Did Riker have a thing for Ro?

[Vanyel]

I ask this because in The Next Phase where he seems ready to express some deep emotions that Ro seemed to be waiting to hear and, most explicitly, in Conundrum, where they are having a sexual relationship.

Could it have worked if Ro stayed on board not defected to the Maquis? And if Riker and Troi hadn't reconnected in Insurrection.

I think it could have, enough clues were being given, and I think she might have rejected the Maquis if they were a couple.

What do you think?

 

[Smellincoffee]

Probably some sexual tension, sure. Riker was a lady's man, and their mutual aggression toward one another could be interpreted as a way of dealing with that attraction to one another.They couldn't pursue such an attraction, given their places in the command structure, but "Conundrum" showed us what would happen were barriers like rank and memories of disagreements past removed.

I can't see Riker and Ro becoming an item while Riker was the ship's XO -- but if she had transferred to another vessel, and if they met when she was more 'responsible'? Sure. I doubt the DS9 or Titan relaunches would ever portray a meeting between the two, though.

 

[WillsBabe]

I'm certain that Riker and Ro were attracted to each other: the minute the reins were off in Connundrum they were at it. I think their arguing and butting of heads was because they were too alike and because they were distracting themselves from their mutual attraction. I don't think that they necessarily found each other's personalities attractive because I don't think they are individuals who like themselves much. So, to see that reflected in someone else is not attractive to them. Which again, fits Connundrum and why, when they couldn't remember who they each were or recognise that in the other, they got together. (I really loathe the end of that episode, by the way! )

 

[BlobVanDam]

She was female and had a pulse. That means Riker had a thing for her.

 

[amasnic]

She was female and had a pulse. That means Riker had a thing for her.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Probably some sexual tension, sure. Riker was a lady's man, and their mutual aggression toward one another could be interpreted as a way of dealing with that attraction to one another.They couldn't pursue such an attraction, given their places in the command structure, but "The Next Phase" showed us what would happen were barriers like rank and memories of disagreements past removed.

I can't see Riker and Ro becoming an item while Riker was the ship's XO -- but if she had transferred to another vessel, and if they met when she was more 'responsible'? Sure. I doubt the DS9 or Titan relaunches would ever portray a meeting between the two, though.

I'm certain that Riker and Ro were attracted to each other: the minute the reins were off in Connundrum they were at it. I think their arguing and butting of heads was because they were too alike and because they were distracting themselves from their mutual attraction. I don't think that they necessarily found each other's personalities attractive because I don't think they are individuals who like themselves much. So, to see that reflected in someone else is not attractive to them. Which again, fits Connundrum and why, when they couldn't remember who they each were or recognise that in the other, they got together. (I really loathe the end of that episode, by the way! )

I wonder if this means that Riker had a "thing" for Shelby as well.

 

[WillsBabe]

I wonder if this means that Riker had a "thing" for Shelby as well.

I've been convinced of that for years!

 

[Forbin]

You'd think if he liked her, he'd have the decency to use her given name. Didn't he call her "Ro" (her family name) all through her farewell episode, even when he seemed to be getting a little misty?

 

[Gil T.Azell]

She was female and had a pulse. That means Riker had a thing for her.

A snake in a rock pile has a pulse as well so yeah Riker had a thing for her.

 

[Maniarek]

I wonder if this means that Riker had a "thing" for Shelby as well.

Haha, possibly!

Or, imagine this, an episode where both Shelby and Ro are gunning for Riker

Digressing slightly, it's a shame we never saw Shelby's character on the show again, I thought there was much potential for future stories/episodes.

Maniarek.

 

[SonicRanger]

There was no doubt in my mind that Riker and Ro had mutual attraction.

 

[Capt_Pickirk]

^ Yeah He totally Riker'd her

 

[Alrik]

There was no doubt in my mind that Riker and Ro had mutual attraction.

X2

 

[Trekker4747]

You'd think if he liked her, he'd have the decency to use her given name. Didn't he call her "Ro" (her family name) all through her farewell episode, even when he seemed to be getting a little misty?

IIRC, Bajorans value their family name over their given name. Ro is her family name, Laren her given name.

I think "Conundrum" pretty clearly shows that Riker not only had a thing for her but she had (an aggressive) thing for him! As Troi says the memory loss allowed to act on their emotions without the restrictions of their memories/societal norms. (Which makes sense a memory loss isn't going to make you do things you wouldn't do. Alcohol, for example, doesn't make you an asshole it lets the asshole you're holding back out.)

So, yeah, they had a thing for each other and, really, I think the 'ship between the two of them would've been more interesting than one between him and Troi.

She was female and had a pulse. That means Riker had a thing for her.

Hell, in "The Outcast" the object of affections didn't even need to be female!

 

[BlobVanDam]

She was female and had a pulse. That means Riker had a thing for her.

Hell, in "The Outcast" the object of affections didn't even need to be female!

Funnily enough, that was exactly what came to mind. It wasn't female but you just know Riker was thinking "hm it looks sorta female if you squint really hard.... yeah, I'd still hit it"

 

[Angel4576]

Safe to say, Riker's Tri-sexual, he'll try anything sexual........!

 

[Forbin]

You'd think if he liked her, he'd have the decency to use her given name. Didn't he call her "Ro" (her family name) all through her farewell episode, even when he seemed to be getting a little misty?

IIRC, Bajorans value their family name over their given name. Ro is her family name, Laren her given name.

Echo!

So in the throes of passion, Bajorans shout of each other's family names?

I seem to remember Bariel calling Kira "Nerys" in private.

 

[DBKlingon]

I don't get why all the ladies liked Riker that much. I'd think that beard would get in the way of some serious cunnilingus, but that's just me. That being said, I thought Riker took a major risk to his career by seducing the lower-ranked Ro. On top of that, given Ro's past, I think Riker was a real jerk for taking advantage of such a disillusioned Bajoran. I don't know, I think he just didn't care.

There was a guy on here once who told me, in reference to alien women "he who cares least, wins." I'd say Riker lost. Picard must have known something about Riker's seduction of Ro that wasn't made clear in "Conundrum", some dark secret that he buried. But I'll bet whatever Picard found out is part of the reason why Riker was stuck as an Executive Officer for so long. He should have been a Captain of his own Starship way sooner. Bajoran women will do it to you everytime.

 

[ALF]

I think it was "Conundrum" that properly explored the Ro/Riker romance... and to it's full potential (AKA as far as I personally needed to see it go ). An excellent episode I enjoyed again recently.

 

[Capt_Pickirk]

It was definitely the beard that set the ladies (and neutral....things) off. Let's look at Riker before

And after

The beard gave Riker class that all the ladies loved (At least in Star Trek)