What If Tasha Yar Wasn't Actually Killed Off?

[@philipcollier4883]

What if Tasha survived and Troi died instead and Worf became ships counselor? He'd end each session with the crew with "Remember, a True Warrior doesn't have such feelings." On the the bridge when they meet the alien he would say "My warrior instincts tell me..." and just recycle Troi's old lines.

[@sinachiniforoosh]

The idea of a Klingon therapist made me think though, imagine following the journey of a Klingon therapist, talking to Klingons about their mental health problems, and over the course of the series we realize that the violence of Klingons is not a result of their nature, but the fact that their society is fucked up and puts pressure on its citizens.

[@oktopussy9628]

I would have been the most awesome show in the galaxy 😂

[@ziggystardog]

Worf's school of tough love. The Klingon equivalent of Cognitive Behavior Therapy

[@krisb3417]

This should be its own offshoot

[@mindyp51d]

Therapist Worf's advice to a suicidal patient: Today is a good day to die.

[@HappyCodingZX]

When it comes to saving the show, there is an even more important question - "What if Riker never grew the beard?"

[@CameronCajun]

I immediately attempted to contemplate your very good point. ...Riker's beard.... Yeah🤔 What if??? But, the only thing I discovered was an existential black rabbit hole !! I caution you... We just may not be ready to probe that infinite, cursed darkness that is Riker's beard.

[@pattimcb31]

Would he be mirror universe Riker without the beard?🤔

[@daveroche6522]

What if Wesley Crusher wasn't such an irritant? [Mind you, Babylon 5s Bester remains the Galaxys most P.L.S. (Punchable Little Shit) - massive shoutout to Walter Koenig thank you again Sir].

[@eddyedwards120]

The best statement on KZbin

[@KitKatHexe]

​@@daveroche6522 I always got excited for Psi Corps episodes because I got to daydream about beating the ever-loving shit out of Bester again

[@benprewitt4600]

"Doctor Mommy...Blind Guy Who Drives The Ship Sometimes..." I'M DYING

[@frankclarady6643]

I can just see Eddie Murphy's sketch about going for a ride with Stevie Wonder at the wheel...!

[@kellyweingart3692]

lol

[@kellyweingart3692]

Captain Hardass 😂

[@MalcolmCooks]

literally nobody else on the enterprise: tasha yar: *I was five when I learned how to avoid the rape gangs*

[@SteveShives]

Exactly!

[@dangerouslytalented]

Redshirting her meant that even the main characters aren’t immortal. The sheer pointlessness of her death meant that no character was safe, no matter how beloved. Gave an edge to Star Trek

[@joelincz8314]

but only for a short time :( they maybe should have killed of more....??...

[@francoislacombe9071]

@@slashandbones13 It made the cliffhanger at the end of Best of Both World Pt1 more significant, because there was an actual chance that Picard would actually die in the second part. He didn't, but it wasn't a foregone conclusion that he wouldn't.

[@EMSpdx]

@@francoislacombe9071 THIS. And in fact, there are several instances through out TNG's run where characters are in certain peril and may not make it.

[@ziggystardog]

Wouldn't have much of an effect if the other changes weren't made. Witness Kal Penn's exit from House MD. Barely a blip and as pointless a death as they come. Gave up on GOT in the first season because of overuse of this trope. Killing off a character pointlessly is lazy writing. It's the cast's reaction to the loss that gives meaning-- not the death itself.

[@genevievemccluer7503]

@@derpimusmaximus8815 They managed the reverse in Magicians, keeping it secret for almost a year.

[@theowinters6314]

Geordi's role in Season 1 was the navigator/pilot for the ship. You know, because he's blind. Yeah, that was one of Gene's jokes.

[@zorhamorningstar3862]

Hey Troi was at the helm each time the Enterprise D and E crashed, and she could see ...

[@TheDjbz]

To be fair to Troi: ramming the Scimitar was deliberate

[@andromidius]

@@TheDjbz Movie Troy is best Troy. She actually does things in the movies! Okay, and a few TNG episodes. She had some badass hidden in there.

[@mrcritical6751]

Everyone’s roles in season 1 were really weird and inconsistent

[@twig8523]

I think you mean... Gene's *vision!* 😅 Yep, even 3 years late, that's a joke worth making. 🤭

[@AngelValis]

You know, I've always counted Voyager as one of my favorite Star Trek series... That being said, that Voyager bit was brilliantly hilarious

[@Justlookin48]

Voyager was my favorite back in the day but upon revisiting it kind of sucks. I think it would benefit from a redo in today's long-form tv storytelling.

[@chrisschembari2486]

We had to wait 30 years for a BSG remake. We might look forward to something like a new Voyager.

[@Deadeye313]

Yeah. Throwing Voyager some shade here.

[@jamesrussell8256]

Actually my almost 2 year old boy absolutely LOVES the Voyager 4k intro that is up on KZbin, and also loves watching the show. After you watch the series a few times, you do fall in love with it. That said, I do still agree with some of the criticisms.

[@nettart4924]

I just started watching... Then I was hit with the OOOF SPOİLERS

[@daikaijumaster]

Steve: "What would seven years of TNG Season 1 look like?" Me: This is gonna be a jab at Voyager, isn't it? [Voyager intro starts playing] Me: Yep, there it is

[@daikaijumaster]

(For the record, it was pretty funny)

[@Axemantitan]

TNG's improvement after the first season wasn't due to Crosby's departure, it was due to the producers ending Roddenberry's micromanaging.

[@JaceFincham]

It wasn't so much Roddenberry as it was his lawyer. That guy is the reason all the season 1 writers, that had worked on TOS as well, quit.

[@JonatasMonte]

I actually liked the first season more than the others, it had that feeling the TOS had, the others were more like the later series. Now I know why.

[@Lanthanideification]

@@JonatasMonte A lot of the S1 scripts for TNG were originally rejected TOS scripts, too.

[@CameronCajun]

I'm sorta feeling all of you are incorrect in so much as the quality uptick being discussed certainly involves dynamic, complicated, multi-factor elements.

[@bradcsuka5054]

@@CameronCajun Well sure, of course the improvement was based upon multiple factors including new writers, a more clearly defined vision, input from the actors themselves, and much, more more. However, there is no denying that the reduction of Roddenberry and Roddenberry lawyer's influence was significantly important to the eventual success of TNG.

[@elmotastic578]

I heart voyager, but man, that joke about 7 seasons of Series 1 TNG was hella funny. I properly belly laughed

[@KNPrince]

Thanks for doing this video about Tasha Yar.. She was my favorite character on TNG and had she survived I likely would have gone into law enforcement as a career.. Instead.. Beverly Crusher became my role model and I ended up going into the nursing field. I was nine-years-old when Tasha died and it was the first time that I openly cried watching a TV show. Still... when she reappeared for "Yesterday's Enterprise" is season 3... two years later... I was so excited that I was glued to the TV for that hour... Then we ended up with Tasha's daughter in the from of the half Romulan Sela... but that is a whole other can of worms... Enjoyed this episode very much... Thanks again Steve!

[@schwarzeseis4031]

" Beverly Crusher became my role model and I ended up going into the nursing field. " Butbutbutbutbutbutbut....she's MD... Sorry. Read the rest afterwards and Nurses are awesome (my mom is one and she saved my life several times)! Still: Both You and my Mama could've been MDs, and I can't help but wonder: Why not?

[@mysmirandam.6618]

I loved her too I cried

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

Data was my favorite character, so I ended up going into being the annoying know-it-all in every place I've worked.

[@leeannasloan2292]

She was my favorite also.

[@Mallory-Malkovich]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who can't stop thinking of Christopher McDonald as "Shooter McGavin" (yes I had to look up his real name to leave this comment).

[@RickYorgason]

Tasha's descriptions of her crewmates paints surprisingly interesting characters, despite the fact that her descriptions don't actually describe the characters we'd seen up to that point, and despite the fact that the episode was probably pitched very late in the season and must have been written pretty quickly. Her speeches to the crew strike me as a writers wishlist for the characters he *actually* wanted to write, especially after they had some experience writing these characters and seeing some episodes fully produced. With the break-neck pace that TNG was produced at, I don't imagine they really had the luxury of time to allow them to unnecessarily change any of their first season plans, but Skin of Evil was outside of any plans they would have had, so we got to preview what was on the writers' minds. We got to see those wishlists that they otherwise wouldn't have had the time to act upon until season 2.

[@tigerbread78]

What would 7 years of season 1 TNG look like? *cuts to Voyager* You sir, have just won the internet

[@TimDavis77]

Yeah, that was savage AF

[@ElmerCat]

I've been watching "Voyager" again after bingeing through "Orange is the New Black". It was so much fun to see Captain Janeway doing kitchen duty inside a women's prison! Did she get there through some lucky twist in one of her time travel adventures?

[@arklestudios]

It was funny, but let's be real, no way would Season 1 TNG have given us anything as good as The Thaw, Living Witness, or Course: Oblivion. :)

[@SuperVstech]

Elmer Cat personally, I like seeing her getting hit on in Remo Williams...

[@RUCKERS01]

@@SuperVstech wow, one other person who has seen that movie! In Korea door handles do not break!

[@Mexalen81]

The VOY diss made me laugh out loud. Well played. Try to be kind to us Voyager-Fans. For once. :D

[@Mexalen81]

@@dixonhill1108 Sure, but these comments are expected ;)

[@katakisLives]

i honestly don't understand all the voyager hate! i think it was a great series.

[@conroypaw]

Killing off Kes did two things: 1) It pretty much killed off Jennifer Lien's career. 2) The scenery improved slightly with the appearance of Jeri Ryan.

[@forestwells5820]

@@dixonhill1108 Wither you hated the show or not, I still think Gene would have loved Seven's character. The show is all about a look at ourselves (or at least that was what it was supposed to be, and was until he died), and she did that in all the ways he enjoyed.

[@sharonminsuk]

I don't get the Kes-hatred. I loved the character and was sad when they got rid of her. But I also loved 7-of-9. Totally agree about the low-brow way she was used, but she was a great character despite that. I just ignored the ridiculous look*, and focussed on what she had been through and her growth as she grappled with being human. * Borg, even ex-Borg, do not wear lipstick. Borg do not wear high heels. That was a laughably bad move.

[@keithhenson7401]

I would have love to see Capt. LaForge as a series almost as much as I wish Capt. Sulu of the Excelsior had come to be as a series.

[@toddsaskatchewan]

That brief taste of Captain La Forge in "Timeless" was pretty awesome. I remember wishing a Challenger series would be developed.

[@adamlytle2615]

Yeah, LeVar Burton as Captain of the Challenger is the guest star I want more than anyone else on the new Picard series. Would be lovely if the Challenger had received a refit, and LaForge & Picard do a fly-by of the Challenger in a travel pod in an homage to Kirk's fly-by of the Enterprise in Star Trek: the Motion Picture.

[@EleventhFloorBelfry]

"What would seven seasons of TNG season 1 look like?" I said Voyager immediately about 6 times in a row

[@MsIvalane]

AS A VOYAGER FAN MY FEELING (just the one, mind you) IS DEEPLY WOUNDED

[@maxiemaxwell550]

I'm glad you acknowledge that Captain Janeway could kick your ass. Great episode. If Tasha had lived (which would not have been for the better), I would have liked to see her become the new conn officer after Geordi got promoted.

[@forestwells5820]

No, she belonged at tactical. Mind you, I think she would have beat Dax to Worf's heart had the character stayed. Though come to think of it, I'd love to see how Tasha would have responded to Kalar (too lazy to look up spelling), and then later to Alexander. "Wait, Worf, you have a what?" "A son." "And when were you going to tell me about this little development?" "When it was prudent."

[@raterus]

When you cut to the Voyager theme to the question "What would 7 years of TNG Season 1 look like", I about soiled myself I was cracking up so hard!

[@FiniteAtticus]

One weird thing about her death when I first watched it; while it was surprising, abrupt, and unexpected, I didn’t care... at least not until she kept coming back in later episodes. Then when I went back and watched the series a second, third and fourth time it was more emotional.

[@Clintercepted]

That's pretty similar to my own experience. It is weird, when I first saw her death I was somehow pleased as I hadn't really cared for her character at all. Then I found myself feeling nostalgic about a character I never cared about, any time that she would return for an episode.

[@darrenc2721]

I actually cried the first time this episode was shown in the uk. Denise felt that her character wasnt going anywhere why she quit. Ironically they were actually going to fire Marina Sirtis and by quitting it saved Sirtis from unemployment.

[@yosefmacgruber1920]

@@darrenc2721 I had often thought it strange that they have some head-shrink psychiatrist on the bridge. How had that fake-science or corrupted-science become so elevated in TNG? Although perhaps as a character, Deanna Troi was okay? Kes was the one who should have been fired. Oh wait. Why did Kes leave? Many of our jobs seem to be going nowhere. Maybe if Denise had given it a little time? I didn't really care so much for Worf either. At least he was fairly mild-mannered for a wild warrior Klingon. Perhaps hanging around humans was somehow wearing off on him and improving him. Maybe he liked human comforts that were not to be found on a Klingon "bird of prey" spaceship.

[@jwsaxton]

Her coming back in later episodes was an insult because it shows us what she could have been and why couldn't give her that treatment to keep on board.

[@IroAppe]

I feel the same way, that the weight of her character was only shown in the episodes after. Strangely, we only got to learn the gist about the character Tasha Yar, after she had already passed.

[@jamessnell2572]

As a Voyager fan, I loved the Voyager burn. Ha ha ha ha ha. Well-played Steve. You're one of the funniest Steve's around.

[@mikegould6590]

Tasha's death actually played a part in saving Data during his trial (Measure of the Man) to prove his "humanity". He kept Tasha's holo monument in his quarters as a memento of their relationship, intimate and otherwise.

[@geekgirl_luv4262]

I found that moment really weird though. What seemed to convince them of his personhood wasn’t the fact that Tasha was very important to him, it was that he had sex with her. How the hell is “he had sex that one time” a more compelling argument than “he has close relationships with the people around him and clearly values those relationships a lot”?

[@LanMandragon1720]

​@@geekgirl_luv4262 Because it wasn't about the sex it was about Data being in love with her. The fact that being in love generally involves sex is incidental

[@frankdantuono2594]

Dear Steve, Came across your channel about a month ago and subscribed last week. While I loved Star Trek growing up, I started leaving the franchise after DS9 (my favorite) ended and left completely after Star Trek: Nemesis (which wouldn't even make a good Voyager episode... and that's saying something). I really like your point of view and sense of humor. Your videos are well paced, well structured and very entertaining. In addition I find your arguments to be logical, well spoken and thought provoking . So much in fact that I've found myself watching TNG and DS9 episodes again on Netflix for the first time in many years. I've been so very disappointed over the years with Sci-Fi that I like/love turning... oh lets face it, most sci-fi from the past 20 years has ending up sucking ass in the end. So I haven't had Star Trek in my life to cheer me up in a long time. Thank you for changing that for me :)

[@wilmanric2277]

Later, Denise Crosby said that if the writing for her character had been as good as it was on this episode, she would never have left. On the other hand, when later she returned as her own daughter, the half-Romulan (whose name I can't remember) she had a much more interesting character to play. Also her appearance on "Yesterday's Enterprise" was simply a better-written character.

[@LadyLenaki]

Tasha Yar was another of my favorite characters as a kid. Watching these videos is going to make me go on a Star Trek binge. I liked her because she had a dark back story. I liked dark characters, and still do. Also, I was literally 5 when this show came out. Why was I allowed to just watch it? It wasn't a kid show...

[@Troubleshooter125]

My primary concern if Tasha had survived "Skin of Evil" was the development of Worf, as you noted. Depending on what direction his character took from that point, his arc as a Klingon and the whole fooforaw with Gawron and Durass might have been the mechanism for further attention. Here's a thought, too: what if Tasha HADN'T told Data, "It never happened" at the end of "The Naked Now," and a relationship developed between them? We could have seen both a greater three-dimensionality to her character and the evolution of Data regarding his emotions, the issue of his emotion chip notwithstanding. Personally, I think that would have been a VERY interesting wrinkle in the time line!

[@Krystalmyth]

So many possibilities. Shame shame.

[@Troubleshooter125]

@Cochraine I still like Picard's defense of Data in that episode [damn, what an episode!], but having Tasha there to add her $0.02 worth would have turned that defense into a slam-dunk.

[@drmayeda1930]

Problem is skin of evil was written after she quit the series. They killed her off to explain her disappearance.

[@alanbear6505]

It also would have been good character growth for Tasha showing her learning to grow past the fears of her past and really bond.

[@daytonduck]

Thanks for yet another great episode. You've got good intuition regarding how TV shows play out, and I've never been disappointed in these Trek, Actually episodes. Don't feel bad about jumping onto Voyager, as long as its done in fun. It deserves every harsh, friendly jibe it gets!

[@VideoFeverShow]

I'm so pleased that it's universally accepted that the quality of TNG is directly connected to Riker's beard. It can be used as visual shorthand in this kind of video with no explanation required.

[@Axemantitan]

In the original concept for TNG, Tasha was going to be the ship's counselor. Her character was described as an icy blonde who told people like it is. I think that would have been a much more interesting concept, and it would have also taken the counselor off the bridge.

[@trinaconrad4583]

As a computer tech, I really love the ended of the episode. Totally forgot the XP shut down sound. Ah, such a trip down memory lane. :)

[@GirlPainting]

Question: Tasha Yar was the security officer of the Enterprise, and Worf was the Tactical Officer in season 1. Worf took Tashas Job of security Officer after her Death. So who is the Tactical Officer then?

[@paulhitchcock2543]

I would add that killing Tasha, especially taking into account how she was one of the characters in Season 1 that was given a heavy focus, the manner in which she was killed, and how it was completely unexpected, inadvertently created a sense of danger for the entire bridge crew that reverberated throughout the entire series. I thought it was possible that Picard could be killed after being assimilated by the Borg and that Riker could end up being the new captain. And in the episode “Ethics” when Word died on the operating table I believed that he was gone and was honestly surprised when he came back. Those thoughts and concerns were rooted the environment of the show created by “Skin of Evil” and Tasha’s death. It created real stakes, accidentally and unintentionally, for the bridge crew. If Tasha could be killed by some villain of the week that was never seen again, anything was possible.

[@toddsaskatchewan]

"Skin of Evil" was the first full episode of Star Trek I saw at age 10. I had no idea who anyone was, but I was moved by the funeral scene. (A few years earlier, I'd actually seen part of TOS's "Charlie X" and I was so scared I avoided watching any Star Treks.) I could see it have continued for 4-5 years if it didn't improve, but I doubt DS9 would ever have come about. One aspect I thought you might bring up (assuming a high quality version of TNG did eventually come about) was how having a female character continuing in a "masculine" role might have affected the development of the gender balance going forward. Crusher and Troi both had nurturing roles. How would the development of Kira, Dax, Janeway, etc. have taken place if Yar had been there as a different sort of trailblazer? If Yar's backstory had been developed, would a lot of the themes that made Kira so interesting be seen as repetitive?

[@johnbockelie3899]

Picard's law for Armus , " Equal punishment for equal crime."

[@pauldiamond1583]

You're hilarious. That windows gag. Hahahaha :D

[@sanyahikari7072]

Tip: On an OS holodeck program, never ever press a shutdown button if the holodeck safety mechanism is not activated. Otherwise, it will put you in a dark void (unless there is a failsafe that exits the Starfleet officer back into a simple black and yellow holdeck.)

[@ilejovcevski79]

I too missed and still miss Tasha :'( And what makes me even sadder is that i wasn't there when she got killed. When they aired the episode i was going to a friend's house to do homework. The moment i arrived the TV was on and i saw the episode has already started and our beloved Natasha was already dead!

[@StuffWePlay]

I rewatched Skin of Evil recently and, I gotta say, the holodeck during Tasha's funeral gave me such big Windows XP wallpaper vibes that I busted out laughing. I'm glad I'm clearly not the only one!

[@nobodylistens5322]

That shutdown sound made me feel feelings. Damn you, Steve!

[@ComicgeddonTV]

it's actually hinted at in Star Trek TNG Headlong Flight, that if Tasha had survived then Picard would have been killed by the Borg setting off a self destruct sequence after the crew of the Enterprise managed to get through to Picard while he was Locutus. Riker would have been made Captain of the Enterprise while igniting a feud between him and Jelaco. Jelaco is made Admiral and Data becomes Riker's first officer. Pulaski remains aboard Enterprise and Riker and Troy get back together alot sooner.

[@sandrafaith]

"...aired about a week and a half before my eighth birthday..." WELP, I feel old. All kidding aside, I enjoyed this video a great deal. Thanks for the memories. :D

[@jeremiahbristow7609]

Maybe her and Data's relationship actually goes somewhere!

[@geekchris105]

I feel a very important piece of Data's character was his connect to Tasha that he held on to. He even kept a hologram of Tasha for years after her death. Maybe he thinks holding onto it will make him feel emotions, but personally I feel like that shows to a lower degree he feels remorse, or at least sentiment.

[@stevenhoward1233]

I freaking love Voyager.... I love the Voyager insults in your videos...when you said what would seven seasons of s1 TNG would be I knew something was coming....

[@Lawfair]

The deaths of Tasha Yar and Jadzia Dax have always irked me. I understand and respect the actors wanting to leave the roles, but Star Trek has a built in mechanism to remove characters and then bring them back if so desired. Why not transfer them to other posts/ships? Also Armus scarred the bejeebers out of me well into my 20's (not so much the effect, but the premise).

[@philipplyanguzov9090]

With Jadzia at least, I can kind of understand it because they needed to kill her off to have hee character stay on via the symbiote.

[@CaptainAndy]

I'll agree that her death was the only genuinely creative thing about the first season. It was a particularly interesting move to make her death similar to that of the red shirts in the original series rather than some big dramatic death.

[@chelseydavidson6264]

I love Voyager, but you making fun of it is hilarious. Keep it up. 💜

[@JasonTodd971]

She was my favourite character. In fact she’s my joint all time favourite character along with Janeway While I applaud the killing of a main character as it gives the sense that “anyone can die” feeling... it actually is a negative that it was Yarr. The misogynistic tones of a female rape survivor being killed by a seemingly male entity in such a flippant way is uncomfortable. Her funeral is one of the greatest and saddest scenes EVER

[@jeffhallam2004]

I always wondered this as well! Yar was my absolute favorite character on TNG!!! Thank you for the great video! Wasn't "Yesterdays Enterprise" a glimpse into what the show could have been??? Damn dude you really hate Voyager...I loved Voyager! LMAO!

[@CameronCajun]

Mr. Shives, Great video. Amazingly, I'm subjectively certain that EVERY SINGLE THING you said in this analysis was absolutely correct. Well done.

[@carlrood4457]

I get budget and that it was early in the series, but shouldn't MORE people have been at the funeral? She's a department head. Did no one on the security team want to attend, even just for appearances sake? Did she make no other friends? Even her will hologram ONLY specified these exact people. I look at the wake for Geordi & Ro when they were presumed dead and there were extras mingling and gave the impression that they touched more lives than just the senior staff.

[@EMSpdx]

Agreed- but as a counterpoint, this was early in the ship's run, so Tasha may have not had as many friends at the time as Geordi (who, despite some of the dorky episodes, was shown to be a genuinely kind and helpful officer) or Ro ( who people would have admired for surviving the Cardassian war and joining Starfleet)

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@derpimusmaximus8815 Maybe she recorded lots of farewells and the program only selected the parts for those in attendance. It's not like it's as limited as today's video is, the holodeck can render anybody doing anything. Soong's message to Data in Juliana obviously had lots of potential routes and Data unlocked his part of it. She didn't even necessarily have to turn a camera on, she could've written the script in her quarters and told the program to put her in her uniform, to look at each person being addressed, etc.

[@yosefmacgruber1920]

The lack of people at her funeral is so easily explained. The Enterprise had over 1000 people on it. Did we ever see a cumulative total of 1000 people in all 7 seasons? I seriously doubt it. Vast areas of the ship were never built. Budgetary constraints. Only but 48 minutes and the episode is over. Better get the story moving along. Had there been more people there at the funeral, it would be harder to get closeups of the recognizable star actors. It is fiction. What does it matter how many people are there? Should they have grabbed some people off the street? "Here's $20 for you, if you come be an extra for a few minutes of a Star Trek episode."

[@EphPhaThaINC]

Thank you so much Steve for finally covering a subject that I myself have pondered and said multiple times with my friends.

[@mindyp51d]

"Skin of Evil" one of the better episodes of the first year, Steve? "Uh, no" she said respectfully. (I'll leave it at that...I am curbing my snarky comments today) The sad thing about Denise Crosby leaving is that "Yesterday's Enterprise" gave us a hint as to what could have been done with the character. An episode dealing with Tasha's PTSD concerning her childhood/puberty on her home planet could have been terrific, -and I also very much your scenario in which Tasha was still around and had to say goodbye to Lt. "my mother calls me" Richard Castillo--if just an itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny bit of imagination, time, and interest had been applied. I sort of liked the "resurrection" of Tasha in "Redemption" (Season 4 finale and Season 5 premiere). It was an interesting idea, though faulty in its logic--since the "Yesterday's Enterprise" timeline never happened, how did Tasha end up on the Enterprise-C? She should have been wiped out of existence the minute the timeline changed back when the Enterprise-C went back through the event horizon to face its destruction. HOWEVER, since this is science FICTION, and time-travel stories are full of "what if" scenarios, I was ready to accept Sela's existence... But once again Tasha/Sela and Crosby got screwed. Ah, well... Tasha Yar, we hardly knew ye.

[@williammcguire130]

The problem with Sela is that her existence means more to the audience than she does to any of the characters. They don't bear any responsibility for what happened to her or her mother, and they never really work through what it means to them. I don't even know how you would build that within an episodic television show without making Sela an every week character. I know the typical line is "lot of potential, but never really realized" but I'm not even sure what the potential was.

[@screamingtongue]

Weird story. The day this video (not episode, the Steve Shives video) came out last year, I had a rough night and wasn't feeling well. I was super nauseous. So I got up to drink some water and watch TV until my stomach settled. I hadn't watched this video yet, so I put it on and found it oddly soothing. Today I was having kind of a rough day emotionally, and on my lunch break at work I was looking for something to watch. Well, this was in my KZbin recommendations so I fired it up. Once again, it helped. So thanks, Steve, for making a video that I now associate with feelings of calm and comfort.

[@badmaninc.536]

I have been saying for years that there should have been a division between the Tactical Officer and Security Chief roles on Federation starships instead of it being done by one person. To paraphrase Chief O’Brien “if you try to talk and eat at the same time, you’ll end up doing neither very well.” So how I would have done things differently when it comes to keeping Tasha on the show, would be for the rest of the first season and possibly a good portion of the second, is have her personally groom Worf to take over as security chief, while she continues in the dual roles. Then when he’s ready, worf becomes security chief like you suggested, and Tasha is able to be the Tactical Officer. And as Tactical Officer I would have had her be quite good at her job, suggesting combat strategies that might be a little outside the box, a little unorthodox, and highly creative. Imagine in Q who while they’re trying to escape the pursuit of the Borg cube. If she would have suggested a minimal yield torpedo spread once the shields had dropped, but hidden within that spread was something that would briefly blind the sensors of the cube, followed by an immediate course change perpendicular to their original course. It wouldn’t work for long but might have bought them precious seconds or minutes to figure something else out. Or in measure of a man, I have absolutely no doubt that she would have been chomping at the bit to have a go at Maddox. Or to see her butting heads with Pulaski over her physically pushing herself too hard because it helps keeps the memories of turkana iv away. She could still have gone back with the Enterprise C stating instead of the whole empty death bit, that “you made it clear how important it is that they succeed, and I intend to give them their best chance of that. So I’ll probably die, but hopefully I’ll stop this war before it starts in the process.” Great video as always

[@stevenschwartzhoff1703]

Why does nobody seem to notice that Kirk is also a childhood survivor of mass murder? Maybe, because as a Jewish American growing up during WWII, Shatner knew how trauma survivors at the time dealt with it. Not better than today, just different.

[@shanepye7078]

I think that if her arc continued, she and worf would have ended up together.

[@Mannwhich]

Nah, she probably should of shacked up with everybody eventually.

[@Hawqis1]

I could see if Tasha survived and Data grew in character, they would have built on their intimate relationship and eventually get married. Then with Dr. Soong wanting Data to be more human, had more features and help them have a family or Tasha and Data create a living Lal that doesn't die.

[@autumndidact6148]

Finally! A youtuber I follow who's (slightly) older than me!

[@kyleethekelt]

I loved XP. They never made an OS as good since. That shutdown music brings back great memories.

[@DocWolph]

12:00 If Tasha stayed on the Enterprise Worf would be tasked with assembling a strike/action team, basically a marine squad when the need for force demands it. Think "enhanced security" instead of straight up professional soldiers. But Worf and Tasha would push for a more effective "fighting force" to be called upon as needed, because the galaxy loves to make things go south very regularly. You could see times where Picard has to lament sending in the troops or occasionally dangles that over his opponent's heads. It would involve having a element of real world angst and politics about the application of force and how that would effect the soldiers or the people the soldier have to deal with. Even then, the soldiers are not just there for fighting. They are to aid and rescue, the protect, and keep the peace. "They are good guys and they do good guy things."

[@yosefmacgruber1920]

It was a family galaxy class starship, and not a military ship. _Star Trek Voyager Elite Force_ is but a video game, and hardly canon. "We explore the universe in peace." Yeah, right. Dream on.

[@lordofsparks]

I am just slightly too young to remember my first viewing of TNGs first couple of seasons. I am about 4 years younger than Steve. I remember never missing an episode, but I really don't remember watching a specific episode before Ensign Ro. Memory is a strange thing as you get older...

[@jaredc304]

I actually met Denise Crosby years ago, and she told me she wanted her character written off because she was unsatisfied with her role and her screen time. She wanted more involvement (at the time), so the writers killed off Tasha.

[@Mannwhich]

I also remember hearing how she regretted it since. But I could be wrong though. Shame she didn't wait until next season to see what else would be in store.

[@ARMAGODDEN]

Your shows just keep getting better and better. You are so funny and so insightful. Has anyone one else noticed that when a new series is coming to television that they'll say. "It's the number one show of the season!!" How the hell can they say that when it's never even been on!? So, yeah, that was what I felt when the next Generation first came on all those years ago. It felt to me that the people thought to themselves that "We're so great, We can make a stupid story about any dumb thing and it'll be great. Because, We're Star Trek."

[@SiriusMined]

Interesting video. I never liked her character, so I was glad they wrote her out, but I see now there was even more reason to do it!

[@CosmicBlue2000]

This is the best I have seen so far from you. It's funny

[@amead78]

You mean, what if the writers gave her something else to say besides “Shields up Captain”?

[@markmalebranche508]

Great analysis! I remember as a six (not yet seven) year old watching Skin of Evil in it's premier and being shocked by Tasha's death (I liked her character a lot). I was also intrigued by her posthumous comments about Picard's personality. At that point I just saw him as the strict, serious captain, but you are correct that he then came to embody Tasha's words, foreshadowing the future of the show. I never spent a significant amount of time thinking about how pivotal that moment was for the rest of the TNG character development, but it undoubtedly loomed over the rest of the series. Unrelated, but something on my mind recently: after Kirk's promotion between TOS and TMP, could there be a case made that he too became a crazy admiral? He commandeered the Enterprise from Decker, then took it again to face Khan (which maybe wasn't so crazy), and then he full on stole it to go after Spock, and on top of that got it destroyed. Or are his actions still consistent with his behavior during his five year mission?

[@-pancakes7205]

i know one thing, that denise crosby would've gotten some sweet royalty money.

[@hdjksa52]

I had a *HUGE* crush on Tasha Yar when I was a kid.

[@puttanesca621]

Steve - Great video. Enjoyed the analysis of TNG season1 and Tasha's effect on the show. Could Tasha Yar's grave be sold as some kind of beard growth formula?

[@originaluddite]

Your rant at Voyager fans reminded me of a similar rant from Vizzini in the Princess Bride! It was cool.

[@jetfa9]

Actually the show was like that cause Gene Roddenberry wanted no conflict between the characters. It wasnt until Gene turned over to Rick Berman things got better.

[@OldJerzyDevil]

04:49 The look on Beardless Riker's face sums it all up nicely!

[@rtdsbg1]

She had to fall, so my boy worf could rise.

[@theevilascotcompany9255]

So Worf could rise, and then be knocked out with one punch by an average-sized alien intruder.

[@Impromac]

The first season introduces all characters. It is more like the first season of TOS. The second season introduces more new alien species and expand Geordi and Worf's character arcs ,gets rid of Dr Crusher ,and introduces Guinan and the Borg. The third season brings back Dr. Crusher.

[@JennyDuncan-o3r]

I swear your writing is improving SO QUICKLY. 95% of the jokes landed. Also, wnat if picard stayed a borg in best of both worlds?

[@josipbroztito6763]

Jeremy Duncan Star Trek: Picard would be called Star Trek: Locutus of Borg, and would be about an old drone assimilating new worlds and new civilizations.

[@Croftice1]

@@josipbroztito6763 Well Star Trek: Picard isn't really the official name of the new show, it's still going to be revealed. It's called that, because Picard is gonna be the main star, but I really doubt, they would end up keeping it that. But I liked your joke, so there you have it from me (the like).

[@josipbroztito6763]

@@Croftice1 I thought the name was confirmed? And the teaser trailer had "Star Trek: Picard" too.. maybe I'm wrong, or I missed something, if so, please let me know. I don't want to lose nerd cred ;)

[@philiptite1082]

I actually like, actually Voyager -- but OMG that bit almost knock me off my chair I laughed so hard. Thank you! :)

[@alexwright4930]

That fanfic was awesome. Liked the lampshade hanging too.

[@B4umkuchen]

Wait, didn't Tasha volunteered to command a ship through a time jump back to a pivotal moment in the klingon wars in past and died there?

[@darthmetallus1977]

The alternate timeline Tasha.

[@NeilCWCampbell]

Yesterday's enterprise I think... Alternate reality

[@jackpfefferkorn3734]

Happy 39th, Steve! Looking forward to the Geordi episode.

[@HoraDelHumo]

Making fun of Voyager will never get old, watching this video for the third time and I’m still laughing.

[@jediqueer6162]

"[picard] needed to have a heart" Ironic - I always felt that he got a lot of character development due to his lack of a heart :P

[@RobSnyder]

Steve, as a fan of all startrek including STD and Voyager and really liked your version of the ending of Janeway setting the auto destruct as she beams back to Starfleet ending. I will tell you I never laughed so hard as when you pissed in my cornflakes. On the same train of thought I like to point out and do a mini episode on how the EMH is somehow the most evovled character on Voyager. the one non human member of the crew is somehow the only one that had any growth as the seasons went on.

[@ro_the_lion]

You make some really solid points. Also the Voyager bit cracked me tf up, so #noregrets please!

[@sarahgilfilen657]

This oldie but goodie showed up in my “recommended” today and I’m glad I watched it. I remember my 13 year old self being devastated by Tasha’s death. You’re right about it being a great catalyst for the show. However, you are totally wrong about Voyager staying the same after Kess’s death. She was such a dishwater character and the introduction of Seven of Nine was a vast improvement. I mean, the show actually became watchable with Jerri Ryan’s character. Kess straight up made me say, “ugh, not her whining again”.

[@VF101Dissedent]

ah when Yar died, my favorite tng episode, I was so happy they got rid of that character I actually cheered.

[@darthmetallus1977]

She quit, she wasn't fired.

[@snakebitcat]

Great video! I hadn't ever thought about this before, but you were totally right that this was the episode where TNG finally began to take shape and move toward greatness.

[@GoranXII]

It always puzzled me that the same person had to function as both the ship's chief tactical officer *and* its head of security.

[@forcewielder2000]

Well, when you think about it, in some ways they're the same. Security is supposed to provide defense, and tactical is doing that with ships instead of directly face-to-face.

[@rogerlockwood6260]

This was hilarious. "Why, yes, it IS easy to re-write the show thirty years later." And the shots fired at Voyager... lol. Tasha was my favorite character, and I totally agree with your assessments.

[@ferallemur]

"I've never been to wrestling school..." he said, despondently. Would you like to? You're in Maryland, right? I'm part of a Shakespeare wrestling show in MD called Renaissance Rumble, and two of our guys are Indie wrestlers who periodically run workshops offering people an introduction to the craft. I bet you'd enjoy it. Drop me a message if you think you might be interested.

[@torresalex]

I hope you had a Happy Birthday, dear Steve. All the best!

[@RUCKERS01]

Love your trek videos, we are almost on the same page! I'd bash on Voyager too if it wasn't for Tom Parish. #legend. How do you stand now after 2 seasons of The Orville?

[@donall]

Great Video Steve, Happy Birthday, we are nearly the same age i'm 39 in August. That 14 inch TV with voyager on it was really on the nose for kids are age.I think the joke is that that show was so bad our parents would not let us watch it the big tv.... they knew

[@TheMisterMetroid]

Well Steve, I did see that Season 1 TNG into Voyager joke coming from a mile away. Its still funny.

[@glamourweaver]

“Few characters are more neglected in TNG’s first season than Worf and Geordi” Gee.. I wonder what they would have had in common that could have resulted in them being treated differently from other characters by the writers and producers? Something perhaps that the actors have in common? Hmmmm….

[@KadeSmash]

Pfft Voyager was amazeballs. A Star Trek series with an ultimate story goal... Could've ended better tho

[@jtrogue]

Excellent commentary. Thanks Steve!

[@matthewhall6288]

I totally agree about Tasha's death bringing the show into focus. TNG was too breezy and aimless, and Tasha's death gave the show the gravity and realism needed for great storytelling.

[@johnjoubert4235]

I do like voyager, it was my first trek.. It has a special place in my heart. That said, I like your voyager jokes. Lol keep up the good work!