yar's epitaph speech, ridiculous in so many levels
- Thread starter tobindax
- Start date
Superman
Fleet Captain
It's not as ridiculous as you claim.
Yar had lived a violent life and knew that in her line of work as chief of security, she wouldn't likely have the luxury of getting to say goodbye to her friends. If the career of a regular Starfleet officer is dangerous, imagine that of a security chief or officer, such as the Redshirts in TOS.
Yar was also not predicting exactly how she would die as much as recognizing that her life, if ended in violent conflict, would very likely lack meaning or purpose. Violence is a constant that is often unreasonable and is sometimes random, esp. in the line of work Starfleet officers engage in.
And finally, she had recorded her farewell message on the Holodeck. It's not at all far-fetched that the Holodeck could recognize the names of the Enterprise crew members as the Yar hologram stated them and then simply located their life signs in the Holodeck. The program would then adjust the Yar hologram in kind, allowing her to address each person directly as though Yar knew where they were.
And is it really so hard to imagine that someone would take the time to consider what those most special and beloved to them mean to them and then record that? Many people do this with living wills and in other media. They leave directions for these recordings or writings to be released only in the event of their deaths.
Yar had no family (except a sister she was not close to, who Data would meet in Season Three) so the crew of the E-D was her family. She had arranged to say goodbye to them should she ever die.
As a storytelling device and within the context of the universe itself, it makes perfect sense.
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Yar had lived a violent life and knew that in her line of work as chief of security, she wouldn't likely have the luxury of getting to say goodbye to her friends. If the career of a regular Starfleet officer is dangerous, imagine that of a security chief or officer, such as the Redshirts in TOS.
Yar was also not predicting exactly how she would die as much as recognizing that her life, if ended in violent conflict, would very likely lack meaning or purpose. Violence is a constant that is often unreasonable and is sometimes random, esp. in the line of work Starfleet officers engage in.
And finally, she had recorded her farewell message on the Holodeck. It's not at all far-fetched that the Holodeck could recognize the names of the Enterprise crew members as the Yar hologram stated them and then simply located their life signs in the Holodeck. The program would then adjust the Yar hologram in kind, allowing her to address each person directly as though Yar knew where they were.
And is it really so hard to imagine that someone would take the time to consider what those most special and beloved to them mean to them and then record that? Many people do this with living wills and in other media. They leave directions for these recordings or writings to be released only in the event of their deaths.
Yar had no family (except a sister she was not close to, who Data would meet in Season Three) so the crew of the E-D was her family. She had arranged to say goodbye to them should she ever die.
As a storytelling device and within the context of the universe itself, it makes perfect sense.
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Superman
Fleet Captain
Huh, I never actually thought of that. It does make sense and offers a fair enough explanation for something that has always bugged me. As an aside, I seem to recall reading that the "funeral" scene was shot twice, once with Yar addressing each character directly and once in a different (and perhaps more realistic manner). It might have been in the TNG companion, but I cannot remember. Anyone else know something about this?
Homosexual? Really?
number6
Vice Admiral
Thank you. I gave that speech the criticism it rightly deserves.
Don't your retinas hurt from all that eye rolling?
Superman
Fleet Captain
Thank you. I gave that speech the criticism it rightly deserves.
Don't your retinas hurt from all that eye rolling?
No.
But my brain hurts--as always--when people attempt to pass off one word statements as thoughtful and intelligent criticism or commentary.
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number6
Vice Admiral
Thank you. I gave that speech the criticism it rightly deserves.Truly brilliant and revolutionary, in-depth criticism.
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Don't your retinas hurt from all that eye rolling?
No.
But my brain hurts--as always--when people attempt to pass off one word statements as thoughtful and intelligent criticism or commentary.
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My brain hurts thinking about how seriously you take yourself.
Lighten up, Francis.
Agreed--the thing itself makes sense. As a Starfleet officer, and a security officer in particular, Tasha would have known there was a real possibility she might die in the line of duty. And the 24th century holotechnology made the means of delivering that farewell message as seen perfectly plausible.
But... on the other hand, watching it last night for the first time in years, I was struck by how awful it was. The writing was trite and Denise Crosby's delivery was just amazingly bad. The 'Hailing Frequencies Closed' ending was goofy as hell. I was cringing.
Superman
Fleet Captain
number6
Vice Admiral
I'm not sure why you need to insult me.
Superman
Fleet Captain
A) You said I take myself too seriously. An insult.
B) You called me Francis. That's not my name.
C) I wouldn't call it a need as much as a reflex...
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What's odd about that? She's on a deep exploration ship in a dangerous position. What makes you think that's not standard procedure for many Starfleet personnel.
Die you mean? She only gave a general answer about her speeech, not a specific one.
Which is mainly the bridge crew where she worked all the time. Again, how is that odd? I also think that the scene was supposed to suggest the advancement of technology that would allow for this sort of memorial on a 24th century ship.
RAMA
number6
Vice Admiral
Accusing you of taking yourself seriously is an insult??
Um.. Yeah.. Never got the Stripes reference. You seem to offend easily.
Learn to take what you can dish out and maybe people will want to have a conversation with you. In the meantime, there are a load of decaf blends that taste just like the real thing.
O'brien and Dax both mention on DS9 how they make similar recordings before going into combat, so what's so hard to believe about Yar making one to the people who most loved her... her crew. Remember, she is an orphan and no doubt felt that this crew was the closest thing she had to family
This is my only problem with the scene. It wasn't executed very well but it was an excellent way to emphasize the themes of the story. Like I said in the other thread, Yar's story in this episode juxtaposes against Armus'. He was able to kill her in a meaningless way yet her death is not a tragedy. She died fulfilling her role in life to be remembered by those who loved her while he remains cursed to live alone and forgotten.
I've known people in the army who wrote letters like that before going on missions "just in case" so it's not unusual, it's actually a good idea.
number6
Vice Admiral
Only if you're predisposed to take offence. That's your choice and your reponse will be respected (or not) accordingly.
That scene was totally gay. I'm not sorry if you choose to be offended by. My choice of words. You can respect my opinion or not. I couldn't really care less, especially if you choose to be condescending because you disagree with my choice of words.
