The Death of William T. Riker

[Riley]

A little context: I was born in '76 and can't remember a time without Star Trek. My older brother and I watched TOS reruns daily and then the TOS films hundreds of times on video by the time TNG was announced.

In those days, we only had Starlog, newspaper coverage, and the occasional entertainment TV magazine info. I was thrilled by the prospect of more Star Trek, and even though the Enterprise-D design left me a bit cold (the refit 1701 remains my first starship love), I was excited by the little I'd read and seen before the debut.

I instantly liked Will Riker, not only because he was similar to Kirk but also because of Frakes' performance. The Riker of the first, second, and early half of the third season was warm, adventurous, curious, bold, and courageous. He was becoming his own character and the fact that he'd been offered command several times by the third season only cemented my hope that somehow, he'd become captain.

TBoBW hit, and I read somewhere (TV Guide? Starlog?) that Stewart was considering leaving the show. Of course, this didn't happen, and while Picard had grown on me by that point, I was still disappointed that Captain Riker didn't stick around.

The truth is, though, that William Riker didn't stick around, either. His character peaked when he attained the goal we were shown he wanted from his debut: command of a starship. Once he achieved that goal and then gave it up, he longer had any purpose or direction. His arc was over.

The Riker that followed seemed angry a lot of the time. He was essentially redundant and the narrative explanation of "He's happy where he is" didn't cut it. Riker became a piece of familiar set dressing like the horseshoe console on the bridge. He rarely had any stories that truly moved his character forward because he'd already peaked.

For years now, I've wondered how this might have been fixed. The truth is, Berman didn't care about real character development beyond Picard and Data, a fact evidenced by the focus they received in the subpar TNG films.

Do you think Riker could have been fixed, or was he destined to become an exposition-dumper and piece of backdrop in Picard's shadow?

I think the only way this situation could have been fixed was to go with the alleged suggestion that Will Riker be replaced by Thomas Riker.

Instead of happening in the last season, the crew would discover Thomas Riker toward the end of season four. Will sacrifices himself to save Thomas. Will is mourned and Picard promote Data to commander and XO. Worf becomes second officer and mans Ops, leaving Thomas Riker to become the new chief of security.

It's not pretty, but it solves the problem of dead-end Riker and the loss of Frakes from the show.

Thoughts?

 

[Oddish]

Easy. William T. Riker completes the story arc that he carried out do superbly in "The Best of Both Worlds", where he grew into a decisive and capable leader. He takes his own command, leaving the first officer's chair to someone else. Preferably Data, who was overdue for a promotion anyway.

 

[Riley]

Easy. William T. Riker completes the story arc that he carried out do superbly in "The Best of Both Worlds", where he grew into a decisive and capable leader. He takes his own command, leaving the first officer's chair to someone else. Preferably Data, who was overdue for a promotion anyway.

That would be the most logical outcome, but Berman wouldn't have gone for it and Frakes didn't want to leave the cast.

 

[UssGlenn]

That would be the most logical outcome, but Berman wouldn't have gone for it and Frakes didn't want to leave the cast.

Should have stuck with Thomas staying aboard. But instead of killing will in that episode, have it be the season finale, and have Will take command of his new ship in the next season opener. Might want to move it to before season 6, however.

 

[Oddish]

That would be the most logical outcome, but Berman wouldn't have gone for it and Frakes didn't want to leave the cast.

Which is unfortunate... MAD Magazine touched on the truth when they did their inevitable TNG parody. Riker explained that he was the needed strong, macho figure because the captain resembled a bedridden grandfather. I think that the showrunners were unsure whether viewers would accept an older, balding, cerebral captain, so they put in a Captain Kirk archetype just in case. But once the audience did accept Picard, they were kind of at a loss as to what to do with Riker.

 

[Riley]

Should have stuck with Thomas staying aboard. But instead of killing will in that episode, have it be the season finale, and have Will take command of his new ship in the next season opener. Might want to move it to before season 6, however.

That could work, too, but I can imagine Berman and/or Paramount thinking, "People we be confused if there are two Rikers, so one has to die."

Which is unfortunate... MAD Magazine touched on the truth when they did their inevitable TNG parody. Riker explained that he was the needed strong, macho figure because the captain resembled a bedridden grandfather. I think that the showrunners were unsure whether viewers would accept an older, balding, cerebral captain, so they put in a Captain Kirk archetype just in case. But once the audience did accept Picard, they were kind of at a loss as to what to do with Riker.

I missed that issue! I need to see if I can hunt it down. I've often wondered if that's why Riker was written the way he was. He seemed always on the verge of promotion, so maybe the plan was that if Picard did catch on, Riker could be promoted out of the show. Of course, no one expected the cast to become the great friends they did, so narrative logic was thrown out of the window. The same also applies to Picard being "fit" for command after BoTB and "The Inner Light."

 

[Oddish]

The same also applies to Picard being "fit" for command after BoTB and "The Inner Light."

Don't forget "Chain of Command"!

 

[Riley]

Don't forget "Chain of Command"!

Yes!

 

[flandry84]

Had the writers bothered to explain exactly why Will’s ambition came to a screeching halt,it might have made the character more interesting.Or even a development like “Pegasus”happening in an earlier season to give his career a knock-back.
The Riker of season one seems very far away from the dismissive and somewhat condescending guy from “Lower decks”.
In fairness to Frakes,he always seems to be enthusiastic about TREK.

 

[UssGlenn]

They never should have had Riker turning down a promotion to Captain in season 1, way to early for that. No need to start the clock so soon. Just before BOBW should have been the first time.

 

[Oddish]

They never should have had Riker turning down a promotion to Captain in season 1, way to early for that. No need to start the clock so soon. Just before BOBW should have been the first time.

They shouldn't have retconned five years of his life out of existence. Jonathan Frakes was 34 when TNG began, and that would have been just right for an officer on the fast track to his own command. But for some inexplicable reason, they reduced his age by 5 years at some point. So, at 29 and with 7 years in Starfleet*, he was a full commander, second in command of the flagship, and offered a ship of his own.

*No, not going to say it. But you know I'm thinking it.

 

[DarKush]

I'm on board with the idea of Will getting his own command, and Thomas Riker staying on the Enterprise. That way they could move Data into the first officer spot, which could've better established the Picard-Data dynamic explored in the movies and Star Trek: Picard. Tom on the Enterprise could've really changed a lot of interpersonal relationships, particularly his relationship with Troi. It could've been fun seeing the crew adjust to Tom. And Tom adjusting to life back in Starfleet, and on Will's old ship, of all places, could've led to some interesting character development. Will Riker could always come back for special episodes. Will Riker's ship could've been easier to include on DS9 when/if necessary, without interfering with the TNG movies too much as well. Will being out there could've led to a different spin off series than what we got with ST: Enterprise.

 

[Riley]

They never should have had Riker turning down a promotion to Captain in season 1, way to early for that. No need to start the clock so soon. Just before BOBW should have been the first time.

Agreed, but the reasoning must have been to demonstrate why he'd be effective as captain if Picard/Patrick Stewart didn't work out. Otherwise, it set Riker up for failure from the first episode.

 

[PoorSailorsAirline]

Gotta say I like the idea of Thomas taking over for Will. Getting a promotion so your (Maquis, Defiant-thieving?) transporter clone, lost on a planet for a decade, basically moves into your life, and the cast can't deal...? It's like if a Star Trek plot was written by lazy AI. It's so bad it's amazingly good. Also, what a great chance to complicate the Troi character. You've got to admit, the scavenger hunt to 10 Forward thing was pretty damned cute.

The buy-one-get-one-free out of this premise: Deanna and Will wouldn't be anywhere remotely close to that holodeck on ENT: These Are The Voyages.

 

[flandry84]

The producers would never go with the Tom replacement move.
What?And risk confusing all those much vaunted “casual viewers”?
The same casual viewers for whom the movies were dumbed down.

 

[at Quark's]

The Riker that followed seemed angry a lot of the time. He was essentially redundant and the narrative explanation of "He's happy where he is" didn't cut it. Riker became a piece of familiar set dressing like the horseshoe console on the bridge. He rarely had any stories that truly moved his character forward because he'd already peaked.

Never thought of it quite that way, but I think you're right.

That could work, too, but I can imagine Berman and/or Paramount thinking, "People we be confused if there are two Rikers, so one has to die."

We also had two Data's (the other one was called Lore though), so I don't see the problem. Just make it very clear these are two different characters, and don't have Will Riker (as a captain of his own vessel) around too frequently.

 

[Mojochi]

In some ways, I agree that the character as originally presented was abandoned after BoBW, but I wouldn't say it was its death, and disagree specifically...

He rarely had any stories that truly moved his character forward because he'd already peaked.

Here, because there was movement on his character, just not positive movement. In fact, I'd argue that the Riker-centric stories that came afterward made him a much more interesting & edgy character, albeit at the expense of that wonderkind who we'd been introduced to.

I recall specifically when in The Enemy, Worf really went against the moral grain, & made for a very interesting episode, that I looked forward to seeing more of, but ultimately he was the one that fizzled out, to the point that they were coupling him with Deanna just to come up with anything for him, in the end.

Riker, OTOH became very interesting in The Pegasus & Chain of Command & other episodes where he is featured pretty unflatteringly, kind of how Barclay & Ro got treated, & I think it's good stuff, despite casting him badly. So, it's not so much the death knell for him, but the soiling of him

 

[Crewman6]

Easy. William T. Riker completes the story arc that he carried out do superbly in "The Best of Both Worlds", where he grew into a decisive and capable leader. He takes his own command, leaving the first officer's chair to someone else. Preferably Data, who was overdue for a promotion anyway.

But that's not how TV shows work. You don't get rid of a beloved main character (let alone put your colleague actor friend out of a job) for in-universe reasons like that when you can just paper over them with acceptable-if-thin excuses.

 

[Oddish]

But that's not how TV shows work. You don't get rid of a beloved main character (let alone put your colleague actor friend out of a job) for in-universe reasons like that when you can just paper over them with acceptable-if-thin excuses.

I recognize the reality of it, which is why I'm less nasty about this bit of stupidity than I am about completely unnecessary stupidity (Harry Kim still an ensign, Ishka singlehandedly dismantling Ferengi culture, etc.) BUT... it was still a frickin' stupid ending, reducing what should have been an epic episode to merely a good one.

 

[A Chimpanzee & 2 Trainees]

I recognize the reality of it, which is why I'm less nasty about this bit of stupidity than I am about completely unnecessary stupidity (Harry Kim still an ensign, Ishka singlehandedly dismantling Ferengi culture, etc.) BUT... it was still a frickin' stupid ending, reducing what should have been an epic episode to merely a good one.

Removing Frakes isn't necessary anyway, if you have the Tom story in the back pocket. Following BoBW, Riker is given command of another ship.
Data becomes first officer, they have a fill in ops officer for an episode or 2, discover Thomas who happens to already be a yellow shirt ops officer before Will switched to command. He's given a promotion to Lt Cmdr because he earned that promotion just as much as the original Riker did, and Lt Cmdr Tom Riker becomes the new ops officer.

The next episode then focuses on Deanna helping him through his PTSD from his exile..