Star Trek: Riker Not Being Titan Captain Proves His Key Picard Difference

William T. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) was no longer Captain of the USS Titan in Star Trek: Picardand the reasons why he gave up the chair proves the key difference between him and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Star Trek: Picard season 1 is set in 2399, 20 years after Commander Riker left his post as First Officer of Picard’s USS Enterprise-E to become Captain of the Titan. However, when Riker and Picard saw each other again in Star Trek: Picard, both Captains had retired from Starfleet. Yet Riker adjusted to his new life in a healthier way than Picard.

Commander Riker joined Picard’s crew in the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation and served as First Officer of the USS Enterprise-D and E for a total of 15 years. This included all seven seasons of TNG and the four Next Generation movies that followed. Riker actually turned down a Captaincy and his own ship several times, preferring to be the Number One of the United Federation of Planets’ flagship. But Riker’s life gradually changed; he married his Imzadi, Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) in Star Trek: Nemesis – which the cast didn’t like – and finally realized it was time to accept his own command of the USS Titan. However, it wasn’t until Star Trek: Lower Decks that Trekkers got to see a hilariously energized Captain Riker command the Titan. By Star Trek: Picard‘s era, Riker and Troi were retired and moved to the planet Nepenthe with their daughter Kestra (Lulu Wilson) and late son, Thaddeus.

The major difference between Riker and Picard is the fact that Will was able to step away from the Captain’s chair because his family needed him more. Whereas quitting Starfleet was a choice Picard made to prove a point that backfired, which left Jean-Luc to a quiet life on his family’s French winery that he never wanted. When promoting his appearance on Star Trek: Picard in 2020, Jonathan Frakes admitted, “I’m glad we didn’t come back on the Titan… that we were found on another part [of the universe]. It’s 33 years or something. As Picard has changed, so has Riker and Troi…” Frakes’ perspective is shared by Riker, who was content to be a father and husband on Nepenthe, although Will and Deanna tragically lost their son to a rare disease. Yet Riker had no problems leaving the Titan behind because his duty to his family was more important.

As First Officer of the Enterprise, Riker’s ambition was tempered by how comfortable he got as the Number One of the Federation’s flagship. Yet, he still wanted to marry Troi and he raised a family with her. These are life decisions Picard never wanted as he was unable to find someone he wanted to share his life with, nor was he comfortable around children. Instead, Picard dedicated his life to Starfleet and spent 17 years as Captain of the Enterprise before he was promoted to Admiral and placed in charge of the Federation’s mission to save the Romulan people from their sun going supernova.

There’s a stark contrast to how Will Riker and Picard handled their retirements that underlines the difference between the two men. Riker made a healthy adjustment to being a husband and father when he left the Titan. Meanwhile, without Starfleet and Captaining the Enterprise as his purpose of being in life, Picard was desperately unhappy and frustrated being grounded on his family’s estate, so much so that he jumped at the chance to return to space when Dahj Asha (Isa Briones) asked for help. When Jean-Luc turned to Will and Deanna on Nepenthe, they gave Picard and Soji sanctuary but it was also unspoken how sad they felt for their former Captain, who was so alone in his advanced age that he clung to his motley crew as his new family. Jean-Luc still feels the need to keep saving the galaxy in Star Trek: Picard season 2, whereas Will only answers the call to action if necessary. Riker knows he’s done his part for the greater good on the Enterprise and the Titan and has a family who needs him more – which is a contentment Jean-Luc Picard just doesn’t have.

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