QCARD: LET'S TALK ABOUT RIKER
I watched Deja Q last night, and it suddenly occurred to me that Riker knows that Picard has an attraction and a soft spot for Q.
He does. Riker knows. He has seen moments when Picard opens himself up to Q, or gives Q the benefit of the doubt.
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Example: Q Who:
Picard: You (Q) are part of our charter....You qualify as one of the most unique I've ever encountered. To learn about you is frankly provocative."
Riker witnessed Picard saying "provocative" while gazing at Q with that slight smile.
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Examples: Deja Q:
After Q was escorted to the Brig by Worf...
Picard: "What sort of jaded game is he up to this time?"
Riker: "Maybe he just wants a big laugh..."
Picard stops.
Picard: "Or, he could have nothing to do with it at all." (aka giving Q the benefit of doubt)
Riker *looks at him in disbelief *: " You honestly think Q is telling the truth?"
Picard defends himself.
Picard: "Oh, I agree this is highly unlikely, but we have to proceed as though Q is powerless to prevent it."
Riker: "And he just sits here watching us struggle?"
Picard: "I don't see we have any choice."
Picard is willing to let Q off the hook here. Riker isn't.
Example: Q is on the shuttlecraft luring the Calamarain away from the ship.
Picard:" This goes against my better judgement (He still tries to help Q, though) Transporter room, lock onto the shuttlecraft and beam it back into its bay."
Look at Riker, sitting there with a "Seriously?" look.
AGAIN, Picard *defends* himself to Riker.
Picard: "It's a perfectly good shuttlecraft, Number One."
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Example: Qpid
We all remember Riker saying in the Ready Room "I'll alert the crew." after Picard tells him that Q wants to do something nice for him.
Riker has that head nod of awareness of Q's potential for causing trouble, but I think he has an awareness of Q's feelings for Picard, but also an awareness that Q's feelings are somewhat reciprocated somehow.
I just want to know HOW IN THE WORLD Picard explained the fact that Q put them in a Robin Hood fantasy, all so that Picard could prove his feelings for Vash.
Riker probably thought, "What is going on here?!"
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Example: Tapestry
The last scene
Picard describes how he was surprised Q had compassion and said that he owed him a debt of gratitude.
Riker responds, shocked, "In what sense? It sounds like he put you through hell!"
Picard AGAIN defends himself to Riker.
Picard explains the tapestry allegory for his youth, but notice how Riker still looks hesitant.
Our favorite First Officer was on to something from Picard. He could tell that Q was not some evil monster to Picard, and that his captain had buried feelings and attraction to Q.
One more example: True Q:
The scene where Riker finds Q and Amanda Rogers in the lab.
Q: "Well, if it isn't Number Two."
Riker ignores him and can't get out of the room fast enough.
**I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if Q was fully aware of Riker's irritation that Picard had hidden feelings for him, and that these feelings were creating that disagreement between he and Picard. Picard and Riker work well together, and sometimes they disagree, but
but, Riker does eventually respect Picard's judgement and actions.
With interactions involving Q however, Picard and Riker are on opposite sides during these moments.
So, with Q's remark about Number Two, guess what!
Q is SO happy to be replacing Riker because he knows that Riker does act as a gatekeeper between others, including himself, and Picard, in a way. Riker is close to Picard, too.
Competition.
What satisfaction Q feels knowing that HIS capitaine does not agree with Riker The Gatekeeper. It leaves Q an opening to Picard, even if it is small.
Yes, Riker has always known something was up.
He knew.
BONUS:
I did a post last year about how in the TV special, Journey's End: The Saga of Star Trek the Next Generation, Johnathan Frakes introduced Q and John de Lancie by literally saying,
"....the evil Q."
Then, John de Lancie spoke briefly about Q as being an omnipotent being that has changed. I think he has become more human, in a way."
Nothing evil sounding there.
De Lancie even says in another interview: "Q is not evil; he's naughty..."
Oh, Riker/Johnathan.
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