Riker after The Best of Both Worlds

[Admiral Shran]

Does anybody think it would have been a good idea for Riker to remain a Captain after the events of "The Best of Both Worlds?"

We've already seen from Star Trek V and Star Trek VI that a ship can have two Captains (one as Captain and one as First Officer). So why was Riker returned to his rank of Commander? Given what he had just done for the Federation, I would think a promotion wouldn't be out-of-line, even if he wanted to remain on the Enterprise.

I supposed from a production point-of-view it would seem odd for casual viewers to have two Captains on the show. But from an in-universe perspective, I can't understand it.

 

[LeadHead]

I think it would have been confusing, but not detrementally so. But it's worth noting that after Kirk was demoted back to Captain at the end of TVH, Spock wasn't referred to as Captain Spock again. It was "Mr. Spock"

 

[Snaploud]

I think Riker should have been promoted and begun captaining his own ship. Data should have been promoted to first officer of the Enterprise.

 

[Lor'Vela]

I'm guessing he could have kept his rank of Captain had he decided to relinquish his postion of XO and become CO of his own ship, but one the conditions about remaining XO is the reduction in rank.

I dunno, something about holding Captain rank makes him seem overqualified for the position of XO, in much the same way Spock was in the movies.

 

[Anwar]

Riker should have left the show after this with Shelby becoming his XO while Data took over as the ENT-D's XO. Then they both become recurring characters with their own vessel.

Or hell, make them recurring DS9 characters. Maybe Sisko's immediate superior in the Bajoran sector.

 

[StarryEyed]

Riker should have left the show after this with Shelby becoming his XO while Data took over as the ENT-D's XO. Then they both become recurring characters with their own vessel.

Or hell, make them recurring DS9 characters. Maybe Sisko's immediate superior in the Bajoran sector.

This would have made much more sense from an in-universe perspective. It didn't feel right having Riker on the Enterprise as long as he was. He was way overqualified to be an XO by the time of TBOBW. That's how the writers created and evolved the character. They should have either promoted Riker off the ship or gotten rid of Picard.

 

[Admiral Shran]

Riker should have left the show after this with Shelby becoming his XO while Data took over as the ENT-D's XO. Then they both become recurring characters with their own vessel.

Or hell, make them recurring DS9 characters. Maybe Sisko's immediate superior in the Bajoran sector.

This would have made much more sense from an in-universe perspective. It didn't feel right having Riker on the Enterprise as long as he was. He was way overqualified to be an XO by the time of TBOBW. That's how the writers created and evolved the character. They should have either promoted Riker off the ship or gotten rid of Picard.

I didn't have a problem with Riker staying on the ship after TBOBW. Yes, he was clearly overqualified to continue being an XO, but he was happy with being one. And I think the fact that taking his own command would require having to leave Troi again played a HUGE part in his decision to remain on the Enterprise. Just because a person is qualified for something, it doesn't mean that it would be the best choice for him/her to pursue.

 

[RapidNadion]

The Star Trek universe frequently wreaks havoc with ranks and rates ... as I recall, TOS had the problem many times itself. Its final solution was, shall we say, incomplete.

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Does anybody think it would have been a good idea for Riker to remain a Captain after the events of "The Best of Both Worlds?"

We've already seen from Star Trek V and Star Trek VI that a ship can have two Captains (one as Captain and one as First Officer). So why was Riker returned to his rank of Commander? Given what he had just done for the Federation, I would think a promotion wouldn't be out-of-line, even if he wanted to remain on the Enterprise.

I supposed from a production point-of-view it would seem odd for casual viewers to have two Captains on the show. But from an in-universe perspective, I can't understand it.

Well, the old television mentality is that having two captains might've "confused the audience." But then again, Riker and Picard were originally envisioned as co-captians of the Enterprise, or as the first season TNG bible puts it "dual lead characters".

In pre-press to TNG's first year, it was described that the role of the captain would be split between Picard and Riker--i.e. one on ship, and the other who would go on planet.

Guess, TPTB could have given Riker some new rank like "vice captain" with Picard as being a "full captain" or some such after BoBW, but, once again, you run into it becoming too convoluted. Unless such a rank was given at the beginning of the series. The explanation: the new Galaxy class ships are so large that it requires two officers of a captain's rank to run it--one a vice captain and the other a full captain.

But then again, US Navy aircraft carriers often have more than one captain (rank) aboard.

In any case, Riker peeked as a character in BoBW and should've either been given the Enterprise or moved on from the show. Keeping Riker as XO castrated him as a character. Myself, I would've preferred that Riker move on and his character replaced, preferably with Shelby or a female character like her.

 

[T'Cal]

I remember the rumor that during the summer break between BoBW 1 & 2 Patrick Stewart was renegotiating his contract and there was concern he might not return to the show. Then Riker would've been captain and Shelby his XO. While I love TNG and am happy with the way things turned out, I can't help but think that might've been successful too.

There was also talk after Second Chances when Riker's "twin" was discovered that Will Riker would leave (get promoted or request a transfer) and Tom Riker would stay on as a junior officer seeing Deanna. What I like about this scenario is that the actors remain the same but the dynamic of the characters is shuffled a bit. Tom is the way we've always heard Will was when he was younger - a risk-taker, who's hungry, ambitious, and brash. Then there's the role of XO and who would be promoted. A likely option is that Data moves up from Second Officer to First and is promoted to Cmdr. Maybe Worf could've been promoted to Lt. Cmdr. and made Second Officer/Ops Manager. Perhaps we would've seen a new face at tactical. Again, this would've been an interesting shake up. All of the affected characters change and potentially grow into their new roles.

If there was an Star Trek animated series, I could see these types of stories as occasional "else worlds" episodes.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

^ Makes the best sense to me. Riker's character definitely stagnated following BoBW. It wasn't terrible, it's just that he had nowhere else to grow, really. The Tom/Will shakeup would have kept the essence of the character while forcing some interesting changes in the dynamic. Sadly, by then, I think the series was playing it safe, not really willing to take many chances.

 

[T'Cal]

blah, blah, blah...There was also talk after Second Chances when Riker's "twin" was discovered that Will Riker would leave (get promoted or request a transfer) and Tom Riker would stay on as a junior officer seeing Deanna. What I like about this scenario is that the actors remain the same but the dynamic of the characters is shuffled a bit. Tom is the way we've always heard Will was when he was younger - a risk-taker, who's hungry, ambitious, and brash. Then there's the role of XO and who would be promoted. A likely option is that Data moves up from Second Officer to First and is promoted to Cmdr. Maybe Worf could've been promoted to Lt. Cmdr. and made Second Officer/Ops Manager. Perhaps we would've seen a new face at tactical. Again, this would've been an interesting shake up. All of the affected characters change and potentially grow into their new roles.

If there was an Star Trek animated series, I could see these types of stories as occasional "else worlds" episodes.

By the end of DS9, I had hoped Worf would've become Starfleet's first Klingon starship commander - Captain Worf of the Federation Starship Defiant! Of course, there would be a few similarities with him and Sisko in that they are both widows each with a son but beyond that, we might have seen a bit of Picard's diplomatic and leadership skills, Riker's unpredictability and loyalty, Sisko's dedication and spirituality, all combined with Worf's rich character traits.

 

[mattyhugh]

Except Worf picked saving Jadzia over picking up a Dominion defector. Which pretty much nullifies getting his own command.

 

[TheQman]

Does anybody think it would have been a good idea for Riker to remain a Captain after the events of "The Best of Both Worlds?"

We've already seen from Star Trek V and Star Trek VI that a ship can have two Captains (one as Captain and one as First Officer). So why was Riker returned to his rank of Commander? Given what he had just done for the Federation, I would think a promotion wouldn't be out-of-line, even if he wanted to remain on the Enterprise.

I supposed from a production point-of-view it would seem odd for casual viewers to have two Captains on the show. But from an in-universe perspective, I can't understand it.

I never thought of this, but it makes sense. They should have made it completely official and had him stay as first officer. We know from other episodes, he wanted to stay on the Enterprise, but doesn't mean he wanted to stay a commander.

 

[Lor'Vela]

Reading through these posts it amazes me why Riker wasn't ordered to become a CO of a starship, particuarly during a time of crisis. It was obvious Starfleet and Picard thought he would make a great Captain.
Picard was "requested and required" to take command of the Enterprise-D by Starfleet. Same applied for Captain Jellicoe too, so why was Riker an exception?

 

[Snaploud]

Reading through these posts it amazes me why Riker wasn't ordered to become a CO of a starship, particuarly during a time of crisis. It was obvious Starfleet and Picard thought he would make a great Captain.
Picard was "requested and required" to take command of the Enterprise-D by Starfleet. Same applied for Captain Jellicoe too, so why was Riker an exception?

Picard and Jellico had already proven themselves as captains over the long-term. I can see Starfleet treating Riker differently (especially if Picard backed Riker up).

 

[GeorgeKirk]

If we're talking in-universe, then why did Starfleet give command back to Picard so quickly? The guy had been kidnapped by an enemy species and had their cybernetic devices implanted throughout his brain. He was suffering from serious PTSD and could still feel a residual connection to the Borg, and yet Starfleet just handed him command of a vessel powerful enough to raze entire planets and responsibility for over 1,000 lives with no questions asked. The Enterprise should have remained Riker's: he earned it.

I don't think it's a coincidence how the Borg became stupider and less threatening the more humans they assimilated.

 

[T'Cal]

Except Worf picked saving Jadzia over picking up a Dominion defector. Which pretty much nullifies getting his own command.

He was Worf, son of Mogh! He could still get his own command and it would be a very interesting one melding his Klingon heritage, his human upbringing, and his Starfleet training. Honor, compassion, and tactics - that's one helluva combination for a Starfleet Captain.

 

[Marten]

Reading through these posts it amazes me why Riker wasn't ordered to become a CO of a starship, particuarly during a time of crisis. It was obvious Starfleet and Picard thought he would make a great Captain.
Picard was "requested and required" to take command of the Enterprise-D by Starfleet. Same applied for Captain Jellicoe too, so why was Riker an exception?

Picard and Jellico had already proven themselves as captains over the long-term. I can see Starfleet treating Riker differently (especially if Picard backed Riker up).

The Measure of a Man states that officers really can't refuse tranfers, so if Command wanted Riker on another ship that would have been doable, but It seems strange to force someone to command a ship.

Or perhaps only androids could be forced, or perhaps officers with Lt Cmdr or lower rank. My knowledge of real life militaries are limited, bit doesn't it seem logical to let higher officers with more responsibility have more influence with their assignments?

 

[Agenda]

Something should have been done with Riker. It stretched all credibility that a man of his capabilities would remain Commander for that long. And people are right in saying that Starfleet wouldn't allow it. It could not afford to let him stagnate like that.