Stop all the clocks...

[selenak]

Still hiking in the mountains, and very sad to learn Aron Eisenberg had died. He was my own age, and played Nog in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; Nog was a wonderful example of how a character who could easily have been a one note comig relief or just there to give Jake Sisko someone his own age to interact with in season 1 instead became one of the best developed reccuring characters, with an arc of his own. By the time s7 came along, we got an entire episode (and one of its best) devoted to Nog dealing (or avoiding to) with war trauma, physical and mental wounds. And none of this would have happened if Aron Eisenberg hadn't inspired the writers with his performance to give him more and more to do. Here's the scene in which he tells Sisko why he wants to join Starfleet (the first Ferengi to do so):

"Nog explains why he wants to join Star Fleet" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[jo_lasalle]

This is really sad. :-( I loved Nog's story. (And that is a great scene.)

[jesuswasbatman]

Yes, very sad. I see from one of the news reports that he suffered from congenital kidney problems all his life, which makes me admire him even more.

Nog's growth over the series is one of the type of stories that I regret losing, that only happened in shows during that 1990s/2000s periods, when episodic shows developed long-term continuity, but had plots and character development emerge organically rather than being preplanned right from the start.

[selenak]

Yes, you're right, that time of tv storytelling transition was what made Nog's story possible, and I can't think of a current day (still running) tv show which did something like this. Well, arguably Call the Midwife which kept changing parts of its ensemble due to rl actress leavings but also promoted a recurring character to regular due to audience response. Still - not a real Nog equivalent.

I didn't know that about Aron Eisenberg. As you say, he's all the more admirable.

[sovay]

Still hiking in the mountains, and very sad to learn Aron Eisenberg had died.

Oh, hell!

[020104isme]

That is sad news.

Thank you for posting one of my favourite DS9 moments. It is a poignant reminder.

[zulu]

What a lovely scene. I'm sorry to hear the news.

[lilacsigil]

He brought so much to what could have been an entirely one-dimensional character.

[watervole]

Beautiful bit of acting. I suddenly feel very old.