I can\'t say with any stronger conviction that I loved this episode. I would definitely put this in my top ten list of episodes from Deep Space Nine.
The writing team really took the character of Nog to a higher plateau by showing us the difficult psychological healing process after the injury he sustained while defending the captured Dominion communications array.
I already loved the character of Vic Fontaine prior to this episode, and his providing Nog with a crutch to get over his injury and return to his duties as a Starfleet officer was golden.
Really having a chance to get into the heart of Nog in the final third of the episode to find out why he was reluctant to leave the holodeck was a touching moment and one that brought a tear to my eye.
Allow me to share my favorite scene in the entire episode, Nog\'s monologue describing how he feels about returning to duty.
\"I saw a lot of people get hurt... I saw a lot of people die... but I never thought anything was going to happen to me. Then suddenly Doctor Bashir is telling me he has to cut my leg off. I couldn\'t believe it. I still can\'t believe it. If I can get shot... if I can lose a leg... anything could happen to me, Vic. I could die tomorrow.\"
The emotion with which Aron delivered that line was gut-wrenching. Serving as a strong parallel to all soldiers in the service of their country there is nobody who, even in the bottom of their hearts, has not felt this way. Seeing death up close and personal, especially losing ones you are close with, can never be easy.
If you\'re a fan of DS9 and you haven\'t seen this episode yet, make it a point to do so whatever way you can, you won\'t be disappointed.moreless
EDIT
Episode Summary
Stardate: Unknown ''Nog takes medical leave in the holosuite program of a 1962 Earth Las Vegas lounge after he lost his leg during a previous battle. Although his new leg is fully functional, he still uses a walking stick, a purely psychological situation, which one of the holo-characters, Vic Fontane, tries to help him overcome.moreless
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Armin Shimerman
Quark
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Michael Dorn
Lt. Commander Worf (Season 4-7)
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Rene Auberjonois
Constable Odo
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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Trivia
ADD TRIVIA-
This episode is unusual, since it includes flashbacks; in this case, Nog flashing back to his injury during The Siege at AR-558.
Edit - When Nog entered the holosuite, he was wearing Ferengi civilian clothing. All of the 1962 period clothing he was wearing while in the holosuite had to be holo-clothing. When Vic shut the program off, the tux Nog was wearing should not have remained. (Actually, it was probably a good thing that it stayed.) Edit
- After being given the Errol Flynn replica cane, Nog exits the scene using the cane in his right hand and favoring his right leg. Edit
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Notes
ADD NOTES- The events in the movie Star Trek: Insurrection are believed to occur during this episode. That would explain why we only see Worf for a short time at the beginning of this episode. Edit
- This is the second Star Trek episode to tackle holo-addiction. The first dealt with that of Lieutenant Reginald Barclay in the Next Generation episode Hollow Pursuits, from season 3. Edit
- Rom is promoted to Maintenance Engineer, First Class. Edit
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Quotes
ADD QUOTES- Vic: You stay here, you're gonna die. Not all at once, but little by little. Eventually you'll become as hollow as I am. Nog: You don't seem hollow to me. Vic: Compared to you I'm hollow as a snare drum. Edit
- Quark: And who's gonna be paying for all this holo-suite time? (Sisko just stares at him) I guess I am. Sisko: And it's very generous of you. Edit
- Nog: But now you're running all the time. Isn't it great? Vic: It's incredible. Since you've been here, I've slept in a bed every night... gone to work every day... had time to read the paper, play cards with the boys. I've had a life. And I have to tell you, it's a precious thing. I had no idea how much it means to just... live. Now, I'm going to return the favor and give you your life back. Edit
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Allusions
ADD ALLUSIONS- Shane In Vic's hotel, Nog is seen watching the 1953 Western classic Shane. Nog doesn't understand the ending of the film that when Shane wins the shootout and saves the town, he is dying, which is why he cannot stay. You can see the last scene where he is slumped over on his horse, presumably from the loss of blood. This is often referred to in film studies circles at "the Myth of the Garden", in which cowboys make a town safe for civilization, but then find that they are too wild for it themselves and cannot stay to earn the fruits of their labor. It is ironic that Nog doesn't understand this since, like Shane, he has sacrificed (his leg) and feels he no longer belongs either. Edit
- Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? Nog asks Vic what holograms dream of. This is a wink to Philip Dick's book Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?. Edit
- Yogi Bear Vic's "smarter than the average bear" comment is the favorite saying of the Hanna-Barbara cartoon character Yogi Bear. Edit
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