Commander Riker Has 2 Massive What If? Scenarios That Would Have Totally Changed Star Trek: The Next Generation

Star Trek: The Next Generation could have been a completely different show if two massive Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) storylines had played out. As the First Officer of the USS Enterprise-D, Commander Riker served as Captain Jean-Luc Picard's (Patrick Stewart) right-hand man. Riker was known as one of the best officers in Starfleet and was offered numerous chances to command his own ship throughout TNG's run. Riker turned these offers down to remain aboard the Enterprise, and he found a family among the ship's crew.

Many episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation focused on Commander Riker, and he played a major role in one of the show's best two-parters, "The Best of Both Worlds." When the first half of this two-parter ended, Captain Picard had been assimilated by the Borg, raising the question of whether he would make it back to the Enterprise. TNG would have been a much different show if Riker had taken over as captain. Later, in TNG season 6, Riker discovers he has a transporter clone who goes by Thomas Riker, and this clone could have replaced the original Riker aboard the Enterprise.

What If Commander Riker Replaced Captain Picard In Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 4?

What Would've Happened If Picard Died On The Borg Cube?

Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3 came to a close with one of the best television cliffhangers of all time in "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I." Captain Picard had been assimilated by the Borg and Commander Riker gave the order for the Enterprise to fire on the Borg ship just before the screen cut to black. As Star Trek's first true cliffhanger, this episode began the pattern of season-ending cliffhangers that continued throughout TNG, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager, and established several storylines that continue to play a role in modern Trek.

When TNG's writers penned "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," even they were not sure how the two-parter would wrap up. While today's viewers know that Riker and his crew save Picard in the season 4 premiere, this was not the case when the episode first aired. At the time, there was speculation that Patrick Stewart would not be returning to TNG. If Picard had been killed on the Borg Cube, Riker would have taken over as Captain of the Enterprise, likely with Lt. Commander Elizabeth Shelby (Elizabeth Dennehy) as his First Officer.

How Star Trek Would Have Been Completely Different With Captain Riker Instead Of Picard

What TNG Have Been As Popular With Captain Riker Instead Of Picard?

It's difficult to imagine what Star Trek: The Next Generation would have become with Captain Riker in command of the USS Enterprise-D rather than Picard. Many episodes would have been vastly different without Patrick Stewart and Picard, assuming they even happened at all. "The Inner Light," for example, would not have worked nearly as well with any other character. Picard's departure from TNG would have forced the show to focus more on other characters, perhaps leading to a larger role for Shelby or one of the other series regulars.

Aside from a few episodes, TNG did not truly become great until its third season, and Patrick Stewart's performance as Picard likely kept many fans watching even through the mediocre episodes. Some viewers may have stopped watching altogether if Picard had died on the Borg Cube, perhaps preventing TNG from becoming as popular as it did. If TNG had been less popular, it's possible the show would have been canceled early with no films or spin-offs. Even if the films had happened, would Star Trek fans have been as excited to see a meeting between Captain Riker and Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)?

What If Riker’s Doppelganger Replaced Him In Star Trek: The Next Generation?

TNG's Writers Considered Killing Off Will & Replacing Him With Thomas

In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 6, episode 24, "Second Chances," the USS Enterprise-D visited the planet Nervala IV, where they found an exact duplicate of Commander Riker. Eight years ago, unbeknownst to the original Riker and the crew of the USS Potemkin, a transporter malfunction had created the doppelgänger, who was then abandoned on the planet. This Riker, who chose to go by his middle name, Thomas, spent eight years living alone on the inhospitable Nervala IV, making him a significantly different person from Commander Riker.

Upon arriving on the Enterprise, Lieutenant Thomas Riker immediately clashed with Commander Will Riker, as both men felt like the "true" Riker. Thomas rekindled his romance with Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), which for him had never officially ended. TNG's writing staff considered killing off Will Riker and replacing him with Thomas. Thomas would have then taken a position at the helm while Data moved up to First Officer. While this would have been an interesting storyline, it would have drastically changed the dynamics of TNG.

How Star Trek: TNG Would Have Been Different With Thomas Riker Instead Of Will

Despite Being Essentially The Same Person, Will & Thomas Had Some Clear Differences

If Will Riker had died and been replaced by Thomas, the USS Enterprise-D crew would likely have had difficulty working with Thomas while mourning Will. Thomas would surely have had complicated feelings about his doppelganger's death, too, which would have led to some interesting storytelling possibilities. Thomas would have had to get to know his crew members while trying to separate himself from Will. As Thomas Riker settled in as helmsman aboard the Enterprise, Star Trek: The Next Generation could have explored his romance with Deanna Troi, which likely would have progressed more quickly than her romance with Will.

As revealed in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, episode 9, "Defiant," Thomas Riker eventually left Starfleet to join the rebel group known as the Maquis. If Thomas had remained on the Enterprise instead of Will, this storyline would not have happened at all or would have happened differently. Ultimately, the writers of Star Trek: The Next Generation made the right call in keeping Will around, and everything worked out for the best. (Well, for everyone except Thomas Riker, who ended up in a Cardassian prison.)