11 Times Star Trek The Next Generation DID Have Conflict

11. Riker Wanted Picard's Job

How did we all forget this one? Demoting the captain down to bureaucrat while the first officer has all the fun on away missions was such a major shake up of the Star Trek formula that it left many fans in a rage induced stupor.

Riker was constantly described in promotional materials and interviews as believing the Enterprise was his ship. He just let Picard steer it from time to time. This was a constant source of annoyance for Picard who was, until recently, the swashbuckler of his previous ship, the USS Stargazer.

Picard often had to force himself into the center of things, much to Riker’s dismay, like in Code of Honor where Troi made a sly case for Picard beaming down to Ligon II to bargain for Yar’s release. Often Riker had to be outright incapacitated, as he was in Arsenal of Freedom and Skin of Evil, before Picard could join the away team.

Riker was also very personable, while Picard was mostly an aloof jerk who literally muttered “merde” to himself when things didn’t go his way.