I just read the awesomest theory on YouTube: Riker was
the true commander of the Enterprise-D, and Riker and
Deanna Troi were secretly assigned to evaluate Picard's
fitness for duty and command.

The comment is appended. It explains a lot, doesn't it?


Melissa



@indetigersscifireview4360
10 months ago (edited)
Here's my theory. It's a long one. It covers, not only
why Deanna is s always on the bridge, but also why Riker
never leaves the E.D. for a command of his own, why the
only sentient android is on the E.D., why the only
Klingon in Starfleet is on the E.D. and why Starfleet
allow the Crushers to serve with Captain Dunsel, uhm I
mean Picard. And it all starts at the beginning of the
series with Dr. McCoy.

Picard is, in Starfleet parlance, a Captain Dunsel
character serving no useful function. He rarely ever
does anything to save his ship or his crew. My theory is
that Picard was traumatized on the Stargazer so badly
that he completely adopted his British persona so that he
wouldn't have to look himself in the mirror. More on
what traumatized him so badly at the end. After almost a
decade of psycho therapy without results, McCoy decides
on the job therapy is the only thing that may help. So
he arranges for Picard to be the "Captain" of the E.D.
But having served with the Greatest Of All Time, James T.
"god killer" Kirk, he knows that Picard will need a
strong backup. McCoy, having met with Riker, proposes to
Will that he can be Captain of the Drake OR he can be
Captain in all but name, of the E.D. Riker will be in
command of the E.D. and help to evaluate Picard's fitness
to return to active duty. Will agrees when he finds out
that he will be working with Deanna. That's why, in
seven years, Riker never leaves the E.D. Because he's
Captain in all but name. The very first conversation
between Picard and Riker confirms Will's status.

Picard: So a Captain's rank means nothing to you.

Riker: Quite the reverse sir, but a Captain's life means
more.

This conversation, right after Riker explains that he was
protecting Captain DeSoto from danger, is subtext. The
subtext is that Picard suspects that he's not really
responsible for the E.D. and her crew. Will confirms
Picard's suspicion which is a relief to Picard. Keep in
mind that, in Encounter at Farpoint, Picard was assigned
Riker as his First Officer. The two had never met. And
that Picard's first action report is to surrender to Q.
Q who by any metric of ability in that first episode was
no more powerful than the Federation. He puts up a
forcefield in space. He beams aboard the E.D. He
freezes an Ensign. He changes costumes on the fly. He
creates a realistic holographic projection. And Picard
is so overwhelmed by this he surrenders.

Deanna is also on the E.D. to evaluate Picard's fitness.
That's why she's always on the bridge. That is also why
she doesn't wear her uniform after Will arrives on the
E.D. She knows the uniform makes Picard uncomfortable
after 9 years of being in psycho therapy with Starfleet
doctors. She can judge his level of anxiety immediately
with her empathic skills, and evaluate him as a
psychologist. But she doesn't have the command
experience to judge his actions. And, it just so
happens, that the only person she can communicate with
telepathically is Will Riker. Who has enough command
experience to have been offered the cruiser Drake. And
he's on the bridge of the E.D. too. That's why we see
the two communicate through telepathy only once. Or do
we? Everyone once in a while Deanna and Will will look
at each other meaningfully without saying a word.
Usually behind Picard's back or give each other the side
eye. They are evaluating his actions in the moment in my
theory.

So that's the basic theory. The rest will go quickly
from here.

Data is First Officer in all but name, because he has no
ego to bruise.

Worf is Picard's security blanket.

And the Crushers, especially Wesley, are catalysts.

That leaves us with only one thing. What could have
traumatized Picard so badly that the proud Frenchman took
on the very British persona we see? We know that the
Stargazer suffered only superficial damage according to
Geordi and Data. Why, then abandon ship? It all goes
back to the beginning of the series and the other part of
the first conversation between Picard and Riker. He's
uncomfortable around children. Because Picard lost his
own son and/or family when the Ferengi attacked the
Stargazer. And that's why he abandoned ship. That's why
he's very British when in reality he's French. And the
evidence is all there in the series when you watch it
with this in mind. Riker turning down the Drake before
we meet him despite the fact that he wants to be a
starship Captain more than anything else. Why Deanna
ditches the uniform after Farpoint station. Why she's
always on the bridge. Why Wesley stayed with the E.D.
when his mother went back to head Starfleet medical. Why
Picard does almost nothing at the beginning but
eventually takes on more and more tasks. And why the
E.D. goes on so many milk runs. Go look over Farpoint
station. Say hi to these aliens. Time to come back home
for computer upgrades. Take colonists to their new
world. That's my theory. Thanks for sticking around to
the end.??

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