Lt. Denise Crosby's Tasha Yar was part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation broadcast from the beginning, but I hate the way the show handled his story. Tasha Yar served as Chief of Security on the USS Enterprise-D under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), but he doesn't get much to do in time TNG's first season. The previous few episodes fill in elements about Yar's backstory, but this never goes anywhere. Not only is Yar's backstory incredibly dark and harrowing, but it's made even worse when you consider Tasha's ultimate fate.
Denise Crosby left Star Trek: The Next Generation because he felt he had very little to do as Lt. Tasha Yar. After TNGthe first few episodes, Yar was heavily controlled in the background while characters like the android Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner) gets more light. Crosby went ahead TNG season 1 ended with Tasha Yar killed off TNG season 1, episode 23, “The Skin of Evil.” Although I will always love you TNG, the show often struggles to find good 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
Tasha Yar Had Potential That Was Never Fully Realized
As Chief of Security for the USS Enterprise-D, Lt. Tasha Yar was supposed to be in the middle of the action, but she rarely was. What I find most frustrating is that one of the few episodes that focused on Yar, TNG season 1, episode 4, “Code of Honor”, is so infamous that most of the cast has denied it. Despite being the main character of “Code of Honor,” Tasha has a very small agency. She is kidnapped by Lutan (Jessie Lawrence Ferguson), the leader of Ligon II, because he is obsessed with her beauty and fighting skills. The whole story feels out of date even in 1987.
I don't particularly like how Most of Tasha Yar's stories are related to her beauty or sexuality in some way. As a child, Tasha lived in the lawless world of Turkana IV where she spent her days on the run from gang rapes. This particular element of Yar's backstory is mentioned multiple times in only a few episodes, as if it were the most interesting thing about him. One of Yar's most memorable moments comes in TNG season 1, episode 3, “The Naked Now” when she sleeps with Data. As someone who likes Data, I think this scene could have been fun, but it just seems awkward and inappropriate.
Maybe Denise Crosby could provide Star Trek: The Next Generation more time to get its bearings before leaving the ship, but with the news he was getting (or lack thereof), I don't find his departure surprising. Even Yar's final episode, “Skin of Evil,” fails to ground him, ultimately focusing on Captain Picard and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis). It's not just that Yar was killed by an unknown dark monster named Armus, but his death no longer means anything. Yar's death in the line of duty may be realistic, but it feels like an unpleasant way for the main character. Star Trek drop the member to exit.
TNG's “Yesterday's Enterprise” Is Tasha Yar's Bright Spot (But It's Still Killing)
“Yesterday's Enterprise” Almost Saved Season 1 of Yar
Denise Crosby is back as Tasha Yar Star Trek: The Next Generation season 3, episode 15, “Yesterday's Business.” Like many Star Trek fans, I love this episode for many reasons, but Yar's story is not one of them. When the USS Enterprise-C leaves space, the Enterprise-D suddenly becomes a battleship with Lt. Yar in the tactical station. In this new altered timeline, the Federation is losing the ongoing war with the Klingons and the Enterprise-D is at the forefront as the Galaxy's first battleship.
Tasha Yar gets a strong story arc in “Yesterday's Business,” 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 romance – with Enterprise-C crewmember Lt. Richard Castillo (Christopher McDonald) – but it is a very active love, built on a real connection between two people. However, Yar's death has all the elements of a clichéd TV death again I hate that Captain Rachel Garrett (Tricia O'Neil) had to die to give Yar his big moment.
TNG's Story of Sela Didn't Work and Made Tasha's Ending So Bad
Tasha Yar May Have Suffered More Than Chief O'Brien
As it turns out, Tasha Yar did not die when the USS Enterprise-C returned but was actually captured by the Romulans. The Romulan General then fell in love with him (like Lutan back in “Code of Honor”), and agreed to spare the rest of the crew if Yar became his friend. Tasha agreed and later gave birth to a half-Romulan daughter named Sela (also portrayed by Denise Crosby). When Sela was four years old, Tasha tried to escape but was caught and killed. The whole matter was revealed in an interview on Star Trek: The Next Generation and it remains one of my least favorites Star Trek news for many reasons.
Not only does this whole storyline completely ruin Tasha's big adventure moment in “Yesterday's Business,” but it also has a bad ending for the character. Tash Yar is captured by the Romulans, imprisoned for years, beaten and impregnated against her will, probably mistreated in other ways, and then unjustly killed while trying to escape. I can't think of a worse ending for a character who grew up bullied by gang-rapists and placed a high value on his independence. And all of this is made worse by the fact that Sela just doesn't work as a character.
I think there were a lot of interesting ways to bring Denise Crosby back Star Trek: The Next Generation without heaping more suffering on Tasha Yar.
First, Sela seems too young (especially for a Romulan) to have risen through the military ranks so quickly, and her plans seem ill-conceived. He conspired to disrupt the alliance between the Federation and the Klingons and later attempted to attack Vulcan, but Starfleet thwarted both plans with ease. Then Sela is not heard from behind TNG data “Unity” has two parts. In the end, I think there were a lot of interesting ways to bring Denise Crosby back Star Trek: The Next Generation without heaping more suffering on Tasha Yar, a character who never reached her full potential in the first place.