What really happened between Riker and Apgar's wife in Matter of Perspective?

[JirinPanthosa]

Everyone's favorite Rashomon episode of Trek. I've been watching this episode since I was a teenager and before I naturally gravitated toward Riker's side of the story just because he's a main character who we have watched for years and implicitly trust. But my latest viewing has me asking more questions.

Riker tells a story where he's lightly flirting with her and she, overcome by his charm, becomes the aggressor in her bedroom. She tells a story where an overly forward officer followed her into her quarters and propositioned her. Troi confirms they both believe they were telling the truth.

This paints a picture where, although Riker may have felt like he was just being naturally charming but was fully acting like a gentleman, she legitimately felt cornered and trapped. She was probably being friendly just out of politeness and he interpreted it as engagement with the flirtation.

I wish they had shed light on this more instead of having the rest of the episode be pure Riker vindication. They missed an opportunity for Riker to realize that he was making her feel that way and truly repent for it. Because that would have been an insight way ahead of the episode's time.

 

[Tosk]

My biggest problem is with the differing accounts of the first scene. One has a respectful and professional Riker, and one has an inappropriately-Manua-focused Riker.

But Geordi was standing right there the entire time, and no one ever asks him about his perception of the conversation. Nor does he offer one.


The later scene where it's just Riker, Manua, and Apgar...I wouldn't be surprised if Riker's account is a little sterilized, but Manua's version is so over the top 'evil rapey Riker' that it's hard to take seriously. She may honestly remember it that way, but I don't accept it as fact.