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Star Trek: The Next Generation 1x23 "Skin of Evil" - Full Watch-along (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-09 19:00:06
Imported:
2026-10

Content

Follow along with me using your own copy of the episode!

Files

Star Trek: The Next Generation 1x23 "Skin of Evil" - Full Watch-along

Comments

Summer

I know you were sad, but in many ways this episode helped improve TNG, the writer made the characters come to life more and Patrick Stewart had some of his best acting of this first season. Troi’s character got a boost by this writer. Denise asked to leave feeling nothing was happening for her character, today she realizes she may not have always been used well, but was important. The cast loved Denise though. Denise had wanted Tasha’s message to Data to end “Data it did happen.” Sadly they didn’t allow it. Despite the fact that the producers were stupid to let Denise go it back fired in a way that worked out. It is infuriating though. So this isn’t a good episode but necassary. Jen Murray also wondered if Troi could talk sense into the goo. Possibly some Tasha fans resisted saying much about her because of this episode three more episodes in this season then to season 2

Jim Jones

Oof. This episode hits hard. As someone who watched this when it first aired I was very surprised watching a main character die. The gathering scene at the end always gets blurry... 😭 Denise asked to be written of the show for a few reasons: 1. She felt her character was stagnant and underwritten. 2. She didn't think the show was going to last. 3. She also wanted a film career. She has openly admitted to regretting that decision.

Desmond

Easy to see with 20/20 hindsight. But at the time, I understand her choice to leave.

Greg

I was waiting for this episode! Not only cause I knew how hard it would hit Bunny -- as she's openly talked about how much that she liked Tasha -- but also I was terrified someone was going to spoil this for her! At least now we're past that. People have already mentioned why Denise asked to be let out of her contract. To add a bit more to that, she said in later interviews she really was unhappy with the little screen time she was getting, as she had been promised a major role but as time passed it was clear that time was going to other people like Riker and Data. She made comparisons between her role and that of Uhura from TOS, and didn't want to be just background dressing. And yes, as also said, she didn't leave on bad terms as she never hated Star Trek, she was just unhappy with her current situation there. I never felt strongly about Tasha either way, partly cause we just didn't see her much, but I did like her and feel it would have been great to see what could have been done with her in later seasons. The only silver lining was that her leaving the show gave Michael Dorn HIS chance to shine, as Worf also had been a background character in Season 1 and now with Tasha gone he was front and center to take the role of Security Chief and really allow for more character development and screen time. (My fellow ST fans know all about this, but spoilers!) As for the episode itself, it's pretty good. The 'Skin of Evil' Creature often gets ignored or minimal attention cause everyone focuses on the death of Tasha in this episode, which is a shame, as it's really a great concept for a life form. It is indeed both creepy and evil at the same time, and has some really interesting ideas behind it. Sadly it tends to get overshadowed as it's not the thing that this episode is remembered for. Agree that Troi getting important screen time here was nice, and Crusher and Picard were also great in their own roles. Finally this episode really hits home with a major point -- death sometimes is pointless, and it can happen for no good reason. You hate it, you rant at it, you cry over it, but at the end of the day all you can do is accept it happened and move on with your life. Nobody close to you who cared about you wants you to have your own life end over it, and -- as Tasha was saying in her farewell message -- to remember the good times and the fond memories and continue to let them live in your heart.

Greg

She wasn't alone in #2 -- Patrick Stewart has also said that he didn't think the show would last past one season, and lived out of his suitcase as he was afraid to fully unpack into his new place for fear of triggering just such a thing!

timothy w moyer

Same. Very hard to re-watch this one. Yes, you guessed the answer, she wanted out of her contract, others can tell the story, I can't bring myself to say. This one hurt. 😊. Janice is my muse. ❤️

Jim Jones

True! I think he said he didn't even unpack his stuff during the 1st season.

Soma

William Terry

"Skin of Evil" killed off the character but Denise Crosby waves goodbye in the background of the episode "Symbiosis" at 42:14 which was the last episode she appeared in.

Mark Chrisco

It was her decision. Neither a meeting with Gene Roddenberry nor attempts by the other cast members could change her mind. Why not reach out to Ms. Crosby on X ( @ TheDeniseCrosby). Maybe you could arrange an interview.

reply

I heard Denise originally was said to be cast as Deanna Troi during auditions but then Marina Sirtis came along, so they promised Denise a "new important" role by creating an entirely new unplanned crew member Tasha Yar because they really wanted her to stay for filming the show just they thought Marina was a better empathic counselor personality fit. Some other reasons Denise requesting to leave her contract early by being "written out" of the show I've read are that she felt her Tasha role wasn't given enough importance due to overlapping too much with other cast member roles like Worf also being a tough security role or Deanna being the bridge crew's main lady role? So many combined feelings led her decision to push for leaving her contract. Very ironic writing too how the "Save Troi" episode "cost" the cast "Yar" ultimately as well.

Desmond

I admit I chuckled when you mistakenly referred to Picard as Kirk (around 54:45). Pretty soon, you won't make that mistake. ;) This episode Is definitely shocking the first time through, and your feelings are totally valid, but at least they handled Tasha's death with the appropriate weight. The funeral scene was very well done, even though we've only spent one season with these characters. Patrick Stewart was really good in this episode too, I thought. He has a quiet, strong authority in his dialog with Armus. Like, he's doing his best to understand this creature yet he will not allow his crew to be harmed any further.

Carlos Stevens

I still wonder what would have happened if Denise would have stuck with the show.

Preaching to the Horse's Mouth

Everyone is gonna comment on the Tasha Yar of it all and understandably so. I love her too and it sucked to see her go. This one is a big deal, the first real shake up of the series. But is it bad form on my part to use this chance to once again climb up on my Deanna/MS soapbox? The scenes with her and Armus inside the shuttle are so good. Her acting, the passion and determination on her face etc. I adore MS so much. And the funeral scene, stop😢 Gets me every time, man

Carlos Stevens

Alas Tasha... there is no Plot Armor in Star Trek (especially if you wear a red shirt).

Carlos Stevens

Oh Shit... I just realized who/what Armus in this episode is. I could be wrong..but...

Matthew Graves (Graviton)

People have already covered the iRL stuff about Denise Crosby's decision to depart the show, so I'll focus on what my reaction was at the time. Frankly, I was seriously pissed off. Tasha was actually my second favorite character at that point after Data. A highly disciplined ass kicker with a dangerous past and just the right touch of emotional vulnerability to make her intriguing. So much potential there! And yes, I'll be honest, I was a teen male smack dab in the middle of adolescence. And she looked like... well... Denise Crosby. But even setting aside my hormonal haze I liked her character a lot The memorial/funeral scene was very well done IMO. It still hits pretty hard for me to this day. The episode is overall perhaps a bit on the simplistic side. Troi gets some really good stuff here but without the death I think it's just a good, not great episode. Fortunately, the death hits hard enough to elevate the episode. Ive heard it argued that the way Tasha was killed off was too perfunctory, but I think it somberly drives home how dangerous exploring the galaxy is for members of Starfleet. It's a galaxy full of unimaginable powers who could snuff one out in the blink of an eye. In hindsight, If you are going to write a major character out, there are worse ways to play it. As aa little goofy aside, after the season was over I took a shot at the then relatively obscure phenomenon of fan-fiction. I wrote a little story bringing Tasha back involving Armus being the byproduct of the Organians from "Errand of Mercy" shedding their physical forms thousands of years ago. It wasn't great, what can I say, I was a teen? Cathartic though.

뱀파이안젤

almost thought the last episode titled Symbiosis was gonna be THIS episode with Tasha because this guy reminded me of the Venom SYMBIOTE in Spider-Man comics but worse! D:

Summer

So many are talking about netflix axing their Trek, here in the States I never got Trek on netflix. Since 2017 I do mainly watch Trek on amazon, recently I even bought season 2 and 3 of DS9 to stream. My biggest issue with streaming though there are many, is if I want to watch blank randomly it will show me being in season 6 of TNG. I am considering going back to my DVDs since I do have all Voyager, all DS9 and all TNG on DVD and have acess to Enterprise on DVD too. The main issue with that is obviously that you have to switch to dvd and switch disks, also if your dvd player goes dead as mine often do. But with DS9 and Voyager it can be worth just watching on DVD. Have not actually noticed an improvement between streaming and dvd with TNG or the original series either. Just some thoughts. Though everyone who has lost access to star trek through netflix cancel your subscription for at least a few weeks and make it clear why, I prefer amazon to Netflix any way. Have not tried apple for it, I prefer to watch my reactors on the ipad and the episode on my tv.

Stainless Steel Cat

That never occurred to me - if only Tasha had a beard, she’d have survived!

Summer

So of course I am watching Coming of Age on YouTube and there are spoilers, with the most obvious one I think you have seen it but newer viewers don’t get what your clear message at the beginning means but you are near thirty thousand subscribers that is great

Mark Gosine

I thought the same thing. I was playing this episode out with Kirk and crew after that. This could have been just as an effective TOS entry as well. The black tar moving could've been a difficult thing to accomplish back then, but I'm sure a clever approach could have been employed.

Mark Gosine

Impactful season one entry. The story concept was very good and executed very well. This is the kind of story we want in a Trek episode. I wish we had that today. As an aside, I just could not get it out of my head, and to this day, the spot left on Tasha's face by the creature. It always looked like the background set splotch on the wall of the 'Date Game' show. I know, it's me.

Jack

I never knew about her waving goodbye. I had to go back and get to that time code. Sure enough, there she is. It's wild, the stuff you miss. Thanks for sharing this.

TrekinJenn

I remember watching this episode live when it first aired and being so angry that one of my favorite characters died. I couldn’t believe it—a strong female character in the late ’80s, gone just like that. At least I still had my favorite character, Dr. Beverly Crusher, there. My favorites, in order, were Crusher, Tasha Yar, and then Data.

bunnytails

"Data, it did happen" would have been a nice moment of levity during that scene!

bunnytails

You don't know how many times I've called Picard Kirk. I didn't realize at the time so I could re-record it and I couldn't edit around it this time. haha

bunnytails

I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one who had her in my top 2 or 3 characters at this point! "but I think it somberly drives home how dangerous exploring the galaxy is for members of Starfleet" I agree with this point. The holo-messages being recorded also helps to drive the point home. They all know every mission could be their last.

bunnytails

Those are my top 3 as well! Dunno if Tasha or Data are my #2 but those 3 are wonderful!

Ron

This was definitely one of the good ones from S1. As for the impact that it had on me? I named my first female cat, "Tasha."

John DiGiantomasso

I knew this episode would hit you hard. It bothered me a lot when it first aired. I think back to the planned banishment of Gary Mitchell in the second pilot. Of course Mitchell was a threat due to his power, not his evil. But could he have evolved into Armus in capability and attitude? He was definitely on the path! As for real time reaction, I knew Denise Crosby wanted to pursue bigger roles. I was looking forward to blockbuster leading lady stuff, and was disappointed that never came to be.

Scott Phx

Who/What do you think Armus is? I have tried to figure it out but have not been successful I don't think....

Scott Phx

In this emergency, can we please bring in Spock to mind meld with Armus? We could at least learn who these beings are that left Armus behind as a skin of evil and who are still in the galaxy right now.

Skye Maidstone

Gold stars for Marina's acting in this one.