If it wasn’t for Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek’s William T. Riker could have been a dud of a character that didn’t land well with fans.The pressure was high with Star Trek: The Next Generation, as the writers were tasked with creating an all-new cast of characters that could stand on their own compared to the original series. As Riker was the First Officer of the Enterprise, the character was naturally going to be compared to Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. Per ScreenRant, writer Ronald D. Moore spoke about Frakes’ Riker in the oral history series, The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek. Moore noted how Frakes was in a tough spot with making this particular character a success, but the actor just happened to be perfect for the “tricky” role.”It’s a difficult role to be second in command on that series, if you’re not the Vulcan science officer. Because the Vulcan science officer has a whole rich cultural thing as a character that you can get into, that’s providing a yin and a yang to McCoy and a confidant and friend to Kirk. So that functions differently,” Moore explained. “Now, it’s a human person, who’s supposedly just as ambitious, just as capable and dynamic a hero in his own. Right. Okay. Why is he staying to be number two? It’s a tricky role to pull off, but Jonathan pulls it off because Jonathan is so innately charming and fun, and you really, really liked him. You like Riker and you’re intrigued with his backstory with Troi, and again, the force of the actor brings the character home.”Related: Patrick Stewart Admits Feeling Jealous of Star Trek: TNG Co-Star Wil Wheaton
If it wasn’t for Jonathan Frakes, Star Trek‘s William T. Riker could have been a dud of a character that didn’t land well with fans.
The pressure was high with Star Trek: The Next Generation, as the writers were tasked with creating an all-new cast of characters that could stand on their own compared to the original series. As Riker was the First Officer of the Enterprise, the character was naturally going to be compared to Leonard Nimoy’s Spock. Per ScreenRant, writer Ronald D. Moore spoke about Frakes’ Riker in the oral history series, The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek. Moore noted how Frakes was in a tough spot with making this particular character a success, but the actor just happened to be perfect for the “tricky” role.
“It’s a difficult role to be second in command on that series, if you’re not the Vulcan science officer. Because the Vulcan science officer has a whole rich cultural thing as a character that you can get into, that’s providing a yin and a yang to McCoy and a confidant and friend to Kirk. So that functions differently,” Moore explained. “Now, it’s a human person, who’s supposedly just as ambitious, just as capable and dynamic a hero in his own. Right. Okay. Why is he staying to be number two? It’s a tricky role to pull off, but Jonathan pulls it off because Jonathan is so innately charming and fun, and you really, really liked him. You like Riker and you’re intrigued with his backstory with Troi, and again, the force of the actor brings the character home.”
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