Peak Performance question...

[Mike Ram]

In "Peak Performance," Picard informed Kolrami that Commander Riker was "the finest officer with whom I have ever served."

Wasn't it established that Picard had been in Starfleet for something like 30 years at that point in the series? No offense to Riker, but Picard had barely known him for 2 years (he didn't even pick him as his first officer; he was "informed" of it according to a log in "Encounter at Farpoint")...were there no other officers who made an impression on him previously? Nobody on the Stargazer he held in high regard?

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Nope. Jack Crusher sucked! And Walker Keel, too.

 

[WillsBabe]

Nope. Jack Crusher sucked! And Walker Keel, too.

I think the OP has a good point. It is a bit of an overkill statement.

 

[TeutonicNights]

What's even better is Picard going "HE'S THE BEST" after Worf's fake- Rommie-ship plan had succeeded.
Picard is really a fan of Riker, isn't he?

 

[nx1701g]

In "Peak Performance," Picard informed Kolrami that Commander Riker was "the finest officer with whom I have ever served."

Wasn't it established that Picard had been in Starfleet for something like 30 years at that point in the series? No offense to Riker, but Picard had barely known him for 2 years (he didn't even pick him as his first officer; he was "informed" of it according to a log in "Encounter at Farpoint")...were there no other officers who made an impression on him previously? Nobody on the Stargazer he held in high regard?

Riker was selected to be the Executive Officer by Picard according to the episode "The Pegasus". Picard selected him because he would stand up for what he believed in if he felt he was right according to dialogue.

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

Well somebody has to be the best, why not Riker?

 

[Timo]

Riker's youth apparently consisted of him impressing his superiors with trick after trick. And Jellico will later on comment that Riker was the eighth in his Academy class already - probably no mean feat, if San Francisco really produces all the officers this interstellar Starfleet needs, and thus has year classes numbering in four digits! Picard could well be factually correct in saying that Riker was the most skilled and decorated officer (relative to his age, or then in absolute terms) ever to serve under him.

Of course, his statement could also contain a personal element: "Riker is a fine man". The factuality of that couldn't be disputed on basis of mere military credentials. But odds are, Riker really was a superman of sorts.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Kirk1980]

....which I'd say strengthens my view (and likely others) that he was meant to be more the Kirk type for TNG.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Riker was selected to be the Executive Officer by Picard according to the episode "The Pegasus". Picard selected him because he would stand up for what he believed in if he felt he was right according to dialogue.

And it was set-up as far as "Encounter at Farpoint" with the story of what happened between Riker and DeSoto.

It's too bad that Riker never really stood up for what he believed in. He never really went toe-to-toe with Picard. They never did have a situation where Riker would be forced to go against the orders of his commanding officer. Whenever Riker did, it was a half-assed attempt like in "Loud as a Whisper" when Picard first beamed down. Lip service was paid but no real drama, no real conflict. Then Riker got castrated as a character after BoBW.

I liked the tension between Riker and Picard in "Yesterday's Enterprise", and wished we got more of that in the series proper. It didn't even have to be that overdramatic, hard-stared conflict. Rather, the tension and conflict could've come from how Riker and Picard differ in their approaches to a given problem or situation.

Picard needed someone to stand up to him, push his shit in so to speak. That's why I liked Pulaski because she did just that. In the end, having someone stand up to Picard made him a stronger character because it forced him to reflect on his decisions, his choices, and his approach. I hoped that Riker would be that character, but he wasn't.

And had Riker become captain after BoBW, having Shelby as his first officer would have been great to watch.

 

[Mike Ram]

Riker was selected to be the Executive Officer by Picard according to the episode "The Pegasus". Picard selected him because he would stand up for what he believed in if he felt he was right according to dialogue.

As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer. But I’m informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William T. Riker will be waiting to join the ship at our Deneb IV destination.

^ That's from Encounter at Farpoint. It gives the impression Picard was assigned Riker by Starfleet, not that he chose him personally (which I guess was retconned later). Even if he did, he still only knew him for two years at the time of the battle simulation.

 

[WillsBabe]

But odds are, Riker really was a superman of sorts.

Timo Saloniemi

I think they say somewhere that Riker and Geordi were in the same class, or graduated in the same year, or something. Riker's rank, position and experience seems to be in marked contrast to Geordi's, if that is the case.

 

[Anwar]

The Pegasus incident was 12 years before TNG's first season, right? Riker played part in one of Starfleet's only mutinies (he supported the Captain), and despite that incident after 12 years he was offered a command once and given the XO position on the Flagship. Not bad.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

The Pegasus incident was 12 years before TNG's first season, right? Riker played part in one of Starfleet's only mutinies (he supported the Captain), and despite that incident after 12 years he was offered a command once and given the XO position on the Flagship. Not bad.

Despite the incident? On paper it made Riker look good supporting his captain. Few knew the truth.

 

[Anwar]

Yeah, I assumed that Section 31/whoever was behind the Pegasus project probably did their best to make Pressman and his supporters (who I assume was solely Riker) come off smelling like roses. That's why Pressman was a Rear Admiral and Riker a prestigious Commander 12 years later.

 

[nx1701g]

Riker was selected to be the Executive Officer by Picard according to the episode "The Pegasus". Picard selected him because he would stand up for what he believed in if he felt he was right according to dialogue.

As for my crew, we are short in several key positions, most notably a first officer. But I’m informed that a highly experienced man, one Commander William T. Riker will be waiting to join the ship at our Deneb IV destination.

^ That's from Encounter at Farpoint. It gives the impression Picard was assigned Riker by Starfleet, not that he chose him personally (which I guess was retconned later). Even if he did, he still only knew him for two years at the time of the battle simulation.

Nope, Picard selected Riker according to dialogue (posted the appropriate lines from The Pegasus).

Star Trek Minutiae:
15 INT. PICARD'S QUARTERS (OPTICAL)

Picard is pouring drinks for himself and Pressman. The
mood is relaxed and casual... two senior officers
taking an opportunity to kick back and talk. Midconversation.

PICARD
... as a matter of fact, I never
met Wil before he reported aboard
at Farpoint Station.

PRESSMAN
(surprised)
You chose your first officer
without ever meeting him?

PICARD
I was looking through the records
of about fifty candidates... Wil's
was much like all the others...
filled with the usual dry
statistics and glowing letters of
recommendation that tell you
nothing. I was about to put it
aside and go on to the next file,
when something caught my eye.
(MORE)

STAR TREK: "The Pegasus" 10/18/93 - ACT TWO 19.

15 CONTINUED:

PICARD (Cont'd)
(beat)
There had been an incident on
Altair Three when Wil was First
Officer of the Hood. He refused
to let Captain DeSoto beam down
during a crisis. He disobeyed a
direct order and risked a general
court martial because he thought
he was right. When I read that...
I knew I'd found my Number One.

PRESSMAN
You wanted someone with a history
of disobedience?

PICARD
I wanted someone who would stand
up to me... someone who was more
concerned with the safety of the
ship and accomplishing the mission
than with how something looked on
his record. To me, that's one of
the marks of a good officer.

 

[Jbarney]

In "Peak Performance," Picard informed Kolrami that Commander Riker was "the finest officer with whom I have ever served."

Wasn't it established that Picard had been in Starfleet for something like 30 years at that point in the series? No offense to Riker, but Picard had barely known him for 2 years (he didn't even pick him as his first officer; he was "informed" of it according to a log in "Encounter at Farpoint")...were there no other officers who made an impression on him previously? Nobody on the Stargazer he held in high regard?

I appreciate the posts of others, but I kinda take Picard's comments a little differently. While Picard obviously felt highly enough of Riker's abilities, and they certainly were working well together during their time on the ship, I think his line was more an "F" at Kolrami.

If I remember the progression of the episode, Picard wasn't really excited about the battle drills to start with. Kolrami had been abusive and confrontational with his crew, and was disrupting his ship.....I thought the comment was a bit much as well, but I think it should be taken as a "Kolrami, you are an asshole, and I am going to defend a fine man despite your attitude."

 

[Trekker4747]

It's possible Picard was just over-speaking, people tend to do that -like when you see a really great movie you might tend to say "that was the best movie ever!" but later on you'll take it down a peg or two on refleciton; with Picard's comments he may also have been "trying to sell snake oil" by "over-selling" Riker.

 

[Hober Mallow]

In "Peak Performance," Picard informed Kolrami that Commander Riker was "the finest officer with whom I have ever served."

Wasn't it established that Picard had been in Starfleet for something like 30 years at that point in the series? No offense to Riker, but Picard had barely known him for 2 years (he didn't even pick him as his first officer; he was "informed" of it according to a log in "Encounter at Farpoint")...

Haven't seen "Farpoint" in many a year, but I remember the dialog is something like, "We're still short in several key positions, most noteably first officer, but I'm informed a highly experienced man, one Commander Willian Riker, will be joining us at our Deneb IV destination."

I believe though, again if memory serves, that the original idea was that Picard was allowed to select his own crew. I think the "Farpoint" novelization mentioned this, written even before the episode aired.

 

[nx1701g]

^ I posted the dialogue from The Pegasus where Picard says he picked Riker.

But let's get back to the original discussion. The thread's been hijacked for too long.

 

[Timo]

Hmh? I thought the original question was nicely covered both by several specific posts here, and by the general, interesting and relevant "did Picard pick him or not" discussion...

I'd argue Picard's log entry in "Farpoint" was made with tongue in the cheek: "I have been told there's a highly qualified officer waiting for me" is Picardspeak for "I picked the best man for the job, and events will show me right, dear readers at Starfleet Command". Although I'd also argue that Picard didn't have completely free hands in picking his XO, and that his speech to that effect in "The Pegasus" is biased in the opposite direction... There's no need to assume our heroes speak the whole and absolute truth all the time.

Timo Saloniemi