Dr. Katherine Pulaski, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation’s second season, brought a unique perspective as the new Chief Medical Officer. Her no-nonsense demeanor and unconventional methods contrasted with her predecessor, Dr. Beverly Crusher’s approach. Despite her initial skepticism, Pulaski gradually warmed up to the crew.
While her time on Enterprise-D was brief, her impact on the series was significant, leaving a lasting impression on Reddit as well as fans worldwide.
The Star Trek: TNG Character Reddit Fans Still Remember
In Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s second season, the USS Enterprise welcomed a new doctor to its crew. The first season ended with the departure of two prominent female characters. Tasha Yar’s tragic death marked the end of Denise Crosby’s regular role, while Dr. Beverly Crusher’s reassignment to Starfleet Medical left a vacancy in the ship’s medical team.
This allowed Diana Muldaur to step in as Dr. Katherine Pulaski. Despite her compelling portrayal, Muldaur’s character departed after just one season, leaving fans to wonder what more could have been explored with her story.
This sentiment was reflected by a Reddit user who asked, “I’m not sure why but she just seems like a better fit,” sparking a discussion about whether it’s unusual to prefer Dr. Pulaski over Dr. Crusher.
Am I weird for preferring Dr Pulaski to Dr Crusher?
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Other fans also joined in to express their views in the comments section.
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In contrast to Crusher’s warm and nurturing demeanor, Pulaski brought a more clinical and detached approach to her role as Chief Medical Officer. Notably, Gene Roddenberry, the show’s creator, drew inspiration from Dr. McCoy of The Original Series when developing Pulaski’s character. He envisioned her as someone who distrusted teleporters and frequently challenged the crew’s logic-driven decisions.
Muldaur fully embraced this vision, aiming to capture the same skepticism that defined McCoy. However, despite this fresh perspective, Dr. Pulaski’s tenure aboard the Enterprise-D was short-lived. The character struggled to establish chemistry with the rest of the crew, and the intended dynamic never fully materialized.
Ultimately, Muldaur’s contract was not renewed after the second season, which aligned with her original intentions. She had only planned for a brief role, as she found The Next Generation’s emphasis on technology and setting less engaging than the character-driven storytelling of The Original Series.
In the end, although her time on the show was brief, Dr. Pulaski’s presence provided a distinct and memorable alternative to the typical portrayal of medical officers on the starship Enterprise.
Patrick Stewart’s Funny Favor for Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Pulaski
In his memoir Making It So: A Memoir, Patrick Stewart recounted a humorous and heartwarming moment on the set of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Diana Muldaur, who portrayed Dr. Katherine Pulaski during Season 2, replaced Gates McFadden’s Dr. Beverly Crusher.
Despite her efforts, Pulaski struggled to connect with the cast and the audience, leading to her departure after just one season. This led to McFadden returning in Season 3.
Stewart shared a delightful story about his funny deed for Muldaur during a challenging scene. With no teleprompters available and under the pressure of memorizing a complex speech, Stewart took a creative approach to assist Muldaur. He taped a printout of her dialogue to his own hairless forehead, allowing her to deliver the lines smoothly.
This act of camaraderie and quick thinking was appreciated by Muldaur and further exemplified the supportive traditions among the cast.
You can watch Star Trek: The Next Generation on Paramount+ and rent it on Apple TV.
