The Inner Light

[MurphyCooper]

I am sure there are other threads about this episode, but I have seen none recently discussing it. Has anyone watched this episode recently, and what overall impact has it had on you? I am sure there are other people, like myself, who feel a very deep emotional connection to the Inner Light.

 

[NCC-73515]

Only the end, but that does hit me every time. All that is left from that whole civilization and his decades of life there is the flute. Riker knows he has to leave him alone. He clutches it. Episode ends with just that tune. Amazing!

 

[Qonundrum]

Overlook some plot holes and stay "in the moment" with the story is what makes it work far more than the Treknobabble used to set up and explain away the situation with.

I do rewtach the story and enjoy it to an extent, but it relies too much on the emotional, visceral side to keep finding it so great - give enough time to forget what happens in it, then a rewatch feels far more rewarding. Like "Cause and Effect", "The Visitor", and others, there's not enough detail sprinkled throughout that pokes out in rewatchings and you know how it all ends, there's nothing else to grab on to or, worse, it makes plot holes and other nitpicks stand out that much more. TIL is just that - a simple story, told really well where and when it really needs to.

For all we know, the genetic defect in Picard's parietal lobe may have been induced by this probe, rather than being a potential alternate-future trait by Q in "All Good Things".

Plus, why seek out just one person? The odds are astronomical, pun not intended, and how this long-gone species' gizmo can scan brains to determine who's most likely to relay their peacockery is also an impressive feat of odds, especially when the receiver of the mindrape might say "Oh piffle" and put it to the side and not be bothered ever again*. or, worse, grumble "Well, the Borg did this to me already, how many other species force their way into others and why is it always me and not Data as it's faster to swap a ROM chip and be done with it?" Plus, I'd have ran alcohol on the flute before putting it in my mouth after having assumed that's where said flute goes. May have been a nose flute. Indeed, with the phrase "blow it out your ear" and this humanoid species likely doesn't act like 24th century humans, it could be an ear flute too.

* which is largely what Picard did with the newfound diaries shoved into that "90% of space of the brain" that even humans of the future don't use, of which is technically a myth but as with the myth of Jeremiah Springfield or Zephram Cochrane, I'll repeat it anyway

 

[Tora Ziyal]

The Inner Light is one of my favorite episodes. It's so different from most Trek, even from other episodes that I like as much. I love watching Picard slowly adjust to this life that he doesn't remember and that is so different from his real one. I especially love that he has a family and plays a musical instrument. That flute gets me, like NCC-73515, every time.

(And the obvious plot holes don't bother me at all.)

 

[Farscape One]

This is one of my favorite episodes of the franchise. It's a great story, and just a superb performance from Sir Patrick Stewart. The ending never fails to make me shed a few single man tears.

 

[DonIago]

Normally I'm not a big fan of episodes (or general life situations) that I think favor appeals to pathos over logical underpinnings.

Sometimes, I'm willing to let myself be swept away and lose myself in what the characters must be feeling and what they're making me feel.

This is one of those times.

As a side-note, I thought it was a great touch that they had Patrick Stewart's son play Kamin's son in the episode.

 

[MurphyCooper]

The Inner Light is one of my favorite episodes. It's so different from most Trek, even from other episodes that I like as much. I love watching Picard slowly adjust to this life that he doesn't remember and that is so different from his real one. I especially love that he has a family and plays a musical instrument. That flute gets me, like NCC-73515, every time.

(And the obvious plot holes don't bother me at all.)

One of the things I have wondered, is what if instead of Picard, this happened to Worf or Riker?

 

[DonIago]

One of the things I have wondered, is what if instead of Picard, this happened to Worf or Riker?

"Birthright" and "Frame of Mind", respectively?

 

[Riley]

I thought it was okay at the time it first aired. Subsequent viewings of the episode (and TNG as a whole) haven't been kind, at least to me. I think TOS did essentially the same thing far better in "The Paradise Syndrome."

 

[BeamMeUp]

There is always an invisible ghost cutting onions when I watch this episode. The idea that all that remains of an entire civilization, and of those decades he lived there, is that little flute is absolutely devastating in the best way. The way he clutches it at the end and plays that melody gets me every single time.

 

[BeamMeUp]

Normally I'm not a big fan of episodes (or general life situations) that I think favor appeals to pathos over logical underpinnings.

Sometimes, I'm willing to let myself be swept away and lose myself in what the characters must be feeling and what they're making me feel.

This is one of those times.

As a side-note, I thought it was a great touch that they had Patrick Stewart's son play Kamin's son in the episode.

I had no idea that was Patrick Stewart’s son in the episode, that’s such a great touch. Thanks for that little tidbit. =)

 

[Tallguy]

It's good. It's very very good. Obviously.

Maybe it was the Space Magic that allowed Picard to return to his life where he had left off. And that would also be the needs of the series.

But he was "away" from the Enterprise for how many years? He was connected to the people in his hallucination for longer than anyone on the Enterprise. Even Beverly. (Who he knew longer than anyone else on the ship.)

I suppose DS9 also had the same problem with the episode where Miles was in prison for years. "The Inner Dark".

 

[NCC-73515]

They did show that though, with him being surprised by the doors opening automatically, looking at people like they're from a long forgotten dream.
And maybe it was like waking up from a dream: Much more time seemed to have passed, there's initial confusion, but you quickly remember your reality from before.

 

[BillJ]

Poor episode. 45 minutes of me watching Picard watch a movie.

 

[Tallguy]

Poor episode. 45 minutes of me watching Picard watch a movie.

I like the episode where I watched Kirk watch Star Trek.

 

[BillJ]

I like the episode where I watched Kirk watch Star Trek.

Cool. I just find "The Inner Light" poorly done emotion bait. You have to look past a lot to get anything out of it, beginning with the fact that Picard was mind raped. Again.

 

[Ragitsu]

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Gonna find the power
Then you know I'm gonna make it right
On my own alone tonight
I'll find that inner light

 

[CoveTom]

One wonders how Picard was permitted to remain in command of anything. Assimilation by the Borg, dumping an entire lifetime of memories by the probe, torture by the Cardassians. The man is not exactly mentally unscarred.

 

[SithHappens]

I loved this one 1st view and was very thought provoking.

I did always wonder how Picard could easily return to his normal life but assume his memories faded quickly, like a dream when you wake and it felt so real and vivid but you can barely recall it hours later.

That said that would destroy the reasons for launching the probe.

He clearly has some memories as he brings out the flute in a later episode and discusses his experience but if he genuinely felt he lived years worth of experiences then there is zero chance he could return to his life as Picard so quickly, if at all.

 

[Tosk]

That said that would destroy the reasons for launching the probe.

The reason for the probe is fairly stupid anyway.

"We hoped our probe would encounter someone in the future. Someone who could be a teacher. Someone who could tell the others about us."

Then why did you make it a one-time deal...why a self-terminating program? What if your probe locks on to someone who doesn't give a shit? Or any number of other wrinkles that would waste the tale.