TV.com

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Season 7 Episode 10

It's Only a Paper Moon

Favorite

Watched It I've Watched This 0

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

8.2

User Rating

124 votes

Your Rating: 10
Your Rating: 9.5
Your Rating: 9
Your Rating: 8.5
Your Rating: 8
Your Rating: 7.5
Your Rating: 7
Your Rating: 6.5
Your Rating: 6
Your Rating: 5.5
Your Rating: 5
Your Rating: 4.5
Your Rating: 4
Your Rating: 3.5
Your Rating: 3
Your Rating: 2.5
Your Rating: 2
Your Rating: 1.5
Your Rating: 1

Rate Now

EPISODE REVIEWS
By TV.com Users

Write A Review

Episode Summary

EDIT

Free Trial / Subscription

VUDU

Buy

AIRED: 12/30/98

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

FAN RECAP

Watch Full Episode

Fan Episode Reviews (3)

A follow-up on Nog\'s injury during the Siege of AR-558, Nog moves in with Vic Fontaine on the holodeck.

9.2

By dchispirtle, Dec 17, 2005

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
DO YOU AGREE?
1 0

Flag
Share Hide
Outstanding follow up to Nog's injury.

10

By Shardyk, Jun 29, 2005

"Time heals all wounds, right?" - Ezri Dax

What an excellent episode. It's a great follow up to 'The Siege of AR-558'. Nog has always been one of my favorite recurring characters. Even though I swear he gets more screen time than some of the regulars.

The relationship between Vic and Nog is excellent. Jazz is a big part of my life, and I think this might be exactly the same thing I would do if I had had my leg blown off. Vic's parting conversation with Nog was some powerful writing.

Character studies are usually my favorite, and this will always be a series classic in my opinion.

"Computer, end program" - Vic Fontainemoreless
DO YOU AGREE?
4 0

Flag
Share Hide
This episode mainly takes place on the holo-deck, but still is an above average episode. It deals with alot of mental issues, but was worth watching.

8.0

By mgreen789, Jun 28, 2005

This episode mainly takes place on the holo-deck, but still is an above average episode. It deals with alot of mental issues, but was worth watching.

This episode is in between a few more action packed ones and fits nicely into the story line with Nog. I recommend watching Star Trek and this episode.
DO YOU AGREE?
1 2

Flag
Share Hide

See All Fan Reviews

Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Armin Shimerman	Quark
Michael Dorn	Lt. Commander Worf (Season 4-7)
Rene Auberjonois	Constable Odo
Nana Visitor	Major/Colonel/Commander Kira Nerys
Avery Brooks	Commander/Captain Benjamin Sisko
Alexander Siddig	Dr. Julian Bashir

See All Cast & Crew

Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

Patrick Kilpatrick	Reese (uncredited)	Guest Star
Annette Helde	Lt. Nadia Larkin (uncredited)	Guest Star
Tami-Adrian George	Kesha	Guest Star
James Darren	Vic Fontane	Recurring Role
Aron Eisenberg	Nog	Recurring Role
Max Grodenchik	Rom	Recurring Role

See All Cast & Crew

Watch Online

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (4)
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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- While in the wardroom, Ezri's rank pips were incorrect (black pip on the right and gold on the left). On the next shot of her and after, the pips came back to the correct position.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (9)
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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- Nog: I'm scared. Okay? I'm scared. When the war started, I wasn't... happy or anything, but I was... eager. I wanted to test myself... I wanted to see if I had what it takes to be a soldier. And I saw a lot of combat. 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. I don't know if I can
  face that. If I stay here, at least I know what the future's going to be like.
  EDIT SHARE
- Quark: How can hiding in one of Julian's adolescent programs be a good sign?
  Bashir: Hey...
  Jake: It could be worse. He could be hiding in the Alamo program.
  Leeta: Or that ridiculous secret agent program.
  Bashir: Hey...
  Rom: Or that stupid Viking program.
  Bashir: Hey!
  EDIT SHARE
- Rom: My son is insane!
  Ezri: Rom..
  Rom: He's a one-legged crazy man!
  EDIT SHARE
- (talking about one of Vic's songs)
  Vic: So, let me guess - Julian played it for you, right?
  Nog: Right.
  Vic: If I had him as a publicist, I'd be bigger then Elvis.
  Nog: Who?
  EDIT SHARE
- (regarding Nog)
  Sisko: Medical leave? How can that be?
  O'Brien: Sounds like an excuse to loaf around while the rest of us are hard at work.
  Bashir: Work, and lots of it, that's my prescription.
  Odo: Captain, he could've forged those orders.
  Sisko: I'm afraid they're genuine.
  EDIT SHARE
- Vic: All I can tell you is, you've got to play the cards life deals you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. But at least you're in the game.
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (3)
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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- Rom is promoted to Maintenance Engineer, First Class.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (4)
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 SHARE
- 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 SHARE
- Yogi Bear
  
  Vic's "smarter than the average bear" comment is the favorite saying of the Hanna-Barbara cartoon character Yogi Bear.
  EDIT SHARE
- Paper Moon
  
  The title is a direct quote from the famous Depression era song Paper Moon (words and music by Billy Rose, E.Y. Harbug and Harold Arlen).
  
  It is a song all about how the power of belief can transform something artificial and shoddy into something real and magical, an especially appropriate sentiment for an episode about a character adjusting not only to a prosthetic limb, but also regaining a sense of his own value.
  EDIT SHARE