Star Trek: The Next Generation had a first officer who fans often forget (& it’s not William Riker)

Star Trek: The Next Generation is set in the 24th century, 100 years after the events of the original Star Trek. It showcases several captains, commanders, and lieutenant commanders leading the interstellar alliance known as the United Federation of Planets. However, according to reports, it is being speculated that there are some officers whom many fans could forget, and it is not William Riker, one of the finest first officers in the show. A ScreenRant report says it could be Commander Kieran MacDuff or Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Shelby.

Read on to know more about the first officer whom fans tend to forget and why.

Who is Commander Kieran MacDuff in Star Trek: The Next Generation

William Riker, as the main first officer, often overshadowed many other first officers' involvement, leading many fans to associate him solely with that position. However, in the episode Conundrum, the crew wakes up with no memories of their roles and duties, and a new commander's name has been slipped into the ship. The crew is shocked to learn that Commander Kieran MacDuff is listed as the First Officer of the ship. This is a significant twist because, until this point, Commander William Riker had always been the First Officer. MacDuff tampered with the computers and other evidence, such as birth records, reports, etc, to prove himself as the first officer.

However, when later Counsellor Deanna Troi started to sense something fishy, Troi found out he is actually not a human but a Satarran, an alien species with a deep desire for revenge against the Lysian Alliance. MacDuff had infiltrated the Enterprise by posing as a Starfleet officer, hoping to use the ship’s powerful weapons to wage war against the Lysians in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

There are more officers fans can forget him in Star Trek: The Next Generation

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Not just MacDuff, but there were other captains as well who were introduced in one episode and then suddenly written out in the same episode. Their role was fairly limited, and they don't return in future episodes, nor are they mentioned by the characters. By this, one can speculate that they could be the forgotten ones in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Secondly, unlike other recurring characters or prominent figures in Starfleet, these characters are often overshadowed in the long run. With Picard gone, Commander William Riker is temporarily promoted to Captain of the USS Enterprise-D. In this new role, Riker is tasked with leading the ship into battle against the Borg. During this crisis, Riker selects Lieutenant Commander Elizabeth Shelby as his First Officer, despite his rivalry with her, because he thinks she would be suitable. Therefore, for a very brief period of time, she became the first officer.

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