10 Best Riker Episodes In Star Trek
3. Nepenthe
As the only entry on this list not to come from the Next Generation, Nepenthe stands as one of the best because of the Next Generation. The meeting between old friends was designed to pull on the heartstrings of the audience and it manages to succeed. With Picard's first season being largely positively received, this entry stands as one of the brighter examples.
The main reason for this is of course the reunions between Picard, Riker and Troi. Everyone is bringing their A-game (Marina Sirtis has never been better) but its clear that this is all about Picard and Riker.
Their relationship has evolved since we last saw them together in Nemesis. There is a more relaxed feeling, one brought on by age and wisdom. The writers chose to introduce the fact that Riker and Troi had lost a son due to the synth ban, allowing them to be a part of the season arc without shoe-horning them in.
Their idyllic existence is, other than their tragic loss, exactly what the audience would have wanted for them in their retirement. They are happy together. Riker is baking pizzas and offering a shoulder to his old Captain to lean on. Picard was decidedly not a sequel to the Next Generation but this episode offers a glimpse at the relationship he should still have with his old crew. While the episode was perfect as a stand-alone feature in the series, it did slow the season down a little. A small price to pay for the glorious return of the Rikers.