Troi's Unexpected Encounter: Rediscovering Riker's Clone 6 Years Later in Star Trek: TNG

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In "Star Trek: Insurrection," Deanna Troi failed to recall her encounter with Thomas Riker, despite their previous relationship on Nervala IV as depicted in "Second Chances." Although her romantic involvement with Lt. Worf was still acknowledged in "Star Trek: Picard," no reference was made to her connection with Thomas Riker.

In "Star Trek: Lower Decks" season 4, Thomas Riker's fate was confirmed, hinting at a possible reunion between Troi and the Rikers in the future. In Star Trek: Insurrection, six years after sharing a kiss with Lt. Thomas Riker (Jonathan Frakes) in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) completely forgot about their encounter. In the TNG episode "Second Chances," the crew of the USS Enterprise-D discovered Commander William T. Riker's transporter clone on the planet Nervala IV. After spending eight years on the planet yearning for a reunion with his beloved Imzadi, Thomas Riker entered a relationship with Deanna Troi, causing discomfort for Will. It wasn't until Insurrection that Deanna and Will were able to rekindle their romance, culminating in their much-anticipated marriage in Star Trek: Nemesis.

Troi Kissed Riker’s Clone 6 Years Before Star Trek: Insurrection

In Star Trek: Picard season 3, Troi's relationship with Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), which had an impact in TNG's final season, remains significant. However, her brief involvement with Thomas Riker is not mentioned. Despite Thomas' subsequent career in Starfleet and his later affiliation with the Maquis, his existence as a clone of Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation was never revisited in the TNG movies. It is possible that Thomas' actions, including betrayal and the hijacking of the USS Defiant in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, have led to him being considered an outsider within the Riker-Troi family.

In Star Trek: Insurrection, Riker and Troi flirt as they review intelligence on the Son'a, hinting at the possibility of reigniting their romance. However, it is only after being exposed to the rejuvenating radiation in the Ba'ku village that their mutual attraction becomes undeniable. They share a passionate kiss, but Troi is taken aback by Riker's beard. "I've never kissed you with a beard before," she remarks, although she had actually kissed the transporter clone version of Will Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

While Troi's statement about never kissing Will with a beard is technically true, the reality is more complex. Thomas Riker, a duplicate of the ambitious young Starfleet officer she had previously fallen in love with, was the one she had kissed before. Troi's primary dilemma in Star Trek: The Next Generation was whether to embrace the past and leave the Enterprise with Tom or embrace the future and stay. Ultimately, she chose to let Tom go, parting ways with a bittersweet kiss. Though Deanna kissed Thomas and not Will Riker, the two men were biologically identical, right down to the facial hair.

Star Trek: Lower Decks Reveals What Happened To Riker’s Clone

During the time of Star Trek: Insurrection, Thomas Riker found himself imprisoned by the Cardassians. He had defected to the Maquis and successfully hijacked the USS Defiant. Despite the consideration by Jonathan Frakes and Ronald D. Moore to bring Tom back to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the opportunity never arose. Consequently, the fate of Thomas Riker during the Dominion War and the brutal purge of the Maquis remained an unanswered Star Trek question for many years. However, the fourth season of Star Trek: Lower Decks subtly confirmed his fate after DS9 concluded.

Thomas Riker's name appeared on the list of former Starfleet officers who were in danger from the mystery villain in season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks. This confirmation indicated that Thomas was not only alive but also living as a civilian, possibly released by the Cardassians after the Dominion War. It raises the exciting possibility of a potential reunion between Deanna Troi from Star Trek: The Next Generation and both Rikers in the future of Star Trek. Stream all episodes of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 4 now on Paramount+.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I have mixed feelings about the forgotten kiss between Troi and Thomas Riker resurfacing six years later in Star Trek: TNG. On the one hand, I appreciate the show's attempt to revisit and explore this storyline, as it adds depth and complexity to the characters and their relationships. On the other hand, I feel that the revelation comes a bit too late and that it could have been addressed earlier in the Star Trek universe.

I find it interesting that Troi's romantic involvement with Lt. Worf is acknowledged in Star Trek: Picard, but her connection with Thomas Riker is not mentioned. This omission seems to suggest that the writers and producers of the show are有意地回避this aspect of Troi's past, which I find somewhat disappointing. I believe that exploring the aftermath of Troi's encounter with Thomas Riker could have provided valuable insights into her character and her relationships with both Will Riker and Worf.