On Star Trek: The Next Generation, Denise Crosby played Lt. Tasha Yar, but she departed the program before the first season concluded. TNG began over a century after the events of Star Trek: The Original Series, following the exploits of the USS Enterprise-D and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart).
TNG became one of the best science fiction television programs ever, despite the initial skepticism of some TOS fans about a new Star Trek program without Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) or Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy).
Originally introduced as a primary character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tasha Yar made a significant appearance in early episodes such as “The Naked Now” and “Code of Honor.” However, Yar dropped to a supporting role as TNG developed, giving way to more prominent characters like Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn) and Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner).
The alien entity Armus, which resembled an oil slick, brutally murdered Yar after Crosby asked to leave the show in TNG season 1, episode 23, “Skin of Evil.”
Denise Crosby’s Reason for Leaving Star Trek: TNG Before Season 1
When Denise Crosby first heard about Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation, she was captivated.
Crosby discussed her audition piece and how it featured a “beautiful” sequence between Tasha and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) that was never included in the program in a 2023 interview with The 7th Rule podcast. Crosby had hoped to play this role, but Yar ended up falling short of his expectations.
Tasha was frequently confined to standing in the background and calling out to other ships, even though she was the Chief of Security.
Denise Crosby met with Gene Roddenberry to talk about her possibilities since she wanted to look for other performing chances. Tasha Yar was written out of Star Trek: The Next Generation, despite the fact that the show’s creator wanted her to stay.
Reiterating what an intriguing character Tasha may have been, Crosby commented on her decision to leave the show in an April 2024 interview with IGN. She continued: “You have so much here, but I’m not going to just be the token hot blonde on the show.” Fans would continue to see Tasha Yar after Crosby’s departure.
Denise Crosby Made Two Appearances in Star Trek: TNG
By the third season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the program had finally figured out a formula and was producing memorable episodes. Eric A. Stillwell claims in The Making of Yesterday’s Enterprise that Denise Crosby indicated interest in rejoining TNG when he chatted with her at a convention.
In order to bring Tasha Yar back, Stillwell and Trent Christopher Ganino started writing a narrative. TNG’s “Yesterday’s Enterprise” was created by combining elements of their story with another concept. With a frenzied romance and a valiant demise, Denise Crosby at last has a more substantial plot to work with this time.
Crosby then made a comeback to TNG as Sela, the half-human, half-Romulan daughter of Tasha Yar. As it happens, Yar had been taken prisoner by the Romulans and had actually survived the journey back in time aboard the USS Enterprise-C.
Even though Sela’s presence diminished Yar’s sacrifice in “Yesterday’s Enterprise” and caused poor Tasha even more pain, Crosby at least had another nuanced role to perform. Sela had prominent parts in two TNG two-parters (“Redemption” and “Unification”), but both times her evil schemes were foiled by the Enterprise crew.
Why the TNG Reunion in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Didn’t Involve Denise Crosby?
Despite the reunion of the original Star Trek: The Next Generation actors in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Denise Crosby was not invited to appear in the show. The creators of Picard probably might have discovered a means to bring back the original Tasha Yar, who passed away in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1.
After all, data has twice died and then come back to life. Although it’s questionable, given how much time has gone by, it doesn’t seem plausible that Crosby’s initial departure from TNG had anything to do with her not being invited to return for Picard.
Given the intricate plot and several moving elements of Star Trek: Picard season 3, it’s probable that the producers thought it could be too much to add another character’s resurrection. The series did give Tasha Yar a mention, but we’ll probably never find out why Denise Crosby wasn’t asked back for Picard.
Data remembers Tasha and their brief affair with fondness as his personality battles Lore for control of his new golem body. Even though Tasha Yar will never formally return to Star Trek, Denise Crosby will always be a part of the Star Trek: The Next Generation family and a regular at Trek-related events.
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