Who is Star Trek’s best second-in-command: Spock or Riker?

Both of them were first officers in the U.S.S. Enterprise — separated by time, but not by duty. For some reason, it is rare for anyone to think of Commander Riker and Mr. Spock as one. Until now.

Ever since Jean-Luc Picard took the helm of the Enterprise-D and set out for Farpoint Station (it was Stardate 41153.7, but late September 1987 to us on Earth) people have agonized over whether he was a “better” captain than James T. Kirk. It was, indeed, the main topic of discussion on early internet forums for anyone old enough to recall. The Simpsons’s first ever reference to the World Wide Web.

The usual situation was that when the talk had left the center, then the next point to compare was between Original Series’ Spock and Next Generation’s Lieutenant Commander Data. This is logical. Story-wise, they serve a similar function: They are the geniuses that are clutch to the ship’s survival, but forever on the periphery. Spock is half-Vulcan and suppresses his emotions for cold logic. Data, however, is an android with such superiority (though never). Very Explained) that Commander Maddox, a sniveling commander, agrees that he is sentient. These characters quickly became fan favorite (and still are) and this formula has been repeated in subsequent series with Odo. Deep Space NineSeven of Nine Voyager. (Much has been written about Star Trek’s groundbreaking neurodivergent representation, even if some of the creators claim to have been unaware that that was what they were doing.)

Starfleet, although it isn’t a military organisation, follows a chain. Spock and Riker are equals. One has to wonder if the two could ever be in conflict. Let’s break the competition down by category.

For strength

CBS Image

Gene Roddenberry’s team of producers and writers pulled off an unexpected turn while creating new ideas. Next Generation. Picard is a goodass, but he was deliberately created as a cerebral answer to Kirk. Riker shares many characteristics with the O.G. captain. He’s the sequel series’ man of action (and that action isn’t just with his phaser on an away mission.) While Mr. Spock is handsome, he’s far from being a muscle-bound hunk. He’s thin, and even stoop-shouldered at time. So to look at them you’d think Riker could knock him out cold.

Vulcans — even half-Vulcans — have a different physical makeup than humans. There’s the green blood, the inner eyelid, the ability to thrive in high heat and low oxygen environments, and, key to this discussion, tremendous physical strength. What’s more, there’s that handy little move known as the Vulcan nerve pinch that’ll take down just about anyone in a few seconds.

Advantage: Spock

Charm

CBS Image

This one is harder to pinpoint. Riker, yes, was well-known for his ability and willingness to seduce women across the galaxy. imzadi, Counselor Troi. (On which other TV show have you seen a man who is truly Happy when his best friend and ex-lover was enjoying great sex? It was only on TNG!) To this day, the warm, bearded smile of the Enterprise-D’s first officer is a champion of memes and reaction GIFs.

But when Mr. Spock and his Luciferan lewks hit the airwaves in the late 1960s, it was a revolution for people attracted to “different” looking people. Much to William Shatner’s dismay, Leonard Nimoy became his sidekick and soon received more fanmail than the original guy listed on the call list. Spockophilia was a key, driving force in the early fan culture of Star Trek, and one can make the case that the commonly found pursuit of “shipping” has its roots right there on the tips of his pointy ears.

Advantage: Draw

Music talent

William Riker is my only interstellar-jazz trombonist. (And Jonathan Frakes really does play the instrument; he’s on a Phish album, and has an RIAA certified Gold Record in his home to prove it.)

Mr. Spock, however, plays something no human ever plays, at least not that I’ve seen: the Vulcan lute.

His rare public jamming on said instrument was a way for the emotionally insecure genius to connect with the rest of his crew, and show a more playful side (especially with Lieutenant Commander Uhura’s improvised lyrics). The damn thing was so beautiful.

Advantage: Spock

Our strange siblings

CBS Image

Mr. Spock can be described as a child from two worlds. Amanda, his mother is human. Sarek is his father and a Vulcan ambassador. It is not relevant that he bears an eerie resemblance with a Romulan Commander, who was killed in combat against Captain Kirk.

It seemed for years that his solitude meant he had no siblings. But, this wasn’t the truth. He was in fact an In Star Trek V: The Final FrontierWe learned about Sybok’s older brother, who was a charismatic leader, quasi-religious, and ultimately bad news. Fans don’t like to talk about Sybok much, but there’s always one or two dudes who dress like him at conventions, to a round of jeers.

We learned later of Michael Burnham’s adopted sister. He was the main character. Star Trek: Discovery. This could have happened because the couple made ill-informed creative choices. Discovery Bryan Fuller is the showrunner Disco’s curious first season has never fully been told) but once Ethan Peck sank his teeth into the role of Spock, they managed to make it work. We’ll see more in Star Trek: Strange New WorldsThis year, it will be later.

But none of Spock’s family history could ever match Will Riker’s “brother,” Thomas Riker. He is still a noble adventurer. is accepted to be Will’s sibling, but he’s actually a clone created by a transporter accident. Several disquieting years, to put it bluntly, set him on a different path — he joined the Maquis, and caught the eye of Major Kira. So he isn’t really a duplicate. He is, thanks to some serious sci-fi, his own man, with similarities and differences to the Enterprise’s first officer: truly, a brother.

Advantage: Riker

Loyalty

CBS Image

Both Spock and Riker (and Kira and Chakotay and T’Pol and Trip Tucker and Saru) are fiercely loyal to their captains. They both refused to take over the helm of their ship, as Spock did in Wrath at KhanRiker’s episode Best of Both Worlds), realizing that they best suited the Federation’s needs (and maybe their own) by standing by their man. These men were forthright and truthful.

It happens most of the time.

It is possible to have Original Series’s two-parter “The Menagerie” And the Next Generation episode “The Pegasus”. Both times, the seconds-in command withheld enough information to lie to their captains. However, they were able to provide an explanation. They were delivering the promises and wishes to previous captains. Picard and Kirk were both encouraged to realize that years later, these men would have their backs.

Advantage: Draw

Post-first officer career

Images: CBS/Paramount Pictures

Will Riker served on the Enterprise and eventually became the commander of the U.S.S. Titan. Deanna Troi was his second wife.

The End of Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1 emphasized that he’s still out there, saving the day at the last minute. The same with season 1. Star Trek: Picard.

Spock took, however, the easier route. Following a time back on Vulcan, Spock attempted to finish his assignment but was unsuccessful. KolinahrStarfleet training and the relationships forged there, drew him back to Federation. After working as a professor at Starfleet Academy, he followed his father’s path as an ambassador. He went underground and tried to make peace between Vulcans, Romulus, and eventually chatted with Data. This scene still thrills nerds today.

From a story perspective, he was also the conduit between the Prime Universe, the Kelvin Trilogy, and one of our greatest movies (Star Trek BeyondOne very enjoyable movie is (Star TrekSybok is a disaster so horrible that Sybok makes it seem less terrible (Star Trek Into Darkness). Spock once again shows himself to be a good family man.

Advantage: Spock

It’s all in the mathematics. To see the Vulcan logic, one does not need to be Vulcan. Spock defeats Riker

But hopefully he’s learned enough from Captain Kirk to pull a Kobayashi Maru and change the rules so that they don’t have to fight in the first place.