![The Presence of a Deep Space Nine Character Undermined Voyager’s “Initiations” Episode 2 l intro 1716230705](https://i0.wp.com/theubj.com/uae/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/l-intro-1716230705.jpg?w=1170)
Addressing the obstacles of casting adolescents on “Star Trek”, Jeri Taylor discussed the issues they faced with the character Kar in the episode “Initiations”. Previous iterations of “Star Trek” rarely showcased children, and none had played a role like that of a young Kazon murderer. The Kazon, often regarded as lesser versions of Klingons, are depicted as savage and driven by honor. The franchise had not introduced a Klingon teenager before, excluding Alexander, hence there was no template to follow. Taylor commented on the casting:
“I thought it was reasonably successful. […] We gave ourselves a very difficult task by writing a part for a 14-year-old young man. We ended up casting Aron Eisenberg, who plays Nog on ‘Deep Space Nine,’ and more people were aware of that than I would have thought. He didn’t look anything the same, but he has a very distinctive voice. It broke the suspension of disbelief and made people say not, ‘Oh, there’s a young man in pain,’ but ‘Oh, it’s Nog from ‘Deep Space Nine.” As soon as the mind is doing that, it’s not involved in the story.”
The physical features of the Kazon include orange-like skin, akin to the Ferengi, topped with pronounced Klingon-esque foreheads and distinctive horn-like protrusions. Ferengi are characterized by their oversized ears, prominent ridged noses, pointy teeth, and smooth, bald heads. However, even under heavy prosthetics, Aron Eisenberg’s unique voice made him recognizable, detracting from the character he was portraying in “Voyager”.
FAQs About “Star Trek: Voyager” Episode “Initiations”
- What was unique about the casting for the “Initiations” episode of “Star Trek: Voyager”?
- The casting of a familiar face from “Deep Space Nine,” Aron Eisenberg, was unique because his distinctive voice led to a loss of immersion for the audience, who recognized him as Nog from “Deep Space Nine” rather than the character Kar.
- Why was Aron Eisenberg’s appearance in “Voyager” an issue?
- Despite appearing in heavy Kazon makeup, Eisenberg’s distinctive voice still allowed viewers to identify him as Nog from Deep Space Nine, which hindered their ability to engage with the new character he was playing on “Voyager”.
- What are the characteristics of the Kazon in “Star Trek”?
- The Kazon are a species known for their orange-ish skin, large foreheads with horn-like extensions, which some fans liken to less iconic versions of Klingons.
- Has “Star Trek” featured Klingon or other alien adolescents before?
- Apart from the character Alexander Rozhenko, a young Klingon, there have been few instances of adolescent Klingons or similarly fierce alien species depicted on “Star Trek”. The casting for “Initiations” was a rare occasion.