William T. Riker (Johnathan Frakes) has been a starship Captain since his promotion in Star Trek: Nemesis, but Star Trek: Picard season 3 perfectly set up his promotion to Admiral. The Starfleet officer Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) once called "the finest officer with whom [he had] ever served,"
William Riker has been an important presence in the Trek franchise since his introduction in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Despite the accolades he's received, Riker has been slow to climb the ranks. He has turned down more than one offer of a captaincy, choosing instead to remain as the first officer on the USS Enterprise-D. With a ship like the Enterprise and a Captain like Jean-Luc Picard, it's no surprise he stayed as long as he did.
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Though he clearly has the credentials necessary to be an Admiral, Riker has had other priorities over the years. When Jean-Luc visits him on Nepenthe in Star Trek: Picard season 1, Riker has taken a break from Starfleet to spend time with his family after the death of his son. Riker and his wife, Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), both experienced tremendous grief over their son's death, and this put a strain on their marriage. The events of Picard season 3 allowed Riker and Troi to reconnect with one another and begin to put their marriage back together. By the end of the season, it seems everything is in place for Riker to accept a promotion to Admiral.
How Picard Season 3 Set Up Admiral Riker
Riker Blue Picard Season 3
Riker's long wait to be Captain allowed him to learn from Picard and also develop his own command style. After taking some time off, Riker finally jumps back into the fray in Star Trek: Picard season 3. He gets to reunite with old friends and save the galaxy once again, and it looks like he has a lot of fun doing it. Even getting taken by the Changelings is not enough to truly dampen his spirits, as it allows him to reunite with Troi. They finally have time to discuss their marriage and the loss of their son. When season 3 ends, Riker and Troi are planning a vacation and seem ready to embrace the future.
Now that he has made a triumphant return to his Starfleet duties, it seems fitting that Riker would get a promotion to Admiral. He got to go on one last galaxy-saving romp and mended his marriage along the way. While being an Admiral may not involve many dangerous missions, Riker would still get to be a part of the action while also having time to spend with his family. At the end of Star Trek: Picard season 3, he is a captain without a ship. William Riker has had his run as Captain and got to help save the galaxy one more time before his inevitable promotion to Admiral.
Riker Could Be Star Trek: Legacy’s Admiral
Captian Riker on the USS Zheng He in Star Trek: Picard Season 1.
Every good Star Trek show needs a trustworthy Admiral, and there is no one better to play that role in Star Trek: Legacy than William T. Riker. Not only is he a familiar face for audiences, but he's also familiar to Captain Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan), Commander Raffi Musiker (Michelle Hurd), and many of the crew of the newly-christened Enterprise-G. Will would be a welcome face to lead the next generation of Starfleet greats into the future.
As the former captain of the Titan, Riker is familiar with the new Enterprise and its capabilities, and Will would be a trustworthy face to hand Seven her orders. While there are other Admirals who could serve in this position, including Jean-Luc Picard himself, Riker seems like the most obvious choice, and it's a role Jonathan Frakes himself would like to take on in Star Trek: Legacy. Star Trek: Picard gave William Riker one last grand adventure, and set up everything necessary for his long-awaited promotion to Admiral.
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