Tasha Yar did not get many spotlight hours on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the episodes she did anchor chart a complete, surprisingly tragic arc, from bold new security chief, to disposable casualty, to one of TNG’s great “what if” stories and a key part of its finale. These five episodes capture how TNG fumbled Tasha, then slowly redeemed her.
5. 'The Naked Now'
“The Naked Now” is often remembered for its loose remake of TOS’ “The Naked Time” and its early, awkward attempts at TNG-style humor. However, for Tasha Yar it does something important: it lets the new security chief drop the professional armor and show the person underneath. Under the influence of the polywater intoxication, Tasha allows herself to be playful, flirtatious, and even romantic with Data, a liaison that will echo far beyond season 1.
What could have been a throwaway bit of early-season titillation ends up giving Yar one of her only chances to be openly happy on screen. Data’s later testimony in “The Measure of a Man,” that Tasha was special to him, retroactively turns this episode into a cornerstone of his emotional growth and a sign that Tasha leaves a mark on the crew even after she is gone.