The Inner Light
A seemingly harmless space probe taps into Picard’s mind and renders him unconscious for several minutes. While the crew are worrying about him, Picard finds himself in the role of Kamin who lives in the city of Ressik on the planet of Kataan. He is married to a woman called Eline and has a friend, Batai. After years have passed, Picard has finally accepted his new life that gave him two children, but a continuing drought is threatening the planet. Many years later Picard/Kamin is an old man, his children are grown up, and Eline and Batai have died, while the planet keeps drying up. The sun is going nova, and the limited technology of Kataan allows nothing more than to launch a space probe to preserve the memory of its population. Kamin’s life was selected to be told to a future historian who happened to be Picard. When Picard awakens on the bridge, less than half an hour has passed, while he lived half a life on the planet of Kataan. Inside the probe the flute that Kamin/Picard used to play is found. summary by Ex-Astris-Scientia
It’s one of the episodes I missed the first time around. Later, when my fascination with Star Trek developed, I read some comments and I was sooooooo curious to see it! One of so few occasions to see Picard with a family!
I wasn’t disapppointed. The scenes from Picard’s family life were excellent and the whole concept appealed to me. To live a life within a few minutes? Wonderful! It’s not new in science fiction but I’ve always loved it. To enrich your own life with all the experience of another lifetime! Amazing idea! Where do I sign up? 