The Ultimate Revelation: Patrick Stewart Unveils His Top Star Trek TNG Episode!

Summary

Patrick Stewart holds "The Inner Light" as his most cherished episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, as it vividly portrays his character transforming into a distinct individual and captures the heartfelt involvement of his actual son playing his on-screen offspring.

"The Inner Light" is often considered one of TNG's finest episodes due to its poignant portrayal of the universal longing for one's personal narrative to endure. Despite its unconventional nature, the episode encapsulates the essence of what makes Star Trek extraordinary and highlights Stewart's exceptional acting skills.

Patrick Stewart's favorite episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation was recently revealed, and it is likely to delight fans of the show. Since its premiere in 1987, Stewart has played the iconic character Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He reprised this role for three seasons in Star Trek: Picard, which provided a satisfying conclusion to Jean-Luc's story, with the TNG crew reuniting on the reconstructed USS Enterprise-D. Now at 83 years old, Patrick Stewart has just released his highly anticipated autobiography, titled "Making It So: A Memoir," which chronicles his life journey from a challenging childhood to his impressive career spanning from Shakespeare to Star Trek to superheroes.

During an interview with Wired discussing his autobiography, Sir Patrick Stewart disclosed that there is one particular episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation that stands out as his personal favorite. Read his complete statement below:

Why "The Inner Light" Is A Standout Star Trek: TNG Episode

"The Inner Light" has been such a transformative episode for me. Over the years, as I immersed myself in a completely different life, I evolved into someone beyond Jean-Luc Picard. This metamorphosis led me to embody a domestic individual rather than a commanding starship captain. Additionally, there is a deeply personal reason behind my profound attachment to this episode. My son, Daniel, brilliantly portrayed my character's son in "The Inner Light." This unique opportunity created an incredibly remarkable and sentimental experience for us both.

Renowned as one of the finest episodes in the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, season 5 episode 25, titled "The Inner Light," holds a special place for fans. The episode commences with a typical Star Trek storyline - the USS Enterprise-D stumbles upon a peculiar probe with intentions to analyze the spacecraft. However, the narrative takes an extraordinary turn as Captain Jean-Luc Picard's consciousness becomes transported to the planet Kataan. Adopting the identity of Kamin, he experiences an entire lifetime with a wife and child, witnessing the joys of aging and even becoming a grandfather. Ultimately, Picard is returned to the Enterprise to discover that only a few minutes have transpired for the rest of the crew.

Captain Picard's encounters in "The Inner Light" deeply impact him, and the flute he played as Kamin holds significant value as one of his most cherished possessions. While "The Inner Light" may deviate from traditional Trek episodes by lacking moral dilemmas and grand missions to save the galaxy, it still embodies the essence of what makes Star Trek exceptional. Ultimately, this episode revolves around individuals who existed a thousand years in the past on the opposite side of the galaxy, yet yearn for their tale to endure in human memory. This noteworthy episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation succeeds not only due to Patrick Stewart's remarkable performance but also owing to its poignant and profoundly human narrative.

Making It So: A Memoir by Patrick Stewart is currently available in bookstores.

Source: Wired