Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (TV Series) It's Only a Paper Moon (1998) User Reviews

Not all healing is physical

[Tweekums · 8/10 · 9 January 2010]

When I saw that this was going to be another holosuite based episode I was expecting it to be fairly weak as there have been rather too many episodes set there in the various stat Trek series, thankfully this time there were no malfunctions or unexpected dangers just a good character driven episode where the self aware holographic singer Vic Fontaine helps Nog come to terms with the loss of his leg.

Having returned from hospital Nog can't come to terms with the loss of his leg and even though the doctors say his new artificial leg is working perfectly he complains that it hurts and insists on walking with a stick. He gets counselling from Ezri but nothing she suggests seems to help; he just lies in his room listening to one of Vic Fontaine's songs. Eventually his neighbour Jake Sisko tells him to turn it off and if he needs to hear it he can go to the holosuite. Nog takes this suggestion literally and goes to the holosuite and after hearing Vic sing many versions of the song asks if he can stay with him. The longer he stays there the less he needs his cane but he also gets to the point where he doesn't wish to leave.

Surprisingly this was a good episode and James Darren was great as the occasional character Vic Fontaine the 1960s crooner. Aron Eisenberg was also good as Nog, it couldn't have been easy acting under all that Ferengi make-up.

Great lesson in therapy

[frankdeg-14734 · 9/10 · 20 April 2020]

Ferengi episodes are notorious for being cringy. But not this one. Seeing Nog at his worst portrays some of the characters best moments. The character development with see with Nog is relatable and all too real to so many of us who have had traumatic experiences. It's a nod to our soldiers recovering from PTSD and any other folks that are going through hard times. Not many Trek episodes hit close to home and work as therapy for viewers in its own way. This one pulls on some heartstrings and remind us what's important about being human (or Ferengi), the struggles life can bring and how we overcome them.

Vic Sings Some Great Songs

[Hitchcoc · 8/10 · 10 November 2018]

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.

Nog

[jopom · 10/10 · 31 December 2019]

Star Trek has its moments, but how often. I can't say I've ever felt anything more strong in a Star Trek episode than the hug at the end of this one. They did good.

Very emotional episode

[midge-85781 · 10/10 · 20 March 2021]

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.

This one surprised me with its depth

[planktonrules · 10/10 · 27 January 2015]

"It's Only a Paper Moon" is an episode that surprised me for two reasons. First, while I never understood why the show used the Vic Fontaine (James Darren) character, here he works fine. Second, I was shocked how good Aron Eisenberg was in this episode as he showed a much greater sense of depth to Nog than we'd ever seen before in the show.

When the show begins, Nog has finally returned to the station after losing his leg in battle. While the crew is prepared to celebrate his return, Nog has no interest in this and he quickly departs for the holosuite. He is on medical leave and he plans on spending all of it hanging out with Vic in 1962 Las Vegas. However, over time, it becomes very obvious that Nog is avoiding dealing with his emotional scars and he cannot hide from everyone forever.

I was seriously shocked that "Star Trek: Deep Space 9" could deliver a really good show about Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder--especially with a Ferengi going through the trauma. After all, through the course of the show, the Ferengi were mostly there as comic relief and the diminutive Nog isn't most folks' idea of a soldier. Still, due to excellent writing and Eisenberg's performance, it turns out to be one of the best shows of the final season. Well worth seeing.

Emmy-worthy writing and acting

[Bil-704 · 10/10 · 30 August 2020]

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.

Mr. Eisenberg...

[joesoundman · 10/10 · 12 May 2022]

I was reduced to little girl tears. They really started to let Aron open up his skills this season, and finally said to him, "Ok it's time to drop the other shoe." And drop he did. And he vindicated a lot of hurting folks. Good Lord... RIP Mr. Eisenberg.

Great depiction of life after amputation

[halterman123 · 10/10 · 18 August 2022]

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.

Made me cry

[brukeimaniboro · 10/10 · 26 February 2021]

Made me cry. Incredible depth into a feelings of couple some of this shows really good characters.

Vic Fontaine

[morn1960 · 1/10 · 18 August 2020]

I hatr each and every one of the vic episodes. Total nonsense

I love the Vic Fontaine episodes!

[txriverotter · 10/10 · 19 June 2022]

I'm biased, I guess, because I love the Vic Fontaine episodes. My first fave will always be the episode where the "gang" comes together to help Vic save his bar. Such a great one and a nice little break from the war story line.

This episode is great too, but it's emotional. Nog has returned to DS9, still recovering from the leg he lost in battle. His leg has healed, but he is very fragile emotionally, and he thinks his leg hurts because it's a way of dealing with his fear.

Anyway, he's got a favorite song that helps him when he's down, "I'll Be Seeing You," by Vic Fontaine. Bashir played it for him right after he lost his leg and it's become a comfort. The problem is, he plays it over and over and over again, and since apparently they don't have headphones in the future, it's driving Jake crazy. I don't like the way Jake handles it, but I can understand his frustration.

This leads Nog to Vic's so he can get him to sing the song for him. At the end of the night, Nog's exhausted but doesn't want to go back to his quarters and asks to stay with Vic. It really seems to help him, so he decides he wants to spend his medical leave rehab time living with Vic.

Everyone except Ezri and Bashir think Nog has lost his mind, but Ezri explains that he's attempting to console himself and get "therapy" in a way that's more palatable to him then sitting with a therapist five days a week talking about himself.

So he moves in with Vic and all is going great. He and Vic are great pals and the actors have a natural chemistry with each other. Nog likes watching old westerns while Vic tries to work on his bookkeeping, until Vic gives up and Nog volunteers to take over. Nog apparently finds Vic is generously in the black, so they even begin plans for a new casino together.

In fact, they get so wrapped up in their plans and fun, that even Vic forgets that Nog can't live there with him forever. And when Ezri comes to get Nog, he tells her if she tries to force him to leave, he'll resign his Starfleet commission. So she leaves it in Vic's capable hands, and Vic takes care of things with a little tough love.

Nog can't accept that he needs to leave, and Vic is forced to finally shut down his program himself. Vic has autonomy, unlike most other holosuite programs, so even when Nog takes apart the controls of the holosuite, he can't get it to run. O'Brien comes along and explains that if Vic turns himself off, no one can turn him back on until he's ready.

So Vic comes out after O'Brien leaves and after some arguing, Nog finally breaks down and tells Vic he doesn't want to go back to the "real" world because he's scared. He felt invincible before, but now he knows, anything can happen, even to him. It's something we all learn eventually, either thru battle or sickness or whatever. An understanding of our own mortality.

But Vic is able to reach Nog on a level no one else has, and he helps him to see that he has to go back to his life. So Nog leaves and finds his family, Rom, Leeta and Quark, in the bar, and they all hug and we can see things will slowly get better for Nog.

It wasn't part of the continuing Dominion War story line, but I loved this episode. It was touching, believable and the actors did an amazing job.

Truly Great Episode - More relevant today then ever before

[liven-66161 · 10/10 · 7 August 2021]

I really liked this episode and found it surprisingly powerful and relevant today, so many years after it aired.

First, it is really touching to see Nog receiving support, patience, and understanding from Vic. Today we know more about how traumatic events can alter life, and seeing Nog's difficulties to cope through these lens is touching me even more.

Second, while it may seem absurd to dedicate all energy and time to make profit inside simulator, this is precisely what more and more people experienced in last years due wide spread gaming.

Lastly, watching this in post covid times, after more the year living mostly in lockdown, I can relate a lot to spending days after days in one room, with almost no interaction and contribution to outside world. Being afraid to return to 'normal' life because outside does not seem safe anymore.

Vic's message close to the end of episode is inspirational to me, hard truth and relevant today more than ever before.

Make believe.

[thevacinstaller · 8/10 · 20 April 2022]

I have to be honest ---- If I had access to a star trek holodeck I would be working only to fund powering the holodeck program. Working a 9 to 5 for 45 years is not exactly what I would call a thrilling experience but I guess it is a step up from 16 hour workdays working a field.

This is a well written and executed episode. I enjoyed how Vic got caught up in 'living' and had to be reminded by Dax that Nog's holodeck rehab is over. It felt real to me ---- Many would prefer to live an imagined life (look at the popularity of video games as an example) over a real existence often filled with mundane tasks.

It also presented PTSD in a thoughtful and nuanced manner. It's not something that you just 'get over'.

This episode checks my 'creative idea' and 'making a statement about life' boxes.

Vic and Nog have good chemistry and work well off one another. It was nice they got an entire episode to work with this material and we didn't cut away to a B-Plot about Keiko's mother coming to stay with the O'Briens.

Easily the best episode for Vic and Nog

[snoozejonc · 9/10 · 11 September 2023]

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.

While Nog shines, Jake is just garnish again

[tomsly-40015 · 9/10 · 28 November 2023]

This episode is a very thoughtful character episode for Nog. Unlike Jake, who only grew in height during seven seasons of this show, Nog grew in character. Here we find him bitter and depressed, anxious and alone with his life after his leg has been replaced by a full functioning prosthesis.

He escapes into the fake world of Vic Fontaine's hotel where he finds comfort in his songs and a new task to plan a casino for Vic. While the rest of the crew tries to force Nog to open up to the real world outside, Vic accepts that Nog needs time to heal. Over time Nog gains confidence and interest in life again and repays Vic for all he has done for him with the best gift, a hologram character can dream of - if they dream.

While this episode is quite strong, I still wonder why with episode 10 of the last season we don't see the overarching story concluding. I mean, since the revelation that Ben Sisko basically is some sort of Bajoran Jesus, nothing evolved around this fact, Not even any discussions with major Kira on that topic. Looks like instead everyone now gets his final farewell episode. Even Vic.