Why does Riker lean into corners?

[K'Ehleyr]

Jonathan Frakes seems to have been born into a body a bit too big for him. He doesn't know how to use it and comes across as 'ungainly'. He doesn't stand tall and proud like Worf and seems uncomfortable in his skin, but I have especially noticed his cornering.

Riker will have his scene, usually with a pretty woman, say something 'witty', smile and nod, turn towards the door and do this bizarre 'drop shoulder into turn' thing as he exits. You can almost imagine him counting the steps before he has to turn. Watch out for it ~ I swear it to be true

 

[kes7]

Jonathan Frakes seems to have been born into a body a bit too big for him. He doesn't know how to use it and comes across as 'ungainly'. He doesn't stand tall and proud like Worf and seems uncomfortable in his skin, but I have especially noticed his cornering.

Riker will have his scene, usually with a pretty woman, say something 'witty', smile and nod, turn towards the door and do this bizarre 'drop shoulder into turn' thing as he exits. You can almost imagine him counting the steps before he has to turn. Watch out for it ~ I swear it to be true

I've noticed this, too! It is odd.

 

[Gorn Captain]

It's like he's doing a subtle Jackie Gleason exit. See 5:28 below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEQg-L-Rbp0

 

[Anwar]

Wasn't it because of some back injury he got as a moving man before acting?

 

[Chris_Johnston]

Wasn't it because of some back injury he got as a moving man before acting?

Ah! Then that explains his generally odd posture.

 

[AstroSmurf]

I remember reading somewhere that one of his shoulders is lower than the other (because of the back injury) so he tended to tilt one side of his body toward camera to hide it. He may be "leaning into corners" to further camouflage this as well. This may also be the reason why he leans on things a lot and perches with one leg propped up when visiting the forward bridge consoles too.

(I think that tidbit is in the TNG Companion but I may be mistaken. I have gotten old and my memory isn't what it used to be.)

 

[K'Ehleyr]

It's like he's doing a subtle Jackie Gleason exit. See 5:28 below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEQg-L-Rbp0

Now that is an exit And how do you know this old comedy?

Thanks all above, I'm glad I'm not the only one to see it Kes7. The back injury may well explain it. And AstroSmurf you're right he is always perching on things but instead of camouflaging it he emphasises it

Oh bless him, You would have thought a good doctor could have fixed that with a tricorder in no time

 

[webb3201]

This thread is interesting to me, I love Frakes, but have always been distracted by his strange physicality. The accident explanation clears it all up for me.

 

[arasam22]

one of his eyes is also a lot smaller than the other... or he squints it more or something... it's kind of similar to my friend who got hit on the side of her head with a baseball bat... now whenever she smiles or frowns, one eye squints, but the other one doesn't.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

This thread is interesting to me, I love Frakes, but have always been distracted by his strange physicality. The accident explanation clears it all up for me.

I love this place because you can always get an answer

*runs off to look for really obscure question*

Oh no! Arasam22 why did you say that? Now I'm going to be looking at his eyes, I always thought he had a permanant 'wink thing' going on.

 

[Chensams]

No, it wasn't any sort of accident or injury. Just the Riker Mojo that drove the ladies mad.

 

[Destructor]

I like how Riker attempts to get through doors by head-butting them. It's a neat character trait, and definitely adds to the TNG drinking game.

 

[WillsBabe]

I like how Riker attempts to get through doors by head-butting them. It's a neat character trait, and definitely adds to the TNG drinking game.

I think the injury was when he was shifting a wardrobe in his starving actor days. Look out for the teaser for Silicon Avatar when Data passes the child he is carrying to Riker. It's obvious the two men are struggling with back problems. Also, (although I still can't remember which epsiode it is) you can clearly see his back brace under his uniform jacket in one episode when he gets up from the briefing room table.

 

[Danny99]

Along the same vein, I find it odd the way he sits in chairs, especially in Ten forward.

He seems to climb over the back.

 

[Shatmandu]

It's also an acting choice. Projected movements keep the eye on you, even when you're just walking out a door.

Watch Steve McQueen in "The Magnificent Seven," and you'll see what I mean.

Joe, waving

 

[Luckyflux]

Yes, I too thought it was the mojo, so much so that I believe I copied it when I was constantly on the prowl. I called it the curve, you always had to stand with a curve of some kind to keep the eye on you longer.

I strived to be the ladies man that Riker once was. But at least I tried to stay away from the stinknuts.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Yes, I too thought it was the mojo, so much so that I believe I copied it when I was constantly on the prowl. I called it the curve, you always had to stand with a curve of some kind to keep the eye on you longer.

I strived to be the ladies man that Riker once was. But at least I tried to stay away from the stinknuts.

I see a new instructional dvd, 'Getting your mojo on ~ The art of body language the Riker way'.

Am currently going through TNG, up to series 3 and must admit I'm liking Riker more this time round. He's not as much of a plonker as I thought he was

 

[SonicRanger]

I like the Riker strut and how he sits in chairs. It adds something to the portrayal of the character. It communicates a bit of cockiness.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

When he wasn't hitting the gym the artificial gravity sometimes exerted an uneven force on Riker to which he had to compensate.

 

[Captain59]

I like how Riker attempts to get through doors by head-butting them. It's a neat character trait, and definitely adds to the TNG drinking game.

LOL! This made me laugh out loud, literally. I never took note of it, but you're absolutely right...he charges doors like a ram.

I also noticed that it seems like the last ribs before his stomach kind of stick out...he can never have a completely flat mid section. I have this as well, although not as much as him. I think I've heard people actually have some of their bottom ribs removed to change this. Is that true?

This is indeed a very interesting thread.