Why is Tasha Yar hated?
- Thread starter GalaxyX
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When I heard that Yar was created as the Star Trek version Vasquez from Aliens I had to laugh and laugh and laugh.
I agree sort of, but I also think its hard to judge how the character/actress may have improved. A number of the cast got better as they went on (I'm thinking of Sirtis here, even she admits her performances in season one were woeful). No reason to assume that as the show found its feet, then Tasha wouldn't have fallen into place as part of that, and that Denise Crosby would have developed her performance and found a more stable characterization, just like everybody else did.
In relation to this: another observation I made last time I watched Yesterday's Enterprise was just how "out of step" Crosby's performance is compared to the rest of the cast. Everybody else had seen three years of gradual development, and alternative universe or no alternative universe they were playing those characters with a great deal more confidence in who they were and how they fit together. Crosby's character growth however had stopped in Skin Of Evil, and in a lot of ways she's playing Tasha pretty much the same as she played her in Season One. There isn't that growth in character that all the other TNG cast had seen the benefit of, and her performance kind of stands out for that reason. Not in a good way.
I disliked Yar mainly because I found her to be too short tempered at inappropriate moments. Sure, she was head of security so she would need to be aggressive at times, but pick your moments!
For example:
(NB: Quotes are from various scripts on the net so are probably not totally accurate, but you'll get the gist)
Encounter at Far Point
" because I grew up on a world that allowed things like this court. And it was people like these that saved me from it. I say that this so-called court should get down on its knees to what Starfleet is, what it represents"
Great speech, Tasha! Shame you had to yell it right in Q's face. --> Iced.
Hide and Q
"You've gone too far."
Not again, Tasha! --> Penalty box
Skin of Evil
"Enough! We have people who need attention. We won't hurt you, but we must help them."
Bye bye, Tasha.
There may be more examples but it was this hot-headedness that I didn't like.
Was Worf better? Well early on as head of security he went all weird and got too hot-headed - e.g. Where Silence Has Lease, both during his calisthenics and on the multiple bridges. However, I do think he settled into the role well; something I expect Yar would have done too, if given the chance.
I nearly choked on my beer when I read this - brilliant and spot on!
For example:
(NB: Quotes are from various scripts on the net so are probably not totally accurate, but you'll get the gist)
Encounter at Far Point
" because I grew up on a world that allowed things like this court. And it was people like these that saved me from it. I say that this so-called court should get down on its knees to what Starfleet is, what it represents"
Great speech, Tasha! Shame you had to yell it right in Q's face. --> Iced.
Hide and Q
"You've gone too far."
Not again, Tasha! --> Penalty box
Skin of Evil
"Enough! We have people who need attention. We won't hurt you, but we must help them."
Bye bye, Tasha.
There may be more examples but it was this hot-headedness that I didn't like.
Was Worf better? Well early on as head of security he went all weird and got too hot-headed - e.g. Where Silence Has Lease, both during his calisthenics and on the multiple bridges. However, I do think he settled into the role well; something I expect Yar would have done too, if given the chance.
I nearly choked on my beer when I read this - brilliant and spot on!
I think you've misread me, here. I was most definitely not talking about Yar's professionalism, when I wrote that. What I was referring to was the division she had with herself between woman and soldier. When the Navy girls disembark, they are all dolled up, they are off-duty. But on duty, they are completely unmade up. Perhaps a better example would've been to use the Romulan Commander from the TOS episode ENTERPRISE INCIDENT. She literally says to Spock words to the effect of, "... if you give me a moment, this soldier will transform herself ... into a woman." As though femininity -certainly, its expression - is perceived as weakness, from the military perspective. Tasha Yar subscribing to this line of reasoning is all I was getting at.And of course male sailors never look unprofessionally out of uniform while on leave, do they?
We never actually got to see Tasha on shore leave. The one time she was in a slinky outfit, she had been infected by the "Naked Now" virus.
Personally speaking I never hated nor loved the character but I do agree that the character had potential.
My biggest gripe would be that she was the head of security ahead of Worf but then I've always preferred Worf so I guess I'm biased in that regards.
Having said that however she was also in what imo was the weakest season of the series so I don't think that helped the character.
My biggest gripe would be that she was the head of security ahead of Worf but then I've always preferred Worf so I guess I'm biased in that regards.
Having said that however she was also in what imo was the weakest season of the series so I don't think that helped the character.
[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5am0_pEkQM[/yt]
I much prefer Worf, that's why I'm glad this character stepped aside for Worf to really shine in the series.
I like the actress but I'm not too thrilled with the way the character was written. It's too dark for a TNG main character in my opinion. And I don't blame the actress for taking cameo roles, they were fun. Although it would have been more interesting if Tasha had gone evil rather than Tasha's daughter-with-the-same-face. The most interesting thing about Tasha to me was her death(s).
I like the actress but I'm not too thrilled with the way the character was written. It's too dark for a TNG main character in my opinion. And I don't blame the actress for taking cameo roles, they were fun. Although it would have been more interesting if Tasha had gone evil rather than Tasha's daughter-with-the-same-face. The most interesting thing about Tasha to me was her death(s).
I like what Tasha did for the show. As a character, I could take or leave her, but I appreciated the impact she had after she died. She isn't mentioned often, but when she is, it brings up certain emotions for the characters and also leads to interesting storylines.
"Yesterday's Enterprise" wouldn't be nearly as good without Tasha Yar. Neither would "All Good Things...." The beginning of that episode when Picard flashes back to the present-day. "Tasha. I was just with Tasha in the shuttle." His delivery of that line is just fantastic and carries an emotional weight that couldn't have been achieved with Yar's death early in the show.
"Yesterday's Enterprise" wouldn't be nearly as good without Tasha Yar. Neither would "All Good Things...." The beginning of that episode when Picard flashes back to the present-day. "Tasha. I was just with Tasha in the shuttle." His delivery of that line is just fantastic and carries an emotional weight that couldn't have been achieved with Yar's death early in the show.
It does make sense, simply because Geordi is a guy, and guys, blind or sighted, like the prestige of going out with the hot chick.
Also, I didn't see too many plain Janes on the Enterprise D. Look who just happened to be womaning the transporter in "The Outrageous Okona." (Pee-you ep, just using it to make a point.)
Also also, honestly, I didn't think Julie Warner (Christy) was that hot.
I agree, she did a great job.
The hairstyle and clothing they have her on as Dr. Leah Brahms was atrocious, and does her a huge disservice. I think the actress (with a quick Google search) is definitely hot.
I forget the name of that Ensign that was after Geordi (a black girl, I forget her name in the show) and he kept running away because he didn't find her attractive. I thought she was attractive, but apparently Geordi didn't, even though she would have looked the same as any other woman to him.
Which one? Julie Warner was Christy Henshaw, Leah Brahms was played by Susan Gibney.
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Im just going to make a list of my thoughts regarding this thread:
- The thread title is misguided as very few hate the character.
- Denise Crosby is a very limited actress. She consistently feels like she is acting to me. She can be balling tears in a sad scene...and im still not convinced by her. There is something wooden about her [a term that gets thrown around far too easily but is apt in her case]. Go watch her in Lois and Clark....she is identical. Just a limited actress.
- The way she left, complaining about lack of screen time [when she actually got more than many others] before the first season even ended was pathetic.
- Spending the rest of her career doing Trek documentaries, returning a few times in TNG all while adamantly denying that she regrets leaving is also, in my opinion, lame.
- Tasha was a great idea. Amongst a 'perfect' crew, there is a young woman who has seen atrocities that the others would baulk at. However, the execution was bland and limited and then, of course, she bailed before anything could actually be done.
- Worf benefited from the whole thing and we got a true fan favourite in that character.
And yet Worf is not liked by 100% of the fans. I couldn't stand him.
As I understand it, Marina Sirtis was at one time concidered for the part of "Security Chief" with a different name than Tasha Yar (Masha?). Since the last Trek movie Sirtis has had some acting roles that show that she can (now at least) play hard ass and tough characters. The head of the Israeli Masad on NCIS being one example.
Sirtis might have been more believible as a Vasques-clone, especially if she had put on even a little muscle for the role.
I could never buy Crosby as being capable of physical combat.
^ "Macha Hernandez," IIRC.
Much has been made in various Trek documentation about the alleged last-minute switching of Sirtis' and Crosby's roles. I agree with you, though, T'Girl; I could never buy Crosby as "tough." I think that last-minute switch was a mistake.
Much has been made in various Trek documentation about the alleged last-minute switching of Sirtis' and Crosby's roles. I agree with you, though, T'Girl; I could never buy Crosby as "tough." I think that last-minute switch was a mistake.
Well, nothing is ever gonna be liked by 100% of anyone.
As far as Denise Crosby being believable as Chief of Security, I don't consider it any less believable, frankly, than William Shatner's supposed animal magnetism, that his Kirk can get ALL the women. It's kind of funny, though, when you play along and try to buy into it. Here's another hotty, hmm ... wonder who she's going to get with, this episode? ... I'm sorry, but Frakes is much more believable as a studd.
It's about as useful as saying Worf was liked by more than 0% of fans
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