This is an interesting view on the subject. https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/star-trek-how-dr-pulaski-helped-the-next-generation-find-its-feet/
Which Doctor Did You Like Better...Dr. Crusher or Dr. Pulaski?
- Thread starter CmndrSela318
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I think we would have gotten another new doctor, since Diana Muldaur was leaving regardless.
Personally I've long speculated that Dr. Selar was created as a potential replacement for her.
I don't think they would have gone that way, I can see them just creating a Dr.Crusher-like character for Season 3 onwards and keeping it, assuming the actress wants to stay. I don't think they would have created a male doctor, since it would have resulted in Troi being the only woman in the main cast.
Two words: Dr. T'ana
I think that was the feeling at the time, but I'm not sold that it's true, especially if they'd not made her a main player
They could've reduced the job's influence for a while, & only featured her about as much as Ro Laren or Reg Barclay. In that capacity, Selar could've been great, & if she began getting liked, they could've expanded it.
A 3rd doc actor, in as many seasons, is a bad sign, all around. Mitigating that awkwardness with at least a familiar face is optimal imho. Plus, I think Selar might've been a good fit for using the "Secretly Romulan" thing, in an episode like "The Drumhead". Forego all the old, previously treaded Vulcan plots, & have that be more her defining quality.
But again, then they likely would have had to include another female character into the main cast, since Troi being the only one would have looked awkward by 1988/89.
Of course they could have always reduced Wesley's role (it was awkward enough to have him around without Dr.Crusher) and given us a new female pilot.
Though seeing how little they ended up doing with Dr.Crusher (or Pulaski, really) that wasn't focused on medicine or romance reducing the physician role to a recurring one might really not have been so bad (assuming another female character is added to the main cast)
Still Selar might have worked as a main player, especially if they had stuck with the romance with Worf. It could have been a dynamic romance that eventually could have led to them being married in Season 5 or so.
As for the idea that another Vulcan character was "too soon". I don't agree with that, with a bit of creativity I think they could have made her sufficiently different from Spcok.
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As I've said here, they should have replaced Yar with another action-oriented female character as soon as Season 2.
Roddenberry's idea that three female characters in a cast of nine where, somehow, "too many" was ridiculous.
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Crusher for sure. I mean lets be honest here. There were more plot and subplot threads involving her and Picard most notably. Don't get me wrong, I neevr had a personal issue with Pulaski but she didn't quite fit with the rest of the TNG crew.
Crusher. Hands down.
I guess it's partially due to Beverly obviously being in a lot more episodes, but with those more episodes, she was given more time and opportunities to expand her personally and the audience was given more time and opportunities to get to know Beverly. Especially when it comes to other characters related or connected to her like Wesley, The Traveller, etc.
Beverly-focused episodes like "Remember Me?", "Suspicions", and "Attached" are ones that stand out to me the most that make me appreciate Beverly a significant deal. I mean, I would add "Journey's End" to that list as well, but that episode was more about Wesley than it was about Beverly but stories like that would be hard to fathom if it were Pulaski in Beverly's place instead of Beverly herself. I don't hate "Sub Rosa" as much as the rest of the fandom seems to but that is one episode I wouldn't mind if it were Pulaski instead of Crusher lol.
Not that I didn't like Pulaski. I actually kind of did and I actually find it rather regrettable that she wasn't given the chance to at least guest star in other episodes after Season 2. Because at least when they killed off Tasha Yar, Denise Crosby occasionally guest starred in a few episodes throughout the show. It's a bit of a missed opportunity Diana Muldaur wasn't given this same treatment. I think it would've been kind of cool to see her guest star in at least one episode from S3-S7 because she was an interesting character. Just not as interesting as Beverly and not interesting enough for me to have liked it if she'd permanently taken Beverly's place for the rest of the show.
I guess it's partially due to Beverly obviously being in a lot more episodes, but with those more episodes, she was given more time and opportunities to expand her personally and the audience was given more time and opportunities to get to know Beverly. Especially when it comes to other characters related or connected to her like Wesley, The Traveller, etc.
Beverly-focused episodes like "Remember Me?", "Suspicions", and "Attached" are ones that stand out to me the most that make me appreciate Beverly a significant deal. I mean, I would add "Journey's End" to that list as well, but that episode was more about Wesley than it was about Beverly but stories like that would be hard to fathom if it were Pulaski in Beverly's place instead of Beverly herself. I don't hate "Sub Rosa" as much as the rest of the fandom seems to but that is one episode I wouldn't mind if it were Pulaski instead of Crusher lol.
Not that I didn't like Pulaski. I actually kind of did and I actually find it rather regrettable that she wasn't given the chance to at least guest star in other episodes after Season 2. Because at least when they killed off Tasha Yar, Denise Crosby occasionally guest starred in a few episodes throughout the show. It's a bit of a missed opportunity Diana Muldaur wasn't given this same treatment. I think it would've been kind of cool to see her guest star in at least one episode from S3-S7 because she was an interesting character. Just not as interesting as Beverly and not interesting enough for me to have liked it if she'd permanently taken Beverly's place for the rest of the show.
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It just dawned on me that Muldaur played a doctor all 3 times in Trek- Dr. Miranda Jones (psychologist), Dr. Ann Mulhall (astrobiologist) and Dr. Katherine Pulaski (chief medical officer).
I enjoyed Pulaski’s banter with Kyle Riker, with Data competing in Strategema, and with Worf in the Klingon tea ceremony--her feistiness and humor were appealing, but still it was a relief they got Crusher back.
I enjoyed Pulaski’s banter with Kyle Riker, with Data competing in Strategema, and with Worf in the Klingon tea ceremony--her feistiness and humor were appealing, but still it was a relief they got Crusher back.
Crusher without question. Don't get me wrong I didn't actually mind Pulaski as she never bothered me. But Crusher, as established in EAF already knew Picard and requested to be on the Enterprise under Picard's command so, yes Crusher definately.
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