10 Star Trek Characters Who Didn't Deserve Their Fate

9. Tasha Yar

Tasha Yar Death Skin of Evil Star Trek
CBS

Denise Crosby's name was in the main credits, for Pete's sake! She was sure to be safe. This was 1987 and The Next Generation was surely not going to off one of their lead characters before the debut year had even wrapped...right?

Well, this one had as much to do with Crosby's frustrations as anything. Quickly tiring of the lack of action for Yar, Crosby asked to be released from her contract so that she could pursue other opportunities. Gene Roddenberry then took the chance to truly startle the audience - by killing Yar off.

This could have been done in a way that felt earned, or important. However, in one of the most pathetic deaths in the franchise, Yar is tossed aside by an oil slick named Armus and then dies on the operating table. It was totally unexpected, thus achieving the shock value that Roddenberry was looking for, but at what cost?

Thankfully Tasha was given another chance to go out on a stronger note in the third season episode Yesterday's Enterprise, but Skin Of Evil is a real stain on the legacy of the character. Its long-term impact did serve to offer Worf more to do, but even that could have been achieved in any number of ways.

Yar's death in season one is a damp squib of an ending, even with that touching memorial in the holodeck.

 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"