I believe, and I'm only working off of my own memories of interviews I read ages ago, so anyone more knowledgeable than me can feel free to correct me, that the biggest issue was simply that Diana Muldaur was simply 'an outsider' among the cast, that there was a tension between her and the original TNG cast, since she was replacing one of their own, and that it never really smoothed over in the time she was there. Not necessarily that she was treated badly or not liked, but just that she never really managed to get that 'in' to the core group.
Dr. Katherine Pulaski
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I believe, and I'm only working off of my own memories of interviews I read ages ago, so anyone more knowledgeable than me can feel free to correct me, that the biggest issue was simply that Diana Muldaur was simply 'an outsider' among the cast, that there was a tension between her and the original TNG cast, since she was replacing one of their own, and that it never really smoothed over in the time she was there. Not necessarily that she was treated badly or not liked, but just that she never really managed to get that 'in' to the core group.
Nice to have read everyone's opinion. I am presently re-watching Season 2 of TNG and I think Dr. Pulaski is a great character and Diana Muldaur does quite well in the part. For those who said that her personality didn't mesh with the other characters, I can see why you would say that, but I think that is what made her character so special. Her wit, although sometimes acerbic, was very welcome among a sometimes muted crew. And don't forget that there were times when Dr. Pulaski showed a great deal of compassion, as we would expect from a doctor. So, all in all, she was a great addition. Would the ensuing 5 seasons have been the same with her instead of Gates McFadden? I don't think so....but it would have been interesting to see!
They wouldn't have been the same, but in my opinion, they would have been much stronger.
I also really wanted to see the ongoing effects of a Riker replaced by his transporter duplicate, or Locutus remain as the Adversary. TNG never took any chances, and by the end, bored me to tears. Pulaski was a breath of fresh air, IMO.
I also really wanted to see the ongoing effects of a Riker replaced by his transporter duplicate, or Locutus remain as the Adversary. TNG never took any chances, and by the end, bored me to tears. Pulaski was a breath of fresh air, IMO.
Interesting thought, on show dynamics.... if Pulaski was in from the start, who else could have been Wesley's parent? Yar? Troi? The Sisko / Worf single dad trope? Could it have been interesting if he was Troi's or Riker's, but not both? Obviously, not Picard or Geordi.
You summed up my thoughts exactly..
Picard would have made an interesting single Dad. Even though Worf saw himself unfit to be a parent. So did Picard! It would be very interesting to see the conflicts between Picard and his son. And what's really weird is that in the first few episodes there were tensions between Picard and Wesley, that I can't believe that it was simply be cause Picard said he was uncomfortable with children.
I see the point about Pulaski being "a breath of fresh air". but this type of personality also existed with Yar and Ro. And Guinan. None of these characters were around for very long. It seems like the producers wanted the actors to tone it down, just like the music. It's a shame be cause both qualities are what I like in Star Trek.
I see the point about Pulaski being "a breath of fresh air". but this type of personality also existed with Yar and Ro. And Guinan. None of these characters were around for very long. It seems like the producers wanted the actors to tone it down, just like the music. It's a shame be cause both qualities are what I like in Star Trek.
My opinion is not based on the show, but rather from the meeting the two actresses in that era. I was fortunate enough to to have been on set quite a few times back then. And I had lunch with both ladies.
Gates was not a pleasant lunch companion, In fact lunch couldn't end fast enough. Diana, on the other hand, was charming. afterward when the work was finished we ended up at a local watering hole with some of the other crew. She was amazingly gracious.
I found gates an actor of very limited range and, as a character, crusher was as exciting as ditch water and had an annoying child.
Just my opinion, mind you. So, by default, the Pulaski character at least help balance the Pollyanna characteristics of the main protagonists on the show.
Gates was not a pleasant lunch companion, In fact lunch couldn't end fast enough. Diana, on the other hand, was charming. afterward when the work was finished we ended up at a local watering hole with some of the other crew. She was amazingly gracious.
I found gates an actor of very limited range and, as a character, crusher was as exciting as ditch water and had an annoying child.
Just my opinion, mind you. So, by default, the Pulaski character at least help balance the Pollyanna characteristics of the main protagonists on the show.
I love Bev! She's wonderful. Kate had potential to be well-liked, and I must confess to liking her backstory with Kyle Riker. Otherwise, she just really needed to calm down. She didn't need to keep "proving" herself, all the time, like it was her against the system. We know you're the CMO -- you got the job, lady. Don't try so hard ...
Exactly. She had an impact. A personality. Watchable.
Beverly was just sorta... there. Nice and all but just sorta... there.
It just felt like they were trying to reboot that Kirk-McCoy-Spock routine, and it didn't work. Pulaski just was too dynamic and loud to fit the huggly-cuddly-lovey TNG vibe.
Beverly DID have a few interesting storylines, even without Wesley. I can think of:
Suspicions
Isn't the episode where Beverly sacrificed her career to solve a murder crime? (Guinan was also great in this episode.)
Man of The People
A second episode where she is forbidden to do a crime-solving autopsy.
Data's Day
The Dancing Doctor
Frame of Mind
More character development. She works in theatre.
Descent
A full bridge officer, She can assume command of The Enterprise when needed.
Future Imperfect
Symbiosis
Violations
Dream Sequence.
Episodes where she charges to the rescue:
Conspiracy
First Contact
Lonely Among Us
and
Allegiance
Too Short A Season
Picard: "Now that is an observation I would expect from Counselor Troi."
and
We'll Always Have Paris
Deanna: "And I thought I was the empath."
I hate to say it, but
Skin of Evil
Episodes where she disobeyed orders:
The Neutral Zone
The High Ground
(also a Beverly centered episode)
on the other hand, Pulaski was in very few episodes. About half of them she was mainly a background character, only appearing when medically necessary. or alternating with Dr. Selar. (The Schizoid Man)
However:
The Child
Pen Pals
Elementary, Dear Data
Samaritan Snare
Unnatural Selection
Peak Performance
Shades Of Grey
and
The Icarus Factor
an episode made for her, and she tried to patch things up between Kyle and Will.
She played Poker.
and was quite fascinated by Klingon culture, just like Picard.
There were several episodes, but I can't think of the names.
Suspicions
Isn't the episode where Beverly sacrificed her career to solve a murder crime? (Guinan was also great in this episode.)
Man of The People
A second episode where she is forbidden to do a crime-solving autopsy.
Data's Day
The Dancing Doctor
Frame of Mind
More character development. She works in theatre.
Descent
A full bridge officer, She can assume command of The Enterprise when needed.
Future Imperfect
Symbiosis
Violations
Dream Sequence.
Episodes where she charges to the rescue:
Conspiracy
First Contact
Lonely Among Us
and
Allegiance
Too Short A Season
Picard: "Now that is an observation I would expect from Counselor Troi."
and
We'll Always Have Paris
Deanna: "And I thought I was the empath."
I hate to say it, but
Skin of Evil
Episodes where she disobeyed orders:
The Neutral Zone
The High Ground
(also a Beverly centered episode)
on the other hand, Pulaski was in very few episodes. About half of them she was mainly a background character, only appearing when medically necessary. or alternating with Dr. Selar. (The Schizoid Man)
However:
The Child
Pen Pals
Elementary, Dear Data
Samaritan Snare
Unnatural Selection
Peak Performance
Shades Of Grey
and
The Icarus Factor
an episode made for her, and she tried to patch things up between Kyle and Will.
She played Poker.
and was quite fascinated by Klingon culture, just like Picard.
There were several episodes, but I can't think of the names.
Never liked Diana Muldaur's acting, including in TOS--Return to Tomorrow, a great episode IMO, mainly because of Nimoy's Henoch, and Is There in Truth No Beauty?, a wretched episode, not that she was responsible for all its wretchedness. I simply found her delivery too practiced and polished yet somehow exaggerated. Jarring...her glares were properly rage filled yet false seeming, her attempts at haughtiness looked like masks to me, her smiles a little smarmy...
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Yeah I just watched the episode where Beverly was kidnapped by terrorists and she is just boring! I think the show would have been a lot better if Beverly came back only to take her damn son with her, and to tell Pulaski to calm down and have fun at the end of the 2nd season or the beginning of the third. Then Pulaski could have started to relax more and become part of the family over the next several seasons.
But I was also in favor of Picard dying in Best of Both Worlds and Riker taking over, so I probably don't have popular views.
Her toes too curled... her teeth too bright.... her sneezes full of violence yet hollow...her sighs more like the resigned displeasure of a bored housewife than the gentle satisfied exhalation of a sated lover....
She also disobeyed orders in Who Watches The Watchers.
I don't understand people's reaction to her early treatment of Data. At the time, we had been maneuvered by the narrative to see Data as just another person. But if you met an android in real life and were told it was a sapient creature I doubt it would be so easy for you. Pulaski is even won over by the end of the season. Her reaction to Data is one of the most realistic in the series.
I don't understand people's reaction to her early treatment of Data. At the time, we had been maneuvered by the narrative to see Data as just another person. But if you met an android in real life and were told it was a sapient creature I doubt it would be so easy for you. Pulaski is even won over by the end of the season. Her reaction to Data is one of the most realistic in the series.
But they never had this issue before even back in TOS. It's not like Data is the first ever Android and It's not like Data lifted his shirt and opened up a door compartment revealing machinery. And feeling uncomfortable could also happen around Worf or another alien species. (BTW she loved Klingons.)
A
Amaris
Guest
TOS doesn't count when it comes to that, if for no other reason we had push button controls, gogo boots, concrete floors, and primary colored everything on a starship from the (estimated) 23rd century. For Pulaski, Data was new life, but not one to which she was at all familiar. She was used to dealing with living, breathing life forms, and here is this android who requires none of that and is still considered sapient/sentient life. To be honest, she adjusted quite rapidly.
TL;DR - She was given the same technophobia McCoy was given back in TOS, and so Data's status was a way to prick that bear.
None of the androids in TOS were considered people. Imagine in real life, if there was an AI who attempted to gain legal status as a person? There'd be a lot more Pulaskis than Geordis. The only reason it seems bad is that the narrative of the show is constructed not to let us question that Data is just a person.
She seemed like she was won over in Measure of a Man.
She seemed like she was won over in Measure of a Man.
I thought she had a lot of personality than Dr. Crusher in the 1st season, and later in the 3rd season. Pulaski was well needed especially when some people couldn't pronounce Data's name correctly. I liked she was a strong character and didn't back down from her ethics. Picard seemed to respect her a lot, and she was still more relevant than Deanna Troi ever was in any season of TNG. I'm sad she didn't remain on the ship or the show--just for special appearances basis-- like Whoopie Goldberg had done through out the run. I mean, TOS had a Dr. M'Benga on board the Enterprise.
Muldaur was an important landmark on Star Trek and I'm happy she was part of the "then" new series. Her characters were strong women, and the best thing I appreciated about her roles were she was not infallible (Like Rey from The Force Awakens. Kate & Juliette from LOST. Captain Kathryn Janeway. Bleh!).
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