Patrick Stewart’s All-Time Favorite…

By: August Tales

With an epic span of seven years, Star Trek: The Next Generation churned out multiple memorable episodes. Of course, some fell short – a natural hiccup in an era of 26-episode seasons. With an impressive portfolio of 178 episodes, one simultaneously burdens and piques our curiosity – which one was Sir Patrick Stewart’s favorite?

The Captain’s Pick

As die-hard TNG fans assembled the pieces, the answer came out, bold and confirmed. The highly esteemed actor, devoutly followed for his portrayal of Captain Jean Luc Picard, was surprisingly most captivated by an episode where he bucked his regular character. Enter season five’s “The Inner Light,” Score one for surprise!

An Engaging Storyline

In this intriguing chapter, the Enterprise comes across an archaic alien probe hailing from a long-lost world. The high-tech relic scans Picard’s mind, engraving an entire lifetime’s worth of experiences into it. Suddenly, our Captain becomes Kamin, a resident of a planet named Katann. He cycles through life as a domestic man, a foreigner to the Enterprise. He gets hitched, showers love on his children, his grandkids, even flourishes as a flute maestro. Such normalcy sharply contrasts with Picard’s usual interstellar life. However, this normalcy was an illusion. In reality, Picard was living out a time capsule recording of a civilization inching towards extinction. After what felt like decades, Picard snapped back into reality as a mere few minutes on the Enterprise ticked by.

Behind the Scenes

Star Trek’s leading man shared a personal take on “The Inner Light.” He talked about his transformative trajectory, straying from the iconic persona of Jean-Luc Picard. Stewart loved the chance to veer from his default Starfleet commander role, embracing a simple, domestic life. Adding an emotional punch, Stewart’s real-life son, Daniel, played his son in that particular episode, creating a layer of reality to an otherwise virtual universe.

A Testament of Time

While our top pick remains season two’s “The Measure of a Man,” we empathize intensely with Patrick Stewart’s affinity for “The Inner Light.” Such episodes represent power-packed storytelling, encouraging actors to distill the essence of a full life into a concise 50-minute screenplay. Plus, the sentimental factor of Stewart’s son playing a part is sure to tug on anyone’s heartstrings.

So, if you’re planning to lose yourself in a TNG rewatch soon, “The Inner Light” is a sublime place to kick off. Beware, though. Make sure you keep a box of tissues handy for the end – it’s a real tearjerker! These emotional drips and dips, the rollercoaster called life – that’s the magic of Star Trek: The Next Generation. This testament of time and storytelling is what keeps fans locked in its starry embrace.