One of the appeals of the Star Trek franchise is its vast range of iconic characters, a list that grows with every new project. Star Trek: The Next Generation was the first spinoff/soft reboot to follow Star Trek: The Original series, and it had the difficult job of making its audience love the new crew as much as Kirk, Spock, and Dr. McCoy. The characters took a while to earn affection, including William T. Riker, the successor to Spock’s former position as first officer on the Enterprise. Even in the 80s, the Star Trek fanbase was reluctant to accept change, but ultimately Riker became legendary in his own right.
In popular culture, Riker became known as a womanizer, but his true character was more complex. In the series, Riker is a steadfast right-hand man to Captain Picard and an impeccable officer. He also has deep issues with his deadbeat father, insecurity about his Starfleet Academy days, and secrets from previous postings before he landed on the Enterprise. Riker goes on to have more adventures in other movies and TV series, but it is in Star Trek: The Next Generation that he develops into the bearded icon audiences love today. What were Riker’s best episodes?
S3 E26/S4 E01: The Best of Both Worlds
Easily ranked among the best stories of any Star Trek show, this two-part set of episodes puts Riker to the test when the Borg kidnap and assimilate Captain Picard. The Borg are defined as series antagonists in the season 3 finale, and Picard falls victim to trauma that will impact him for the rest of his life in the season 4 opener, but both episodes are very much about exploring Riker’s ambition and ability to lead. He’s Picard’s Number One, but he’s also a fearless commander in his own right. He doesn’t hesitate to protect the Enterprise, even if he has to fire on a ship holding Picard to do so.
S6 E21: Frame of Mind
The darker episodes of Star Trek are always memorable, especially when executed in a creatively creepy way. Riker is the star of this psychological thriller, which features him struggling to maintain his sanity as his reality is undone and restored over and over again. Both Riker and the audience will debate what is real as Riker’s life becomes intertwined with the events of a play, descending into a true uncanny valley the more time goes on. There are elements of Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and Gaslight (1944) within this episode, putting Riker in an atypically vulnerable position.
S5 E17: The Outcast
Star Trek is known for engaging with contemporary political and social discussions, as evident in this episode. Riker falls for a member of a traditionally androgynous race, a people who consider gender conformity and sexuality perverse. The alien, named Soren, explores her appreciation for her new gender identity and her romance with Riker; this proves to be contentious when her people object. This episode is an emotional one for Riker, and is one of the rare early Star Trek episodes to discuss LGBTQ+ themes and sexuality with nuance.
S4 E08: Future Imperfect
Another episode that gives more depth to Riker’s behavior, this story takes the audience almost two decades further into the future, where everything and everyone has changed. Riker wakes up, seemingly inexplicably, in a reality where he is captain of the Enterprise. Picard is an admiral, Data is Riker’s number one, and Riker is widowed with a young son. The vision becomes more scattered as Riker pushes at the logic of it, and it is revealed to be a simulation created by a scared child. Riker’s shrewdness and kindness are the stars of this episode, as is the fact that Riker knows when he’s ready to be a captain – and it’s not yet.
S6 E24: Second Chances
Everyone’s seeing double in this episode, which features twice the Riker due to a transporter glitch. Riker of the Enterprise comes face-to-face with his clone, whose life diverged only four years earlier, when the glitch left him accidentally abandoned on a Federation Starbase. There is a complicated love triangle with Deanna Troi, a flouting of the chain of command, and a great deal of jealousy from both Rikers, as they try to wrest back control of their identity. Riker’s character is explored through two lenses in this episode, and while it touches on absurd, there’s also plenty of reflection (often literal) for him.
S7 E12: The Pegasus
This critically acclaimed episode sees Riker at his best: a loyal first officer, a clever diplomat, and good-hearted man. Riker is put into an awkward position when his former captain, Pressman, boards the Enterprise, looking to exploit the ship and her crew in pursuit of material for Starfleet Intelligence. Riker is revealed to have defied a mutiny against Pressman, but at the cost of his peace of mind.
Pressman is devious, eager to challenge Picard’s authority and reckless with the safety of his crew, but Riker is no longer impressionable enough to be manipulated into helping him. Riker exposes Pressman’s secret Federation-compatible cloaking device, which saves the day. It also gets Riker a stint in the brig for keeping secrets, but his good character can never be questioned again.
Every member of the crew in Star Trek: The Next Generation went on profound journeys of self-discovery while on board the Enterprise, and Riker is no exception. While empathizing with his clone, sacrificing his captain to save his crew, or standing up to a superior officer in defense of truth and justice, Riker became a man who embodies the best of Starfleet. He made his own mark on the title of first officer, and set a standard for the ones to come after him.