keeping the characters and core elements while adding storylines and such to the series (and, in particular, keeping Tasha alive). When I hit season four, I decided to stretch out Admiral Satie's Drumhead trial elements to centering on attacking Picard as a result of him being assimilated by the Borg, and, while he's ultimately cleared, he ended up accepting a career change, becoming a sort of "Federation ambassador at large," so he could stay on the Enterprise and with Riker taking the center seat as a result, primarily BECAUSE his storyline does functionally end after BoBW.

 

[Lord Exor]

The truth is, though, that William Riker didn't stick around, either. His character peaked when he attained the goal we were shown he wanted from his debut: command of a starship. Once he achieved that goal and then gave it up, he longer had any purpose or direction. His arc was over.

Did anyone on TNG even have an arc?

 

[Phoenix219]

Did anyone on TNG even have an arc?

Pulaski. Data. Arguably worf.

 

[Lord Exor]

Maybe Pulaski. Data played at the idea of an arc without approaching a resolution, and barely Worf I guess.

 

[Lynx]

A little context: I was born in '76 and can't remember a time without Star Trek. My older brother and I watched TOS reruns daily and then the TOS films hundreds of times on video by the time TNG was announced.

In those days, we only had Starlog, newspaper coverage, and the occasional entertainment TV magazine info. I was thrilled by the prospect of more Star Trek, and even though the Enterprise-D design left me a bit cold (the refit 1701 remains my first starship love), I was excited by the little I'd read and seen before the debut.

I instantly liked Will Riker, not only because he was similar to Kirk but also because of Frakes' performance. The Riker of the first, second, and early half of the third season was warm, adventurous, curious, bold, and courageous. He was becoming his own character and the fact that he'd been offered command several times by the third season only cemented my hope that somehow, he'd become captain.

TBoBW hit, and I read somewhere (TV Guide? Starlog?) that Stewart was considering leaving the show. Of course, this didn't happen, and while Picard had grown on me by that point, I was still disappointed that Captain Riker didn't stick around.

The truth is, though, that William Riker didn't stick around, either. His character peaked when he attained the goal we were shown he wanted from his debut: command of a starship. Once he achieved that goal and then gave it up, he longer had any purpose or direction. His arc was over.

The Riker that followed seemed angry a lot of the time. He was essentially redundant and the narrative explanation of "He's happy where he is" didn't cut it. Riker became a piece of familiar set dressing like the horseshoe console on the bridge. He rarely had any stories that truly moved his character forward because he'd already peaked.

For years now, I've wondered how this might have been fixed. The truth is, Berman didn't care about real character development beyond Picard and Data, a fact evidenced by the focus they received in the subpar TNG films.

Do you think Riker could have been fixed, or was he destined to become an exposition-dumper and piece of backdrop in Picard's shadow?

I think the only way this situation could have been fixed was to go with the alleged suggestion that Will Riker be replaced by Thomas Riker.

Instead of happening in the last season, the crew would discover Thomas Riker toward the end of season four. Will sacrifices himself to save Thomas. Will is mourned and Picard promote Data to commander and XO. Worf becomes second officer and mans Ops, leaving Thomas Riker to become the new chief of security.

It's not pretty, but it solves the problem of dead-end Riker and the loss of Frakes from the show.

Thoughts?

First of all, I don't think that Riker changed that much. There were some bad events in which he was involved in later years which may have made him a bit more edgy but not so much that it damaged the character.

Replacing him with Thomas Riker wouldn't have been a good idea. There was already one Riker there and replacing him with a duplicate would just have been unnecessary, if not downright silly.

The whole "Thomas Riker plot" was actually a bit over the top as it was.

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

It's a pity that the webisode platform didn't exist back then. I think a lot of fans wanted to see more of the disheveled alternate Riker.

I don't think Picard being killed off would have been a good idea but it is fun to think of a world where Picard dies when he blows up the Borg ship and Riker gets a few seasons as captain.

 

[TRON JA307020]

It's a pity that the webisode platform didn't exist back then. I think a lot of fans wanted to see more of the disheveled alternate Riker.

I don't think Picard being killed off would have been a good idea but it is fun to think of a world where Picard dies when he blows up the Borg ship and Riker gets a few seasons as captain.

Too many fans would have missed picard if he was gone for a few seasons. Stewart was still a relatively young man. Glad we got to see the character in his prime for the full seven seasons. With that said I would have been quite excited to see a Riker spin off series.

 

[Dukhat]

TNG was, at the end of the day, a very conservative TV show, both in terms of its storytelling choices and, frankly, its politics.

There's absolutely zero chance such an out-there idea would have flown under the tenure of Mr. Berman.

Even today, it's hard to imagine most shows having the guts to do something so goofy.

I would have to agree. TNG was 'conservative,' but that was what both the studio and the audience wanted at the time. A show like nuBSG would not have worked in the late '80's/early '90's. There was very little character development because there really didn't need to be any. There weren't huge story arcs because they didn't need them. They just needed episodic TV and TOS-type stories, because that's what Star Trek fans were used to. It wasn't until shows like Babylon 5 came along and challenged conventional episodic storytelling that all of that changed.

I remember seeing an interview with Bruce Boxleitner when he took over on Babylon 5. He said that Star Trek was old and something new needed to take its place. I was appalled at the time, but the truth was that he was correct (and still is.)

 

[TimeIsAPredator]

Too many fans would have missed picard if he was gone for a few seasons. Stewart was still a relatively young man. Glad we got to see the character in his prime for the full seven seasons. With that said I would have been quite excited to see a Riker spin off series.

Oh ya sticking with Picard and Stewart was 100% the right idea. Just fun to speculate what it would have been like in universe.

 

[JesterFace]

There weren't huge story arcs because they didn't need them. They just needed episodic TV and TOS-type stories, because that's what Star Trek fans were used to.

And there's nothing wrong with that, right? =)

 

[Dukhat]

And there's nothing wrong with that, right? =)

Technically no. At least not in the ‘80’s and ‘90’s. Episodic TV works for sitcoms, but for science fictions shows? YMMV.

 

[JesterFace]

Might I be the only one who doesn't have a problem with Riker staying on the Enterprise as first officer?
If he was happy with his position, why leave?

Perhaps the experience with the Borg in TBOBW was a little bit too much for him? He needs to make sure he is absolutely ready for the big chair.
Deanna. Maybe Riker hopes his relationship with her might develop into something more than shipmates. If he left to command some other ship she wouldn't be around. In TBOBW he says to Deanna that he has sacrificed a lot for his career meaning her, perhaps it's time to change that?
Starfleet asked him to keep an eye for Picard for a while after the Borg experience, who knows how messed up he might be?

 

[Mojochi]

Might I be the only one who doesn't have a problem with Riker staying on the Enterprise as first officer?
If he was happy with his position, why leave?

Perhaps the experience with the Borg in TBOBW was a little bit too much for him? He needs to make sure he is absolutely ready for the big chair.
Deanna. Maybe Riker hopes his relationship with her might develop into something more than shipmates. If he left to command some other ship she wouldn't be around. In TBOBW he says to Deanna that he has sacrificed a lot for his career meaning her, perhaps it's time to change that?
Starfleet asked him to keep an eye for Picard for a while after the Borg experience, who knows how messed up he might be?

It's a fair point. My issue with Will turning down promotion after BoBW isn't so much about why he'd want to. They've gone a long way by this point to demonstrate that this is a family, who all really feel at home where they are, & Will, more than any of them, has charged up the ranks to where he is. There's even later precedent to support that it was maybe even a little too convenient that he did so.

So now he's Picard's XO & it's been eye opening seeing what a leader really is. Lord knows Pressman couldn't have been much of a role model. That Riker's convictions about himself should be up in the air is understandable. I'd push forward, but I'm not him.

My issue is the flip side. It's not just about him, but about what the fleet needs. Even before Wolf 359, Picard makes it a point to tell Riker that Starfleet needs captains, especially now, & that he's ready. We have to assume that after the massacre, it needs a LOT more of them, badly. So badly maybe, that it's never even considered that Picard, of all people, should step away from his spot.

Shelby is right. Riker is clogging up the process. His current post isn't a weigh station. It's a position that trains new captains, ones coming up the ranks, who need that experience, like Shelby. It's maybe the best one... him squatting there like 16 years blockades a valuable avenue of advancement. Picard could mentor 3 or 4 others just like him in that time, which helps restore the fleet, excellently.

His choice, while understandable on a personal level is a hindrance to the fleet, & no matter what his personal proclivities are on the matter, he should also have some loyalty to the ideals of having a duty to serve. Some part of him should be there for the greater good, if he's a righteous man.

At a certain point, command must've just written him off, & his post, as a loss, & left it alone, because he did after all save everybody, & if this is how he wants to cash in that currency then so be it, but from their perspective, it's rather unfortunate. You're right that it does help to have a trusted guy there to watch post-Locutus Picard, but that wasn't really proven to be needed, & others could've done that too.

 

[Phoenix219]

I did a thought experiment a while back of mapping out a revamp of TNG, keeping the characters and core elements while adding storylines and such to the series (and, in particular, keeping Tasha alive). When I hit season four, I decided to stretch out Admiral Satie's Drumhead trial elements to centering on attacking Picard as a result of him being assimilated by the Borg, and, while he's ultimately cleared, he ended up accepting a career change, becoming a sort of "Federation ambassador at large," so he could stay on the Enterprise and with Riker taking the center seat as a result, primarily BECAUSE his storyline does functionally end after BoBW.

I had to come back to this, because I just think it is an absolutely ingenious balance and compromise, that solves all the issues. Picard, on the ship, doing his normal speechifying, negotiating, talky political stuff, but in a role where that makes sense - Ambassador! Riker taking over the role he was born for, Captain of a starship. This could have opened up a LOT of storytelling possibilities for everyone involved. (now my own what-ifs are growing again, thanks! picturing Picard and Bev as one of those early TNG special guest couples, where the command crew could have been something like Riker-Shelby-Data-Geordi-Pulaski. I would have kept Geordi on the bridge, and made O'Brien chief engineer, if I could shake up the whole toybox. This role for Picard is amazing.)

 

[Farscape One]

One of the reasons, I feel, that "The Pegasus" is such an excellent episode is that it helps explain WHY Riker turned down a command of his own three times, and why he tends to put himself in a lot of danger for others.

It's gnawing guilt over that incident with the Pegasus.

Pressman said that 'I made you and I can break you'... and while that can be taken as just an angry statement from a high up admiral, it's certainly possible Pressman DID propel Riker's career greatly from afar. A sort of thank you for being one of the only people who defended him during the mutiny.

But Riker probably didn't feel like he truly earned his meteorite rise in the ranks, despite him doing a lot of things that merited commendations and medals and a supremely fast career advancement. He still didn't feel like he deserved to be a captain, so he stayed as Picard's XO.


This is all speculation, of course, but the pieces seem to fit.

 

[Mojochi]

One of the reasons, I feel, that "The Pegasus" is such an excellent episode is that it helps explain WHY Riker turned down a command of his own three times, and why he tends to put himself in a lot of danger for others.

It's gnawing guilt over that incident with the Pegasus.

Pressman said that 'I made you and I can break you'... and while that can be taken as just an angry statement from a high up admiral, it's certainly possible Pressman DID propel Riker's career greatly from afar. A sort of thank you for being one of the only people who defended him during the mutiny.

But Riker probably didn't feel like he truly earned his meteorite rise in the ranks, despite him doing a lot of things that merited commendations and medals and a supremely fast career advancement. He still didn't feel like he deserved to be a captain, so he stayed as Picard's XO.


This is all speculation, of course, but the pieces seem to fit.

I've been saying that for years. TNG reconned their own character to have imposter syndrome, to explain away a lot of inconsistencies.

It paints a pretty believable picture too. After Pegasus, he gets shipped off to a remote post on Betazed, while waiting for things to blow over, & after a stretch there, his only recommendation on his record would be Pressman, who angles for him to get posted on the Potemkin & a bump to Lt. for his loyalty. At this point his guilty conscience gets him acting extra heroic on Nervala IV, which gets him another promotion.

So now he has the Potemkin captain & Pressman singing his praises & gets scooped up to the Hood as XO, where after a quick stint, they're throwing command jobs at him.

I like the head canon. It makes him a WAY more interesting & nuanced character. It also explains his over-bloated bravado, & his palpable contempt for Tom Riker, who he still sees as the guy coasting on a reputation paid for in blood... AND it goes a loooong way to saying why he'd not feel worthy of command

 

[Phoenix219]

I rewatched the 2nd part of Best of Both Worlds last night, and I am 100% convinced now, that this is my own personal series finale. There is no way to fix it. It sells out its entire purpose, the arcs of the entire movie, and every character within it, to return to the status quo so quickly. Its such a waste of time, it almost makes me angry. There should have at least been a few episodes of recovery, with Will as Captain, or a dual-captaincy, since Picard was traumatized, or like the absolutely ingenious post on here, that Picard should have taken on an outside ambassadorial role, one that he has shown to be good in as far back as the Big Goodbye. Instead of the guest-of-the-week coming in with his people and consort for all of those missions, it could have jut been Picard and Bev lol. But, I digress.



I definitely like the version of TNG in my head better then any version of it that exists.

Ambassador Picard, Beverly and Ensign Crusher, assigned to engineering.

Captain Riker and his Number One, Commander Shelby.
Dr. Pulaski
Chief Engineer O'Brien.
Worf, Data and Geordi rounding out the bridge, Geordi still the young, cool, slick blind pilot.

Not sure there is a spot for Troi in this reimaginging, other then recurring occasional guest appearance. Replace all of her mother's episodes, with her and Riker episodes. Lol.