Best of Both Worlds isn't Picard's story

[tim0122]

I rewatched Best of Both Worlds today. Maybe I'm just dense or am finally old enough to notice, but what I found interesting about it is, to me, it isn't Picard's story. The aftermath certainly is, but if BoBW belonged to anyone, it was Riker.

Does anyone else agree? Is this a common thought?

 

[Qonundrum]

Easily. As far as the most simplest of synopses goes, it's mainly him being emo about entering middle age, with his ex patronizing him as he gets all ironically uppity with a young newbie being... uppity.

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Needs more soap, but Riker definitely understands the chain of command more than she does as we know he would give her credit for her ideas, all while she stands there and petulantly makes claims about him being in her way all while forgetting that the first officer is the one who gets to beam down to planets to take those risks (and other "planetary bodies", wooooooo!), the most whereas the captain just sits on the bridge as he's directly responsible to the thing first and foremost. Again, it needs more soap, a loofah sponge, maybe a little rubber ducky as well, you name it... that said, who can blame her as she was a breath of fresh air as well as going above and beyond, but before I really digress...

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The real fun starts at 1:45, but that's some good soap in the navel gazing but without mentioning all the fun Riker otherwise has. Which might be why Troi eschews it...

 

[Michael]

Yes, this has been evident to me for a long time, but I admit that I probably didn’t catch that when I first saw the show as a kid.

There’s this anecdote about Michael Piller writing “The Best of Both Worlds” and finding himself in a similar situation as Riker does in the episode: Should he stay on the show as a writer and continue the thing he knows he can do and likes to do, or should he follow up on a job offer, which would mean change and could turn out to be a wrong decision after all, but at the same time might move him forward in his career? He channels his own inner conflict through Riker’s situation and finds a way to work through it by writing the episode, which I think can be a good lesson for writers.

Noticing new aspects about an episode after watching it later in life and sometimes even completely reassessing its content or message is one of my favorite things about being a long-time Trek fan or just in general an enjoyer of media, I guess. I’m rewatching Voyager for the umpteenth time these last couple of months and still notice stuff that I never realized before. As we grow older and have more experiences our opinions and viewpoints change — we change as people — and as such we often see the same media with new eyes. I have the same experience with music and books.

 

[Tallguy]

I rewatched Best of Both Worlds today. Maybe I'm just dense or am finally old enough to notice, but what I found interesting about it is, to me, it isn't Picard's story. The aftermath certainly is, but if BoBW belonged to anyone, it was Riker.

Does anyone else agree? Is this a common thought?

To be clear, Picard isn't uninvolved (in part 1 of course). This doesn't feel like the kind of episode where The Captain makes a couple of brief appearances, says "Take care of this" and then disappears. He has a few great scenes. Especially the last scene with Guinan.

But absolutely. Almost all of the emotional struggle in part 1 and obviously part 2 is all The Riker Show.

I know it was never anyone in the production's actual intention but in the wild and wooly days of 1990 when we had just enough info to be dangerous ("They are renegotiating contracts" or even "Stewart wants to leave" or even "They're getting a new first officer") this could have been a graceful and satisfying stepping off point for Stewart OR Frakes. Heck, it would have been the most satisfying Trek exit of all time!

 

[Mojochi]

I thought this was obvious. That's even largely what the title is referencing. Riker is wanting the best of both being in a leadership role, but not having to be the captain. What else could it be in reference to? Certainly not Picard's two different situations. One of those isn't the best of anything.

The conflict is that Riker is tossing his weight around & a young upstart is tossing it back in his face, while superiors are grousing about his lack of mobility.

BTW, as a general rule, if one of the main cast of characters is being used as the episode's antagonist, (i.e. Locutus) then it is not that character's story. They are a plot device in the story (See also A Fistful of Datas or Clues) although... The Nth Degree does contradict that form a bit.

 

[Michael]

What else could it be in reference to?

Huh? I always thought it was clearly referencing the combination of Picard’s human individuality and the Borg’s collective hive mind, the world of organic flesh and blood and the world of technology and machines. Of course the title comes with irony, as it’s only “the best” from the perspective of the Borg. It has a double-meaning because of Riker’s situation, but I'm pretty certain it’s mainly supposed to reference the Locutus angle.

 

[Mojochi]

Huh? I always thought it was clearly referencing the combination of Picard’s human individuality and the Borg’s collective hive mind, the world of organic flesh and blood and the world of technology and machines. Of course the title comes with irony, as it’s only “the best” from the perspective of the Borg. It has a double-meaning because of Riker’s situation, but I'm pretty certain it’s mainly supposed to reference the Locutus angle.

I don't see how Picard is getting the best of anything out of that.

 

[Michael]

I don't see how Picard is getting the best of anything out of that.

Can you see how the Borg might see it that way, though?

 

[Mojochi]

Can you see how the Borg might see it that way, though?

Sort of, but that certainly wouldn't be in reference to the episode's focal character. I'll admit there's something of a double entendre about the title (which isn't uncommon in TNG) but it's a bit tongue in cheek where the Borg are concerned & definitely the secondary reference imho

 

[Oddish]

It it had ended with Riker realizing that he belonged in the captain's chair and taking his own ship, "Best of Both Worlds" would have been the quintessential Riker episode.

As it was... well, it's still above average as episodes go.