Star Trek: The Next Generation introduced Trekkies to two fan-favorite chiefs of security: Worf, son of Mogh, portrayed by Michael Dorn, and Natasha "Tasha" Yar, portrayed by Denise Crosby. During a panel discussion with Star Trek: The Next Generation star Denise Crosby at 56-Year Mission: Las Vegas, which took place at Bally's Hotel and Casino from August 25 to 28, it was revealed that both of the former USS Enterprise-D security chiefs will be appearing in Star Trek: Picard's third season.
While Paramount+ and Roddenberry Entertainment previously confirmed that the final season of Star Trek: Picard would bring back the Star Trek: The Next Generation main cast for what is being billed as a "sendoff" season, including Dorn's Lieutenant Commander Worf, the studio had yet to make an announcement that the first season's security chief Lieutenant Tasha Yar would be returning to the Star Trek Universe. However, during a 56-Year Mission: Las Vegas panel on the event's opening day, Crosby said that her character would be returning to the franchise after she was asked by a fan if the upcoming third season of Star Trek: Picard would be bringing back Yar.
"I don’t want to give away too much. But I’m going to tell you that you will see Tasha Yar, but I’m not going to tell you how. You’ve got to watch," said Crosby. Although Crosby's cryptic response doesn't give Trekkies too many clues about what to expect from Yar's story in Picard's third season, it does give #JusticeForYar fans hope that her story finally get the ending that it deserves.
Denise Crosby Wanted to Explore Tasha Yar's 'Inspirational Story'
Crosby first played Tasha Yar in the pilot episode of TNG, "Encounter at Farpoint," but famously left the series during its first season, frustrated with the lack of character development for the security chief. After deciding to leave the series, Yar was then killed off in "Skin of Evil" near the end of the first season. However, the fan backlash was swift and Crosby returned for two TNG guest appearances: "Yesterday's Enterprise," set in an alternate timeline, and "All Good Things...," which included events prior to main series' plot.
At 56-Year Mission, Crosby discussed what kind of character development she would have liked to see from her character on TNG and how she wanted to explore Tasha Yar's origin story. She said:
I was really was looking to explore her grappling with being a Starfleet officer. There were hints of Tasha that she earned her position as chief of security, rightfully so. But she had some doubts inside of her that she was grappling with. So I always like to play against type, so to speak. And what were her ongoing relationships over the years would have been the fellow crew members and things like that. I think it would have been fun to really see her kick ass. Really get in there and really fight. Not just “Code of Honor” kind of fight, but like organized battles… I think it would have been fun to explore Tasha’s origin story. We know she came from this failed Earth colony and war and she’s an orphan. Like, how did she get from there to Starfleet? That’s a story. That’s an inspirational story.