7 Versions Of Riker In Star Trek

Since his introduction in the premiere episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, several different versions of William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) have made appearances across the Star Trek franchise. As the First Officer on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Riker led most of the away missions throughout TNG’s run and commanded the Enterprise when Picard was incapacitated. Captain Picard once referred to Riker as: “the finest officer with whom I have ever served,” which is high praise coming from a man as distinguished and difficult to impress as Jean-Luc Picard.

Throughout TNG, Riker became Jean-Luc’s closest friend and confidant, and the two remained close friends thirty years later in Star Trek: Picard. Riker married Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: Nemesis, continuing one of Star Trek’s best romances. Whether due to transporter accidents, alternate timelines, or changes in facial hair, the character of Will Riker has gone through a few different incarnations throughout his Star Trek career. Every version of Riker has been portrayed by Jonathan Frakes, who has also become one of Star Trek’s most prolific and beloved directors.

7 Clean Shaven Commander Will Riker

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 1 & Star Trek: Insurrection

William Riker’s beard is used by some as a metric to determine the quality of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fans of the show will say that it doesn’t really get good until Riker grows a beard. Most fans and critics agree that TNG season 1 is the show’s weakest, but it doesn’t actually have anything to do with Riker’s lack of facial hair. While it’s true that Riker did not truly come into his own as a character until he grew a beard, many of the actors and characters were still trying to find their footing in TNG season 1. Beardless Riker was a more by-the-book Starfleet officer, and Will seemed to have more fun after growing a beard. Will lost the beard again in Star Trek: Insurrection, but would have it back for the sequel, Star Trek: Nemesis.

6 Commander Will Riker With A Beard

Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, & Star Trek: Nemesis

Sometime between TNG seasons 1 and 2, Riker grew a beard, and this was the look he would keep for the rest of the show and the movies. This version of Riker, with his beard and mustache, became the most recognizable version of the character. Not only did Will grow into an accomplished First Officer, he also became close personal friends with Captain Jean-Luc Picard and developed a particular fondness for the Enterprise. Riker loved serving on the Enterprise with Picard so much that he turned down multiple offers of a captaincy to remain on board.

Early in TNG, Riker occasionally came across as brash and overconfident, but he took on a more discerning approach as the show went on. Although he eventually settled down with Deanna Troi, Riker was a bit of ladies’ man throughout TNG’s run (both with and without a beard.) Riker could more than hold his own in combat situations, and often came up with creative fighting techniques on the fly.

5 Admiral Will Riker

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 7, Episodes 25 & 26 (“All Good Things”)

In the series finale of TNG, Captain Picard finds himself jumping through time – into his past, present, and future. In the future version of the timeline, Riker makes an appearance as an Admiral first at Starbase 247 and later in command of the upgraded USS Enterprise-D. Although Riker initially refuses to help Picard, saying his hands are tied, he shows up with the Enterprise just in time to save the day. In this version of the future, Deanna Troi has passed away, and many of the former Enterprise-D crew members have drifted apart. Riker and Worf, in particular, haven’t spoken in a long time.

4 Will Riker’s Transporter Clone, Thomas Riker

Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 6, Episode 24 (“Second Chances”) & Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 3, Episode 9 (“Defiant”)

Star Trek has always loved a doppelganger story, and Riker discovers his own duplicate in the TNG season 6 episode, “Second Chances.” When the Enterprise visits Nervala IV to retrieve scientific data that a Starfleet team had left there years earlier, they find an exact duplicate of Will Riker living on the planet. This Riker, who later chooses to go by Thomas, had been unknowingly created in a transporter accident eight years ago.

After living alone on an inhospitable planet for eight years, Thomas was now a very different man from the original Will Riker. While on the Enterprise, Thomas rekindled his relationship with Deanna Troi, but eventually decided to accept a position on another ship while Troi remained on the Enterprise. Thomas Riker later appeared on DS9, where he romanced Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and revealed himself to be a member of the rebel Maquis.

3 Other Versions of Will Riker on TNG

Star Trek: The Next Generation

A few other versions of Will Riker appear in one-off episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation. In the classic TNG season 3, episode 15, “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” a rift in spacetime causes a drastic change in the timeline, making the Enterprise-D a warship and the officers battle-hardened. In this timeline, Riker is killed when Klingons fire on the Enterprise, but this version of events is erased once the proper timeline is restored. Will Riker is recreated as a hologram on more than one occasion, most notably by Lt. Reginald Barclay (Dwight Schultz) in one of his holodeck fantasies in season 3, episode 21, “Hollow Pursuits.”

While technically not a different version of Riker, Will wakes up in TNG season 4, episode 8, “Future Imperfect,” to find that sixteen years have passed. However, the entire scenario turns out to be a ruse created by a lonely alien. In season 7, episode 11, “Parallels,” Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) finds himself jumping through various parallel universes, where he encounters different versions of the Enterprise crew, including Riker.

2 Animated Captain Will Riker

Star Trek: Lower Decks

After the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, William Riker finally accepts a promotion to captain and takes over command of the USS Titan. As depicted in Lower Decks, Riker seems to be having the time of his life as captain of the Titan, with his wife Troi at his side. He has grown into a confident and capable captain, who greatly enjoys all of his crazy Starfleet adventures. After he swoops in to help the USS Cerritos defeat the Pakleds, he offers Ensign Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) a promotion and a place on the Titan. However, Boimler transfers back to the Cerritos when his transporter-created clone, William Boimler, takes his place on the Titan. Although Riker loves being captain of the Titan, he does tell Boimler that he misses his time on the Enterprise-D.

1 Captain Will Riker

Star Trek: Picard

When William Riker first returns in Star Trek: Picard, he and Deanna have taken a break from Starfleet and settled on the planet Nepenthe with their daughter, Kestra (Lulu Wilson). Their son, Thaddeus, passed away as a child, which caused some tension between Will and Deanna. Riker briefly returned as a captain in Picard season 1, before making a more permanent return to Starfleet in Picard season 3. After Picard receives a distress signal from Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), he seeks out Riker for help.

Riker jumped at the chance to go on another adventure, and he and Picard commandeered the USS Titan-A, much to the annoyance of its current commander, Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick). Over the course of Picard season 3, Riker reuinted with his Enterprise-D crew and reaffirmed his relationship with Deanna Troi. By the end of the season, he and Troi had decided to take an extended (and much-needed) vacation with Kestra. Picard’s Captain Riker may just be the best version of the character, a perfect mix of captain, friend, father, and husband, and an example of the best kind of Star Trek hero.