Star Trek: Picard's Finale Scene Felt Like a Flashback For Riker Actor
Jonathan Frakes' triumphant captain moment in the first season finale of Star Trek: Picard felt like a flashback for the veteran actor and director. Star Trekfans were thrilled to learn Patrick Stewart would once again be suiting up as Jean-Luc Picard for a new CBS All Access series, and it didn't take long for them to hope some of Picard's old friends from The Next Generationcould make a return trip with him. While much of Picard's main cast is made up of new faces, the first season featured many familiar characters. Among the most notable returns, Frakes' Will Riker turned up to offer Picard a safe haven in the season's seventh episode "Nepenthe" alongside wife Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis).
Click the button below to start this article in quick view. Start nowRiker also appeared in the season finale, having briefly left retirement to assume command of a new ship and come to Picard's aid along with an entire fleet. For fans who had spent years watching Riker turn down offers to be captain before finally taking a command at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis, it was surely a thrill to see him in the captain's chair. Frakes' involvement with the series was a huge highlight for fans, as well as a record-breaking one. Having directed episodes of another CBS All Access Star Trek show, Star Trek: Discovery, Frakes recently seemed to indicate he'd be back for more, especially in regards to the shows that have yet to be announced. For now though, fans are curious to know if Riker will return for Picard's second season.
During an interview with ComicBook.com, Frakes opened up about filming Riker's finale moment, which he described as a very different experience because he was alone and "'self-directing.'" As Frakes described it, "I was in a captain's chair. I had a spacesuit on. I had my beard trimmed, my Riker hair put back on, my bald spots covered up. It felt very familiar, and it was like a flashback." Furthermore, the quick moment was a real joy for Frakes because of "how well 'Nepenthe' went, I was less nervous and, I got to say, thrilled to have been asked back, to be perfectly frank."
Seeing as Riker very nearly wasn't included in Picard's first season, it's hard to say whether he will be back for the highly-anticipated second. Of course, seeing as Frakes continues to have a strong involvement in the Star Trek franchise off-camera, there's a good chance he could return provided the story finds the right opportunity. Now that Riker has taken on a command even after retiring, it might be easy to bring him back into the action.
Riker likely wouldn't be the only TNG cast member to make an appearance in season 2, as Frakes recently said he expects more to return following the positive reception toward "Nepenthe". Frakes also insisted he'll be back to direct episodes of Picard, so he'll never be far from his old on-screen friend. Fans were thrilled to see Captain Riker in action, and it's safe to say they'd be happy to see him again.
Source: ComicBook.com
Source: screenrant.com