Nog (Star Trek)

Nog, played by Aron Eisenberg, is a recurring character on the science fiction television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (DS9). He becomes the first Ferengi to join Starfleet. He is Rom's son and Quark's nephew and is also the only grandchild of Ishka.

Nog
Star Trek character
First appearance
Last appearance
Portrayed byAron Eisenberg
In-universe information
SpeciesFerengi
AffiliationFerengi Alliance
United Federation of Planets
Starfleet
PostingDeep Space Nine
USS Defiant
PositionOperations Officer
(Seasons 6-7)
Starfleet Cadet
(Seasons 4-6)
Bar Employee
(Seasons 1-4)
RankLieutenant, Junior Grade
(Season 7)
Ensign
(Seasons 6-7)
Cadet
(Seasons 4-6)
Civilian
(Seasons 1-4)

Overview

In the Star Trek universe, Nog was born to Rom and Prinadora on Ferenginar in 2353. Later, he moved with his father to Deep Space Nine and worked at his uncle Quark's bar. This time is depicted in DS9, and Nog is characterized as being very mischievous and a slight delinquent. Throughout the course of the series, Nog befriends Jake Sisko. In the first seasons of DS9 he is, though reluctantly, one of the first students in Keiko O'Brien's school. When Rom, under pressure from Quark and Grand Nagus Zek, pulls Nog out of school, Jake tutors him without Rom's knowledge ("The Nagus").

Recognizing his father's failure to capitalize on his proficiency in mechanics and electronics, and not wanting to follow in those footsteps, Nog resolves to go into a career where he can make something of himself. After going through the Ferengi coming-of-age rite, he requests an apprenticeship under Commander, later Captain, Benjamin Sisko in order to attend Starfleet Academy ("Heart of Stone"). Although Sisko takes considerable convincing that this young Ferengi is serious in this uncharacteristically unprofitable ambition for his species, Nog is admitted with his recommendation and becomes the first Ferengi in Starfleet ("Facets").

Starfleet assigns Nog to Deep Space Nine as part of his cadet field training ("The Ascent"). Upon returning to the station, he becomes roommates with Jake although his newfound Academy discipline is initially at odds with Jake's slovenly habits. As a cadet, Nog works mainly under chief of operations Miles O'Brien.

Nog receives a commission as ensign shortly before Starfleet retakes Deep Space Nine during the Dominion War ("Favor the Bold").

In 2374, Nog is sent on a diplomatic mission to Ferenginar with Jake, who is along as a civilian press correspondent. They are rescued by the USS Valiant after their runabout is destroyed by the Dominion. On board the Valiant, Jake and Nog discover that the vessel's crew, including all senior officers, is composed entirely of an elite group of Starfleet cadets, called Red Squad. Nog becomes enamored of the thought of working with such a group, and the young Captain soon gives Nog a temporary field promotion and officer position on the ship. An arrogant, overly zealous crew, they embark on a poorly-planned mission to seek out and destroy a very powerful Dominion battleship... based solely on an untested scientific hypothesis which states that a specific radiation emission could be used to cripple the Dominion ship's hull structure. Jake objects strongly to the recklessness of the endeavor, but is ignored and ridiculed by everyone else, including Nog. Eventually, the Valiant encounters the Dominion ship and the young crew become visibly shaken when they see how huge this particular enemy ship is. They make the first offensive strike on the enemy anyway, but quickly discover to their horror that their theory is flawed. The radiation has no effect, and the Dominion ship retaliates, resulting in the total destruction of the USS Valiant. Finding an escape pod, Nog, Jake, and a female cadet whom Jake befriended earlier are the only survivors ("Valiant").

On AR-558, during a battle in the height of the Dominion war, Nog is shot in the leg by a Jem'Hadar soldier, necessitating the leg's amputation ("The Siege of AR-558"). He then spends several months at Starbase 235 where a biosynthetic leg is grown for him to replace the amputated one. After months of therapy Nog still feels phantom pain in his new leg, even though the doctors could not detect any stimuli in its pain receptors. Nog chooses Vic Fontaine's holosuite club simulation as the place to recuperate from the trauma of war, to adjust to using an artificial limb, and to escape from his real life ("It's Only a Paper Moon"). This becomes a problem when Nog decides to live in the holosuite full-time and refuses to leave. Vic himself forces Nog to leave by shutting down his own program (an ability that Vic has, since he is a sentient being in his own right.)

One of Sisko's final acts before joining the Prophets is to promote Nog to the rank of lieutenant junior grade (DS9: "What You Leave Behind").

In an alternate timeline, Nog becomes a Starfleet captain ("The Visitor").

In the Mirror Universe, Nog owns the bar on Terok Nor, having inherited it after the deaths of his father and uncle. The mirror Nog helps Intendant Kira Nerys escape from the Terran Rebellion; however, the Intendant subsequently kills Nog, fearing that he might tell the rebels where she is ("Shattered Mirror").

Appearances

Reception

In 2016, the character of Nog was ranked as the 51st most important character of Starfleet within the Star Trek science fiction universe by Wired Magazine.[1]

One of the episodes focusing on Nog, "It's Only a Paper Moon" was ranked as the 14th best of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine by The Hollywood Reporter in 2016.[2] They note that it follows up on some of the events of "The Siege of AR-558", which they had ranked as 15th best of the series, and also includes Nog.[2] Hollywood Reporter ranked "It's Only a Paper Moon" as the 56th best episode of all Star Trek episodes to-date, calling it a touching and ambitious story covering the impact of the episode "The Siege of AR-558".[3]

References
  1. McMillan, Graeme (2016-09-05). "Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  2. Couch, Aaron; McMillan, Graeme (2016-09-22). "'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' — The 20 Greatest Episodes". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media, LLC. Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  3. Couch, Aaron; McMillan, Graeme (2016-09-08). "'Star Trek': 100 Greatest Episodes". Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media, LLC.
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