In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " A Matter of Honor ", several members of a Klingon ship's crew speak a language that is not translated for the benefit of the viewer ( even Commander Riker, enjoying the benefits of a universal translator, is unable to understand ) until one Klingon orders the others to " speak their ' humans ' language ".

During the progression of the series the attraction or affection between the two is made more apparent, though both Crusher and Picard try to conceal their feelings ; neither wants to admit to the other how they feel, though they have both been seen on separate occasions talking with other crew members about it, most notably, William Riker and Deanna Troi.

The reasons for this lack of promotion ( or possible future demotion ) have not yet been revealed, although it is not unheard of for an officer to remain at a set rank for many years without promotion ( examples include William Riker and Pavel Chekov, who remained at the rank of Commander for many years without moving on to become captains, and Harry Kim, who never moved beyond the rank of Ensign during the seven-year run of Star Trek: Voyager ).

The William H. Riker Prize for excellence in undergraduate teaching is awarded by the University of Rochester bi-annually in his honor.

A better example is in the episode Disaster, where Data intentionally damages his body to break a high-current electrical arc, and then Riker taking his head to engineering to solve an engine problem.

Captain William Thomas Riker, played by Jonathan Frakes, is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe appearing primarily as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

For the first two seasons, Riker is portrayed as bold and confident, an ambitious young officer ; however, over time Riker's character becomes more reserved, as experience teaches him the wisdom of a patient, careful approach.

Riker is usually referred to as " Wil ", although in early first-season episodes of TNG he is sometimes called " Bill " by Deanna Troi.

In the episode " Lower Decks " a waiter at Ten Forward mistakenly states that Riker is Canadian.

The " second " Riker takes the name " Thomas ", which is revealed to be William Riker's middle name.

As Executive Officer, Commander Riker is a strict taskmaster toward the former convict while she struggles to earn his trust and respect.

More recently, in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the crew is sometimes seen playing five-card stud, often an officer's game hosted by Commander William Riker and usually entered by Data ( as part of his efforts to become more human ), Worf, Geordi LaForge, Dr Beverley Crusher, Deanna Troi and occasionally by other crewmembers.

Frakes is best known for his portrayal of Commander William T. Riker in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation and subsequent films.

He is also one of six Star Trek actors ( the other actors being Kate Mulgrew, Michael Dorn, George Takei, Avery Brooks and Majel Barrett ) to lend their voices to the video game Star Trek: Captain's Chair reprising his role as Commander William T. Riker when users visit the Enterprise-D bridge featured in the game.

After correctly predicting several deaths, he tells his friend Captain Riker what he is able to see, but the Captain does not know whether to believe him or not.

In the ensuing battle, all return except for Riker, who is killed by a sniper.

Dougherty orders Enterprise to leave, but Picard tells Riker to let the Federation know what is occurring while he and others beam down to the planet and evacuate the Ba ' ku.

Riker is able to narrowly stop their attack and escape.

The plot basically is the same as the film: Captain Jean-Luc Picard and the crew of the Enterprise-D discover the ruins of the Amargosa Observatory and send Commander William Riker down to investigate.

In the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode " Qpid ", Little John is portrayed by Commander William Riker, as part of Q's recreated fantasy of Robin Hood.

It is also revealed in this episode that humans can also serve as temporary hosts to the symbionts when Commander William Riker hosted Odan's symbiont.

Lt. Worf, in the meantime, thinks that the Captain is being tested as a warrior and advocates an aggressive stance which Riker says he will take as a last option.

Although there is tension between Riker and Shelby, who has designs on his position at first officer of the Enterprise, they confirm the colony was assimilated by the Borg.

Starfleet is renewing its mission of peaceful exploration and diplomacy, a mission spearheaded by the Titan, which in addition to Riker and Troi, is manned by " the most biologically varied and culturally diverse crew in Starfleet history.

In an alternate future, Worf had been reluctant to become involved with Troi and her subsequent death led to a rift between Riker and himself as a result.

Political scientists such as French sociologist Maurice Duverger as well as American professor William H. Riker of the University of Rochester and others speculate that there are correlations between voting rules and type of party system.

Frakes had grown a mustache and beard between seasons, and Gene Roddenberry asked him to keep it, because he thought it made Riker look more dignified.

Peter David's novel Imzadi explores the backstory between Riker and Troi, and its sequel Triangle: Imzadi II covers the cooling of the Worf / Troi relationship, which was left unexplained on screen.

Tension between Picard and his first officer grows as Riker now seems to be embracing his powers.

When the affair between Riker and Soren is discovered, the J ' naii force Soren to undergo " psychotectic " therapy.

The affair between Riker and Soren grows and eventually is discovered.

Other characters included Joe's teenage daughter Penny ( Hallie Todd ), who was becoming independent at a faster rate than Joe anticipated ; and The Point After waitress, Kelly Hall ( Robin Riker ), who traded zingers with them all while acting as a mediator between the Waters brothers when necessary.

The cure came from the Federation ; after the Federation representative Kyle Riker disappears, tension mounts between the crew of the Enterprise and the colonists.

* In the " A Matter of Honor " episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Commander Riker becomes an officer aboard a Klingon Bird-of-Prey as part of an exhange program between the Federation and Klingon Empire.

Even when the Enterprise sends a message with how to remove the organism, Riker is unable to convince Kargan to disengage, leading to a power struggle aboard the Pagh, and a standoff between the Enterprise and the Pagh.

William H. Riker noted that strong regional parties can distort matters, leading to more than two parties receiving seats in the national legislature, even if there are only two parties competitive in any single district.

Chief Petty Officer " Windy " Riker ( Beery ) is a veteran aerial gunner of a Navy Helldiver dive bomber and the leading chief of Fighting Squadron One, about to go to Panama aboard the USS Saratoga aircraft carrier.

In the Enterprise episode " These are the Voyages ..." Riker uses the holodeck to watch the last mission of the NX-01 Enterprise because he wants to clear his head.

A later mission in the Dominion campaign requires the player to destroy the Imperius before Riker can take command and, if possible, destroy Riker's current ship ( a Galaxy class starship ).

As a means of ironic thanks, Riker suggests sending the Ferengi a box of chinese finger traps, a toy that Data became fascinated by, and subsequently stuck in, earlier in the mission.

Data announces that electromagnetic interference from electrical storms precludes the use of the transporter to the moon ; Picard authorizes a shuttlecraft mission, manned by Riker, Data, and Troi.

In short order, a rescue mission is planned, Riker volunteers to pilot a shuttle and retrieve the shuttle crew.

He tries to explain the situation to Picard, who is sympathetic to Riker but says that he cannot sanction a rescue mission as it violates the Prime Directive as well as Riker throwing away his career.

Riker must decide whether to accept command of a starship, and negative feelings surface when his estranged father arrives to brief him on the mission.