Denise Crosby’s Lt. Tasha Yar was a part of theStar Trek: The Next Generationcast from the beginning, but I hate the way the show handled her story. Tasha Yar served as the Security Chief on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), butshe does not get much to do during theTNG’s first season.A few early episodes fill in elements about Yar’s backstory, but this never really goes anywhere. Not only is Yar’s backstory incredibly dark and traumatic, but it’s rendered even worse considering Tasha’s ultimate fate.
Denise Crosby leftStar Trek: The Next Generationbecause she was felt she had too little to do as Lt. Tasha Yar. AfterTNG’s first few episodes,Yar was largely regulated to the backgroundwhile characters like the android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) received more spotlight. Crosby left beforeTNGseason 1 ended and Tasha Yar was killed off inTNGseason 1, episode 23, “Skin of Evil.” While I will always loveTNG,the show often struggled to find great stories for its female characters, and Yar fell victim to this more than anyone.
Star Trek: TNG Season 1 Didn’t Understand Tasha Yar Before Killing Her Off
As the Chief of Security of the USS Enterprise-D, Lt. Tasha Yar should have been at the center of the action, but she rarely was. What I find even more frustrating is that one of the few episodes that did center Yar,TNGseason 1, episode 4, “Code of Honor”, is so notoriously bad that most of the actors have disowned it. Despite arguably being the main character of “Code of Honor,“Tasha has very little agency.She’s kidnapped by Lutan (Jessie Lawrence Ferguson), the leader of Ligon II, because he becomes obsessed with her beauty and fighting skills. The whole story feels out of date even for 1987.
Star Trek: TNG’s Most Hated Episode Still Traumatizes Denise Crosby
Denise Crosby won’t even mention the name of this infamously bad episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
I particularly dislike howmost of Tasha Yar’s stories have to do with her beauty or sexuality in some way.As a child, Tasha lived on the lawless planet of Turkana IV where she spent her days running from rape gangs. This particular element of Yar’s backstory is mentioned multiple times in only a few episodes, as if it’s the most interesting thing about her. One of Yar’s most memorable moments comes inTNGseason 1, episode 3, “The Naked Now” when she sleeps with Data. Assomeone who adores Data, I think this scene could have been sweet, but it just comes across as awkward and cringe-worthy.
The character of Tasha Yar was originally inspired by Jenette Goldstein’s Vasquez fromAlien.Denise Crosby has stated that the character she auditioned for was not fully represented on screen.
Perhaps Denise Crosby could have givenStar Trek: The Next Generationmore time to find its footing before she abandoned ship, but with the storylines she was getting (or lack thereof), I don’t find her departure particularly surprising. Even Yar’s final episode, “Skin of Evil,” fails to center her, ultimately focusing more on Captain Picard andCounselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). Not only isYar murdered by a strange black goo monster named Armus,but her death is ultimately meaningless. Yar’s death in the line of duty may be realistic, but it feels like a tasteless way for a mainStar Trekcast member to go out.
TNG’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise” Is A Bright Spot For Tasha Yar (But Still Killed Her Off)
“Yesterday’s Enterprise” Almost Redeemed Yar’s Season 1 Death
Denise Crosby returned as Tasha YarinStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 3, episode 15, “Yesterday’s Enterprise.” Like manyStar Trekfans,I love this episode for many reasons, but Yar’s story is not necessarily one of them.When the USS Enterprise-C emerges from a rift in spacetime, the Enterprise-D suddenly becomes a warship with Lt. Yar at the tactical station. In this new altered timeline, the Federation is losing an ongoing war with the Klingons and the Enterprise-D is at the front lines as the first Galaxy-class warship.
7 Star Trek: TNG “Yesterday’s Enterprise” Details You Missed
Star Trek: TNG’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise” is an all-time classic enhanced by the fascinating decisions made to bring the time travel story to life.
Tasha Yar gets a solid story arc in “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” ultimately deciding to return to the past with the USS Enterprise-C after learning of her fate in the Prime Universe. Yar’s story still involves a romance — with Enterprise-C crewmember Lt. Richard Castillo (Christopher McDonald) — but it’s a romance that mostly works, building on a genuine connection between two people. Still,Yar’s death has all the elements of a clichéd TV deathandI hate thatCaptain Rachel Garrett(Tricia O’Neil) had to die to give Yar her big moment.
TNG’s Sela Story Didn’t Work & Made Tasha’s Ending Even Worse
Tasha Yar May Have Suffered Even More Than Chief O’Brien
As it turns out, Tasha Yar didn’t die when the USS Enterprise-C traveled back to the past but was actually captured by Romulans.A Romulan General then became obsessed with her(like Lutan back in “Code of Honor”), and agreed to spare the rest of the crew if Yar became his consort. Tasha agreed and later gave birth to ahalf-Romulan daughter named Sela(also portrayed by Denise Crosby). When Sela was four, Tasha tried to flee but was caught and executed. This entire storyline is revealed in dialogue inStar Trek: The Next Generationand it remains one of my least favoriteStar Trekstories for a number of reasons.
Not only does this entire storyline completely undermine Tasha’s big self-sacrifice moment in “Yesterday’s Enterprise,” butit’s also a terrible ending for the character.TashaYar is captured by Romulans, held prisoner for years, presumably assaulted and impregnated against her will, likely mistreated in other ways, and then unceremoniously executed while trying to escape. I cannot think of a worse fate for a character who grew up being traumatized by rape gangs and placed a high value on her own independence. And all of this is made even worse by the fact that Sela simply doesn’t work as a character.
I think there were much more interesting ways to bring Denise Crosby back toStar Trek: The Next Generationwithout heaping more suffering on Tasha Yar.
For one thing, Sela seems too young (especially for a Romulan) to have risen through the military ranks that quickly, and her plans seem poorly thought out.She plotted to disrupt the alliance between the Federation and the Klingonsand later attempted to invade Vulcan, but Starfleet foiled both plans fairly easily. And then Sela is never heard from again afterTNG’s"Unification” two-parter. Ultimately, I think there were much more interesting ways to bring Denise Crosby back toStar Trek: The Next Generationwithout heaping more suffering on Tasha Yar, a character who never reached her full potential in the first place.
