Thursday, April 26, 2012

The Inner Light

***** (5 stars out of 5)

What if Picard took a Quantum Leap, but stayed after kissing the girl?

Lived, in fact, a whole life in another man's shoes?

In less time than it takes to watch the episode, and slightly longer than reading this blog, the Captain's mind is filled with the lifetime experiences of Kamin the Ironweaver, husband, father, and flautist from Ressik on the planet Kataan.  Never mind how: a thousand years back these people died of a drought before they had space travel, yet they somehow had sophisticated brain scanning technology.  Picard even had to invent sunscreen here. And later, his spoken word version of 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)'. In his version, wearing sunscreen is mandatory.

Romance and fatherhood ensue. It's like a more in-depth version of 'The Paradise Syndrome' only this Captain never grows giant bushy sideburns.


Reluctantly easing into a marriage he never made, the uncomfortably landlocked space explorer finds meaning in the people of a single doomed village.

"Seize the time, Meribor. Make now the most important time." he urges his child.

"The Inner Light" is strong, thoughtful, and bittersweet. Boy, if you hate 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and you're only going to watch one, well, then you have my pity. But WATCH THIS ONE!

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