Did anyone else dislike Riker?

[RobertScorpio]

I'm not sure sometimes I don't mind him, while other times I feel he's a humourless a*****. Don't get me wrong I enjoy him as a character but I feel that he takes himself far too seriously when he isn't exaxtly the most professional officer around.

Just something about him rubs me the wrong way.

Your thoughts on Riker?

I like Riker. I would have loved to see them kill Locutus and Riker take over. First, it would have been very dramatic, and also, because, from the fourth season on, and mainly seasons 6-7, they were on cruise control anyway prepping for a movie series that generated one good movie in the mix.

So, screwing up the status-quo on that show would have been interesting. PLUS, the captain of the Enterprise would not be a push-over anymore--wink wink

Rob
Scorpio

 

[Dark Gilligan]

I'm really digging the Titan books. I like Riker now that he's a captain. He's much more relaxed these days, yet somehow commands all the more respect because of it. This is the role he always should have had.

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

Yeah, once they started making Picard the all around leading hero (started in late season 3)...Riker was just a yes man.

First officer characters are redundant in Trek storytelling unless they serve another role. That's why Spock, Kira and T'Pol worked, while Riker and Chakotay = Trekpic Phail!

 

[Timewalker]

Most of the fanfic I write tends toward the satire and parody end. Riker is one of the Characters Most Likely To Be Made Fun Of.

One scene I always wished for -- but never got -- was when the Captain would say, "Fire at will!"... everybody would whip out a phaser, Riker would whine, "Not again!", the phaser beams would converge on him, and he'd collapse in an unconscious heap.

In other words, I don't really like Riker that much.

 

[saxarocks]

I think that a lot more women like Riker. A lot of my female friends and I find less faults with his character because he is attractive.

 

[shatastrophic]

Riker is cool, he could always take command without needing any direction from Picard. I think he probably "saved the day" on more occasions than Picard ever did.

 

[Timewalker]

Well, I'm female, but Riker just never appealed to me except as a "sorta pretty to look at" kind of guy. Part of the problem is that he has "puppy-dog" eyes -- and not the cute sort, either.

His posture is terrible, and some of his mannerisms remind me of one of my high school math teachers!

 

[The Old Mixer]

According to Frakes, Season 1 Riker was so serious because Gene Roddenberry literally told him, "This guy never smiles." At the start of Season 2, Gene amended that: "OK, he smiles sometimes." From that point on, Frakes says, he put more of himself into the character.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

Riker is my favorite TNG character. I would love to see a Titan series one day.

Cool Idea! I support that.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

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 couldn't agree more.

 

[Timewalker]

According to Frakes, Season 1 Riker was so serious because Gene Roddenberry literally told him, "This guy never smiles." At the start of Season 2, Gene amended that: "OK, he smiles sometimes." From that point on, Frakes says, he put more of himself into the character.

So that's why Riker wasn't affected by the virus in "The Naked Now" -- I always wondered about that.

If Roddenberry wanted somebody who never smiled, why not just have a Vulcan?

 

[Good Will Riker]

Riker in my opinion changed with the format of the show:

When in Seasons 1 and 2, the writers were envisioning Riker as "Flash Gordon redux" (Thanks to Gene Roddenberry, who grew up on pulp science-fiction such as "Flash Gordon," "Buck Rogers," and "Rocky Jones," etc.) he was in his element exploring planets, action-adventure, etc.

But, when Seasons 3+ (What is now termed as "Modern Trek.") took over a more ensemble feel for TNG, Riker was relegated to the background as Picard's assistant who gives out marching orders.

In essence, Riker the action hero transformed into his job. Instead of playing the role of the "featured hero" with Captain Picard acting as a seasoned veteran and mentor, the character of Riker eventually became just his job.

 

[HRHTheKING]

He was smug.

But for the most part, a good character and likeable guy.


Other than his behaviour towards Jellico.

I thought Riker acted like a prick in that episode.

His conduct towards Commander Shelby was questionable too.

 

[Guy Gardener]

He was a monkey.

A monkey that mounted a princess.

that's not fair.

If his dad had married Pulaski would that have made him Monkey Cinderella?

Lost a shoe you stupid monkey!

 

[cbp44189]

I didn't like him. He seemed, like too much of a "yes man."

 

[FalTorPan]

I really just want to see someone hold a door open for Dr. Crusher or something.

That's tough to do when 99.999999% of all doors slide open automatically.

 

[Good Will Riker]

The cleanshaven, "James T. Kire-redux" from the 1st season is still one of my favorites.

Season 2 was when the character of William T. Riker was at his peak. too.

But, post "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II" Riker is just some by-the-book, bearded guy who is more apt to fillingout crew evaluation reports.

Dude...what the heck happened to him?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

The cleanshaven, "James T. Kire-redux" from the 1st season is still one of my favorites.

Or as I like to jokingly refer to him, "Commander Re-Kirk."

 

[Good Will Riker]

Or as I like to jokingly refer to him, "Commander Re-Kirk."

"Riker 1.0" = TNG Season 1

"Riker 2.0" = TNG Season 2

"Riker 3.0" = TNG Season 3 - Star Trek: Nemesis


The fact of the matter is, I was never much of a fan of "Riker 3.0." Sure, he had his moments in "Frame of Mind," "Second Chances," and "The Pegasus," but the Commander Riker character that I preferred in terms of on-screen portrayal came to an end in "Shades of Grey," with a last hurrah in "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II."

 

[Captain Leslie]

Actually...I was always waiting for that patronising prig Picard to get thoroughly splattered by some rampant alien so Riker could take over...Really!