Star Trek: 10 Worst Things William T. Riker Has Ever Done

5. Shaving His Beard

Star Trek Insurrection Riker Manual Steering
Paramount Pictures

The first season of The Next Generation introduced us to a version of Riker that was clean shaved and more than a little uptight. As the second season dawned, a new man stepped onto the bridge, complete with a tidy beard and a new attitude. This would be the Riker we would come to know and love over the following decade or so, helping us grow more and more comfortable with the affable bloke.

Star Trek: Insurrection offered a fresh hell for us to consider. In a scene with more bubbles than the Director's Edition of The Hunt for Red October, Riker slathers shaving cream on himself and destroys the hearts of fans everywhere.

Smooth as android's bottom, eh Data?

No, Will. This isn't a laughing matter. There are so many different threats taking place all around the crew and you offered up one of the most distracting, upsetting things in the history of the franchise! It is not a suggestion that Jonathan Frakes is any less visually appealing than usual but rather an unwelcome reminder that there are alternate universes out there with no facial hair at a time where no distractions are needed. 

Let us never repeat this again.

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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"