Poll Crusher or Pulaski?

[Akiraprise]

I can't remember if I cared for Pulaski or not back when when S2 premiered. I was more into the ships, VFX, and playing Enterprise-D vs all the baddies with my Micro Machine models.

However, with age came a definite appreciation for the Pulaski character and her arc. I don't dislike Crusher but she's also at the bottom of my CMO list.

 

[Phoenix219]

As I've said before, Crusher was a bit arrogant and a bit condescending..... just because in some cases it was well deserved, doesn't change that. Just as Picard tried to get Worf to help the Romulan and he refused, it was his own personal and cultural right - as sad as it made Crusher, she should have accepted that. Some hypocrisy, considering how they treat other cultures via the Prime Directive (i know its apples and oranges, but something still doesn't sit right.)

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

This is the most nail-biting poll on the whole forum. Crusher somehow caught up after Pulaski took a huge early lead and they were neck and neck, but now Pulaski's pulling ahead again. I still think Crusher can win this, but it could go either way.

I don't even want to know how a Tasha vs Worf poll would turn out.

 

[Orphalesion]

It's difficult to answer this. I don't like Pulaski, and I will never like Pulaski. I think the character was poorly conceived, especially beginning, and what people like to call her "character development" was just a hasty retool because they realized how the character came across in her first couple episodes.
I however think that Diana Muldaur could have portrayed a character I could have liked, it just didn't happen to be with Pulaski.

On the other hand, Crusher is a thoroughly underdeveloped character and possibly the character in TNG who got the least development at all (even Troi got a little bit more, and she got basically nothing). Here again, I do not think that the actress was to blame, I think Gates McFadden could have portrayed a better, more interesting character...if she had been given some decent material. I also don't think there was anything inherently wrong with Crusher as a character, the writers just showed an exorbitant disinterest in developing her. We get some glimpses of what could have been, like in Data's Day, but they are few and far between.

Sometimes I wonder if it had been better if Dr.Selar had become the CMO in Season 3...

 

[Akiraprise]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

As the guy mentions in this video Pulaski and Data were only really at odds for two episodes and became friendly allies soon thereafter. However, detractors use her initial reaction to Data as one of the primary reasons for disliking the character.

 

[Humanoid #77]

Both fit very well in the star trek babes category

in the '90s Dr Crusher was too old or I was too young for her to attract me

these days in rewatches, she's the trek MILF

 

[DarKush]

I prefer Crusher, but I do think it's a shame that Pulaski wasn't on DS9 or even VOY (heck, she could've done a quick cameo as that ship's chief medic). I also think it's a shame that she wasn't in Nemesis either. If the actress is willing it would be nice to see her voicing the character on Lower Decks.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

I prefer Crusher, but I do think it's a shame that Pulaski wasn't on DS9 or even VOY (heck, she could've done a quick cameo as that ship's chief medic). I also think it's a shame that she wasn't in Nemesis either. If the actress is willing it would be nice to see her voicing the character on Lower Decks.

Bringing back Pulaski just to kill her off in the pilot would've been a bit harsh!

 

[Laura Cynthia Chambers]

We could have had her be "The Doctor". Or perhaps Pulaski could have been one of the EMH's disguises in an episode.

 

[Ray Hardgrit]

We could have had her be "The Doctor". Or perhaps Pulaski could have been one of the EMH's disguises in an episode.

An EMH with Pulaski's appearance and personality learning how to be human would've been ironic for sure.

 

[Orphalesion]

As the guy mentions in this video Pulaski and Data were only really at odds for two episodes and became friendly allies soon thereafter. However, detractors use her initial reaction to Data as one of the primary reasons for disliking the character.

I have said several times in the past that my main problem with Pulaski is that I felt her character was too sober (in the emotional sense, not the 'not drunk sense') and nonchalant for my tastes. When I watch season 2 I have the feeling she reacts to almost everything with a slightly amused smile. (I have expressed this in the past by speculating that whenever she gets married she already pencils a 'divorce by this date' into her personal calender) A more favourable interpretation would be that she's even-tempered, I suppose.
I also maintain that she didn't pair well with Troi, which further isolated Troi (though that's not the fault of Pulaski alone, it's the fault of the show runners who thought more than two female characters would be 'too many' and had little interest in developing the ones they had, I do wonder whether I would have thought different of Pulaski if alongside her they had also introduced a replacement for Tasha with whom Troi wcould be friends)

But I definitely think that their initial attempts at making her look like "McCoy in a dress" didn't do her character any favours and painted a wrong picture of the way she was portrayed. Her treatment of Data came across as bullying (but, as I said, they dropped that quickly) and the first episode makes it initially seem like she went to get a drink before even meeting the Captain (which defeinitelly didn't endear her to me) when instead she was only in Ten Forward for the benefit of Troi to discuss her surprise pregnancy in a more relaxed atmosphere.

I prefer Crusher, but I do think it's a shame that Pulaski wasn't on DS9 or even VOY (heck, she could've done a quick cameo as that ship's chief medic).

Not so much about the character, but the actress...

I have said several times I think Diana Muldaur would have made a very good Janeway, better than Mulgrew (at the very least with a more pleasant voice).

 

[Phoenix219]

I have said several times in the past that my main problem with Pulaski is that I felt her character was too sober (in the emotional sense, not the 'not drunk sense') and nonchalant for my tastes. When I watch season 2 I have the feeling she reacts to almost everything with a slightly amused smile. (I have expressed this in the past by speculating that whenever she gets married she already pencils a 'divorce by this date' into her personal calender) A more favourable interpretation would be that she's even-tempered, I suppose.
I also maintain that she didn't pair well with Troi, which further isolated Troi (though that's not the fault of Pulaski alone, it's the fault of the show runners who thought more than two female characters would be 'too many' and had little interest in developing the ones they had, I do wonder whether I would have thought different of Pulaski if alongside her they had also introduced a replacement for Tasha with whom Troi wcould be friends)

But I definitely think that their initial attempts at making her look like "McCoy in a dress" didn't do her character any favours and painted a wrong picture of the way she was portrayed. Her treatment of Data came across as bullying (but, as I said, they dropped that quickly) and the first episode makes it initially seem like she went to get a drink before even meeting the Captain (which defeinitelly didn't endear her to me) when instead she was only in Ten Forward for the benefit of Troi to discuss her surprise pregnancy in a more relaxed atmosphere.


Not so much about the character, but the actress...

I have said several times I think Diana Muldaur would have made a very good Janeway, better than Mulgrew (at the very least with a more pleasant voice).

An interesting twist on that would be, a doctor left as ranking officer commanding the ship, with an emergency command hologram as first officer to help guide the way....

 

[Orphalesion]

An interesting twist on that would be, a doctor left as ranking officer commanding the ship, with an emergency command hologram as first officer to help guide the way....

You mean Pulaski is CMO on the Voyager and becomes captain because everybody who outranks her is killed?
Yes, I think that could work very well, but I'd still make the Marquis leader the First Officer.

 

[Phoenix219]

You mean Pulaski is CMO on the Voyager and becomes captain because everybody who outranks her is killed?
Yes, I think that could work very well, but I'd still make the Marquis leader the First Officer.

I was thinking the ECH could be XO, giving her advice, arguing that she puts herself in danger, but its not like he can do the job proper as a hologram. that could create tension with the Maquis leader, who is nothing like Chacotay, who feels snubbed that she values the input of, and he is outranked by, a hologram, who makes decision that put him and his people in danger. Lots of interesting dynamics could work here. Having someone who's duty has always been to health, peace and safety into a position like this would be an interesting spin, and Pulaski always had that scientific curisosity, even if risky. I think we just created something eminently watchable. lol.

I like the setup and concept of Voyager, but not many of the rather stiff actors contracted to play the parts. Muldaur would have been a massive step up.

 

[Oddish]

The boring doctor is rallying.

 

[SCE2Aux]

Definitelt Pulaski for me - she contributes the same thing that Ro and Jellico did - shake up a slightly too-comfortable status quo.

 

[Michael]

Now this is a ticket I can get behind. Go Pulaski go!

 

[Toril Toran]

I think Crusher is more attractive, but if my life were on the line, I would want Pulaski’s experience. I just think she is a better doctor.

 

[Michael]

“Wolf, it’s just too close to call right now.”

I’m having too much fun with this …

 

[Orphalesion]

if my life were on the line, I would want Pulaski’s experience. I just think she is a better doctor.

There is really nothing that suggest this, they both appear equally skilled and equally dedicated.