LogFAQs > #972769511

Episode 24: Second Chances

Two Rikers must be many people's dream.

Picard is, of course, perfectly decent to the Thomas. Tries to get the two Rikers to be friendly.

Riker knows how to throw a party. Couldn't be happier to be saved by Data. Finds the existence of his other self a bit of a confusing and stressful affair, but keeps himself professional. A bit betrayed by Troi going off to talk to Thomas. Interesting that he brushed off Troi to focus on his career. Approaches his double with a healthy amount of awkwardness and trepidation. Actually having a life for the past eight years has made him a more mature individual than the other. Not sure about his aggressively barking orders at him. His anger at him going above his head is perfectly justified. Handles Troi's new relationship maturely and decently and kind of proves himself the better man doing so. Extends an olive branch during the poker game. Is he afraid Thomas might steal his trombone? Gets a bit defensive over his chosen life. At least they part decently.

Thomas is obviously dishevelled, tired and more than a bit traumatised, a bit like the character from Frame of Mind, actually. Has the same humour and happiness as his other self, though. Still quite in love with Troi and very wounded that things have changed. Tries to be a bit avoidant, but still confesses his feelings. Happy to help, but you don't need to be am empath to see his nervousness. No longer used to military discipline. Hasn't had a chance to lose some of the bitterness and ambition his counterpart had. His eagerness to stay borders on the suicidal. That childish love note nonsense is actually a bit creepy and it's when he started to lose my sympathy a bit. Even if he knows her well enough to know its a thing shed probably appreciate, shes made it clear that she isnt really interested. Even if he does need to get his feelings off his chest, all but corralling Troi into listening and only noticing that he might be being a bit unfair towards the end of his rant reeks of a shocking lack of empathy compared to his other self and I'm not sure his isolation quite explains. It does help excuse going above his commander's head, which is a dick move, but an understandable one. He's completely in the wrong, but acting defiant during his chewing out is quite nice to see. Even if she is slightly more receptive, hassling Troi during her exercises isn't a great look, either. More than a bit lost during the poker game. His bitterness towards our Riker is understandable. Of course, he makes the same decision as his other self did. Considering Troi recently poured her heart out about how the first go round hurt her, that's another dick move.

La Forge is just as confused as I am at why Troi's in engineering.

Worf has no patience for Thomas. Having no luck in poker still. Aware of his social awkwardness.

Crusher's feeling the beat. Gives good advice on the potential relationship, ignoring that he's a bit of a creep, and makes herself scarce. She's trying to be decent, but I would've welcomed her continued prescence.

Troi has fun tormenting Riker. Has a frank discussion with his other self about their changed relationship. Gets a bit unfairly guilt tripped during that one sided pity party Thomas might call a date. The man's been dealt a shit hand, sure, but he's acting like an arse. I don't think I like her having regrets about how it ended. I always saw the two of them as having drawn it to a definitive, but ultimately happy close. No hard feelings or lingering emotions. Since that is apparently her character now, I suppose I can almost vaguely understand why she might want to get with a Riker who's basically stagnated for nearly a decade, but he's still weird. That moment of panic when Crusher buggers off is the appropriate reaction. All but calling it off is the right choice.

Data begins to feel a bit awkward during the poker game. Doesn't really get the mutual animosity.

Always an interesting effect to have two of the same actor in one shot. Poker night is a masterclass in tense awkwardness. That bridge scene is a bit too contrived. I'm glad they don't do something completely trite like have him be evil or kill him off at the last second. Apparently, this was Burton's directorial debut. Sadly, I didn't notice much else worth mentioning.

Similar to Tapestry, there's potential to explore regrets and what might have beens here, but I don't feel they actually do it well at all. Picard learns to make peace with his life, but our Riker already did that a few seasons ago. So, we potentially have Troi's regrets, but they basically have to break my prior understanding of her character for that to work and, even then, the fact that Thomas does the exact same shit as Will did makes it look like she's stuck in some sort of loop of emotionally abusive relationships, which isn't a great look for anyone, but especially the two Rikers. Thomas himself is hard to read as a younger, less developed Will because, and this is part of a problem that continues to plague Troi and Crusher's potential relationships, he behaves more like a bitter (somewhat understandable), entitled, maladjusted teenager (not remotely understandable) than he does what I imagine a younger, but still very adult Riker would actually act like. Considering we've seen that our Riker is astonishingly ethical, on the whole (especially by the standards of 80s and 90s tv) in how he pursues his love life, this behaviour doesn't track in the slightest. There is perhaps something to be said in how, given a second chance, most people would inevitably do the same as their first, which Tapestry also looked at, but it honestly seems like this episode is just an excuse for Frakes to be unpleasant to himself.

It gets points for not being completely lazy and killing off the second Riker, but only one of the two is actually all that enjoyable to watch.

Looking into Timescape next.