That episode hits so hard if you think of the idea that Picard sacrificed basically everything for his career. He never married, never had a family or settled down on some backwater planet.

And then for a lifetime - in 27 minutes - he did. He got to have the life he never got to have.

It just. My soul hurts for him. I still don't know if it's sad or beautiful or both but that episode tears my heart out every time.