Dr. Pulaski Enters Star Trek
The Next Generation was a bit more like The Original Series back in the day, and the new doctor character represented the producer’s desire to channel the early adventures of Captain Kirk. That’s why Pulaski was played by Diana Muldaur, someone who acted alongside William Shatner in the original Star Trek series. Her character was also loosely modeled after Dr. McCoy, which is why she hates using the transporter and has a cantankerous attitude towards Data, the android who serves as TNG’s version of Mr. Spock.
However, there was a major Pulaski problem from the beginning: while Star Trek: The Original Series thrived on occasional conflict amid the crew, The Next Generation was a show where everyone more or less got along. When this new doctor was brought in, though, she immediately began butting heads with Captain Picard. She also had such an antipathy towards Data based on him being an android that fans accused her of racism, a label which never really went away.
Pulaski Was Not A Fan Favorite
That all sounded good on paper, but after a season of trying to make Pulaski happen, the Star Trek writers and producers threw in the towel. Producer Rick Berman later admitted that her character “never quite worked…Doctor Pulaski just never really quite solidified.” Accordingly, the show didn’t invite Muldaur back, though she wasn’t disappointed because she felt the new spinoff focused too much on technology and too little on character-building.
One of the big reasons that Pulaski didn’t come back to the new spinoff was the Star Trek fandom, many of whom launched a passionate letter-writing campaign to bring Gates McFadden’s Dr. Crusher back to the show. They were joined by Patrick Stewart, who was equally passionate in his personal campaign to bring his old colleague back. The combined pressure of the fans and TNG’s captain was enough to cause Berman to personally invite McFadden back, and the rest is television history.
Dr. Pulaski had many interesting qualities that made her a fascinating character, but she never really gelled well with the chill vibe of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fortunately, she was replaced by Gates McFadden, a killer actor whose character only got more prominent and popular as time went on. Eventually, Dr. Crusher was a central character in the final season of Picard, and that seriously satisfying plot would likely never have happened if not for the intense fan campaign to ditch Diana Muldaur and bring Gates McFadden back to the Enterprise where she belonged.
Pulaski’s Replacement and the Impact
Thanks to the relentless efforts of Star Trek fans and the showrunners, the character of Beverly Crusher was eventually brought back in Season 3. This development marked a major turning point in the show’s history, paving the way for a more collaborative and harmonious crew dynamic, which ultimately helped to elevate The Next Generation into the beloved phenomenon it is today.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Dr. Pulaski, played by Diana Muldaur, was introduced to Star Trek: The Next Generation as an attempt to revisit the conflictual dynamics of the original series, but ultimately fell short due to her abrasive and divisive personality, which clashed with the show’s overall tone and values. Thanks to the enduring passion of fans and the courage of the showrunners to listen, we were ultimately given the more celebrated and iconic portrayal of Dr. Crusher, and the show can be seen to have benefited immeasurably as a result.
FAQs
Q: What was the initial purpose of Dr. Pulaski in The Next Generation?
A: She was brought in to create a more confrontational dynamic between Captain Picard and the crew, similar to what was seen in The Original Series.
Q: Why didn’t Dr. Pulaski work out on the show?
A: According to producer Rick Berman, her character simply didn’t jell with the rest of the cast and storylines, despite her interesting qualifications and background.
Q: What was the impact of fans on the character’s fate?
A: Fan pressure, driven by a combination of passionate fan letters and lobbying from Patrick Stewart, ultimately led to the removal of Dr. Pulaski and the welcome return of Gates McFadden as Dr. Crusher.
Q: Was Dr. Crusher a central character in the Picard series?
A: Yes, Dr. Crusher played a significant role in the final season of Star Trek: Picard, further cementing her position as a fan favorite in the Star Trek canon.
Q: Why didn’t Diana Muldaur get to reprise her role as Dr. Pulaski after the initial departure?
A: Muldaur herself didn’t seem disappointed or upset by her character’s limited run, having felt that The Next Generation wasn’t focusing enough on character-building and relationships in its early years.
Q: What about the allegations of racism against Dr. Pulaski?
A: Fans had accused Dr. Pulaski of racism based on her unwavering negativity towards Data due to his artificial nature, though this was seen as a missed opportunity for further exploration and empathy in the storylines.