Cdr Riker misses those things about himself.

S03E26

[@azraelknightquest5754]

Just because you liked those things doesn't mean they were ideal. He lost some things, yes: Overconfidence, brashness.....recklessness, overly optimistic. He's gained discipline, teaching ability, skills...he was ready to be a Captain but Picard wasn't ready to be an Admiral. He basically WAS Captain, a reserve Captain as well as First Officer. Countless times he took command of the Enterprise in extremely tough situations and followed his instincts and experience...and did exceptionally well. He learned from the BEST, Picard himself. Shelby was a rookie First Officer that needed a boot in her rear end and taken down a peg. Riker was at that stage where a First Officer begins to become a Captain. Doesn't happen overnight with a promotion, it's a process in leadership. He had evolved past Shelby. She was too arrogant to see it. But she DID have some great qualities and no doubt became a fine Captain herself.

[@oddish4352]

This. Riker had evolved during his time as Enterprise's first officer, and he was ready for the next step in his evolution: the captain's chair. And if he had accepted his own command, that would have freed up Jonathan Frakes to direct more episodes (and he was one of the best directors they had).

[@rickacton7540]

lol picard was never the "best" and all riker learned from him was to dial up his xenophile relationships to 11

[@oddish4352]

@@rickacton7540 But still, Riker had learned what Picard had to teach. RIKER was ready for the next step... but Frakes and the viewers were not.

[@PR--un4ub]

@@rickacton7540 Yeah, Picard is the best.

[@JordanBeagle]

Thanks for this detailed analysis

[@Beyondthe5thPanel]

“Seasoned? That’s a horrible thing to say to a man.” 😂😂😂😂 That line got me laughing so hard

[@tribbleq]

A harrible thing! :P

[@jv-lk7bc]

He's right tho.

[@SUpersaiyajinjerkbag]

I don't get it though; would he rather be called rookie? It seems more like a horrible thing to say a women (unless it's some porn site geared to people with a kink for experienced women)

[@namal007]

Will, I’m sensing some tension 😅

[@Voltaic_Fire]

"What do you want, Will Riker?" "To mount you like I mount chairs."

[@OneEyedKeys]

Riker proved many times over what the Enterprised needed. A strong, level headed Commander, who can take charge and lead the crew into battle just as seamlessly as Picard could. The flagship always needs two captains, 1 full time, and 1 in reserve, and that's what they had. Shelby and other upstarts can serve their time in lesser vessels doing lesser tasks. The Big Ship needs the strongest crew.

[@OneofInfinity.]

I remember thinking if I had the choice between Shelby and Riker to be my direct superior (I was serving in the army at the time) I would have chosen Riker 10x over. Riker is reliable and I know he cares about the crew, Shelby on the other hand still was to busy with herself and I would not trust her motives most of the time.

[@judithsixkiller5586]

There is a difference between experience and complacency.

[@crazylarryjr]

He didn't lose the brashness or headstrong attitude, they are complimented by his wisdom and experience. Together they make him more than just a headstrong, brash youngster, he's experienced enough to know when he needs to be brash or headstrong. There is a saying, Knowledge is knowing a Tomato is a fruit, Wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad. That is the difference between the past Riker and the present Riker

[@darthglobe4285]

I also many times, like Riker, feel that where my rashness in doing maths problem or coming up with crazy questions has gone. But a little introspection shows that I have gained some experience, so I just don't take the pen and shoot down the equations, or come up with questions which are nonsense (nonsense questions are no problem. But with age, one gets to know in an intuitive way when something is right or wrong.).

[@Paltheos]

"Maybe that's the problem. I'm too comfortable here." "*shakes head because bothered* I'm not sure I know what that means." Ship counselor, ladies and gents.

[@rickacton7540]

hes talking about knowing troi is a mere turbolift away if he need dat booty, and its making him soft and defensive-thinking

[@andrewdevita629]

I mean, I'm sure you're joking but I must clarify. She's saying " too comfortable" is a fallacy. He's comfortable and happy on the enterprise but dissatisfied with it, and she's saying that's being dissatisfied with his current station and circumstances in life because he's too comfortable, accepted, and happy is nonsense. He's happy, and he's beating himself up for nothing.

[@Paltheos]

​@@andrewdevita629 No worries, fam. I know.

[@andrewdevita629]

@@Paltheos Haha I figured, your joke was good.

[@rafsolo]

I relate to this more the older I get. I feel like I have lost something of my old reckless and fun self. But I've also gotten wiser and more experienced Sometimes we get comfortable with life, but that's life. We have to settle at some point as we get older and that makes us both happy with what we have but also melancholy for who we used to be

[@balmoraman4]

Riker: Having an existential crisis Troy: "You're happier than I've ever known you to be."

[@Shadow8942]

Blame the beard

[@ki5aok]

He's so stolid. He wasn't like that before the beard.

[@oddish4352]

Do not underestimate the Power of the Mighty Beard!

[@perfectionbox]

Hold on, that's crazy talk 😳

[@jv-lk7bc]

@@perfectionbox so much more fun before the beard!

[@PiazzaGurl]

Will matured and understood responsibility, what it truly meant to lead in command, making crucial difficult choices. And what Will always wanted he constantly pushed to the side, what’s why he looked hard at Deanna. It’s all he ever wanted and that’s why he never wanted to leave. Not being around her made him feel lost.

[@ianmcpherson2171]

"... I want to slay Dragons."

[@oddish4352]

Will was so ready for the captain's chair, Picard was practically stuffing him out the airlock.

[@ginnyjollykidd]

He's a big fish in a little pond, now. And he's getting a bit cramped. I think he wants to grow and stretch, go beyond his comfort zone. His circumstance is forcing him that way.

[@oddish4352]

He's a big fish in a big pond, but he's not THE big fish. Picard was encouraging him to jump to a pond where he would be that fish.

[@Bosc715]

Always loved how q referred to ryker as number 2

[@jv-lk7bc]

that last line coming from that face ...

[@Barbutt]

He wants to swing his lag over the chair of the most beautiful woman in Ten Forward.

[@jv-lk7bc]

just Ten Forward? such faint praise!

[@alanmalcheski8882]

she's pretty seasoned up too. With seasoning salt, and Mrs. Dash. Yeah that's right, i said it, Mrs. Dash!

[@leechrec]

"oh you know what I want"

[@xtexasxfightx]

I LIKE THOSE THINGS ABOUT ME

[@namal007]

I want Cake. Chocolate. With whipped cream. Oops that’s you 😂

[@JnEricsonx]

No...that would be good.

[@franzhaas6889]

SEVEN INCHES.

[@ianmcpherson2171]

"challenge"

[@OneofInfinity.]

Troi is so right.

[@jeffwads]

There is a reason that companies are guilty of ageism...youthful people in general, tend to have that fire, etc. Of course, you can't beat experience, but don't expect young hiring execs to grasp that concept.

[@OneofInfinity.]

Its all fast and furious for those, then they move on leaving others to clean up the mess.

[@SUpersaiyajinjerkbag]

that's just an old person's excuse for whining; but "you can't beat experience" about sums it up

[@ParisHoney1998]

A sentimental ho.

[@SlideRulePirate]

Picard was brash, reckless and overconfident in his younger days and expressing those qualities are what got him the artificial heart courtesy of a Nausicaan in a bar. If Riker is 'learning from the mistakes of others' in the form of becoming more 'Picard', without the necessity of getting shanked up, who is to say that is a bad thing?

[@AzguardMike]

Riker when he meets Shelby "Ugh i miss the old me." Riker when he meets his transporter clone that is younger, brash, arrogant, risk taker "Ugh i hate how i used to be" Riker is kind of schizophrenic.

[@Bacxaber]

That's...not what schizophrenia is.

[@abehambino]

It’s not entirely the same thing to run into ideal embodiment of what you used to be and what you literally used to be. He knows his own flaws and characteristics of how he used to be, but in Shelby all he sees are the qualities. He knows nothing of her inner struggles.

[@odysseusrex5908]

What do you want? When did Troi join the Shadows? (grinning and ducking and running)

[@tomcross9780]

I see what you did there 👀

[@JnEricsonx]

If the Shadows came across Demona...

[@MillywiggZ]

For a councillor she isn’t very good hahaa!

[@SwordsmanMercenary]

The way this end after she asks what he wants would be an excellent smash cut to the two of them getting on. Just saying....

[@bigultrafunny9751]

Tf is wrong with you lmao

[@ratius1979]

Troi rocked him ❤❤❤

[@grownupgaming]

0:55 when a woman asks me that, there is only one next course of action

[@anwarsentinel1752]

Disagree with me all you like but riker is my least favourite starfleeter in oldtrek.

[@JohnBrown722so]

Lies

[@nvstewart]

"what do you want Will Riker?" Riker thinks: 'I want to drag you to my quarters and have my way with you...' Dianna - "No you can't, don't even try!!!" Riker - sad face