Imzadi has had its own continuity throughout the lifespan of "The Next Generation," so much so that it has become as iconic as the romance itself. The word represents the long-standing love between William T. Riker and Deanna Troi, for better or worse. The couple makes their relationship even more official at the beginning of "Star Trek: Nemesis" as they tie the knot. But that isn't their happy ending. As portrayed in "Star Trek: Picard," it is far from it. In the intervening years, when the pair was away from viewers' television screens, they endured tragedies that no one should. Riker and Troi's son, Thad, contracts a genetic disease unsolvable by any legal means. The only cure is augmentation, which is outlawed by the Federation because of the Eugenics War. Thanks, Khan.
This tragedy puts a decisive wedge between the two to a point where Riker wastes no time in getting distance from his wife. But as this is "Star Trek," the bad times don't last forever. Throughout their adventures, they find closure and even get a callback to their favorite word. As Riker and Deanna make amends, he calls her Imzadi once more when he is close to death. Of course, Riker lives to fight another day and the popular couple sets off into the galaxy once more.
