Star Trek: Exploring Riker and Troi’s Complicated Love Story

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Star Trek is one of those programs that has engraved itself into popular culture so much that it has begun to influence the real world. Many who don’t even know the show will recognize the “live long and prosper” hand symbol, and directly related or not, some technology from the show has wiggled its way into daily life. It’s strange then, for those who are fans of the show, to seemingly know a key narrative flavoring, and to later realize that most of it is never fully shown on screen. One of these is the relationship between commander Riker and counselor Troi.

During TNG there is little to nothing of their relationship explored on screen, though a lot is suggested. It’s only implied that after the series had finished, and within the films, that their romance actually becomes something tangible. The most notable examples are from the films Insurrection and Nemesis. As part of the Insurrection plot, Riker and Troi become younger versions of themselves through exposure to some metaphysic eradication, and rekindle their relationship. In Nemesis, the two are married on screen just before they both gallivant off to their new ship, the USS Titan, which Riker commands. Their history, however, is often hinted at throughout the series, and used to create sexual tension between them.

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Part of their tension comes from having met prior to the events aboard the iconic USS Enterprise D. They met on Betazed, the Betazoid home world, and this was where they began their romantic relationship. Things were great, until Riker got promoted for saving some scientists on Nervala Four. This strange series of events actually resulted in a transporter accident, producing a clone of Riker, but this is