The Icarus Factor (1989) User Reviews (17)

Riker's daddy issues....

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 14 November 2014]

Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan)--hyper-competitive and emotionally absent lots of macho theatrics Worf's right of ascension

Whether you like "The Icarus Factor" or not might well depend on whether you like soap operas. Instead of the usual missions, there are two crew members who have serious growing up issues...and for once, it ain't Wesley!

In the first theme, Riker is being offered command of a ship. But, there is a problem--his father had come to talk to him about this assignment and ready him should he accept it. Why is this bad? Well, Riker has daddy issues--and he and his father are not at all close. Much of Will Riker's childhood was spent with a hyper-competitive dad who was also emotionally absent. And, although he behaves as if he doesn't need his father or care, Will obviously is carrying a lot of pain and needs to deal with this.

The other involves Worf. Wesley has noticed that Worf is even more emotionally distant and surly than usual and he brings this to the attention of Worf's other friends. They have no idea what's going on...until Wesley realizes, after doing some research, that Worf is feeling alone and alienated from his Klingon heritage because there are no Klingon friends with him to celebrate his Right of Ascension. So, the crew prepares for the ceremony--with involves 'pain sticks'!

As I said, this is a soap opera-like episode. Nothing really occurs except for some occasionally embarrassing emotional baggage coming to a head. It is fitting, then, that Ryan Riker (the dad) is played by Mitchell Ryan--a very familiar face on soap operas like "All My Children", "Dark Shadows" and "General Hospital". As for me, I really found the episode a bit poor--with a real slump in writing and not enough happening other than a couple folks whining about their childhoods.

Let us work out our problems with a giant Q-Tip battle.

[thevacinstaller · 7/10 · 9 March 2021]

It's a pretty decent soapy TNG episode.

This is one of those episode that I can pour my life and my experiences into and that elevates my enjoyment of the source material. I don't have daddy issues like Riker but I do have Mommy issues that stem from tragic circumstances and the rift caused by them --- much like what unfolds in this episode.... but without the blind american gladiators competition.

When you try to work through such strong emotions sometimes you make crazy choices and end up in a UFC ring fighting your parent blind folded with a oversized q-tip.

That's life. This episode humanizes Riker a bit for me.

Worf's Rite of Ascension

[ohroonoko · 6/10 · 6 October 2021]

This episode had a lot going on: a main storyline (the cliché plot of Riker's and his father's reconciliation), and 4 subplots: Riker's option to transfer to the USS Ares, Deanna and Dr Pulaski coping with unrequited love, Geordi's insult by the Starbase engineers, and Worf's Rite of Ascension. The strongest plot in the episode was Worf's. That story deserved to be the focus of its own episode. It was touching how Wesley went through the trouble to find out what the stick up Worf's butt was all about, and Worf was touched when he found out that his secret was known by his friends on the Enterprise. And then recreating the Rite on the Holodeck, seeing Miles restrain Dr Pulaski because she doesn't understand Klingons as well as the others and, although it was tough for everyone to watch, everyone else understood that enduring pain the whole point.

LOL martial arts and moody teen Riker

[snoozejonc · 6/10 · 5 June 2021]

Riker is offered his own command, whilst Worf appears to be in a depressed state of mind.

This is an okay episode with some good themes and character backstory, but it has some terribly clunky dialogue and feels too much like a soap opera at times.

There are two plots that focus on themes involving the male psyche such as the need to prove and test one's self, the aggressive nature and father/son relationships.

Most scenes with Riker I found to be soapy, because I never thought he would actually leave the Enterprise and with that concept being a non-entity, all that remains is his emotional state and relationship with his father. In fact he's pretty much playing a moody teenager for most of the episode.

The sub-plot involving Worf is okay but feels like it's dragged out to fill space in the episode.

The martial art scene towards the end does not work for me. Visually it could have worked if the actors, stuntmen and choreographers put some life and agility into making the martial arts appear plausible. The costumes only highlight this further by being so colourful and awkward looking. Most importantly it contains some of the worst exposition-heavy, unnatural and awkward sounding dialogue in the franchise. Unfortunately this comes at a crucial point in the story, but on a more positive note it is unintentionally funny.

The scenes I do like are the exchanges between Will Riker and Dr Pulaski and Kyle Riker and Deanna Troi. I think it's quite amusing for each of them to seek insight from each other's love interests.

Patrick Stewart is as solid as ever and the other cast members do a decent job with the material.

For me it's a 5.5/10, but I round upwards.

Riker Deals With Some Daddy Issues

[Samuel-Shovel · 6/10 · 7 August 2019]

In "The Icarus Factor" Riker is offered the command of his own starship, the USS Aries. This would take him to a far-off unexplored section of the galaxy. Delivering a report on his mission (if he chooses to accept it) is Riker's absentee father Kyle who always chose his career over raising Commander Riker. The son wants nothing to do with old Pa and has a lot of other things to think about with this potential promotion.

Meanwhile Geordi, Data, and Wes try to figure out what's eating Worf who seems more taciturn than usual. Wes figures out it's the 10 year anniversary of his Klingon Ascension, typically a celebratory event surrounded by family and involving a violent ritual. The trio program this into the holodeck and watch as as Worf walks through a battery of Klingon painstiks. Worf is grateful to everyone for setting this ritual up for him.

Back in the main plot, Riker continues to deal with his daddy issues. We learn that Kyler Riker and Pulaski had a previously undisclosed romantic relationship, much to Commander Riker's chagrin. Father and son argue until finally deciding to settle things with anbo-jyutsu, the supposed pinnacle of martial arts. Riker has never beaten his father but learns during the match that Pops has been cheating all these years to win. The two have a heart-to-heart and make up. Riker decides he wants to stay on the Enterprise as Number One.

This episode is real cheesy but I can't help but like it a little bit. I watched this as a kid and remember Worf's wild BDSM Bar Mitzvah as a terrifying moment. This B plot is probably the best part of the ep.

I could do without the Riker vs. Riker arguments. I don't think this really adds too much to Commander Riker's character, as he's pretty flushed out already. If anything it does more to develop an underwritten Pulaski character. I also thought Troi did really well in this episode and took no guff from Riker's sexist father.

The final scene of the two laying it down on the mat is hilarious but I gotta say... it kind of works. This whole episode is goofy but it has a lot of things to like.

You can't choose your family

[bkoganbing · 6/10 · 5 September 2018]

The Enterprise is at the Montgomery Space Station for some maintenance after an inspection by some supercilious StarFleet technicians. But the crew gets a bit of R&R two of the senior staff have some issues.

Commander Riker has been given command of a vessel and none other than dear old dad Mitchell Ryan has come to give Jonathan Frakes his orders. These two have been estranged for years, apparently with the mother dying when Frakes was barely out of diapers. Ryan was a tough taskmaster as a father and Frakes has bitter childhood memories of being raised in Alaska by him.

Ryan has a more pleasant reunion with Dr. Pulaski. Apparently she and the senior Riker have some history. Diana Muldaur is keeping some secrets.

The other one with issues is Worf. Apparently he's due for some kind of Klingon ritual and there are no Klingons around to help. He's grumpier than usual. But it's Wil Wheaton who does some research into Klingon culture and arrives at a solution.

It's true you really can't choose your family. Michael Dorn misses his Klingon forbearers and Jonathan Frakes could have done without this family reunion though some air gets cleared.

The father episode.

[russem31 · 15 April 2006]

ST:TNG:40 - "The Icarus Factor" (Stardate: 42686.4) - this is the 14th episode of season 2 of The Next Generation. This is what I consider a Riker episode, delving into his past by a surprise visit from his estranged father (played by Mitchell Ryan of "Dharma & Greg" fame) before Will Riker takes a captain position of the Starship Aries he is offered that will take him on a far away mission. The estrangement is caused by the death of Will's mother when he was still a young child. Also his father knows Dr. Pulaski, who is an old love of hers. You also get to see Riker looking at photos of his childhood in Alaska, including one with him holding a fish.

At the same time, Worf is increasingly hostile to the rest of the crew - it turns out he is feeling isolated because it is the anniversary of his Age of Ascension, an important Klingong ritual - and it's up to Wesley, Data and Geordi to help Worf!

Trivia: there's also mention of PCS - Pulaski's Chicken Soup!

Coming to terms with loss.

[fernandodelamadrid · 7/10 · 23 June 2019]

Riker finds himself trouble to the second: he has to decide if he's ready to leave the Enterprise for his own first command; and has to deal with his estranged father Kyle Riker. Most see this episode as one about Riker getting at odds with his father. In fact, i believe is more about the two of them finally dealing with the loss of Will's mother (Kyle's wife). The unraveling story gives us some funny moments, specially when Troi and Doctor Pulaski (another of Kyle's former partners), step in to try and help the two men work out their issues. Then, there's the Anbo-jytsu, one of those failed attempts from Star Trek to come up with "futuristic" aspects of human culture. It's like a cheap American Gladiators with cross-bike like armor, even less believable. Overall, an entertaining show, that builds on Riker's backstory and motivations. Oh, there's also a Worf-centered subplot, which is totally forgettable.

The Father-Son Factor

[Hitchcoc · 7/10 · 12 August 2014]

Riker has a chance to leave the Enterprise. His leadership and his overall competence has brought an offer of command on another ship. There are two issues. One is the fact that the ship he would go to wouldn't have the spirit of adventure this one does. I assume he may be bored. The other factor is that Will's father is on board and there is no love loss on Riker's part. He is resentful and full of almost childhood hatred. Somehow, the father is seen as indifferent to his son and not adequately affected by the death of his wife, Will's mother. This is a tired old plot where the guy can't speak to his son for more than a few seconds without the son taking off. Riker's father is a handsome, impressive man, highly respected in Starfleet. He apparently also has had some romantic connection to Dr. Pulaski. Of course, we know what's coming.

The second plot is that Worf has been acting distant and silent. It turns out that he is in the tenth year of his age of ascension, and he needs to transition into a warrior. This is done by his surviving a painful ritual where he is subjected to incredible pain by a gauntlet of Klingon warriors with pain sticks. This is supposed to be set up by a family, but since Worf has no family, he must rely on his friends, Geordi, Will, and Data. Of course, Worf would never ask for this since it is a question of honor.

It's an OK episode but not really memorable.

Riker Squared

[anarchistica · 7/10 · 24 March 2020]

This episode is in many ways a re-thread. Fighting with the silly sticks, Riker being offered a command, someone considering leaving the ship, a parent trying to decide a child's future, et cetera. It also reminded me of Family (4x02) which ends much the same way. Thankfully it doesn't feel like you're watching a copy-pasted script.

There are three main stories. There's the "Klingons are dumb" story which is awful. There's Riker having to choose between several paths, which is good. And there's Riker's dad, who is trying to deal with his past while wearing very silly pyjamas. Nice story, dreadful outfit.

I like how the plotlines show several similarities and how 'real' most of the interactions feel. Riker resenting his father's popularity, his father's unsubtle attitude towards women, Pulaski and Troi admitting to their weaknesses. Even in the 24th century they're still just people.

a weak retooling of Amok Time elements

[Uridon · 4/10 · 12 November 2018]

A goofy duel with sticks and a brutal primitive ritual split into an A and B plot. Another "should I take the promotion? I'd have to leave the enterprise...." plot, which we already saw with Wesley. Not the first and surely not the last, boring

Captain Riker?

[gritfrombray-1 · 10/10 · 1 July 2007]

We get to see Riker being offered a command for the first time here, the USS Ares, named after the Greek God, often misquoted Aries even in the subtitles! Will's estranged Father comes aboard as his adviser from Starfleet. He is torn as his position on the Enterprise has a certain prestige about it and he is comfortable in his life. Elsewhere Worf seems to be snapping at almost everybody! Wesley does some research and discovers it's Worf's anniversary of his age of Ascension. They set up a Klingon Ascension chamber in the Holodeck and Worf undergoes the ceremony as his crew mates watch. He grunts a 'thank you' just after the session is over! Riker eventually makes peace with his father but turns down the promotion as he believes that he can learn more aboard the Enterprise. A good episode that dealt with character stuff, Klingon lore and promotion.

"With all due respect..., be gone! Sir!"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 8 November 2023]

On the way to Starbase Montgomery, Commander Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is notified by Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) that the First Officer is being granted a promotion to Starship Captain. However, the new command would require Riker to relocate to the far distant Vega Omicron sector, a minor sticking point. A larger one looms though, when Riker's own father (Mitchell Ryan) is dispatched to the Enterprise to prepare him for the mission. Estranged since his mid-teens, Commander Riker is dismissive of his father's appearance on the Enterprise, and spends most of his time trying to avoid contact.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Worf's (Michael Dorn) aggressive side is coming through due to the approach of his tenth anniversary of the Klingon Rite of Ascension. The occasion requires a ritual celebration with fellow Klingons, and since none are to be had, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton) is given the task of managing Worf's belligerence. He comes up with a holodeck simulation that has Worf walk a gauntlet of eight Klingon warriors prodding him with painsticks, sort of like electrified cattle prods that test Worf's physical stamina and character at the same time. Would anyone doubt Worf's resolve?

Quite coincidentally, the differences between Riker and his father also result in a physical confrontation when they accept each other's suggestion to a bout of anbo-jytsu, a martial arts contest in which the senior Ryker always managed to beat his son. During the contest, the dirty secret of Kyle Riker's record was revealed - he was cheating by using illegal tactics! The confrontation however, offered the opportunity for both father and son to air their differences regarding a conflicted past. The expected reconciliation occurs, as Commander Riker rethinks his promotion, and decides to remain as First Officer on the Enterprise to the satisfaction of Picard and the rest of the crew.

A Senior Trekker writes............

[celineduchain · 5/10 · 3 January 2022]

The Second Season of Star Trek the Next Generation has often been downplayed due to multiple production and writing staff problems, and several major cast changes. Although of mixed quality, it does contain some outstanding and brilliant episodes. Senior Trekker is extremely grateful to all those people who worked so hard under difficult circumstances to keep it on our screens.

This is the one where Will Riker's dad shows up in some official role or other and brings out the sulky adolescent in his son as they spar over all their unresolved differences. We learn that Kyle Riker pushed his son away after his wife's death but still seems to have found time for a fling with Doctor Pulaski. They battle it out on the holodeck in some weird kind of martial art which uses blindfolds and sticks and father Riker goes off to never be seen or heard of again.

(Riker Senior was played by well known actor Mitchell Ryan, who at age 55 was something of a handsome Silver Fox and is still hale to this day. However much we may love Jonathan Frakes, we know that it was never going to be his destiny to remain that good looking.)

Meanwhile:

Worf is also acting the moody teen because he's missing out on the traditional Age of Ascension ceremony. His colleagues club together to get the necessary Klingon Pain Sticks and stand in line to administer the requisite amount of suffering, leaving him a very happy chap. This somewhat sadomasochistic spectacle in what was supposed to be family entertainment, may raise some eyebrows nowadays but it was, after all, only a year since the Enterprise had left the Porn Planet.

(Senior Trekker scores every episode with a 5)

You see what happens when Guinan takes a sick day?

[amusinghandle · 7/10 · 13 January 2024]

I am a sucker for some human drama. I feel star trek got better when it started to develop characters that actually felt human with all our positive and negative attributes.

As a guy getting a bit older (well seasoned), I find that I actually feel for Kyle Riker quite a bit in this episode. In life (well, maybe not 24th century earth), you have bills to pay and a job to keep and being a single parent while still maintaining those obligations is no easy task. You just see things a bit differently once you have joined the lemmings on the front line of society; or at least I do.

I like Riker's performance as moody/passive aggressive angry son. You have to get that stuff out of your system and the wave of emotion is not something that you analyze logically .... no... you solve this old fashion way by physically fighting your dad until battered and bruised you come to a realization. It's like meditating until you see visions. Who among us has not physically fought their dad?

Worf's B-Plot ties in with the theme of family and crazy fight rituals. For humans we get drunk and then vomit on our parents carpet as a right of passage (it's great fun!) but getting tortured and screaming out personal truths sounds appealing too, i guess.

I have a soft spot for people who try to make right or apologize for perceived wrongs and I feel a genuine sadness from Kyle Riker.

The Icarus Factor

[Scarecrow-88 · 8/10 · 27 May 2012]

Commander Riker is being offered a chance to have his own ship as the Captain of the Aries is retiring. The Aries will be on a mission exploring territories in an obscure galaxy with the great potential of new discoveries. A "civilian adviser", for whom Will knows personally, will brief him on the Aries mission…Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan), his father! We see immediately that Will has animosity/hostility for pops and "The Icarus Factor" examines what that is. Most of it deals with the death of Will's mother/Kyle's wife and how the two often compete with each other. The martial arts fighting style of "anbo-jytsu" might be the right sort of action to get these two to "bury the hatchet" or, at the very least, confront the personal issues that currently estrange them. Also fascinating is the fact that Kyle and Dr. Pulaski were once romantic and Worf is going through an emotional turmoil where he's not only isolating himself from the rest of the crew but snaps at any officer who dares to confront him out of curiosity/worry. It turns out, thanks to Wesley Crusher's research (he's the one who is motivated to pursue what is wrong with Worf after he yelled at him for no reason other than annoyance), that Worf has reached the tenth anniversary of the "Age of Ascension", a spiritual pain ceremony where a Klingon must endure the "rite of passage for a warrior" by taking shocks to the upper torso with painstiks as his family looks on from afar. This episode really gives the Riker character a chance to determine his current career path, whether he is ready for his own command or would rather remain on the premier Federation starship as a first officer to the Captain, and also finally acknowledge his pain in regards to his authoritative, well-respected, and highly popular father, a towering figure who has quite the commanding presence. You can see that Will has been battling for years to escape the shadow of his father, and his efforts have been rewarded with the new command offered him. Look, we know Will wasn't about to leave the show so the end result—the decision—isn't some big surprise, but seeing him come to terms with a father he has felt a particular disregard/anger for is really what the episode is truly about. Ultimately, this episode is about family, especially fathers (Wesley never got to know his father, Worf who never knew his Klingon father, and Riker who has never forgiven his father for past "misdeeds"). A minor subplot involves the USS Montgomery sending scientists to the Enterprise to study a "glitch" in Engineering, with Chief Engineer Geordi a bit disenchanted with the idea that he cannot fix his own problems…a bit of irony comes into play as Data pronounces what he believes is the reason behind the anomaly before the officers board and is correct. Also of importance is the growth of the Chief O'Brien character who was little more than the guy who beams the away team back and forth during the first season, actually having a conversation with Riker, even at the Klingon ceremony by Wesley invite.

Character development episode for Riker

[Davidd418 · 8/10 · 15 April 2022]

One of the better character development episodes for Riker. I loved the invented sport, very creative! It was pretty much a blind duel between father and son. Some padding and an oversized Q-tip.