Star Trek: 10 Riker Romances That Were A TOTAL Security Risk
7. Angel Eyes
In search of survivors from a freighter, the Enterprise heads to Angel One, a planet where women are in charge, and men are subordinate. An arrangement that prompts an unsolicited response from Worf: Klingons appreciate strong women. And that's the extent of his wisdom on the subject.
It sounds like it could be an interesting setup for a story, but unfortunately, the episode is as subtle as a brick and any social commentary feels like it gets lost in translation.
Picard decides Troi should initiate communication with the head of state, Mistress Beata (even typing that with a straight face is challenging). But once the away team beams down, Riker can't help but step in. And it's not unnoticed by Beata, who sends him a rather...interesting outfit to wear for his audience with her.
But it's clear once they're alone that she has more than just talking in mind. A knowing look and a suggestive squeeze of the arm have Riker informing the rest of his team that he'll be staying a while longer. And he actually says with all seriousness that he's staying with Beata in the interests of diplomatic relations.
Unless James T. Kirk set up an online masterclass at some point, we're pretty sure that Starfleet training did not list 'sleep with the head of state' as a legitimate diplomatic gesture.
On the contrary, Angel One's tense gender politics have turned the place into a powder keg, and Riker's involvement with Beata could well become a spark that ignites it. The freighter survivors' lives depend on a successful dialogue, and last time we checked, frolicking in bed makes that somewhat difficult. And we're not sure we'd want our lives riding on the Commander's performance.
And before the away team left, Picard gave them a very clear warning: Angel One's strategic importance in the quadrant could be vital, and Starfleet hopes they'll become part of the Federation. A situation that could become considerably more complicated after a messy break-up with the Flagship's first officer.
We also agree with Picard on another issue. On Riker's return, he says he's looking forward to his report on the debacle. We'd be pretty interested in seeing it too.