Captain Picard Play His Ressikan Flute

I came back from a memorial today, and one of the last people who spoke about the dearly departed, said a few words, before pulling out a recreation of that god damn flute. I have more fingers on both hands than the number of times I've cried in the last 10 years. (This is not something I am proud of, it's just how I am.) When the that second note of that song reverberated of my ear drums, the people in my immediate area heard me uncontrollablely mutter "Oh, fucking no, not this song". Instantaneously after those words tripped and tumbled out of my mouth, my eyes exploded. I've never cried so fast in my life and it has been decades since I cried that hard. I completely crumpled... It was rough...so very, very rough... However, it was also the perfect send-off and tribute to an amazing person. This episode will always be remembered by any and all Star Trek fans that watch it. It leaves an impact that stays with us, our entire lives. I'll miss you, Dan, the world is less without you in it.

To be given the gift of love, a family...and to carry the legacy of an entire civilization - Picard was the right one for this encounter. This was a marvelous episode.

I have never felt so sorry for Picard or anybody else on this show, then I did when I watched him holding his flute. He lived an entire lifetime and then lost his entire family. That amount of pain can never be expressed or made light of. "Now we live again in you."

When he clutches the flute to his heart, for me, it’s the most emotional moment of the entire series.

One of my favorite episodes of any of the Star Treks. When Patrick Stewart grips the flute to his chest, you know he's been changed by the lifetime he's led on Ressika.

Probably one of the best episodes of Star Trek TNG or maybe even the best episode.

I love that when Picard picks up the flute, he holds it against his body, almost as though there's so many emotions and memories that are racing through him.

So beautiful... You can see how he mours the loss of his Ressikan family as he clutches the flute to his chest.... One of the best episodes by far.

I love the detail of how Picard automatically holds his hand up to open the door, or when Will comes by and he has to remember that the little chirping noise means someone is at the door. Little things like that are part of what makes an episode really meaningful. I also love when Picard sees the flute and takes it out of the box and clutches it lovingly to his chest.

This flute prop sold for $48,000 in a past auction, and in June of 2021 sold for $190,000. Shows you just how important this episode is to fans. And though the flute doesn’t actually play, the music written for the episode is perfect, such a touching and beautiful melody

this episode never left my memory. It went straight to my heart.

This is an excellent episode! Going to re-watch it now!

"I'm not crying! You're crying!!" My immediate reaction after Picard and his Ressikan flute faded and the end credit rolled. And that is always my reaction whenever I rewatch "The Inner Light." BEST TREK EPISODE EVER

He holds it close to his chest as the memories rush through him.

One of the best episodes. A very unique premise, excellently executed from the actors to the director

Picard was an explorer and always wanted to see what was waiting out there in the stars. These people not only provided him an eyewitness account of their civilization and history but also a life full of memories that he will treasure to the end of his days. 😢 "People die when they are forgotten." These people were long dead, but left behind something that would ensure they would not be forgotten

One of the MOST emotional episodes EVER done by TNG! And it still brings tears to my eyes when Picard opens up the box to find his flute. :D This is a timeless, and very moving episode, one that still resonates with me to this very day. Thank you for sharing this! :D

It doesn't get much better then "The Inner Light."

...and 25 minutes ago he had never played the flute, or heard that melody. Now, it's a part of his soul. Such an amazing episode.

Fun fact: The prop was sold at the 40 Years of Star Trek: The Collection auction. The buyer paid $48,000 for the lot The catalog estimate for the lot was $800 to $1,200 dollars. I'm not surprised it went for that money. Such an important piece of Star Trek history.