What do you want Will Riker?

[Saul]

I always find this conversation between Deanna and Riker in 'The Best of Both Worlds' part 1 fasinating. Is it just me who thinks Will is staying on the Enterprise because of Deanna? He says in this line "maybe i am too comfortable here" not sure if I quoted that right but Deanna seems a little annoyed saying "I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean", I always get the impression that Riker was talking about her being his reason why he was on the Enterprise still.

Anyone else get the same impression when they watch this scene?

 

[startrekwatcher]

I always find this conversation between Deanna and Riker in 'The Best of Both Worlds' part 1 fasinating.

I found it fascinating as well because I personally had been in that situation and felt as he did.

Is it just me who thinks Will is staying on the Enterprise because of Deanna?

Well it is much more than Deanna. It was a situation of thinking you wanted one thing at one point in your life and going after it aggressively but reaching a point where you realize you are comfortable with the ways things are in your life and that what might have been a priority earlier isn't as pressing with the new perspective. He was serving as first officer on the flagship, had a good working relationship with Picard, had his friends including the reunion with Troi. It doesn't mean that he gave up on ever having his own command but for now he was content both personally and professionally with where he was and didn't really want to change things by accepting a command and leaving all that behind.

He says in this line "maybe i am too comfortable here" not sure if I quoted that right but Deanna seems a little annoyed saying "I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean", I always get the impression that Riker was talking about her being his reason why he was on the Enterprise still.

No, I think you are misunderstanding "I'm not sure what that is suppose to mean." She was basically saying "What is wrong with being comfortable or settled". She was trying to reassure him that there was nothing wrong with not being as ambitious or driven as he was in his youth and that it was okay to be satisfied with where he was and not to overthink or overanalyze it. I mean if you are happy with your life why second guess yourself?

 

[Good Will Riker]

Perhaps the OP does have a point here, because I found it interesting that Will was not ready to take a ship of his own until he married Deanna in Star Trek: Nemesis.

 

[WillsBabe]

I was going to post my thoughts, but they turned out to have been excellently covered by startrekwatcher. That's always been my interpretation, too.

However, it is telling that Riker doesn't take captaincy of a ship until Deanna's ready to come with him, so that's an interesting perspective, too. For years, though, I've always thought that he came to a point in his life where the chase suddenly didn't mean as much to him. He rose to the challenge in BOBW, and when Shelby came nipping at his heels but that doesn't mean that it's something he necessarily wants every day of his life. Over the years I've read a lot of flack directed in Riker's direction for his unwillingness to take a command and step up to the plate, to me, however, this scene really talks about where he's at and defines what he's thinking. I don't have a problem with him wanting to stay where he is and having redefined his goals (maybe that's becuase that's what's happened to me as I've got older and I can relate). Still, against all that, it's difficult to know that Starfleet needs "good captains, particularly now" and he doesn't answer that call. I find that difficult to resolve as a fan of the character.

 

[Red Ranger]

Well, the idea that Will wanted a command of his own only if Deanna was at his side is interesting.

I have another idea. Perhaps Riker wanted command of either a Galaxy-class, or an even more advanced ship, in the future. I infer that by his comment on the Melbourne when Picard says she's a fine ship. "Yes, but she's not the Enterprise."

Or he was hoping he'd inherit Picard's ship. He did, albeit for a short time. He may have still held out hope Picard would retire or accept promotion to admiral, despite the fact it didn't look like Picard was going in either direction.

Red Ranger

 

[Ward Fowler]

I think that Riker's story in Best of Both Worlds is both a triumph and a mistake. A triumph because you see him finally step up and take the big chair and make the big decisions that go with it. It was a mistake because for his journey to mean anything, he would need to end it by actually becoming the captain of a starship. Instead he just goes back to being Picard's first officer and it cheapens the whole thing. Riker proved that he was ready to take command of the Enterprise and Frakes proved that he had what it took to carry the show. Michael Piller shouldn't have created this story for Riker unless he was sure that either Patrick Stewart or Jonathan Frakes wouldn't be returning to the show. This story was Riker's definiing moment on TNG and after what he accomplished, its unrealistic that he would have been satisfied with anything other than command of his own ship. I don't think the most important conversation was with Troi. I think it was with Guinan in Part II. "That is now your chair....Captain." They went too far just to pull back and pretend it didn't happen.

 

[idreamedmusic]

I have another idea. Perhaps Riker wanted command of either a Galaxy-class, or an even more advanced ship, in the future. I infer that by his comment on the Melbourne when Picard says she's a fine ship. "Yes, but she's not the Enterprise."

That's how I always rationalized it as well. I guess being the First Officer on a prestigious ship like the Enterprise can be "better" than being the Captain of a lesser ship. It's a no-win situation really and yeah, that was the moment in the show for me when Riker's character just stopped progressing and growing.

 

[Holdfast]

I like this little vignette. It shows him choosing comfort and stability over ambition and command. He's no longer that ultra-driven young officer, but a man looking at his life and choosing where he'll be happiest.

By Starfleet Command's standards, he's probably gone down in their estimation. By his own standards, he's happier. He's chosen a lifestyle over his career, with no regrets.

Would that we all could make such a decision and be as happy about it as he is.

 

[Mr. Fergy]

The Enterprise-D crew is what kept Riker, especially Deanna. In the end though he marries the girl, and gets a new ship in ST:Nemesis.

 

[WillsBabe]

The Enterprise-D crew is what kept Riker, especially Deanna.

I agree. I sometimes wonder if he found something of a "family" that had been largely lacking in his life so far.

 

[Red Ranger]

I think that Riker's story in Best of Both Worlds is both a triumph and a mistake. A triumph because you see him finally step up and take the big chair and make the big decisions that go with it. It was a mistake because for his journey to mean anything, he would need to end it by actually becoming the captain of a starship. Instead he just goes back to being Picard's first officer and it cheapens the whole thing. Riker proved that he was ready to take command of the Enterprise and Frakes proved that he had what it took to carry the show. Michael Piller shouldn't have created this story for Riker unless he was sure that either Patrick Stewart or Jonathan Frakes wouldn't be returning to the show. This story was Riker's definiing moment on TNG and after what he accomplished, its unrealistic that he would have been satisfied with anything other than command of his own ship. I don't think the most important conversation was with Troi. I think it was with Guinan in Part II. "That is now your chair....Captain." They went too far just to pull back and pretend it didn't happen.

Ward:

I happen to agree that Riker becoming captain, then going back to first officer, of Enterprise is a bit unrealistic.

Riker was one of the choices to be captain of Voyager, though, as revealed in the ep with the two Q's. How different would that show have been with Jonathan Frakes as the lead? That never would have happened given the lucrative movie deals he'd pass up, but still.

Once, I posted a thread postulating how Riker could have become the lead in DSN. As you all may recall, Sisko's mother wasn't his mother, but some kind of Prophet/wormhole alien in disguise, making him the Emissary.

But suppose the wormhole aliens, able to see all futures, bought an "insurance policy" and had more than one emissary-in-waiting? Riker's mom, Betty, died early, too, so a wormhole alien might have conceived him with Kyle Riker, also dissguised as his real mother. Then he would have become the emissary, or "the Riker, there can only be one."

Just a thought.

Red Ranger