Star Trek TNG THE INNER LIGHT - The most I have ever cried!! - Preparation for the Movies!!!
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- čas přidán 6. 07. 2024
- Hello Everybody!
Real tears were shed
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0:00 - Intro
2:09 - Reaction
16:05 - Review - Krátké a kreslené filmy
TEARS!!! Only one more TNG video left before I get to the movies!!! This episode was one of the best episodes of TV I have seen in a long time and I have been listening to that flute song all day everyday since watching this episode.
Thanks for watching! Have a great day! :)
Have you been listening to the Inner Light Suite with full orchestra? That melts the heart!
"Imagine if they did this twist, where all of TNG is a dream!" Well, Star Trek DS9 actually flirted with that theme. If you get through its first 5 seasons, Season 6 has its own fan favorite, "Far Beyond the Stars." But I won't tell you what it's about, or where it lands on the Dream/Reality scale.
After the movies you should watch Star Trek Picard.....Season 3 starts in February and the entire TNG cast reunites
Yeah, this episode is VERY, incredibly bittersweet, very dignified. Believe it or not, Seth MacFarlane- the creator of 'Family Guy' even CREATED 'The Orville' BASED CLOSELY off TNG in most ways. MacFarlane EVEN wrote a scene in one of the very early episodes of 'Family Guy' THAT included a detail FROM the episode 'The Inner Light'- Peter literally says "Picard's flute." as a NOD to this really good, very philosophical episode that I'm certain made even ME break down a little sometimes. Those human-like aliens NEVER saw the asteroid coming! To had your WHOLE or nearly 100% of your OWN SPECIES GONE due to something NOBODY saw coming!? It makes my eyes well up the least bit typing this DOWN. lol.
Also, come to think of it- well, at least I FINALLY get to repeat my thoughts ONLINE further here- that civilization that Picard was largely innocently, momentarily sucked into- the episode reveals that the people MADE the thing that sucked in Picard did NOT suck him in to harm him- ...but as a MEANS of a MEMORIAL of their civilization. ...its an incredibly WRITTEN episode! NOT all aliens (if hopefully other than us humans exist in the entire galaxy,) would in probability would want our destruction! ...its heartwarming to consider that- they JUST want to be REMEMBERED! 🥲
@@joshgellis3292 I hope he plays the flute in this upcoming season of Picard
This episode won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation in 1993.
It definitely deserved it!
Also his son in the episode is actually Patrick Stewart’s son in real life.
And this was before the Hugo for Drama was divided into short-form (TV) and long-form (features, etc). It beat out Aladdin, Coppola's Dracula, Batman Returns, and Alien 3. The fans loved this one.
@@RolyPolyOllieReactions and for the longest time "The Inner Light" was the biggest requested music theme to Paramount.
@@RolyPolyOllieReactions When awards actually meant something too. Great episode.
So this was Patrick Stewart's favourite episode. Both for the story and the fact he got to work with his real son who played the grown up version of Kamen's son, Batai.
Daniel Stewart, yes.
Adult version of Picard's son was played by real life son of Patrick Stewart. :)
I was a mess after this episode, even the next day at school(hs sophomore) kids who i didnt even know were TNG fans were talking about it. Relationships formed, a couple continue to this day.
Aaaaaaaaw! ❤
McCoy in Wrath of Khan: "He's really not dead, as long as we remember him."
The inner light I think to a casual Trekie is important to show the change in Picard he starts as a cold man prim and proper but he comes to find he should have not blocked himself off and why friends and family is so important. The inner light hits this home in a way few other episodes do
Also it will make Generations that much more of a loss
Well thats why Seasom 3 of Picard was so much better than the two before. If you havent watched it. Watch. Its not awesome Trek like this. Butits good Trek.
One thing I love about the ending that no one ever mentions is how he clutches the flute to his chest. It's the most precious thing in the world to him because of the life it represents.
That's the most emotional part for me. I tear up every time.
Kills me every time. The actor who portrayed his wife did an incredible job in this.
No, the LIVES it represents.
Generations had forgotten this episode. Especially when Picard went into the Nexus. The wife and family should have been Eleen, Meribor and Batai, along with Rene of course.
Definitely my favorite episode of the series. Was lucky enough to be old enough to catch it when it first aired and it has stuck with me now for 30+ years.
So glad you loved this! If you want to ugly cry......season 3 episode 16 The Offspring...Data-centric episode, gets me everytime.
Oh god…I almost can’t watch The Offspring anymore. It’s just too sad and reminds me of the most emotionally trying time of my life too.
I’m so stoked to see Roly watch this episode. It’s absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking, and one of my favourite episodes from the series - especially knowing how Picard wanted kids but never had them. I’ll second The Offspring too, Daniel. That’s also incredible and broke me at the end too.
Oh my days!! I cry like a baby every time I see The Offspring!! Don't make him do that on camera!! LOL
Offspring still gets me.
Absolute gem of an episode.
I am so glad you chose to cover this episode. It is my favorite of all TNG episodes and I am one of many who suggested it to you. I really connect with Picard on this one. It was after seeing this episode that I bought a small recorder (flute) to carry around on family hikes and outings. My children grew up in a home filled with music and my son even followed in my footsteps becoming a musician.
that's kind of beautiful:)
That's a great story.
Fun fact: The flute tune his son plays is the theme tune from the Picard TV series.
if you want more of picard's greatest performance. check these:
S5 E2, Darmok
S6 E10 , 11. Chain of Command Pt 1, and 2
S2 E9, Measure of a man
S6 E15 , Tapestry
You've got to get me out of here, they keep showing me lights!
Yes to all
Yes, VERY MUCH tapestry
A close friend of mine was in a VERY bleak and dark place in their mind and emotions, lamenting the issues he has to live with as a result of the traumas his mother inflicting on him as a young child, claiming profusely that he’d be so much better off if he’d never met her
Short version - I got him to watch that episode, he was in tears and thanked me with a big hug…he’s not a hugger…
He’s a lot happier in life now
Drumhead too
This episode...I cry every time. Every time. Now you really understand Star Trek. Welcome to the family.
That moment at the end, where Picard takes the flute and clutches it to his heart like it's the most precious thing in the whole universe, just gets me every time... then he plays that haunting, sad piece... and the episode ends on that. SO powerful, and such a brilliant performance by Stewart.
"Imagine if all of TNG was just a dream"
*Laughs in Benny Russell
I wouldn't say The Inner Light has nothing to do with the movies... I would say it does add to Picard's state of mind in one moment in Generations, as well as most of Insurrection.
We don't compare The Inner Light to Insurrection though...
@@SBaby only I'm not comparing them. I clearly state that it adds to his state of mind, as in settling down, getting old, all that.
I seen every episode, movies many times. Since 1966. Like your reviews. To see a young person evaluate what is highly meaningful to my life for decades.
It’s great that you’re doing these limited number of reactions but I really recommend that you watch the whole TNG series on your own time. You seem to appreciate these stories, and there are so many more that you will love.
The inner light was seminal moment for TNG just like City on the edge of forever was for TOS.
and "Far Beyond The Stars" for DS9
The flute stays with him throughout the rest of TNG and even throughout Picard the series
But is forgotten in the TNG movies
This has always been my favorite TNG episode. Amazing concept for a story. Imagine being torn away from a very fulfilling life to be forced to except living such a different type of existence, and doing it all in the span of twenty minutes. Incredible.
✌🏼😎
Wow Oliver! You just took me back 30 years to when I first saw this episode. I cried as you did and was moved so deeply by the story, acting, and music. Thanks for triggering a walk down melancholy lane. Great review!!
It didn't happen for me for this episode... but I can generally SO relate to crying to a long-time re-watch; for me, that was "The Land Before Time" about 20 years after I had watched it bunches of times as a child. As an adult, having been so long since I'd last seen it AND still remembering pretty much everything (and of course it's an extremely sad movie)... it just hit MUCH more strongly upon my recent re-watch.
I’ve been waiting to witness your reaction about this episode. I came here for the emotions and I wasn’t disappointed. I’m happy you enjoyed this episode, one of the best in any TV shows ever. The way Picard clings to the flute, the music in the end with only the background noise of the Enterprise's engines… Patrick Stewart should have won an Emmy for his interpretation.
I’m glad this story touched you heart and soul. How does it feel to be human ?
Except for a last season nomination for best series, TNG received, and won, only technical awards. None of the actors were ever nominated, and when you consider how good Stewart is in this and so many other episodes, plus great performances by other cast members, it's pretty clear evidence of the snobbery against science fiction.
This episode along with DS9’s The Visitor are two of the most emotional episodes of any tv series I’ve ever seen. Simply superb…
One of the best episodes of the entire franchise.
TNG was something else man ,i have watched the series front to back many times . Would like to revisit someday , it's some of the best TV ever
The ending still does the same thing to me it did to you even 30 years after seeing it when it premiered.
To me the thing that always made the flute at the end so brilliant is that him having it and knowing how to play it at the end proves that it was all real and worthwhile, such a satisfying resolve for the viewer after all the questions during the episode about what was real and if any of this would matter.
This episode always makes me cry, its well written that its hard to find another that matches it.
My wife walked down the aisle at our weedding to the orchestrated version of picards flute song.
I've always been someone who has had their mind on the future. When I was a kid, I was thinking about adulthood. When I was in High School I was planning for College. When I was in College I was thinking about graduating and finding a job, etc. Planning ahead isn't a bad thing in and of itself, but I realized one day that I was doing it at the expense of enjoying the here and now. I realized I was always chasing a horizon, and ignoring the wonderful things around me. One of the reasons for coming to this self-realization was catching this episode on TV one random day. I truly credit this episode for helping me to learn to take in life a little bit more than I used to.
So whenever I feel myself slipping back into old habits; becoming completely wrapped up in the destinations and forgetting to enjoy the journeys, I think back to this line: "Seize the day. Live for now. Make now ... always the most precious. Now will never come again."
For five years, I did not partake in TNG. People tried telling me to watch. I was not interested. I was bored on night and flipped the channel and this episode has just started. I said WTH. Boy howdy was I taken by surprise. By midway, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Not knowing anything about the show, I fell right in step with the flow and dynamics of the characters. The idea behind this, a Time Capsule Implant that shows Picard the life and death of an extinct civilization, was executed with finesse. Simply great story telling. From this point on, I started watching re-runs and backtracking my opinions about TNG. I later found out, The Inner Light is listed in Top 5 Best Ranked episode list's for TNG and won SciFi awards. Kudos to your review.
Thanks for showing your true emotional reaction and vulnerability. I think you know we’re crying along with you. The mind-blowing gut-punches are overwhelming. I cried the most when Batay comes back, followed by his wife. It’s a one-two hit that makes the tears pour out. It’s a masterpiece of sci-fi.
Fun fact, in the leadup to the series finale of Star Trek the Next Generation, they made a whole day of it. Like, a ten hour block of stuff. Encounter at Farpoint 1 and 2, a special called Journey's End, the Saga of Star Trek, commercials for various Star Trek merch ( a communicator pin from Generations, which was just announced, a transporter pen, the Conversational Klingon learning set, and the Star Trek Encyclopedia) as well as teasers for the newly announced Star Trek: Voyager show...then they followed up with the 5 biggest fan favorite episodes, which were, I believe in this order: Relics, Yesterday's Enterprise, The Inner Light, and then both parts of The Best of Both Worlds...which was then followed by All Good Things. And that is how TNG ended. And it was amazing. Jonathon Frakes hosted the whole day.
Part of the song played by Kamin's son was later incorporated into Star Trek: Picard's theme tune.
There is more genuine emotion in a few seconds of Sir Patrick playing a flute than there is in the entire Marvel Universe.
For me, this is the best episode of the entire Star Trek series, any show. It resonates so strongly with me that it has stayed vibrant for decades.
Amazing heartfelt reaction. If you're one day up for a similar - but lesser - episode, I recommend "Lessons" (Season 6, episode 19). The Ressikan flute makes a comeback. More I can not tell, but you might find some emotion taking hold of you again.
Yes, I mentioned this episode in another comment but I couldn't remember the episode title. I really like that one, and the flute and story connection is so good!
Just a note about the musical instrument Picard plays - the prop flute is based on the tin whistle, also called a penny whistle or an Irish whistle. Patrick Stewart wasn't actually playing it, but learned how to move his fingers to simulate how a tin whistle would be played. The instrument you hear is a tin whistle being played by a musician.
Outstanding, and definitely in my top 5 TNG episodes.
The relationship between Arlene and Kamen is beautiful. Patrick Stewart acts his socks off, as always.
this episode is a masterpiece.
I was lucky enough to catch this episode on a re-run. Almost randomly, I stumbled across this episode while channel surfing. Having been a Trekkie since adolescence, but having only seen a handful of TNG, I decided to stick around and watch the episode.
Suffice it to say, I was deeply moved by the experience. _The Inner Light_ is a profound work of science fiction and a definitive episode of the greater Star Trek canon. I have a particular soft spot for strong uses of musical motifs. Needless to say, this one carries one of the most potent. That which can move grown men to tears.
Great reaction, one of those heartbreaking episodes. But what an amazing concept. If you knew everything was destined to be wiped out. They shared the memory of who they were. 😢
He still has the flute 40 years later as well...and we do hear that music again.
Definitely check out the full orchestral arrangement of this episode’s song. The one he plays in his flute. It is titled The Inner Light Orchestral Suite.
Agreed. It is a masterpiece.
I know I'm late to the party, but Thank you for this episode!! My husband and I met between episodes of " The Best of Both Worlds " and found out we were both Trekies. I walked down the aisle at our wedding to Picard's flute solo. And played that song again 17 years later at my husband's funeral. You think you cried!? 😭😭😭
Oh Val, thanks for sharing that poignant story. As if I’m not crying enough thinking about this episode, it brings more tears to my eyes thinking you played this song at your husband‘s funeral. Sending love and best wishes to you.
Best Star Trek episode ever - of all of the series.
And yes, the ending is so perfect; just the flute, no words.
Great reaction……Measure of a Man is as good or better than Inner Light. Highly recommend it for your TNG journey.
The two best eps of the series by far. The Inner Light always makes the lists of best Trek, but I feel like it's taken 30 years for people to really appreciate just how brilliant Measure of a Man really is. The only courtroom drama that I can think of that's actually better is 12 Angry Men, and that's saying something.
Best episode in the Star Trek Universe. I cry every time Picard holds the flute to his chest and then plays it perfectly for the first time as the ship drifts away.
Those simple notes carrying the memory of an entire civilization 😭
I love your reaction to this one. It’s probably the best episode of TNG. I’ll never forget watching this with my mom (who decided to entertain her son by watching an episode of Trek with her son) and even she said at the end “that was really good!” This episode just hits everywhere. We see the flute again throughout the rest of the series. Your comments about the audio in the final scene are spot on.
By the way, my new favorite phrase is now “what the chicken nuggets?!” Im stealing that one. 😁
For my Mom and I it was episodes of TOS in the mid-80's, and then of course TNG as well. One of the more subversive things my Mother did exposing a kid to the Star Trek perspective during those formative years. But yeah, this one has always stuck with me.
How is him walking around being sad with a flute the best episode? This sucks
This episode gets me each and every time. How and why has TV stopped being like that?
It was wonderful to watch a young person experience this episode for the first time, just as I did so long ago! I enjoyed your heartfelt and honest reactions. BTW, "Holy chicken nuggets" may be my new favorite line!
NOTE: Picard’s adult son was played by his real-life son
This episode was absolutely platinum. There's no proper adjective to describe the beauty of this work.
What a quietly devastating way to memorialize your planet.
I guarantee you the person who experiences it doesn't forget it, do they? Yeah, the show makes it very clear that Picard did NOT forget what happened in this episode. The flute comes back several times after this.
@@SBaby most poignantly I feel in a future episode where he begins to form a romantic relationship with a female officer from stellar cartography, and tells her the story of these events, explaining to her why his music is so INTENSELY personal and important to him
Like sooooo many others, this is my favorite episode. So glad you did this one. It will stick with you for a life time.
One of the best episodes of science fiction of any kind! It's simply good sci-fi and a beautiful personal story, both perfectly handled.
My favorite TNG episode. And the flute makes more appearances.
Darmok is also a good episode that takes place off ship mostly. And you'll learn to speak an alien language by the end of it.
I cry every time I see this episode.
So wonderful! I didn't know it won the kind of prestige. 👍!
Before moving on to the movies, which are very heavy Data and Picard centered, I think you should watch some Data stories, even if you don't review them for a reaction video (or videos) on the channel. I know I stated this in the last Star Trek video that you posted, but I believe it is Paramount (sorry) to state it again. Here are the stories I would suggest:
Season 1 - "Datalore"
Season 2 - "The Measure of a Man"
Season 3 - "The Offspring"
Season 4 - "Brothers"
Season 6/7 - "Descent, Part I" and "Descent, Part II" (plus Season 5 - "I, Borg")
"Datalore", "Brothers", and "Descent" are all a continuing storyline which ultimately pays off in a major part of the first TNG movie (and resonates throughout all four TNG films). And with the name "Datalore", you know it has to be lore about Data (plus more).
The "Descent" two-parter also ties into Picard's story in the movies as well. And to get true context for that story, you should also probably view Season 5's "I, Borg," which is a setup for part of the "Descent" story.
"The Offspring" will probably make you cry, maybe about as much as "The Inner Light" did. "The Offspring" and "The Measure of a Man" are maybe the most detached from the other 5 episodes ongoing storyline that I have mentioned; but, are too good to not see.
Glad you discovered... this is in the top ever.... The end makes me teary every time. I can play the folk song on my piano :)
One of the TNG soundtrack albums has a full orchestral version of the flute song by Dennis McCarthy which is beautiful.
The flute an the weight of this episode get HEAVILY referenced in a future episode, (sadly forget the title), where Picard begins to form a romantic relationship with a female officer on board, and she helps crack even more of his shell, jointly participating in p,aging of music, Picard sits her down and details the story for her about the events of this episode, explaining why his music is so personal to him and why it was difficult to open himself up like that to ANYONE.
At the end of the episode, there’s always a grand orchestral piece playing over the “outro”. But it was decided that Picard should be playing the flute (a brass Ressikan flute) with only the hum of the ship.
It has been such a joy to watch you watching my favorites...it's so good! The next best thing to what I wish for: the ability to rewatch as if it were the first tine. thank you!
I don’t know if it was covered in the nearly 200 comments yet, but the song he plays on the flute at the end of the episode is used in part as theme for Star Trek: Picard.
You kind of combined two episodes of Rick and Morty...The Vat of Acid episode where he did have the save/reset button thing (but he only got up to finding the love of his life and being with her) and Mortynight Run where he played that game Roy for the first time at Blitz and Chitz and was Roy all the way up to being an old man having a lifetime and a family and everything.
This episode, the probe was a lot like the Roy game.
Glad you liked it/felt it as much as you did.
It is an amazing episode.
Still wish you'd watch "Brothers" before the Next Gen movies just so you'd get a little more caught up with Data's storyline, but I understand your time constraints and I'm happy with whatever you are able to react to!
Best Regards!
Yeah, this episode is VERY, incredibly bittersweet, very dignified. Believe it or not, Seth MacFarlane- the creator of 'Family Guy' even CREATED 'The Orville' BASED CLOSELY off TNG in most ways. MacFarlane EVEN wrote a scene in one of the very early episodes of 'Family Guy' THAT included a detail FROM the episode 'The Inner Light'- Peter literally says "Picard's flute." as a NOD to this really good, very philosophical episode that I'm certain made even ME break down a little sometimes. Those human-like aliens NEVER saw the asteroid coming! To had your WHOLE or nearly 100% of your OWN SPECIES GONE due to something NOBODY saw coming!? It makes my eyes well up the least bit typing this DOWN. lol.
I get people liked the Orville. But when it was announced Brannon Braga was producing to bring back that Voyager flavor I said no thank you. He was what killed Trek in the first place.
Oh, wow! I started watching your reactions just yesterday. Glad to see you continuing your Star Trek journey 😊
This episode is actually referenced in one of the movies. Look out for it.
Why havent they ever brought back this flute and the memory of The Inner Light?? It would be a big part of Picards psyche. He spent a lifetime as someone else
They've brought it back several times, actually.
Yeah, that one gets me every time. Possibly my favourite TNG episode of all time.
This episode always touched me as a kid. From the ages of 12-19 I was pretty isolated; alone in a room playing online games. I always felt like I lived through many lives through the games I played, compared to my classmates who did not seem to play games and as such did not live separate online lives. I felt the loss of aerith (maybe exacerbated because I had leveled her so much and had equipment on her when she did but still..) and when I had played through 20 years of harvest moon.. thousands of hours.. and had a child, and accomplished all I could.. I felt as though I had truly lived that life. (obliviously because I didn't know any better.. but if you don't know any better, does it really feel any different?)
So I could really empathize with this episode. It felt like.. if anyone of my friends who did not read long books, or play thousands of hours of games.. were to watch this episode they could relate to how I feel about certain games and worlds. How can they relate to me, when I feel like I have experienced 5 lifetimes spent in different worlds? Perhaps if they view this episode, they can get a glimpse..
I have few friends, but the ones I do have do not have the same concept of time that I do. Every hour is excrutiating unless I am concentrated. Every minute is 60 seconds, and every hour is 3600 seconds. My friends are content to see each other once every few days.. or even a week, as they have grown older and have kids.. but if I can go a week without talking to someone... I don't even know you anymore. Are we even friends anymore? Do you know how many hours that is?? How many lives I could live vicariously in that time?? If I don't see you in a week, I feel like I've read 2 books, and played an entire universe of a game in that time. From my perspective, we are immortal vampires and haven't seen each other for 200 years. We gotta get to know each other again.
One of the best hours of TV ever filmed.
The actor who played Young Batai is Sir Patrick Stewart real life son Daniel.
To quote Uncle Roger - "EMOTIONAL DAMAGE!" Yeah, this one is a gut-punch. Right in the feels.
Yeah. That episode really hits hard. I remember recording it on a VHS video tape and replaying the flute music at the end over and over. It would give me chills!
This is such a great episode. I honestly love your reaction. I tear up too. You rock.
The music Picard learns is an excellent piece of music.
The first two years of Picard were AWESOME. I havent seen the seasons after that
This is one of the best episodes of television ever created.
Given how empathetic you are towards the more emotional episodes, I think you'd like the Picard series. It's not perfect but it is an emotional ride.
I love the episode where he plays the flute again and falls in love. Don't know how the episode is called in the original, in german its "the firestorm" I think
Everything Trek should be, right here
Whoever told you to skip the Picard series is full of it. I loved every second of that show.
Thank you for your thoughtful and articulate assessment of this episode. I’m going to try to find it and watch.
I can't think of another episode that is better written and truly emotional. Picard playing the flute at the end is so beautiful.
Honestly if you started crying in class and it drew attention, you can literally tell the truth and say you just watched the episode of star trek with the flute and you're bound to have a decent amount of people immediately understanding. Even people who only know it from the Family Guy episode where they went on Family Feud and that's an answer Peter gives and his long-winded answer is correct word for word ("I was part of the survey") would be able to acknowledge it as a well known "this'll fuck you up in a good way" episode of television history. And then if someone still is goofy about it, you can just challenge them to watch it.
I like that in trying to guess what was going on you mentioned the plot of a famous Deep Space Nine episode and then the plot of a famous TNG episode.
3:22 that happens but not in this episode. That S. 6 Ep. 15 Tapestry Another great Q and Picard episode.
Season 3 of Star Trek Picard was freaking awesome!
1:23 What lighting should you have? LOL... The "inner light" obviously, hahaha. I can't get enough of you saying "boop" when you switch on the light in yr vids. Thanks for making me smile when I watch yr reactions Ollie!
What an amazing episode. I think that the TV series is better than the movies, much better. But the best movie in my opinion is First Contact. The other Next Generation movies I didn't really like that much but since I'm such a big Next Generation fan I still liked watching them anyway. I hope you do react to more episodes because I really enjoy watching them with you so much.
this episode made me cry, when I saw it the first time. Im on my mission to watch all StarTrek episodes on timeline order. I'm now on TNG season 7.
Technically, he WASN'T "sent back in time", he was experiencing the "downloaded" lifetime of memories of Kaleb who lived 1,000 years ago on Katan. So yeah, it was closer to a "simulation", not time travel.
It's ironic how the ENTIRE "Star Trek" / Sci-Fi thing is nothing more than background "window dressing" that has very little to do with the episode.
But it doesn't take away ANYTHING from it! Such a wonderful tear-jerker of an episode.
I'd say about 90%+ of Star Trek fans have this one in their personal "Top 10" lists. (including me)
Except of course that the genius of Roddenberry's original Star Trek pitch is that the Star Trek format allows you to tell _any_ story you can think up ("all the advantages of an anthology series, with none of its limitations"). I think this episode and other 'thinky' low-action episodes like Measure of a Man demonstrate how true this is.
Best show in history
With regards to the idea that you die twice: most of everyone who has ever lived has already been forgotten, but I don't think they've reached their 'second deaths' yet. Not one of them. Because we're here. Even without knowing them, even with no memory OF them, the record is still clear: we couldn't be here if they hadn't existed before us. Everyone who ever lived has had an indelible impact on the shape of our human world. We ARE their living memory.
But, heck, let's go full Carl Sagan on this one! It's not just humans - it's not just LIFE. Every atom that has ever been on, or interacted with Earth carries a small piece of the proof of our existence - whether random, OR predetermined, it really doesn't matter: History is the chain of cause and effect stretching back to that indistinct point in spacetime where things like 'cause' and 'effect' stop having any real meaning.
Ultimately, We Are. They Were. Nothing is truly lost, nothing truly forgotten - except mmmmaaaaybe by black holes, but we don't know that one way or the other, yet.
Once Upon a Time, on a tiny dust mote, suspended in a sunbeam, an episode of a television show called Star Trek: The Next Generation aired. It was named "The Inner Light", and it fundamentally changed who the captain of the Enterprise was, as a person. In ways that the writers didn't understand, at the time. It's real. It happened. And that'll be true, even when no one remembers it.