The Inner Light

[Pseudo]

Indeed. This may just be Trek's most overrated hour.

I'd agree that it is overrated, its reputation is such that it would be impossible for any episode to live up to. That doesn't mean that it's not The Next Generation's finest (three-quarters-of-an) hour though.

^^^
This - Star Trek is about humans exploring space - not "Days of our Lives".

Tell that to City on the Edge of Forever.

FYI (and TOS is my favoruite series) - I'm one of the few who doesn't care for City On The Edge Of Forever; and do not think it's that good a general episode either but at least it's story setup is more 'Trek' then The Innner Light and it's dealing with an artifact that is from a way more advanced civilization - rather than an ancient probe from a less advanced society (were they equal or more advanced - they could have moved their population and survived) - that's able to bypass shields and infiltrate an alien mind of a species that society never encountered.

That's a fair comment, though to my mind it's a quibbling one that misses the point and (IMHO) the beauty of the episode. I just write it off as sometimes alien shit is alien and no matter how advanced a civilizations technology is there's going to be some technological avenue that they haven't followed that another civilization did and that technology even in its most nascent form might produce an effect that the superior technology is initially susceptible to. Of course, once they've studied the data it'll be easy to ensure that something like that never happens again, but I can easily believe that in the initial encounter the superior technology might be found wanting. Not because the less advanced civilization has better technology, but because they have different technology.

 

[DonIago]

With all due respect, isn't assuming that the civilization of Kataan is less advanced than our own based on the evidence of one village roughly akin to looking at one city on Earth and using that to make assumptions about the planet's level of technology?

Again if they were as advanced as Earth - and had FTL space travel capability - they could have used it to find a sutable world and save themselves. They didn't - they launched a rocket with the probe that drifted into deep space and was encountered by the 1701-D.

As I'm sure Cochrane would attest, figuring out FTL travel is a heck of a lot different from being able to build an FTL vessel that would enable a significant number of people to leave the planet.

For that matter, obviously the planet's civilization must have continued for at least a little while after Kamin's memories were transferred to it...otherwise the probe wouldn't have been launched in the first place. Perhaps some people did manage to evacuate the planet and either met an unfortunate end or simply haven't yet been located.

 

[CoveTom]

Anyone who claims that there was no character development in TNG and that everything always got reset to the status quo doesn't know what they are talking about. What happened in this episode had a profound impact on Picard, and one which we would continue to see throughout the series. I'm generally not a big fan of "character episodes' -- I would rather see solid sci-fi stories where the character development just flows naturally rather than a character piece -- I still had a "wow" moment with this one.

 

[Noname Given]

Anyone who claims that there was no character development in TNG and that everything always got reset to the status quo doesn't know what they are talking about. What happened in this episode had a profound impact on Picard, and one which we would continue to see throughout the series. I'm generally not a big fan of "character episodes' -- I would rather see solid sci-fi stories where the character development just flows naturally rather than a character piece -- I still had a "wow" moment with this one.

Actually, (and IMO) - Picard recovered way too quickly, in that - from his perspective - he had lived 30+ years on an alien world (remember it was mentioned that for a few of those years he had tried to contact the Federation, etc; but then had come to accept his situation.)

My point - From his perspective, it had been a long time since he had commanded a Starship, etc.; sop for him to just wake up and be able to get right back in the saddle (so to speak) is a bit of a reset. Plus, you don't think Starfleet medical would want to re-clear him to command a Starhip again first after he was affected by a proble of aalien origin in the manner he was? Also, if it was a 'regular' type of dream state, then he probably would quickly forget all he'd experienced under it - so in effect were taht the case, these aliens wasted their time.

But, in the story as presented - with Picard having 30+ years of experiences tyhrust into his mind - gotta say, it was a 'reset' in how quicly he recovered and the fact he was quickly able to resume command as if nothing major had occured.

 

[HarryM]

One of my favorite episodes of all time.

There are some oddities/incongruities though.

The Kataanians don't seem to be at the technological level to build a probe that can do what it does. Maybe some hint of this kind of tech ability could be slipped into the episode somehow?

The probe seems to be a one-shot usage, so if Picard dies then all record of their civilization is lost? Maybe they could have indicated the probe also contained written records as a "backup". Interesting idea, if Picard dies, the probe "realizes" this and reactivates, and beams the story to the nearest person.

The Kataanians do seem to be the typical new-agey tie-died humans that TNG is so enamored with, interchangeable with the Baku, would have been nice to see something else perhaps. I do like the way the sets are brightly lit to indicate the danger posed by their sun. The guest actors were terrific in their roles though.

 

[Pseudo]

One of my favorite episodes of all time.

There are some oddities/incongruities though.

The Kataanians don't seem to be at the technological level to build a probe that can do what it does. Maybe some hint of this kind of tech ability could be slipped into the episode somehow?

They did have computer controlled doors being fitted to 'normal' houses. That certainly hinted at a fairly advanced technological ability.

 

[CoveTom]

Actually, (and IMO) - Picard recovered way too quickly, in that - from his perspective - he had lived 30+ years on an alien world (remember it was mentioned that for a few of those years he had tried to contact the Federation, etc; but then had come to accept his situation.)

My point - From his perspective, it had been a long time since he had commanded a Starship, etc.; sop for him to just wake up and be able to get right back in the saddle (so to speak) is a bit of a reset. Plus, you don't think Starfleet medical would want to re-clear him to command a Starhip again first after he was affected by a proble of aalien origin in the manner he was? Also, if it was a 'regular' type of dream state, then he probably would quickly forget all he'd experienced under it - so in effect were taht the case, these aliens wasted their time.

But, in the story as presented - with Picard having 30+ years of experiences tyhrust into his mind - gotta say, it was a 'reset' in how quicly he recovered and the fact he was quickly able to resume command as if nothing major had occured.

Well, from a "real world" perspective, of course you're right. But I don't let that sort of thing bother me too much because I know the requirements of episodic television. They couldn't spend the next six months with the captain going through a long and drawn out recovery process. In reality, Picard should probably have had to go through such a process after he was assimilated by the Borg and after he was tortured by the Cardassians as well. But series TV just won't allow that.

So I think the writers did the best with it they could under the circumstances. Certainly it's not a "reset" in the sense that we typically think of the "reset button." There were lasting effects on Picard's character and we did see him evolve and change as a result of this episode.

 

[HarryM]

It also could be that the Kataanians (who seemed like nice people ) realized it would be unfair to the target person, and debilitating, so they designed the probe such that a quicker recovery would occur, as compared to how it would be if you really did live 30 years in 30 minutes.

 

[byron lomax]

The Kataanians don't seem to be at the technological level to build a probe that can do what it does. Maybe some hint of this kind of tech ability could be slipped into the episode somehow?

The probe seems to be a one-shot usage, so if Picard dies then all record of their civilization is lost? Maybe they could have indicated the probe also contained written records as a "backup". Interesting idea, if Picard dies, the probe "realizes" this and reactivates, and beams the story to the nearest person.

I guess the fact that the programme self-terminates once it's done its job would indicate that how they created it (and what level of advancement they were really at) was supposed to be left ambiguous.

Still love this episode, BTW. The Kataanian people may be bland in some respects, but the interactions between Picard and his family are well written and pleasantly un-mawkish.

This was reviewed on AV Club not so long ago - it got over a thousand comments.

 

[Saxman1]

This is one of my favorite TNG eps. It never fails to move me to tears at the end. Even my daughter (12) finds it very touching.

 

[LaBarre]

It's one of those episodes where everything works.



Sure, it's a showcase for Patrick Stewart, but unlike several other instances, his acting alone doesn't bear the burden of carrying an otherwise wobbly product. The story idea is a clever one, well-plotted, scripted, filmed and directed.



It's the full package.

 

[janedoh]

I am in the minority will BillJ. I thought the Inner Light was really boring. I also thought Tapestry was boring too, so maybe am just a TNG heretic.

 

[Pseudo]

I am in the minority will BillJ. I thought the Inner Light was really boring. I also thought Tapestry was boring too, so maybe am just a TNG heretic.

She admits her heresy! Cardinal Fang, fetch...THE COMFY CHAIR!!!

 

[MikeH92467]

I am pretty easy to please I guess. I enjoyed "Inner Light" and "Tapestry" as much as "Best of Both Worlds" and the other action-packed classic episodes. I think the complaints about the technology dissonance is overstated. Why should we assume that an alien culture would develop technology at the same pace we have and that they would use it the same way? Also they seemed to have come to terms with the end of their civilization in a way that we probably wouldn't, but that doesn't strike me as implausible.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

It's obviously written as such, but I always thought: "how fortunate the probe would find the one, most suitable person in all of Starfleet in the form of Picard", what with him being an archaeologist and all.

 

[pimp]

I personally loved the episode and is one of those tearful moments especially the melody that Picard plays while remembering the memories he had gained - I would put it up there with that DS9 episode "The Visitor" they both bring up emotions, However I can understand why it might not appeal to everyone simply because it's no longer a Sci-Fi show/episode but rather a drama built in it, but sometimes that's what Star Trek is good at, right????

 

[Interstella5555]

Just watched this episode again for the umpteenth time and I really do think it gets better everytime I see it.

Although does anyone know if its possible to get the necklace that Picards wife was wearing (the replica of the probe) and the Ressikan flute that he plays as well? I would love to have these as mementoes.

btw - hello to you all :-)

 

[pimp]

Just watched this episode again for the umpteenth time and I really do think it gets better everytime I see it.

Although does anyone know if its possible to get the necklace that Picards wife was wearing (the replica of the probe) and the Ressikan flute that he plays as well? I would love to have these as mementoes.

btw - hello to you all :-)

Hi and welcome to the forums

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Just watched this episode again for the umpteenth time and I really do think it gets better everytime I see it.

Although does anyone know if its possible to get the necklace that Picards wife was wearing (the replica of the probe) and the Ressikan flute that he plays as well? I would love to have these as mementoes.

btw - hello to you all :-)

Hello to you, too.

I remember seeing the necklace listed when some of the props and costumes were auctioned on-line a few years ago. No idea about the flute.

 

[RAMA]

I must admit something. Something that will likely mark me as a Very Bad Trekkie. Before now, I had never watched "The Inner Light". Despite all the accolades, and the praise, somehow I kept missing it, or perhaps not seeking it out. But now TNG is on Netflix, and while watching Season 5, I finally hit upon this episode. And I have just one response:

Wow.

Just...wow. I really can't quantify my reaction to "The Inner Light" any more substantially than that. It was a fabulous performance by Patrick Stewart, and a wonderfully different tale of how a civilization might preserve something of itself. We have sent out scientific information and popular culture on the Pioneer and Voyager probes. This civilization, while obviously a bit more advanced than us, sent out the life experience of a single man. That alone makes it so much more powerful than simply the sum total of knowledge that we've tried to preserve so far.

The episode was so much, and could have been so much more, for Picard, and maybe it's why he seemed so much more open to both children and romance in the last two seasons of TNG. I also now understand the explanation of why Picard was so afraid of having children in Christopher's Greater than the Sum even better. It was an entire world created and destroyed in 44 minutes. Incredible.

And I am not afraid to admit that I pretty much started bawling when Picard opened the box found on the probe which held his flute inside. Perhaps that's a bit of me having played instruments for years and a bit of the episode having played so much on my emotions, but it was still an incredibly powerful ending.

Don't listen to billj your reaction was just they same as most people...