Returning to a planet with an alpha-numeric name where Riker led the emergency evacuation of an important station eight years ago, the Enterprise crew encounters something unexpected- another full Riker. It seems that when they beamed him out, there was an error and...well maybe this handy graphic is the best way to explain it:
Make sense? Good. Basically, Barclay is right and transporters are terrifying and offer endless ways to mess you up forever. In this case, poor "Alt-Riker" or "Lt. Riker" or "Thomas" has spent eight years in isolation, dreaming of the day when he can be reunited with his mourning family, watch the video of his very well-attended funeral, get back to the business of becoming a captain, and pick up where he left off with his serious girlfriend, Deanna Troi. Except what he finds is no one missed him because another dude has taken his place. Not just that, but the dude screwed things up with Troi and doesn't even want to be a captain.
The two Rikers immediately butt heads, and Our Riker makes it clear that he out-ranks Alt-Riker. They don't like each other, and it all boils over in a in a beautiful scene over a poker game, where Our Riker has the advantage the whole time, and Alt-Riker points out that this frankly has always been the case. My only question is- why were there extra poker chips laying there for another player, and what's the big deal anyway if you're just gambling away resources that were just handed out willy nilly? Maybe I've missed the point.But in case I, or any other viewer, did miss the point of the show, it is explicitly stated in an almost fourth wall breaking scene between Worf and Data. I was already thinking, How would I act if I encountered myself? Would I like me? But if you weren't having that thought, the show expressly states the big question of the show out loud. It's almost like an aside to the show where they are talking about the show. It's weird, and unnecessary. But anyway, Worf says that he probably wouldn't like his double, because he is not easy to get along with. Data doesn't understand, even though he actually has a double that is his arch rival. As for me, I like myself just fine, but can't imagine hanging out with me. What would be the point? There's no reason to talk, I know what me thinks already. Sure, I would have someone to do the things that I enjoy with, but it's not the same as sharing an experience with a person who's reactions may be different than your own. It would be just a constant reminder of what I look while I'm doing things, and probably freak out the people around me. It could, however, add a new element to masturbation. Nah, I don't think I'd be into that either.
But as for the Rikers, I can see each of them having a beef with the other. Our Riker sees a guy that now has a claim on his stuff. As Alt-Riker walks into the poker game, Our Riker instinctively moves towards his trombone and picks it up, just in case Alt-Riker was thinking about having a blow. Our Riker also has to watch as Alt-Riker tries to get with his old girlfriend. Naturally, he's jealous. He doesn't necessarily want Troi that way, but he doesn't want to watch an alternate version of himself play things out with her either. I get that. As for Alt-Riker, he gets a wake-up call that all the things he thought he would do if he ever got out probably won't happen. No Troi, no captainship. In Alt-Riker's eyes, Our Riker had eight years to accomplish his main goals, and failed. But goals change over time, and even if things go well, they don't usually go how we thought. Basically, because they have spent so much time apart, they truly are now two different people. So it's best that Lt Riker go his own way, and probably best that Troi not go with him.
Published December 7, 2018
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