Unveiling Commander Riker's Epic Star Trek TNG Episodes: The Definitive Ranking
Experience Commander Riker's most memorable moments on Star Trek: The Next Generation as we rank his top 10 episodes, showcasing his growth, leadership, and complex character development
Summary
"The Measure of a Man": Riker defends Data's sentience in a powerful court case, showing his loyalty to his crewmates.
Riker confronts discrimination and grapples with determining if a society is prepared for interaction with the Federation in "First Contact".
In "Peak Performance", Riker showcases his leadership skills during warfare simulations, turning the tables on his crew and the Ferengi through clever tactics.
Commander William T. Riker, portrayed by Jonathan Frakes, served as the First Officer of the USS Enterprise-D in nearly every episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. However, there are certain episodes where he showcases his exceptional skills. Operating under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Riker not only excels as a first officer but also develops a close friendship with Picard. While initially depicted as a ladies' man, Riker's romantic relationship with Counselor Deanna Troi emerges as one of Star Trek's most notable romances.
Jonathan Frakes, a prominent figure in the Star Trek franchise, has also established himself as a prolific director. His directorial work spans various series such as TNG, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Discovery, Star Trek: Picard, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. In addition to this, Frakes directed two films from the TNG series, namely Star Trek: First Contact and Star Trek: Insurrection. Nonetheless, Frakes commenced his Star Trek journey by portraying the confident and composed Commander William Riker, and here are ten exemplary episodes featuring Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
10 "The Measure of a Man" (TNG Season 2, Episode 9)
One of the most remarkable courtroom episodes in Star Trek's history is "The Measure of a Man" from season 2 of TNG, where the focus strongly lies on the character of Lt. Commander Data portrayed by Brent Spiner. However, Commander Riker is also given an opportunity to shine in this episode. As Data's status as a sentient being is questioned, Riker reluctantly takes on the challenging role of arguing that Data is simply a machine. Despite his inner conflict, Riker wholeheartedly commits to his task, even discovering Data's power switch and deactivating him during the trial. Fortunately, Data's own testimony, along with a powerful speech by Picard, becomes convincingly persuasive, resulting in the official recognition of Data as an independent individual.
9 "First Contact" (TNG Season 4, Episode 15)
In TNG season 4, episode 15, viewers gain insight into the protocols followed by the Federation during First Contact missions with civilizations on the verge of space exploration. In a covert operation on the planet Malcor III, Riker has been assessing the readiness of the Malcorians for first contact. However, he mysteriously disappears while performing his duties. Captain Picard engages in discussions with the leaders of Malcor III in an attempt to uncover the truth behind Riker's disappearance. Meanwhile, Riker endures mistreatment and intense interrogation at a local medical facility. Eventually, Riker is rescued and brought back aboard the Enterprise. Ultimately, the Malcorian leaders conclude that their society is not yet prepared for first contact, and the Enterprise sets course to continue its mission elsewhere.
8 "Second Chances" (TNG Season 6, Episode 24)
When the Enterprise visits a former Federation research base, they stumble upon an astonishing revelation: a duplicate of William Riker resides on the planet. The brilliant Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton) determines that the USS Potemkin inadvertently created Riker's identical twin many years ago due to a transporter malfunction. Jonathan Frakes remarkably portrays both versions of Riker, effortlessly distinguishing between the two. The unexpected appearance of the second Riker, now known as Lt. Thomas Riker, also provides an opportunity for him and Counselor Deanna Troi to reignite their romance. However, as events unfold, Troi decides to remain aboard the Enterprise while Thomas Riker accepts a transfer to another Starfleet vessel.
7 "Peak Performance" (TNG Season 2, Episode 21)
Commander Riker has the opportunity to lead in TNG season 2, episode 21 when the Enterprise engages in wargames with the USS Hathaway. Riker assumes command of the Hathaway and recruits Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), Geordi La Forge, and Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) as his team. Despite being outmatched, Riker and Worf come up with a clever plan to deceive the Enterprise. The plan succeeds, but unexpectedly, a Ferengi marauder approaches and mistakes the fabricated situation for a genuine conflict. Together, Picard and Riker collaborate to deceive the Ferengi by making them believe that the Hathaway has been destroyed, causing them to retreat. Riker performs admirably as the commander of the underpowered Hathaway, demonstrating his competence as a leader.
6 "Future Imperfect" (TNG Season 4, Episode 8)
5 "The Best of Both Worlds" (TNG Season 3, Episode 26 & Season 4, Episode 1)
A mission takes a turn for the worse when Commander Riker loses consciousness, only to awaken sixteen years later with no recollection of the intervening years. Struggling to come to terms with his unfamiliar life, he soon discovers he now has a young son, someone completely foreign to his memory. Despite his disorientation, Riker assumes the role of Captain of the Enterprise and is entrusted with the responsibility of hosting the Romulan Ambassador Tomalak. However, as Riker begins to notice peculiar inconsistencies, it becomes apparent that the entire situation has been cleverly orchestrated by the Romulans. Yet, the truth ultimately unravels to reveal a surprising twist: a lonely young alien named Barash has constructed this elaborate illusion to ease his own solitude. Offering intriguing insights into Riker's character, this episode from Season 4 of TNG delves deep into his psyche as Barash grants him his heart's unspoken desires.
Though not primarily centered around Commander Riker, the episode "Best of Both Worlds" holds immense significance for his character. In the absence of Captain Picard, who has been captured by the Borg, Riker assumes command of the Enterprise, showcasing his crucial leadership abilities. Tasked with the unimaginable decision of engaging the attacking Borg vessel despite knowing Picard's presence aboard, Riker's resolute command to "Fire" before the screen fades into darkness remains one of Star Trek's most unforgettable moments, as well as one of television's finest cliffhangers. Given Patrick Stewart's contract expiration after Season 3 of TNG, numerous fans anticipated Riker's ascendancy as the Enterprise's permanent Captain.
4 "A Matter of Honor" (TNG Season 2, Episode 8)
As part of an officer exchange program, Riker decides to temporarily serve as the first officer on a Klingon Bird of Prey. He immerses himself in studying the culture and customs of the Klingons, and his time on the Klingon ship proves to be quite successful. Riker even takes command of the ship for a brief period when he transports Klingon Captain Kargan (Christopher Collins) onto the Enterprise. This episode of TNG season 2, episode 8 provides an early glimpse into the Klingon culture of the TNG era and showcases Riker's growth as a character as he gains confidence in his role as a commanding officer.
3 "The Outcast" (TNG Season 5, Episode 17)
Star Trek has a rich history of addressing social issues, and in TNG season 5, episode 17, it tackles LGBTQ+ concerns. When Soren (Melinda Culea), a member of a gender-neutral species, boards the Enterprise, she develops a close working relationship with Commander Riker. Soren bravely admits her female identity, contradicting the customs of her people. Riker becomes captivated by Soren, but she is ultimately apprehended by her own race and subjected to "reeducation" in order to conform to gender neutrality. The efficacy of the social commentary may be subjected to debate, but Frakes convincingly portrays Riker's emotional connection to Soren, despite their fast-developing bond. The final scene genuinely evokes a sense of heartbreak.
2 "Frame of Mind" (TNG Season 6, Episode 21)
In one of Star Trek's most unsettling episodes, Commander Riker experiences a disconcerting series of events. He finds himself shifting between two distinct realities: one where he is passionately involved in a theatrical performance aboard the Enterprise, and another where he is confined in a mental institution as a patient. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that neither of these scenarios are genuine. Riker persistently dismantles one illusion after another, in his relentless pursuit of the truth. The shocking revelation occurs when it is discovered that Riker had been captured by extraterrestrial beings during an away mission. These aliens had been attempting to extract information from his mind. The exceptional portrayal by Jonathan Frakes showcases Riker's remarkable resilience of the mind, while simultaneously showcasing his precarious descent into insanity. This compelling episode consistently keeps the audience in suspense until its final moments.
1 "The Pegasus" (TNG Season 7, Episode 12)
In celebration of Captain Picard Day, an event that brings annoyance to Captain Picard and amusement to Riker, a surprise visitor arrives on the Enterprise. Admiral Erik Pressman, Riker's former commanding officer, arrives with a crucial mission. As a member of Starfleet Intelligence, Pressman leads the Enterprise on a mission to retrieve any remaining artifacts from the USS Pegasus. Riker displays discomfort with Pressman's presence on the ship, and it is eventually revealed that the Pegasus was lost due to unauthorized cloaking experiments. Pressman, determined to continue these experiments, faces resistance from Riker who, as a seasoned officer, refuses to repeat his past mistakes and stands up to the Admiral.
Jonathan Frakes delivers a stellar performance in this episode, captivated by a profound sense of guilt for his past actions and faced with an uncertain future. Riker's personal growth is evident as he demonstrates not only his evolution as a Starfleet officer but also as an individual. His refusal to blindly follow Admiral Pressman and his subsequent confession to Picard align perfectly with the honorable Commander Riker we have grown to admire. Throughout Star Trek: The Next Generation, Frakes' depiction of Commander Riker has evolved, culminating in his remarkable portrayal in "The Pegasus," which might just be his most exceptional moment.
