I have always loved this episode. I find it both sad and beautiful that a culture used this specific method of preservation. Yes, it incapacitates a person for a bit, but Picard was fine in the end. What I find particularly sad and beautiful is that an individual lives many years as a part of this culture and then is returned to their people. Not only did Picard love Eline, but he also had children with her and also learned about what happened to the culture. I also liked that Picard found the flute and kept it. I think the experience Picard had in this episode stayed with him for the rest of his life the same way becoming Locutus did. Only this had a more positive effect on him.
Review of The Inner Light
