Why Riker why

[martok2112]

If there was one major regret I had about Insurrection and Nemesis is that both of those movies (Nemesis is still my favorite of all TNG films) practically reduced Worf to comic relief status. I will say that First Contact (as far as the films go) was the last time we saw Worf as he was mostly known.

To avoid personal hypocrisy, I say that I am still the advocate of: Only the writers and actors truly know what their characters are capable of doing. I might be a little let down that Worf played second banana, but I am not overly put off by it either.

Also, DS9 returned Worf to form. . But I did enjoy that moment of jocularity from Riker to Worf in FC.

Granted, both TNG and DS9 still had moments where Worf was the comic relief, but then, almost all the principals had some moment of being the comic relief. It's especially funny seeing Picard get flustered mildly in embarassing situations.

I'd go so far to say Star Trek as a whole wouldn't be Star Trek without that element of levity.

Riker is a barrel of monkeys, isn't he?

I don't think Riker would ape-reciate that remark.
I highly doubt he'll be gibbon that the dignification of a response.
(Now, if you don't mind, I'll be off in the corner enjoying some Rhesus Pieces.)

 

[enterprisecvn65]

It's a little known fact that after his stellar performance in generations where everything good and strong about his character was totally trashed in a 5 minute sequence, that Riker was demoted to ship's clown. So he was actually fulfilling his role well in first contact.

It's also not very well known that the USS Titan is actually the Federation's circus ship that travels to other worlds to spread cheer and good will. So he was a natural for captain.

 

[Marsden]

I think besides joking there is just a bit of one upmanship there, also. Worf was commanding the Defiant, Riker wasn't commanding anything. Worf having to abondon ship gives Riker this little window to gloat. I think if there wasn't still the impending crisis of the sphere and the borg had been all destroyed Worf and he would have engaged in more verbal sparring and possibly some form of thumping.

 

[Whoa Nellie]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/?ref_=tt_trv_quWorf: The Defiant?
Picard: Ahttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001772/?ref_=tt_trv_qudrift but salvageable.
Riker: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000408/?ref_=tt_trv_quTough little ship.
Worf: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000373/?ref_=tt_trv_quLittle?

This little exchange had a real world purpose. It was to call the audience's attention to the fact that the Defiant had not been destroyed. It was added to calm the production staff of DS9 who were having kittens due to a rumor that the movie production staff was destroying the Defiant on the big screen.

Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie

 

[Trekker4747]

Still an odd time to be cracking jokes, Riker makes another one when Worf takes tactical.

I mean, the Borg are knock on Earth's door, hundreds or thousands of lives have likely been lost in the battle, I mean shit is getting real! And here Riker is cracking jokes.

Worf, "Commander, our very way of life is hanging in the balance here. Can you wait until after we either destroy the Borg or witness the destruction of the seat of the Federation and the way of life for billions of people before you crack jokes?"

 

[Ithekro]

A cracked joke can take a Klingon's mind off the loss of his command and back into the moment. Now he must prove he can still fire a phaser to uphold his honor as a warrior in front of this human.

Very effective, Riker. He's learned so much about Klingons.

 

[martok2112]

(deleted...accidental duplicate)

 

[martok2112]

A cracked joke can take a Klingon's mind off the loss of his command and back into the moment. Now he must prove he can still fire a phaser to uphold his honor as a warrior in front of this human.

Very effective, Riker. He's learned so much about Klingons.

A good point. Even another Klingon might have asked that of Worf if they had rescued the Defiant crew, and Worf was about to assume the tactical position on a BoP or a Vor'Cha or K't'inga....a friendly jab (which would've gotten a scowl from Worf).


Suppose Martok would've rescued Worf (if they'd known each other at that time) after the Defiant was disabled.

Martok: We welcome you and you valiant crew, brother!
Worf: My thanks. General! The Defiant?
Martok: Adrift, but salvageable. I have to say that is one tough little ship.
Worf: Little?
Tactical officer: Sir, the Borg have focused their fire on?..

(panel explodes, sending the officer reeling to the deck, incapacitated)

Martok: It would seem that the fortune to serve has smiled upon you, Worf. We could use your abilities at tactical.

(Worf nods gratefully and starts moving toward the station, and Martok gets up to meet him there. The ship shudders mildly.)

Martok: That is if command has not hampered your memory on how to fire disruptors.

Worf looks quizically at Martok, who after a second, laughs and claps Worf on the shoulder, as warriors do. Even the crew enjoy a brief laugh, until Martok gets back to business.

 

[Marsden]

Worf looks quizically at Martok, who after a second, laughs and claps Worf on the shoulder, as warriors do. Even the crew enjoy a brief laugh, until Martok gets back to business.

That's the thumping I was referring to a few posts up. Smacking each other on the back or shoulder, I guess if they were really happy they could have head butted each other. Actually, I could really see Klingons doing that kind of thing as they are usually depicted 24th century, they don't need helmets with heads like that.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

Worf looks quizically at Martok, who after a second, laughs and claps Worf on the shoulder, as warriors do. Even the crew enjoy a brief laugh, until Martok gets back to business.

That's the thumping I was referring to a few posts up. Smacking each other on the back or shoulder, I guess if they were really happy they could have head butted each other. Actually, I could really see Klingons doing that kind of thing as they are usually depicted 24th century, they don't need helmets with heads like that.

Except if they want to headbutt Data.

 

[martok2112]

Worf looks quizically at Martok, who after a second, laughs and claps Worf on the shoulder, as warriors do. Even the crew enjoy a brief laugh, until Martok gets back to business.

That's the thumping I was referring to a few posts up. Smacking each other on the back or shoulder, I guess if they were really happy they could have head butted each other. Actually, I could really see Klingons doing that kind of thing as they are usually depicted 24th century, they don't need helmets with heads like that.

Except if they want to headbutt Data.

They would've gotten a metaphorical lesson in logic then.

"Logic is tweeting bird chirping in a meadow."

After headbutting Data, a Klingon would probably hear a lot of tweeting birds.

 

[Kobayshi Maru]

That's the thumping I was referring to a few posts up. Smacking each other on the back or shoulder, I guess if they were really happy they could have head butted each other. Actually, I could really see Klingons doing that kind of thing as they are usually depicted 24th century, they don't need helmets with heads like that.

Except if they want to headbutt Data.

They would've gotten a metaphorical lesson in logic then.

"Logic is tweeting bird chirping in a meadow."

After headbutting Data, a Klingon would probably hear a lot of tweeting birds.

One of them did. The one in The Chase.

 

[kirkfan]

Except if they want to headbutt Data.

They would've gotten a metaphorical lesson in logic then.

"Logic is tweeting bird chirping in a meadow."

After headbutting Data, a Klingon would probably hear a lot of tweeting birds.

One of them did. The one in The Chase.

I am assuming that he needed some reconstructive surgery after that.

 

[martok2112]

 

[FormerLurker]

It certainly had a negative effect on his acting after that.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

"Tough little ship" never felt to me to be a joke, Riker comments that the Defiant was among the ship's inflicting some serious damage to the cube, whilst taking a beating, but remained salavagable, which is surprising for a small ship with just 40-50 crew. Worf is the one who turns it into. More humorous statement.

 

[Dukhat]

In the First Contact when Enterprise reached Earth and saved the survivors of Defiant, Worf came to bridge and our William started to make some joke. He asked Worf "do you renember how to use phaser " or "little tough ship" by referring to Defiant. Come on Riker was it really good time for that? Fleet just engaged the Borg and situation was not good but you were still enjoying. I like you generally but you shouldn't have done it. You were really thoughtless jerk at that time.

Riker was portrayed as a complete dick and an incompetent idiot in all four films.

 

[PCz911]

In the First Contact when Enterprise reached Earth and saved the survivors of Defiant, Worf came to bridge and our William started to make some joke. He asked Worf "do you renember how to use phaser " or "little tough ship" by referring to Defiant. Come on Riker was it really good time for that? Fleet just engaged the Borg and situation was not good but you were still enjoying. I like you generally but you shouldn't have done it. You were really thoughtless jerk at that time.

Riker was portrayed as a complete dick and an incompetent idiot in all four films.

Agree. And Picard was turned Into an 80s action hero.

 

[Marsden]

Agree. And Picard was turned Into an 80s action hero.

That's it! Picard stole Riker's mojo just like Dr Evil did to Austin Powers! It all makes sense now. That's why Picard got the action in Insurrection and Riker was finally ready to be chained to Troi. Man, that must be a challenging marriage.

"Will, why are you late?"
"Uh, I was delayed on duty. "
"You're lying."

 

[eyeresist]

Riker's first remark was not intended as a joke, but Worf took offense. The second remark was hardly a joke either, just a conversational place-holder.

If they WERE jokes, then of course Riker was wrong. Because no-one ever made a joke in a tense situation.