He's kind of got that bad boy, womanizing thing going on a bit. But I liked him well enough, especially him and Troi together, they were thoroughly entertaining
He seemed like an overall cool guy, though some of the things he did got on my nerves.
Did anyone else dislike Riker?
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He's kind of got that bad boy, womanizing thing going on a bit. But I liked him well enough, especially him and Troi together, they were thoroughly entertaining
He seemed like an overall cool guy, though some of the things he did got on my nerves.
That's pretty much the gist of my reaction as well (though as I later found out, I dug my heels in for slightly different reasons). Personally, I still find it unrealistic that in the whole run of the series, Riker never got turned down by anyone other than Troi
I don't have an issue with the womanizing an sich, but I do take issue with Troi & Crusher being held to different standards and the implication that Riker is just so manly that no one could possibly resist him ever
Good Will Riker
Admiral
I preferred Season 1 Riker's look and characterization, and I believe he peaked as a character at the end of Season 2.
The beard did take away a "leading man" presence away from him, kind of like the way the visor obscured Levar Burton's expressive eyes as La Forge.
In my opinion, he only looked good with the beard:
1.) During Season 2
2.) As Thomas Riker in TNG's "Second Chances" and DS9's "Defiant"
3.) Star Trek: First Contact
4.) Star Trek: Nemesis
The rest of the time, the beard just did not add anything to the character and was purely optional from a purely aesthetic point-of-view.
This is well put. I agree.
I like Riker post-beard much better than pre-beard. There are a lot of times when he gets on my nerves, and I wasn't too fond of most of the characters (including him) throughout the first series. I also hate how he's so horny, because he just doesn't seem like he should be.
The thing I like about Riker the most is, he's really masculine. I get sick of all these effeminate male characters, particularly on Star Trek (which I assume can be chalked up to the total equality of males and females in the Trek universe.. probably what led to the development of Yar's character which sucked). I really just want to see someone hold a door open for Dr. Crusher or something.
The thing I like about Riker the most is, he's really masculine. I get sick of all these effeminate male characters, particularly on Star Trek (which I assume can be chalked up to the total equality of males and females in the Trek universe.. probably what led to the development of Yar's character which sucked). I really just want to see someone hold a door open for Dr. Crusher or something.
I've read a lot of posts here and a lot of opinions of Trek expressed over the years but I've never heard this. Interesting points you make. I wish I was still writing fanfic, I'd have someone open a door for Doctor Crusher.
I think the comments you make about Riker being masculine are interesting. I was brought up on butch heroes on the 70s and 80s so I think that's the reason I like him. I think they went out of fashion in the early 90s and still aren't de rigeur. I think that's partly why he gets a bad press.
After BoBW, Riker became a castrated character and superfluous to the show. He'd reached his peak, proved himself as a capable starship commander. Keeping him on the Enterprise was a disservice to both Frakes and the character. I wish they'd had killed Will off in "Second Chances" and brought on Tom because it would've invigorated the Riker character.
IIRC, Frakes lobbied hard for Tom Riker, but the suits didn't go for it. The Titan books are very good, but too bad it took that long for the Riker character to get a command. There was no reason to keep him on the show after BOBW, although I did enjoy the character and the actor. Well, at the time it wasn't a sure thing that Stewart would continue with TNG, so that Captain Riker scenario was set up to solve that problem if Picard was killed off. Hard to believe after the defeat of the Borg and the pounding the fleet took that they would allow such a capable officer to remain a Commander.
Much like a documentary about heroes of the early Russian space program... Riker is a monkey.
Oh, fo' sure.
I wouldn't have minded Riker as Captain had Stewart left at the end of the third season.
Riker = meh.
He just seemed kind of bland and generic. I always kind of likened him to Zach Morris, this guy who's supposedly popular and likable but for reasons I fail to understand.
That said I think Jonathan Frakes is great. He seems to have a wonderful attitude about Trek. He seems to be really proud of it as if it doesn't even occur to him that Trek fans have a reputation for being obssessive geeks. And he tempers his pride with a warm sense of humor.
He just seemed kind of bland and generic. I always kind of likened him to Zach Morris, this guy who's supposedly popular and likable but for reasons I fail to understand.
That said I think Jonathan Frakes is great. He seems to have a wonderful attitude about Trek. He seems to be really proud of it as if it doesn't even occur to him that Trek fans have a reputation for being obssessive geeks. And he tempers his pride with a warm sense of humor.
Riker wouldn't be my favorite character, but I did like him. He was the focal point in two of my favorite episodes ('A Matter of Honor' and 'Future Imperfect').
I think it was a tough gig for Jonathan Frakes to have to co-star with an actor of Stewart's caliber.
Also, initially, Riker's character was supposed to be the 'action guy', going on away missions while Picard stayed on the ship. But this changed after season 2, with Picard becoming the star of the show, and Riker became a minor player.
I think it was a tough gig for Jonathan Frakes to have to co-star with an actor of Stewart's caliber.
Also, initially, Riker's character was supposed to be the 'action guy', going on away missions while Picard stayed on the ship. But this changed after season 2, with Picard becoming the star of the show, and Riker became a minor player.
Riker had some good moments in the later seasons. I think he really stands out in Frame of Mind, plus his scene with Quark is a nice touch in Gambit(?). The ironic thing, to me, is that by the later seasons the Riker character was at his best when he was in command. I guess we should give credit to Frakes for portraying a guy who could/should be in command but is still a second banana, exactly as the script called for. He shows some definite maturing from the first season. So, yeah, I agree that Tom Riker should have been written in.
Yeah but when it was Picard up there and Riker down here, the writers didn't quite seem to know how to divide the action up properly between them. Picard had little to do aboard the ship and Stewart became frustrated with his role considering he had top billing, not to mention also being the guy in command. It was a good idea, carried over from Phase II, but there should've been a crisis on the planet and a crisis on the Enterprise as well. That way both characters get serviced.
They tried to do it in some episodes like "Angel One" and "The Last Outpost" but the crisis on the Enterprise wasn't as interesting as the conflict on the planet. Neither did they feed one another in the story, except maybe in "The Last Outpost." Also, EaF set up a possible confrontation between Picard and Riker in regards to Away Missions but TPTB, like a lot of interesting concepts in the pilot, let it go.
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