Riker's Best Star Trek Episode Is Trek's Greatest Deep Space Nine/The Next Generation Crossover

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Jonathan Frakes reprised his role as William Riker in Deep Space Nine's Season 3 episode "Defiant," which aired just months after The Next Generation ended. Rather than playing the familiar starship captain, Riker inhabited a darker version of himself from an alternate timeline, a prisoner who commandeers the titular starship to reclaim his lost identity. The episode stands as Trek's most compelling crossover between the two series, showcasing Frakes' range and delivering high-stakes drama that transcended typical fan-service cameos.