MovieChat Forums > Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) Discussion > Riker is the most stagnate person of all...

Riker is the most stagnate person of all of Starfleet

posted 5 years ago by MickyMac (3254)
34 replies | jump to latest

He seems to be dangerously obsessed with being first officer of the Enterprise and being with Picard and terrified of moving away from his comfort zone and has turned down several captaincies because he just loves being on the Enterprise, we later learn his choosing to stay is having a damaging effect on up and coming candidates in Starfleet like in The Best Of Both Worlds who want to advance in their careers are held up by a man who will not move no matter how many ships he's offered, seems his only logic for staying because his friends are there, he's fond of the ship, he's fond of the captain and is just hanging around, some reason he's happy there and doesn't want to move. Think with all his constant passing up captaincies should have resulted in Starfleet comforting him and saying accept captaincy or sent you to cadet training school to train cadets or something.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 5 years ago

His obsession his job did blind him to more critical responsibilities and did eventually put people in danger, his actions did contribute to the destruction of the Enterprise D, the way they fought the Bird Of Prey he should've ordered rotating shield modules like in TNG, DS9 and VOY but instead he has the Enterprise turn away for more battle damage to cause a warp core breach.

[–] maximmm (3408) 5 years ago

I dunno, man - there's no money in ST ... supposedly (not anymore.... fuck the studios). And maybe he didn't have that much of a power ambition that some other officers do. Hell, if you have all of your friends in one place - and your ex on/off again... and a great boss - would you leave for a bit more money/power? If you did, you'd regret that decision forever.

Again, keep in mind, very seldom do people find a workplace that feels like family - so for most people, leaving is quite easy. But on those rare... very rare occasions that some people are lucky enough to experience, you really do find a family away from home. Besides, he's second in command - he's got enough power/fun.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 5 years ago

Problem is he can look like he's being out classed by newly promoted captains who way younger than him and admirals who are the same age as him.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 5 years ago

Well, it's a world without money. Riker isn't interested in more power or a bigger pocketbook. He's excited by his job. He loves being at the forefront of exploration. He's with his friends - close enough that they're like family to him. What more should somebody be looking for in a job?

Maybe this is frustrating to hard-nosed, driven career types, but consider whether or not Riker has his priorities 100% right. He's loving life, challenged, happy, and with friends and loved ones. What kind of a fool would sacrifice all of that just so he could...what? Sit in the big chair?

[–] MickyMac (3254) 5 years ago

Early on we already get the impression that he's pretty much at the end of his tenure as a commander, he's at an age where he should be captain. His obsession with his job and the ship kinda blinded him to fare more critical responsibilities and actually started to put people in danger like with the destruction of the Enterprise D, when the Bird of Prey fires he doesn't do thew usually combat maneuvers that we've seen him do before and after, this is a man who is presumably trained very heavy to deal with combat situations.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 5 years ago

But my point is that advancement might not be his goal. He has different priorities than commanding his own vessel. He'd rather serve where he loves the people than rule alone.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 5 years ago

I get that, my point it can create long term problems like looking like a middle age man still in college.

Real reason he's still first officer and no consequences of his lack of ambition because the status quo of the show demand that he stay in the same place doing the same thing for seven seasons and four movies.

[–] Ace_Spade (9658) 5 years ago

It's hardly fair to say he's a middle aged man in college with no ambition. He's first officer on the flagship of the Federation. He's not hanging out in his dorm room doing bong hits.

The meta narrative, sure, he's F.O. because the writers weren't going to replace cast members that fast. It ain't Mad Men, they wanted every character in most of the episodes. Sure.

But in-universe, I think maybe there's a different angle here. In the 23rd Century, humanity has evolved beyond money, they're putting aside a lot of selfishness, so maybe it's not a bad idea to assume that some people have figured "it" out a little better than "climb the ladder!"

Today, you're considered a bad worker or strange if you don't try to claw your way to every dollar and promotion, but why bother? If you're happy, you're happy. Riker's got a great job that he loves. It's fulfilling. He's got friends and loved ones all over the place. He's challenged constantly. He's at the forefront of exploration, diplomacy, and sometimes combat and defense. What's missing? A new rank pip? A bigger chair? I posit that Riker is doing a lot of good where he is and that, to him, advancement is - at best - a lateral move. You can read articles all over the place about people these days who aren't buying into this stuff. I've read articles about the most common regrets in life, and "didn't work enough" isn't on the list. It's stuff like, "I should have appreciated my family more".

Riker's with his family (or, close enough). He's useful, needed, and happy. I'm speculating that maybe he's just figured out his work-life balance and what he wants out of his career more than a lot of other people have (including in Starfleet).

[–] MickyMac (3254) 4 years ago

Perhaps Riker being demoted like Kirk was in Star Trek 4 for stealing and blowing up the Enterprise would've been more realistic.

[–] Slim (110) 4 years ago

The man should of been kicked out of his position after his unprofessional behavior while under Jellico's command.
He didn't have to like him he didn't have to agree with him but he did have to obey him.
At the very least he should of been demoted.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 4 years ago

Him behaving unprofessionally when he disagrees with any superior officer or Lt Commander would get him kicked out of Starfleet or any job like retail, you wouldn't want him as Kirk's first officer, this combined with the fact his stagnancy and lack of ambition is causing personnel problems, he should've been told accept captaincy or be demoted.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 4 years ago

In the real Navy turning down promotions especially a command would be ending one's career, the Navy won't allow an officer to stay put like Riker cause there's too may up and coming officers whose careers would be hamstringed if it were to happened.

[–] MickyMac (3254) 3 years ago

As McCoy said to Kirk during The Motion Picture

McCoy : The point, Captain, is that it's you who's competing. You rammed getting this command down Starfleet's throat. You've used this emergency to get the Enterprise back.

Captain James T. Kirk : And I intend to keep her, is that what you're saying?

Dr. McCoy : Yes. It's an obsession. An obsession that can blind you to far more immediate and critical responsibilities. Your reaction to Decker is an example, Jim.

Kind of how it is with Riker where his comfortability of being on the Enterprise and being Picard's first officer a lot of the time blinded him as McCoy said to far more immediate and critical responsibilities, like many times his own happiness onboard the Enterprise and being by Picard's side was more important than stopping a ultimate threat or making sure the Federation doesn't end up in some massive war with an alien species.

[–] wrlord (1227) 3 years ago

But at least he's not illiterate.