What's with the Inner Light bashing?

[USS KG5]

Bullshit. Just because someone doesn't find the same things stimulating doesn't make them "unsophisticated".

Crikey - careful saying that around any 2001 fans!

 

[BillJ]

I always found it a bit weird that a species only recently capable of launching space probes would have sufficient technology make a ...

The man who made the first radio had people on horses riding by outside. First nuclear bomb used in war, was dropped from an airplane with propellers.

The mind rape machine might have been old technology to these people.

I really think it says something about those people as well.

 

[BillJ]

Bullshit. Just because someone doesn't find the same things stimulating doesn't make them "unsophisticated".

Crikey - careful saying that around any 2001 fans!

I'm a 2001 fan. But I understand that it's a film that definitely isn't for everyone.

 

[Dick_Valentine]

Why do some people seem to hate The Inner Light? I always thought it was an incredibly touching episode? And yet I've seen it described here as "a cure for insomnia". Why? Why is it so bad?

Not everyone likes these types of episodes. You see it whenever someone tries to inject romance or humor into a storyline. Happens all the time with Trek and Doctor Who and other franchises. You get some viewers who feel Trek should begin and end with firing phasers and warp factor one, while others feel such storylines have no place in "real" science fiction (never mind that The Inner Light is exactly the type of story Roddenberry envisioned when he created the thing). (For Who and other franchises, substitute whatever personal quirk applies to the show, 9 times out of 10 being something created through fanon, not canon.)

I personally do feel The Inner Light is overrated. I don't feel it's the best Trek (TNG or overall franchise) ever. And as you see above there are those who have critical issues with it (but then every Trek episode ever made can be torn apart, with no exceptions). But I have nothing against it. It might not have been my personal first pick for that Blu-ray sampler but it's as good an episode as any for that exercise, really. Certainly I wouldn't criticize those who feel it's the best episode ever, since I'm used to regularly seeing my favorite episodes - and series - being trashed.

Alex

Lets face it, it is on the sampler because it has the best critical acclaim to least amount of SFX work ratio of any other episode

They would've gone with Best of Both Worlds or Yesterday's Enterprise but hey, that meant putting the sampler back about three years

Putting Inner Light on there (and Sins..to some extent) meant they could get a couple of popular, fan favourite episodes out there while getting more time to lavish on the pilot

 

[nnnnnnn]

So how is the Blu-Ray of the episode? I haven't seen it.

 

[Cyke101]

Bullshit. Just because someone doesn't find the same things stimulating doesn't make them "unsophisticated".

Crikey - careful saying that around any 2001 fans!

I'm a 2001 fan. But I understand that it's a film that definitely isn't for everyone.

Y'know, I quite like 2010. Sure, it's no 2001, but then again, what is? The underrated 2010 holds up as a fine sci-fi film in its own right.

Now, 2012, that was a stinker. They didn't even *try* to link it back to previous movies. And where was the monolith?!

 

[Tina Lawton]

I think all right thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary right thinking people are fed up with being sick and tired.

I certainly am not, and I am sick and tired of being told that I am.

 

[BillJ]

Crikey - careful saying that around any 2001 fans!

I'm a 2001 fan. But I understand that it's a film that definitely isn't for everyone.

Y'know, I quite like 2010. Sure, it's no 2001, but then again, what is? The underrated 2010 holds up as a fine sci-fi film in its own right.

Now, 2012, that was a stinker. They didn't even *try* to link it back to previous movies. And where was the monolith?!

I love 2010 as well. Own both films on blu-ray.

 

[NewHorizon]

Showed the episode to a friend last night who had never seen it during the original run. LOVED it. Patrick Stewarts acting in the final scene where Picard got the whistle from the probe totally sold it.

The man had come to accept who he was in that world. It's a wonderful story in that it can reflect the reality of our existence many times over. There are often choices we make in life because we believe we are making the best ones at the time, or that we would never want to choose other directions. Having just had a child with my wife 3 months ago, the line where Kamen says there was a time he never wanted children but now can't imagine his life without them really rang true for me. I never wanted kids, but now I see how wrong I was and that has totally changed my perspective on how I've been living my own life. How many of my stubborn, hard headed, decisions have been made out of ignorance? My mind has been opened to the potential of far wider exploration than I had previously imagined.

It might not be 'the best' episode ever, but it is a great one. It didn't need to trick the viewer into believing Picard was in real danger, that wasn't the thrust of the episode and it quite honestly would have cheapened what the episode was really about.

 

[Cyke101]

It might not be 'the best' episode better, but it is a great one. It didn't need to trick the viewer into believing Picard was in real danger, that wasn't the thrust of the episode and it quite honestly would have cheapened what the episode was really about.

Agreed, and in hindsight, that's probably another reason why I had a problem with the bridge scenes. Yes, the crew should be worried about Picard, but in his mind things are relatively a-okay for Kamin, who had other things to focus on.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

If he lived every moment of that life, then yes. But if he saw that life as it was presented to the viewer, in segments meant to convey the message the builders of the probe wanted conveyed, then perhaps not so much.

That's not what happened.

An episode is about 40 minutes. Let's subtract ten for scenes on the Enterprise, just for estimation.

Uh, dude, it was never implied that Picard lived only thirty minutes of Kamin's life, bits and pieces of it spread over years. No. It is stated that he lived all those years as Kamin. Particularly in the scene where he is looking at the telescope.


On a side note, its a testament to Trek that many kinds of episodes, many genres can exist within the same continuity. In many ways this episode is simpler yet more profound than anything in Inception, a film which tried too hard to get us to "feel" something for Mal and Cobb but resorted to us caring more about the structure of the film itself than anything else.

This episode might not be to everyone's taste, and I might not be in the mood for it all the time, but it's a simple, effective, profound idea. Jammer wrote a worthy review.

I love the scene where Picard clenches the flute with both hands. I haven't seen a film in the last ten years that conveys the simple emotion that comes across in this gesture.

 

[Tina Lawton]

Uh, dude, it was never implied that Picard lived only thirty minutes of Kamin's life

I never said it was. I answered a question and proposed an alternative. Get over yourself.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Uh, dude, it was never implied that Picard lived only thirty minutes of Kamin's life

I never said it was. I answered a question and proposed an alternative. Get over yourself.

Relax.
I just meant the alternative you proposed was not even in the story. It's like saying that the Enterprise took a side trip to Vulcan on the way to Wolf 359 in Best of both Worlds. Could have happened, but nowhere in the story was it suggested.

 

[Ghrakh]

While attending a production staff meeting during the making of this episode, Rick Sternbach drew on his script preliminary designs for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

 

[Lt. LaForge]

On a side note, its a testament to Trek that many kinds of episodes, many genres can exist within the same continuity. In many ways this episode is simpler yet more profound than anything in Inception, a film which tried too hard to get us to "feel" something for Mal and Cobb but resorted to us caring more about the structure of the film itself than anything else.

This episode might not be to everyone's taste, and I might not be in the mood for it all the time, but it's a simple, effective, profound idea. Jammer wrote a worthy review.

I love the scene where Picard clenches the flute with both hands. I haven't seen a film in the last ten years that conveys the simple emotion that comes across in this gesture.

You conveyed my thoughts about this episode in a way I never could.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Thanks!

 

[TrekAlliance92]

Call me "unsophisticated" if you wish, but I just find the episode dull, boring, and lacking the "Trek feel" if you will. I'd rather watch "Code of Honor," "Threshold," or "A Night in Sickbay" over "The Inner Light" anyday, to be honest. But, that's just me. If you enjoy "Inner Light," that's great! I won't bash someone because of what they like or dislike, just have an honest disagreement of opinion.

 

[JanewayRulz!]

It seemed like this type of episode has been so many times before.

Before this episode aired in the early 90's, you had seen many times before a character's mind living a completely different yet fulfilling and fully complete life in the span of minutes?

I can't even think of a Twilight Zone that did this, and they did everything.

An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, the Ambrose Bierce short story from 1890, is the basis for this idea. Adaptation aired on the Twilight Zone in the 60s.

LOVED AOAOCB ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Occurrence_at_Owl_Creek_Bridge_(film) ... when I saw it in a Highschool film class... and was totally blown away by the last millisecond when his ****.

That's probably one of the reasons why I really liked this episode.

I also liked the idea that a civilization wanted "someone" out there to remember it in a visceral/personal way.

I also agree that Voyager's version ("Memorial") mined the same story but with a different twist to it. However... as dark as "Memorial" was, my sappy heart likes "Inner Light's" sadder yet sweeter ending.

http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/item.pl?i=1778-0537

The mere fact that the unplayable flute went for so high a price in the 2006 auction of Trek props/costumes/models suggests we weren't the only sappy trekkies that fell for the ep. (Heck no... I didn't buy it. )

ETA:

I think all right thinking people in this country are sick and tired of being told that ordinary right thinking people are fed up with being sick and tired.

I certainly am not, and I am sick and tired of being told that I am.

ETA II:

AOAOCB: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHqnSX4SJ_A Don't watch if you require dialogue.

 

[You_Will_Fail]

The episode was tainted by the idiotic decision to let the viewer know something Picard does not - that its all fake and he's actually on the Enterprise bridge - way to take us out of the story. It would have had far more effect if we too had been questioning "is it real?" the whole time.

Who in the audience would believe that the last few seasons were the dream and Picard really was Kamin? This was series TV mid-run, not a crappy final episode like St. Elsewhere where the autistic kid dreamed the last 5 years. It's like wondering if "Picard is gonna die of the Omegan Plague this week." Of course he's not. It's a good narrative device that covers the time jumps and shows us that the crew was doing stuff to help him in the meantime. Knowing it isn't "real" doesn't take away from the effectiveness because it's real to Picard.

Are you serious? This is science fiction, Star Trek science fiction. All kinds of ridiculously crazy universe bending things can happen. Let the viewer try and figure out the mystery.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

I agree with ssosmcin
Having the crew work on it and then revealing the secret to the audience a bit early actually makes Picards realization more powerful. Usually, it wouldn't but somehow it does..