Why this is Patrick Stewart’s favorite Star Trek: The Next Generation episode

Out of 176 episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation, star Patrick Stewart chose his favorite.

With so many episodes to choose from, it really is difficult to decide on just one as your absolute favorite. And Star Trek: The Next Generation has a plethora of extremely excellent episodes, making the choice that much more difficult.

There’s the season three episode, “The Offspring,” when Data decides to become a father so he creates an android. Or the season two episode “The Measure of a Man” where a trial is held to determine if Data is property or a sentient being. Or season six’s “Chain of Command” where Picard was tortured by a Cardassian tyrant. And the list goes on, but many fans will agree on one that will always belong in the top five—The Inner Light.

The Inner Light is one of the best Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes

As it turns out, that’s Patrick Stewart’s favorite episode as well. In a Reddit/Ask Me Anything post, the Star Trek: Picard actor had offered several reasons for liking the episode, one of which was a beaiutiful script. And that script took Stewart entirely away from the Enterprise, which would have been a nice change of pace for an actor instead of having to be confined to sets.

"“Well, the thing is, my favorite episode is “Inner Light.” It was a beautiful script, which for me was almost entirely located away from the Enterprise – and it’s crew! And because I was given the chance to perform what Picard would have been like if his life experience had been different. But another important reason is that I had a son in that episode who was played by my son, Daniel Stewart.”"

Stewart explained that he was given a chance to act how Picard would have been if he’d had a different life, one with a family and in a solid location instead of traversing space. Another important reason, of course, was his son, Daniel Stewart, playing his son on the episode which is very understandable.

For us fans, it was a phenomenal episode that played with our heartstrings and showed us a different side of Captain Picard. Simply put, it wasn’t just a beautiful script; it was beautifully performed by all the actors. Winning a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, “The Inner Light” is an episode that stays with you long after you watch it. So it’s no surprise this is Stewart’s favorite as well.