Riker: with beard or without
- Thread starter Toban Kal
- Start date
Without the beard...
He looks better with the beard 
You're a good man, Alrik! But I actually shaved my beard, was Riker clean-shaven for a few months, then decided to grow back just the mustache for the new year. -- RR
Yes, Frakes grew it between season one and season two. I first saw him with it at a convention in California before season two aired. We all were surprised by it, but everyone seemed to be pleased with it.
At the time, I was in the Air Force and could have nothing but a slight mustache. Now that I'm retired, I've got a full beard (and much longer hair!), so I guess Riker in season two was a bit of an inspiration.
I have a photo of Frakes at the convention somewhere.
At the time, I was in the Air Force and could have nothing but a slight mustache. Now that I'm retired, I've got a full beard (and much longer hair!), so I guess Riker in season two was a bit of an inspiration.
I have a photo of Frakes at the convention somewhere.
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Indeed. In fact he joins a quite small number of male TV stars who gain a beard on screen and actually keep it long-term. Sisko is the other obvious example on Trek. Quite often new facial hair is short lived on TV - both Chris Judge and Michael Shanks sported facial hair at one time or another on SG-1, and both were removed as they looked fairly silly.
I don't like beards in general but as said before it fitted his character.
I could be wrong, but it seems to be a 'guy thing' to have Riker with the beard...and a 'girl thing' to have him without.
Speaking of whether the ladies love facial hair, it really depends. In the past several years, I've been involved with four different women, and all of them preferred me with my circle beard, not clean-shaven. With two, I either started out clean-shaven, or shaved during the time we were together, and they begged me to grow back some facial hair, as they enjoyed not only how it looked, but how it felt -- all over! 
I'm just mustachioed these days. -- RR
I'm just mustachioed these days. -- RR
I voted "with" on the beard thing, but I gotta say that I don't actually "prefer" Riker at all -- he's just not my favorite Trek guy. Usually I prefer men without facial hair, but heck -- I didn't have to kiss Riker, just look at his face. So the beard was fine. And I agree with the person who said it made him look a bit rougher and less like a pretty boy. "Pretty boy" is never a compliment in my lexicon.
Ah thanks RR. I have taken it off twice within that time. Both times lasted about a week. DW prefers me with it, and after having it nearly a quarter of my life, it really is kind of part of my identity....just don't look 'right' without it.
With. It made him look much more distinguished.
With. Made him look more authoritative and daring.
I'm a gal, and I like the beard. A lot.
I stand corrected, then...
Speaking of whether the ladies love facial hair, it really depends. In the past several years, I've been involved with four different women, and all of them preferred me with my circle beard, not clean-shaven. With two, I either started out clean-shaven, or shaved during the time we were together, and they begged me to grow back some facial hair, as they enjoyed not only how it looked, but how it felt -- all over!
Yeah, I guess it depends on the person....
Ah thanks RR. I have taken it off twice within that time. Both times lasted about a week. DW prefers me with it, and after having it nearly a quarter of my life, it really is kind of part of my identity....just don't look 'right' without it.
Well, without my facial hair, I look at least five to 10 years younger, so that's one reason why I shave it off! I still have a baby face at 46. Go figure! -- RR
Well, I think the character of Riker was better off with the beard. Frakes probably looked his best in season two. I remember going back and seeing season one episodes after being used to him with the beard, and thinking, 'who's that?' And then there was 'Insurrection.' Jonny boy, what were you thinking?
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