11 Times Star Trek The Next Generation DID Have Conflict
6. Troi Wanted Some Riker
It’s clear the moment these two met in the pilot that they had a torrid history. Troi spoke to Riker telepathically in a way we’re all sure he could hear, but he refused to respond.
It’s always been assumed that Troi wanted a relationship Riker rejected because of his career. However, Dorothy Fontana’s Encounter at Farpoint plot outline tells a different story, with Troi wanting to continue a sexual relationship that Riker fears would lead to him catching feels.
In the episode Haven this characterization was actually borne out with Troi accusing a jealous Riker of being too emotionally primitive to accept concepts like polyamory and the separation of "physical and platonic love".