Second Chances
While Frakes really brought it as Thomas Riker on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, we made sure to ignore that episode for this specific list. Thomas Riker is not Will’s brother, but instead, is just Will Riker. Will ended up having a twin/clone created of himself after a transporter malfunction years earlier. The episode features Frakes playing duel roles and trying to figure out how to not only accept there’s another person out there just like you but also figure out how to carry on with your life when no one even knew you were missing.
A Matter of Honor
Will Riker’s beard in season two wasn’t the only new thing that came to the series. An officer transfer with the Klingons took part as a way to help establish a better working arrangement. It’s a great fish-out-of-water story, where Riker participates in an excercise with the Klingons against the Enterprise, and along the way, Riker befriends sevearl Klingons. His ability to learn and respect their culture is the perfect way to close out the episode.