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AI/LLM reviews of Star Trek - Skin of Evil

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## 🧭 Review: *“Skin of Evil”* (TNG S1E23)

### 💥 Premise & Impact

When the Enterprise-D answers a distress call, the crew confronts Armus—a malevolent, oil‑slick entity—on Vagra II. The encounter brings horror and tragedy, as Lt. Tasha Yar is killed suddenly and shockingly. This death marks a bold turn for TNG, signaling that no one, not even main characters, is immune ([cbr.com][1]).

### 👍 Strengths

* **Unpredictability & High Stakes**
  Tasha’s death is brutal, abrupt, and devoid of heroics—forcing viewers to realize TNG can take narrative risks ([youtube.com][2], [reddit.com][3]).

* **Memorable Performance**
  Denise Crosby’s touching funeral speech is widely praised. The holodeck memorial resonates beautifully, with poignant lines highlighted by Data’s heartfelt reaction ([drheimlich.blogspot.com][4]).

* **Emotional Depth & Moral Ambiguity**
  Picard’s confrontation with Armus is emotionally charged, and Troi’s empathic insights deepen the encounter. It enriches TNG’s seriousness and stakes ([reddit.com][5], [reactormag.com][6]).

* **A Risky, Atmospheric Alien**
  Armus is a genuinely strange and chilling villain—a departure from humanoid antagonists, bolstered by eerie visuals and unsettling behavior ([pitchfork.com][7]).

### ⚠️ Weaknesses

* **Weak Special Effects & Pacing**
  Armus frequently reappears with limited effect, and the early scenes drag. The creature’s portrayal—with repeated shots and low-fi visuals—sometimes undermines impact ([reddit.com][8]).

* **Underdeveloped Character Loss**
  Some critique that Tasha's death lacks narrative buildup. Aside from her funeral speech, much of the crew’s reaction feels muted and routine ([angriest.blogspot.com][9], [denofgeek.com][10]).

* **Inconsistent Tone & Dialogue**
  The script's moral discussions often feel didactic. Armus' monologues can drag, and the dialogue occasionally veers into awkward territory ([reactormag.com][6]).

### 👥 Fans & Critics Speak

> **Reddit (r/startrek)**:
> “Armus had the makings of an iconic villain… Yar’s funeral was excellent… one the only funerals I've seen in a show that captures that weird half‑life kind of grief” ([reddit.com][11])

> **Reddit (r/startrek)**:
> “Everything… is terrible. The set, the lighting, the special effects, the dialogue—the pacing… slow, boring, mean‑spirited mess.” ([reddit.com][8])

**From critics:**

* **Den of Geek**: Lauds the emotional moments — “Yar’s holographic goodbye is the first time TNG actually managed to inspire any genuine emotion” ([denofgeek.com][10]).

* **IGN (Shaffer)**: Calls it “silly… riddled with terrible dialogue… only notable because of Tasha Yar’s untimely death,” rating it 5/10 ([en.wikipedia.org][12]).

* **SpaceOpera.com**: Rates it 4/10, noting plot holes and odd crew decisions ([spaceopera.com][13]).

* **Reactormag.com**: Acknowledges the introduction of dramatic stakes but criticizes the script and dialogue ([reactormag.com][6]).

### ⭐️ My Take & Rating: **7 / 10**

**What works:** The narrative shock of Tasha’s death, Denise Crosby’s final heartfelt tribute, and Picard’s emotional confrontation with Armus elevate the episode into meaningful territory. Armus is a rare truly alien threat that challenges the crew and the audience.

**What falters:** Puffy pacing, outdated visuals, and an underwhelming villain limit its full potential. The lack of stronger emotional fallout from other crew members weakens the tragedy.

**Verdict:** *“Skin of Evil”* is flawed but foundational—it turns death into a reality, injects genuine peril into TNG, and delivers some of the season’s most emotionally resonant moments. Its ambitious risks and powerful core justify a 7/10 rating.

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Want unpacked scenes—like the surreal nature of Armus, Data’s reaction at the funeral, or the wider season implications? Happy to dive deeper!

[1]: https://www.cbr.com/star-trek-tng-skin-of-evil-best-episode/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Tasha Yar's Death Led to One of Star Trek: TNG's Best Episodes"
[2]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3AzyIIf7vI&utm_source=chatgpt.com "youtube.com/watch?v=l3az..."
[3]: https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/j95k8r?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Unpopular opinion: Skin of Evil was a crucial part of making TNG a success"
[4]: https://drheimlich.blogspot.com/2012/12/tng-flashback-skin-of-evil.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Heimlich Maneuvers: TNG Flashback: Skin of Evil"
[5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromInstitute/comments/13vrya6?utm_source=chatgpt.com "\"Skin of Evil\" is the only irredeemably bad episode of TNG season 1"
[6]: https://reactormag.com/star-trek-the-next-generation-rewatch-qskin-of-evilq/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: \"Skin of Evil\" - Reactor"
[7]: https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12607-skin-of-evil?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Skin of Evil"
[8]: https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/gt5q3s?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Skin of evil is the worst episode of star trek ever made."
[9]: https://angriest.blogspot.com/2014/02/star-trek-next-generation-skin-of-evil.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com "The Angriest: Star Trek: The Next Generation: \"Skin of Evil\""
[10]: https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/revisiting-star-trek-tng-skin-of-evil/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Revisiting Star Trek TNG: Skin Of Evil | Den of Geek"
[11]: https://www.reddit.com/r/startrek/comments/18lstgh?utm_source=chatgpt.com "TNG S1E23, \"Skin of Evil\", is a GREAT episode"
[12]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_of_Evil?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Skin of Evil"
[13]: https://spaceopera.com/startrek/tng/s1?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Star Trek: The Next Generation reviews — season 1 | SpaceOpera.com"
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