What was your reaction to the Redemption Part 1 cliffhanger?

[Saul]

It's June 1991 and Denise Crosby returns as Sela, a half Romulan, half human antagonist at the end of Redemption part 1.

But what was your reaction at the time? Not knowing anything about what was coming, how much of it was a shock and could you figure out what the heck was going on?

Did anyone guess it was connected to 'Yesterday's Enterprise' or did you think it was just a Romulan trick to spook the Enterprise crew?

 

[drt]

I used to go to a lot of the Creation conventions back then, they weren't shy about spoilers for upcoming episodes, so it was relatively known in Trekkie circles that Crosby was returning as Yar's half-Romulan daughter.

 

[Ssosmcin]

Well, I had a feeling it Crosby would be coming back based on her voice over two episodes earlier as a shadowy Romulan.

Over the summer, I tried to work out who this person was and I actually hit on it. I ran to my mom and said, "I got it! Tasha went back in time, remember? This is like her daughter or something."

Mom looked at me like I had three heads. It was the dumbest thing she'd heard me say in some time.

 

[D Man]

I’m paraphrasing, but the line that goes something like “and humans have a way of showing up when you least expect them” when Crosby is revealed as Sela is so cheesy. Not as bad as “the sons of Soong have joined together to destroy the Federation” or “Let’s just sort of walk into the magic time vortex and it’s not very exciting,” but certainly not much better.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Had to wait a whole week to find out, although to be honest I might not have seen it on first run as BBC only aired Season 1/2/3 and BOBW2 on the first run, so it's possible I first watched it on Sky in the 5pm/10pm daily slot, meaning I'd have had to wait 23 hours.

 

[Qonundrum]

I’m paraphrasing, but the line that goes something like “and humans have a way of showing up when you least expect them” when Crosby is revealed as Sela is so cheesy. Not as bad as “the sons of Soong have joined together to destroy the Federation” or “Let’s just sort of walk into the magic time vortex and it’s not very exciting,” but certainly not much better.

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It's a little cheesy, but definitely handles far, far better than "The Sons of Small Universe Fanwank Have Joined Together For Sweeps Week Ratings Destruction" or whatever.

It didn't help that Sela's dialogue in pt 2 was between excellent and hokey, and to say nothing of "Unification" where she's a throwaway cartoon character.

Plus, there's no eggg salad machine anywhere either, like this one:

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[CoveTom]

I don't recall much specifically. I watched it in its original run, but all I really recall is the "Best of Both Worlds" was the only cliffhanger that really produced that sense of excitement -- and frustration at having to wait three months for the conclusion. The other season finales were nowhere near as exciting. The next time I can remember having that mega-anticipation over what was to come was when DS9 did "Call to Arms" at the end of the fifth season and, for the first time in Trek history, we actually see a true fleet of starships.

 

[DonIago]

I feel as though maybe the difference was that the Borg really did feel like an existential threat that might (and in some ways did) forever shift the future of TNG (for all we knew at the time based on rumors, Picard might actually die), and nothing the Klingons or Romulans did in "Redemption" was on that scale, nor were time-travelling aliens (maybe if it had been the Krenim...), nor was a splinter group of the Borg that were so pitiful they'd let Lore shape them into a cult.

After BoBW, was there ever really another time when we thought any of the regular characters might die?

The initially unexplained appearance of Sela was a curiosity, but it didn't have a prayer of landing on the same level as seeing the half-assimilated Captain Picard.

 

[CoveTom]

The initially unexplained appearance of Sela was a curiosity, but it didn't have a prayer of landing on the same level as seeing the half-assimilated Captain Picard.

Also, I have to wonder by the time you got to "Redemption," how many TNG viewers even remembered Tasha or knew who she was. I am sure there are plenty of casual viewers who started watching after she left the show.

 

[Mudd]

Piller let slip in a story meeting during the hiatus that Crosby would be back. I don't think they knew then what role she'd be playing.

 

[Takeru]

I remember being excited because I thought Tasha would be back, I really thought it was her at first.
I was very disappointed when it turned out Sela wasn't Tasha and also evil.

 

[Paul Weaver]

Tasha of course did return in the end

 

[tim0122]

Tasha of course did return in the end

Tasha Yar will return in Avengers: Doomsday.

 

[tim0122]

It didn't help that Sela's dialogue in pt 2 was between excellent and hokey, and to say nothing of "Unification" where she's a throwaway cartoon character.

The writers lose interest in Sela so quickly I wonder why they even bothered. In the end, she serves as a quick ratings boost, and that's it. There was so much potential for her to be a personal season-long big bad for the crew, but the writers clearly hadn't planned her out beyond Redemption. Most of the crew never even sees or acknowledges her.

 

[DonIago]

Sela could have been the next Tomalak if the writers had wanted her to be and Crosby had been up for the task, though I hesitate to class Crosby in the same acting tier as Andreas Katsulas.

 

[Qonundrum]

The writers list interest in Sela so quickly I wonder why they even bother. In the end, she serves as a quick ratings boost and that's it. There was so much potential for her to be a personal season-long big bad for the crew, but the writers clearly hadn't planned her out beyond Redemption. Most of the crew never even sees or acknowledges her.

By the time 'Unification" came along, it felt like they didn't care anymore either. It's a shame.

Sela could have been the next Tomalak if the writers had wanted her to be and Crosby had been up for the task, though I hesitate to class Crosby in the same acting tier as Andreas Katsulas.

No, but a good director could have helped set the stage?

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Per an AI request, I got this: "Directors provide adjustments on intent, pacing, and emotional depth, often helping actors find, rather than dictate, the right performance." It's even more fun reading that while imagining Leah Brahms' voice...

 

[Marlonius]

I thought it was a groaner and didn't work within the established chronology. The Enterprise C went back 22 years in time, meaning Sela would be maximum 22 years old. Even live and in the moment, I rejected it.

 

[tomalak301]

I would have been 6 at the time so I don't really remember my initial reaction. I think I was more excited for the Times Arrow cliffhanger than I was for Redemption. Over time though I have liked the cliffhanger, but Part 2 didn't really live up to Part 1 that much. Still, connecting Yesterday's Enterprise to Redemption was a pretty cleaver idea.

 

[DonIago]

I think what disappointed me the most about it was that they had the alt-universe Tasha killed offscreen. I would have liked to have seen mother confront daughter at some point, and that might have actually made me care a bit more about Sela, instead of having her come across as an entirely unrepentant antagonist.

 

[tim0122]

I think what disappointed me the most about it was that they had the alt-universe Tasha killed offscreen. I would have liked to have seen mother confront daughter at some point, and that might have actually made me care a bit more about Sela, instead of having her come across as an entirely unrepentant antagonist.

It's such a quarter-baked idea. They needed more time to think it over and plan long-term. Tasha, Sela, and Crosby all deserved better.