Skin of Evil

DVD, TNG S1 (Skin of Evil)

The vagaries of episodic television killed Tasha Yar, along with the dissatisfaction of the actress who played her; Denise Crosby. However the real life events shaped her exit, the fictional universe's view is of a tragic, senseless death that hammers home the dangers of exploration. Never before had they encountered quite such a sadistic lifeform - not even a lifeform, as Armus was the cast-off feelings of a race. That a race's evil could be shed like a skin, collected together and discarded is an interesting notion, and the creature itself is fascinating to watch. Its very surface is disgusting, oily, black, a suffocation of purity. The effects hold up, especially the horrifying enveloping of Riker within it, drowning in a well of sludge.

Even here, after the pointless killing of their comrade, when it continues to threaten, continues to abuse, even here, where they have no power against it, the Captain and crew find pity in themselves, seeing it for what it is, and not for what it sees itself as. It could not be reasoned with, and could not find redemption, but they don't try to destroy it before they leave. It's own loathing, solitary existence is punishment enough. I don't recall it giving out its name yet Data clearly calls it Armus early on, so maybe a scene was cut, or I wasn't paying close enough attention.

For such a momentous event as a regular character being killed off, the episode is surprisingly subdued. I don't know whether they were running low on money this late in the season, but you'd have thought the chance to send Tasha to her grave would have been greeted with enthusiasm, prompting a heroic end, saving people, or battling away. I suppose it gives a stronger underline to the series if they kill her off in such an ignoble and abrupt fashion, leaving the audience shocked and uncertain whether anyone else will die like that. All things considered I would have preferred a bigger send-off for the character as she was an important ingredient in the cast, and it is sad now that she's no longer part of the family.

In true Trek tradition this isn't the last we see of Tasha, with a glorious end salvaged cleverly for the character at another time, but the first season of this series has had both highs and lows, and I have a soft spot for it in this unfinished, rough state, before it got too slick and comfortable in later seasons. The memorial service is a beautiful scene as each of Tasha's friends are given a parting message. It's sensitively done, and leaves a hole in the heart - we will miss her as part of the group as much as the crew.

It does make you wonder if all Starfleet personnel prepare regular goodbye messages, every few months. It could have been a thing mostly considered by security personnel as they are the first in the line of fire. There are also hints that Worf respected Yar more than most, not only in this episode, but now we'll never know. A sad episode, but more evidence that the series had not quite settled down yet.

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