Dr. Crusher or Pulaski

[RaymondJames]

Although admittedly a Crusher fan, I didn't completely dislike Pulaski. I thought she was a very interesting character, and, there is a part of me that would have liked to see how she would have developed on the show--perhaps going from Data's naysayer to one of his closest friends?

I liked her character because I thought that she had depth, just a different kind of depth that I think was more welcoming to the viewers--there was a touch of awkwardness about her that made her very real to me. Her relationship with Picard was interesting and sadly left out of everything after the end of the series. I think I admire her the most for being the one of the first women on a Trek show who was hired to play a smart, confident, woman who was actually allowed to wear a regular starfleet uniform AND even a labcoat. Whoa--revelation there.

I pretty much agree with you. Also, even the smalllength of time we had Pulaski she did seem to evolve. She was very harsh on Data when she first arrived but somewhere along the way she seemed to see him more like an advanced life form and not so much like a walking tricorder. On another point, I don'tthink she was the first intelligent and confident woman in a starfleet uniform. Tasha was a pretty damn confident officer and I wouldn't be so quick to say she wasn't that smart. Also, though it wasn't the winning pilot, Number One in the first TOS pilot was confident, ballsy and intelligent. On another note, Uhura developed in the films to be pretty confident perhaps even cunning.

 

[Dr. Crusher]

On another point, I don'tthink she was the first intelligent and confident woman in a starfleet uniform. Tasha was a pretty damn confident officer and I wouldn't be so quick to say she wasn't that smart. Also, though it wasn't the winning pilot, Number One in the first TOS pilot was confident, ballsy and intelligent. On another note, Uhura developed in the films to be pretty confident perhaps even cunning.

I think my rather flawed grammar in my previous statement gave the wrong impression--a rouge "the" was accidentally inserted in a line that was meant to say "one of the first women," and I certainly had Tasha in mind what I qualified that statement.

I agree that Uhura was developed well past her TOS role in the films. I very much enjoy watching her. However, it is a challenge to get past the fact that...well, look at her uniform in the 1960s. Clearly Ms. Nichols is very intelligent and talented, and she drafted those characteristics into her character without a doubt. However, I feel a disservice is done to the earlier women in Trek because none of them actually wore pants. I mean, how can you go on an away mission in a skirt like that? Agreed that the TOS films did change this trend.

I also find it interesting that the designers of TNG tried to remedy that by creating "unisex" uniforms that were skirted, seen on both men and women in the first season (I'm not sure that even lasted the full first season). TNG not only brought in intelligent women, but actually covered them up in something amounting to a regular uniform from the start. I'm glad we saw even more of this in DS9 and Voyager, too, however I'm not sure that any uniform, no matter how conservative, would have worked to Seven of Nine's advantage in this capacity.

 

[Lor'Vela]

I have a preference for Pulaski. By the end of season two I find myself hoping she would have stayed on for another season.

What I like about Pulaski over Crusher is that she seems to have greater passion and dedication and did what she thought was best, even if it meant going against Picard. I'd certainly prefer her as my doctor, given the choice.

Also Pulaski strikes me as a "proper" doctor, as in knowing that her place is always in sickbay tending to her patients. Too often in Star Trek, CMOs have this habit of being armed with phasers and shooting things. I just can't picture Pulaski with a phaser rifle like Crusher and Bashir have been known to carry.

 

[Satyrquaze]

Beverly

 

[RaymondJames]

On another point, I don'tthink she was the first intelligent and confident woman in a starfleet uniform. Tasha was a pretty damn confident officer and I wouldn't be so quick to say she wasn't that smart. Also, though it wasn't the winning pilot, Number One in the first TOS pilot was confident, ballsy and intelligent. On another note, Uhura developed in the films to be pretty confident perhaps even cunning.

I think my rather flawed grammar in my previous statement gave the wrong impression--a rouge "the" was accidentally inserted in a line that was meant to say "one of the first women," and I certainly had Tasha in mind what I qualified that statement.

I agree that Uhura was developed well past her TOS role in the films. I very much enjoy watching her. However, it is a challenge to get past the fact that...well, look at her uniform in the 1960s. Clearly Ms. Nichols is very intelligent and talented, and she drafted those characteristics into her character without a doubt. However, I feel a disservice is done to the earlier women in Trek because none of them actually wore pants. I mean, how can you go on an away mission in a skirt like that? Agreed that the TOS films did change this trend.

I also find it interesting that the designers of TNG tried to remedy that by creating "unisex" uniforms that were skirted, seen on both men and women in the first season (I'm not sure that even lasted the full first season). TNG not only brought in intelligent women, but actually covered them up in something amounting to a regular uniform from the start. I'm glad we saw even more of this in DS9 and Voyager, too, however I'm not sure that any uniform, no matter how conservative, would have worked to Seven of Nine's advantage in this capacity.

Ah,got you now. Oh I fully agree, TOS female uniforms were so sexist as were the roleswomen were given. Nurse, Communications, or the classic secratary yeoman. Iwon't say it was fully sexist as we did see guests that were scientist and such. One great thing was when there were TOS novels after the show ended and the female writers really let women shine

 

[Malleus]

Dr. Crusher is hotter though...

That's only the start of it, but with all the recast rumblings something's got to give.

I like Crusher's character much better than Pulaski. I wish they used Crusher more in the show. I feel like Pulaski got better roles even though she was only there for one season.

It's too bad the producers didn't go with Gates McFadden's desire for a more humorous Dr. Crusher on top of what was already solid. I guess that's what has led some posters here to underestimate her acting abilities.

 

[Distorted Humor]

Dr Crusher > Pulaski, which was a cheep rip off of Bones.

However, I still say they should of replaced Pulaski with....

Dr. Selar.

 

[Malleus]

I think Dr. Selar would have been a better junior medical assistant than Nurse Ogawa. However, I'm sure the show didn't need the cold logic of a pure Vulcan. T'Pol turned out to be a total mess.

With the benefit of hindsight, Suzie Plakson's history in sitcoms points to comedic acting for her. Perhaps then I could accept a producer rejection of McFadden's suggestion, making Crusher more serious than she was but without turning her into a total character turn-off.

 

[Ghrakh]

Hmm, a character there for 6 seasons (and 4 movies) vs a character there for just 1 season.

 

[RaymondJames]

I think Dr. Selar would have been a better junior medical assistant than Nurse Ogawa. However, I'm sure the show didn't need the cold logic of a pure Vulcan. T'Pol turned out to be a total mess.

With the benefit of hindsight, Suzie Plakson's history in sitcoms points to comedic acting for her. Perhaps then I could accept a producer rejection of McFadden's suggestion, making Crusher more serious than she was but without turning her into a total character turn-off.

I am going to have to disagree somewhat. I haven't read Peter David's series with Selar in it but from the episode she was in,she by no means showed signs that she was your typical Vulcan. She wasn't cold, in fact she was rather pleasent though slightly sarcastic at times.

 

[popeyepete1960]

Dr. Pulaski is an irritating troll, Beverley is ok, but it would have been great to have a grumpy 'doc' like Bones. I miss ol' Bones.

 

[Neutral Zone]

Crusher everytime, just can't stand Pulaski It's one of those things that you just can't say why, just glad that we had to suffer only the one season.

 

[Gary7]

An important aspect to an actor is their vocal qualities. I just don't like the voice of Diana Muldaur. I didn't really care for it in TOS either... something about the nasal quality. So, Dr. Pulaski's voice came off as annoying to me. That coupled with the direction she was given, it didn't work for me. Beverly Crusher was a welcome sight when she returned in Season 3. But I still wish we'd seen a "transfer" take place, with the two of them interacting. Pulaski at least deserved that.

 

[Keith1701]

Dr. Crusher is hotter though...

I agree...

 

[Neutral Zone]

An important aspect to an actor is their vocal qualities. I just don't like the voice of Diana Muldaur. I didn't really care for it in TOS either... something about the nasal quality. So, Dr. Pulaski's voice came off as annoying to me. That coupled with the direction she was given, it didn't work for me. Beverly Crusher was a welcome sight when she returned in Season 3. But I still wish we'd seen a "transfer" take place, with the two of them interacting. Pulaski at least deserved that.

Not only her voice but her hair style annoyed me.

 

[sonak]

Dr. Pulaski is an irritating troll, Beverley is ok, but it would have been great to have a grumpy 'doc' like Bones. I miss ol' Bones.

er, Pulaski was basically a female "Bones," and a rather obvious one, so this comment baffles me.

 

[Newton]

Crusher. I found Pulaski annoyed me immensely. As a character, I couldn't understand her attitude towards Data. Oh, and Crusher has a better name.

 

[The Dominion]

Pulaski wasn't really a bad character, but she wasn't the best suited for the show perhaps, and her attitude toward Data pushed her over the edge.

 

[UnknownSample]

I really liked Pulaski, and thought she was just one of many improvements in Next Gen in season two. She has far more life and spirit in her than Crusher, who just came across as neutral in personality. Pulaski was intellectually curious and adventurous. I like the moment where she does the tea ceremony with Worf and injects herself with antidote so as to "enjoy" the poison in the tea with him.Pulaski was not similar to McCoy except for her problem with transporters. I think people must be connecting her intolerance toward a synthetic being, Data, with McCoy's irritation with Spock. Data and Spock aren't equivalent. It makes sense that someone whose life work is biology might not find it easy to accept a non-biological being as a real person.I'm nuts for Diana Muldaur in just about anything she's done, in the 60s and 70s anyway. Besides having a great "presence", she's also insanely attractive in those earlier roles. In the 80s she did this unfortunate thing with her hair, that put an end to that... I was very disappointed when Crusher came back.

 

[sonak]

I really liked Pulaski, and thought she was just one of many improvements in Next Gen in season two. She has far more life and spirit in her than Crusher, who just came across as neutral in personality. Pulaski was intellectually curious and adventurous. I like the moment where she does the tea ceremony with Worf and injects herself with antidote so as to "enjoy" the poison in the tea with him.Pulaski was not similar to McCoy except for her problem with transporters. I think people must be connecting her intolerance toward a synthetic being, Data, with McCoy's irritation with Spock. Data and Spock aren't equivalent. It makes sense that someone whose life work is biology might not find it easy to accept a non-biological being as a real person.I'm nuts for Diana Muldaur in just about anything she's done, in the 60s and 70s anyway. Besides having a great "presence", she's also insanely attractive in those earlier roles. In the 80s she did this unfortunate thing with her hair, that put an end to that... I was very disappointed when Crusher came back.

Pulaski was very similar to Bones, not just because of the transporter and Data thing, but for their styles as well.

Their both older than most of the rest of the crew, outwardly grumpy but deeply caring and humanistic inside.

Really, Pulaski is so obviously a variation on McCoy(and deliberately so) that I think one almost has to be willfully trying to not see it to miss the comparison.

As I liked McCoy, I also like Pulaski, but I just can't see the whole "I liked one but not the other" thing.