Summary
I ’ve always wondered whyStar Trek : Deep Space Nineabandoned their architectural plan for Thomas Riker , the treacherous transporter clone ofStar Trek : The Next Generation ’s Commander William T. Riker ( Jonathan Frakes ) . Thomas Riker was first put in inTNGseason 6 , episode 24 , " Second probability " , in which he is discovered living in isolation on Nervala IV.This forced to Thomas to see the piece that he eventually became , and he happen that Will Riker did n’t be up to expectation . Thomas was appalled byRiker ’s rejection of promotion , and left the Enterprise to do aboard the USS Ghandi as a police lieutenant .
Jonathan Frakes reprized the function of Thomas Riker forStar Trek : DS9season 3 , episode 9 , " Defiant " , which revealed that he was now a Maquis superior general . In the opening of theDS9 / TNGcrossover sequence , the audience believes that they ’re watching Commander Riker seduce Major Kira Nerys ( Nana Visitor ) . However , in a notoriously silly moment , Will peels off his fake sideburns to reveal that he was Thomas all along , and he ’s now in dictation of the hijacked USS Defiant . Thomas Riker never resurfaced after " Defiant " , and it ’s only by picking apart what materialise between the sequence andDS9season 4 that I can understand why .
William Riker ’s transporter clone , Thomas was arrested by the Cardassians in DS9 , but he was never seen again . Star Trek in the end has an update .
Custom image by Mark Donaldson
Star Trek: DS9 Had Future Plans For Thomas Riker
The bookCaptains ' Logs Supplemental - The Unauthorized Guide to the New Trek Voyagesby Edward Gross and Mark A. Altman propose thatthere were tentative plans to bring back Thomas Riker after " Defiant " . In a quotation fromStar Trek : Deep Space Nine ’s showrunner , Ira Steven Behr , he reflects on how they made Jonathan Frakes ' character their own . Read Ira Steven Behr ’s quote about Riker ’s clone below :
" We ’ll probably see a return of Tom Riker episode . What ’s prissy is he ’s not really a part ofNext Generation , so he ’s ours , and we can do what we need with him and not worry about what the motion picture will do withWill Riker "
With Tom sent to a Cardassian prison house at the ending ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 3 , sequence 9 , the legitimate follow - up would be aMajor Kira episode ofDS9where she break him out . Jonathan Frakes also felt that the termination of " noncompliant " course allow an opportunity for a sequel . In an interview on theStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 6 boxed in set , Frakes says he evoke that Tom Riker could aid Legate Damar ( Casey Biggs ) in his rebellion against the Dominion inDS9season 7 .
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
I ’ve always think that Tom Riker had a fortune of potential beyond just being an evil Will Riker clone
A fan rumor , expose by Moore in one of his AOL confabulation , suggested that Tom would be revealed as a member of Section 31 . However , none of these story ideas ever made it to the screen , asby the time ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 4 , freelance writers were being told not to flip Thomas Riker stories . I ’ve always thought that Tom Riker had a lot of voltage beyond just being an evil Will Riker clone , but looking into why the determination was made not to use him again , I understand why that voltage was will unrealized .
As well as seem in " Defiant " , Jonathan Frakes also directed three episodes ofStar Trek : Deep Space Nineseason 3 .
Why Star Trek: DS9 Banned The Use Of Riker’s Clone In Scripts
" I thought that character … we could have had fun with that case on DS9 . At that time , unfortunately for Jonathan Frakes who really liked doing it , that was the consequence where I say , “ We have to slue ties with the past tense , for sure . ” As much as I liked that character reference , I said , ' We ca n’t convey him back . Sorry ' . The guys maintain order , “ We can apply him . ” We could never have used him enough so as to really get the near storyline going , continue . That was a trouble , to be reliable , but that ’s the character I would have like to have driven " .
" Defiant " aired three days after the theatrical release ofStar Trek Generations , the success of which led to further movies for theTNGcast . The following twoTNGmovies , Star Trek : First ContactandStar Trek : Insurrectionweredirected by Jonathan Frakes . Movies are more demanding than television set , and so Ira Steven Behr is right;Jonathan Frakes would n’t have had the metre to work Thomas Riker in a substantial means . So it makes a deal of sensory faculty forStar Trek : Deep Space Nineto cut its losses when it comes to Tom Riker , especially as Lt . Commander Worf ( Michael Dorn ) was about to become a series regular .
Star Trek has always loved a unspoilt doppelganger story , and many lineament have met their exact ( and often evil ) doubles over the twelvemonth .
Why I’m Glad Star Trek: DS9 Never Reused Thomas Riker
As much as I thinkThomas Riker is a fascinating character who had much to offerStar Trek : Deep Space Nine , I ’m glad that the decision was made not to use him . present Worf to boostDS9 ’s rating in season 4 turned out to be the good affair for the show and the fictitious character . However , ifDS9had Michael Dorn as a unconstipated and Jonathan Frakes as a recurring guest actor , then it would look likeDS9was being propped up by beloved actorsStar Trek : The Next contemporaries . Instead , DS9improved Worf as a grapheme , and Michael Dorn never overshadowed his co - stars .
IfStar Trek : Deep Space Ninehad used Jonathan Frakes more , then it seems likely he would have become the Michael Eddington ( Kenneth Marshall ) character . However , Eddington ’s treason of Captain Benjamin Sisko ( Avery Brooks ) work because audience had spent a season watching the two men get to have intercourse each other . Sisko tenaciously pursuing Thomas Riker and his Maquis freedom fighters for two season just would n’t have had the same impact . While it ’s always disappoint me that we never got more from Thomas Riker , I do think that , ultimately , Star Trek : Deep Space Ninebenefited from his absence seizure .
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Star Trek : Deep Space Nine , also known as DS9 , is the fourth serial publication in the long - running Sci - Fi enfranchisement , Star Trek . DS9 was create by Rick Berman and Michael Piller , and stars Avery Brooks , René Auberjonois , Terry Farrell , and Cirroc Lofton . This particular series follows a chemical group of person in a space station near a planet call in Bajor .
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, also known as DS9, is the fourth series in the long-running Sci-Fi franchise, Star Trek. DS9 was created by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, and stars Avery Brooks, René Auberjonois, Terry Farrell, and Cirroc Lofton. This particular series follows a group of individuals in a space station near a planet called Bajor.
