It's Only a Paper Moon

As a leg amputee it is refreshing to see a sci-fi show actually show what it is like dealing with phantom pain & adjusting after an amputation surgery. From the phantom pain, adjusting to how people look at your prosthetic & relearning how to walk. Plus it has Vic Fontaine in it. Love that Rat pack sound.

I was so impressed with the actor who portrays Nog (Aron Eisenberg) that I actually spent some time looking him up and was very sad to find out that he passed away in 2019.

Great episode, great acting, I was surprised at how emotional I got.

Nog returns to DS9 and struggles to deal with life after combat.

This is a very strong episode that makes great use of characters that the writers traditionally use in supporting roles. It is also a powerful way to follow up the events on 'The Siege of AR-558' with some consequence to the events depicted. (I think it actually makes that episode seem even better on reflection)

The plot effectively portrays Nog's mental health in a bad place and how he seeks solace in the holodeck. This is a strong idea developed well by the writers and filmmakers.

Aaron Eisenberg gives one of his best performances and is supported very well by James Darren.

Nog was seriously injured in a previous episode. The Jem'Hadar destroy one of his legs. Even though the technology has come around to producing incredible artificial limbs, he is suffering from a kind of PTSD. He takes refuge in the holo-suite program where Vic Fontain (James Darren) is a nightclub crooner). Here, he is able to act like a fully functioning young man. Vic tries to deal with Nog's issues, knowing that he is taking on a fantasy life that will come to an end at some point. Finally, Nog's friends and shipmates, gently move in and get Vic to agree to help get him squared away. Nog is so much more of a developed character than his buddy, Jake, who has been written as a slovenly nay-sayer. Anyway, this episode deals with some issues that transcend the sci-fi world and get into the realities of the casualties of war.

This episode was quite the high point in not just the season, or even the series, but in the Star Trek universe - as well as television itself. As others have pointed out, it is excellent writing dealing with PTSD with a very unique sci-fi enhanced twist. I imagine many counselors today could make good use of a holosuite for patient therapy.

I particularly liked the song choices of this episode. The title song, "It's Only a Paper Moon" speaks of a make-believe world - just like a holosuite. Then, after Nog informs Vic that his program will run continuously, a program that Vic has complete control over (as Chief O'Brien points out), he sings "I've Got the World on a String," which mirrors the control he has over his own holographic world.

I'm on the fence about Vic's use of one particular slang word - "crazy." I mean, we are talking about a man's mental health here! It works ok here, so well that he said it twice, but I still winced a bit both times. There's another word Vic uses, however, that I just can't get enough of - his new nickname for Nog: Noggles!

A quick comment on something in the "goofs" section. A martini is usually served in a martini glass with a stem. However, a martini on the rocks is not. Nog did not say "on the rocks" when he gave his drink choice to Jake, but perhaps that's how he usually orders them. A good bartender would know that, and suggest it that way if he knew Jake was ordering the drink for Nog.

I thought Nog asked Vic an excellent question, "When you sleep, do you dream?" I'm curious to know the answer. Just how detailed is his programming? Sadly, Vic offers no insight since he didn't answer the question.

Overall, this is one of the most memorable episodes of the series for me. I thought the writing deserved an Emmy award, though IMDb mentions no awards for this episode. James Darren gives his best performance as Vic - which is really saying something. I'm a big fan, even though I don't usually listen to this type of music. And then there's Aron Eisenberg. He is always amazing as Nog (in my opinion), but I think this time he deserved an Emmy. Too bad the Emmys rarely notice acting in a sci-fi series, especially since this one was from syndication (often overlooked completely).

And how cool was it that this episode was carried by two recurring characters? The main cast took the supporting roles, leaving center stage to Vic Fontaine and Noggles.