Kate Pulaski & Season 2
- Thread starter EnriqueH
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The Emissary would have been the ideal Season 2 closer, IMO. Along with Q Who, it started an arc that ran the rest of the series, and of course Suzie Plakson was great. I loved how she stood up to Worf. Great character.
I guess to me Peak Performance and Shades are filler. Literally nothing happens in Shades, nothing. With Peak Performance, I think the whole light show / ruse to scare away the enemy was a little beat to death. Didn't like it, and the Zakdorn guy was just kind of an old crank.
I guess to me Peak Performance and Shades are filler. Literally nothing happens in Shades, nothing. With Peak Performance, I think the whole light show / ruse to scare away the enemy was a little beat to death. Didn't like it, and the Zakdorn guy was just kind of an old crank.
I agree with you: I enjoyed Peak Performance, but Emissary would've been a better way to end the season. It's a much better, more polished episode.
It looked like shit, too. But, at least, it showed that Pulaski owned her age, unlike Lwaxana Troi, who advertised her Mid-Life Crisis by trying to pretend she was still 20. I don't know what's after the Cougar phase ... Lwaxana was a Sabertoothed Tiger, I guess? But yeah, Pulaski could've done a little more to make herself presentable - I'm just glad she had some dignity left.
I liked Pulaski but her style definitely gave her less natural chemistry and stories in common with the other characters.
Not that it was a big deal, but it was interesting that Pulaski had her own uniquely designed uniform. No one ever mentions that.
How is that odd? I'm not fond of her hair either honestly. Same goes for hairstyles for early Worf, early T'Pol, Chekov's wig, alternate Yar, and others. None are deal-breakers though. I just don't really care for them. But there are also other superficial choices I'm not fond of, like certain uniforms, starships, alien make-up, sets, planet designs and wardrobes. And there's a whole thread devoted to some fans not liking Scotty's mustache in the TOS films. I guess there are plenty of "odd objections" here!
I also didn't care for her hairstyle...just as I very much cringed at Worf's head and hair styles in those early seasons.
In regards to episodes, the only one from Season 2 that stands out to me is "The Schizoid Man."
I've wondered about that. We've all seen the video of the makeup and wardrobe tests with Data, Troi, Geordi, Yar, Riker, etc., yet not one peek I've seen of Worf. For some reason, I can't believe they made his look like what we saw on the show, and they just decided to go with it. I'd love to see what else they considered (if anything).
I'm glad to hear that Michael Dorn warmed up to Diana Muldaur, though. Everybody needs a friend.
Season 2 is actually my favorite TNG season.
I don't know if that's just nostalgia talking, as it was the only complete season of the show that I owned on video when I was a kid. So it got watched and rewatched, a lot.
I liked the tone of it. I liked Maurice Hurley's take on Star Trek, and some of those creepy/bizarre episodes, like "Contagion", "Where Silence Has Lease", "Time Squared" and "The Royale".
And of course "Q Who".
And "Peak Performance". And "Measure of a Man". 
I could go on...
It felt like it still had the unique flavor of TOS, while finally also having a confidence to stride forward and do it's own thing after the sometimes patchy nature of Season 1's scripts.
TNG S2 had, *ahem*, the best of both worlds. As it were.
Season 3 often gets held up as the moment when the show grew it's beard, but for me it was definitely the last half of Season 1 and all of Season 2.
I don't know if that's just nostalgia talking, as it was the only complete season of the show that I owned on video when I was a kid. So it got watched and rewatched, a lot.
I liked the tone of it. I liked Maurice Hurley's take on Star Trek, and some of those creepy/bizarre episodes, like "Contagion", "Where Silence Has Lease", "Time Squared" and "The Royale".
And of course "Q Who".
And "Peak Performance". And "Measure of a Man". I could go on...
It felt like it still had the unique flavor of TOS, while finally also having a confidence to stride forward and do it's own thing after the sometimes patchy nature of Season 1's scripts.
TNG S2 had, *ahem*, the best of both worlds. As it were.
Season 3 often gets held up as the moment when the show grew it's beard, but for me it was definitely the last half of Season 1 and all of Season 2.
Haven't watched all of season 2 in quite a while, but i remember Q Who to be really good. I never really liked Polaski though. She felt so cold to me, which is also in her looks.
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I loved Dr. Pulaski, and Diana's performance was top notch. Yeah, they went for the McCoy type, but IMO she pulled it off admirably. Don't get me wrong, Gates is awesome, and Dr. Crusher was a solid character, but between the two? I'd choose Pulaski every time.
They made a lot of mistakes with Pulaski. Trying to make her a McCoy clone just didn't work and was awkward. I can see where her having trouble accepting Data as a person was a realistic reaction, and her prickly personality does stir things up with a crew that could be too nice. The problem with Pulaski and Data is that Data's reaction to her was so gentle and even sort of hurt in a reserved way, so everyone wants to protect Data, and it does engender negative feelings towards Pulaski. Her early episodes leave a strong impression, I think people don't remember that she did come to get along a lot better with Data over time.
I do like Muldar as an actor. I think she played the character the way she was written. I think the problems were with the writing and the direction. The character's development just wasn't handled well.
I'd have been interested in seeing Pulaski guest star, maybe on DS9 to see how she got on with a different crew.
I believe Selar was actually ever on one episode although she gets mentioned so often it creates the feelings that she was on more than she was. Overall though I think that Beverly was a better fit for TNG.
I do like Muldar as an actor. I think she played the character the way she was written. I think the problems were with the writing and the direction. The character's development just wasn't handled well.
I'd have been interested in seeing Pulaski guest star, maybe on DS9 to see how she got on with a different crew.
I believe Selar was actually ever on one episode although she gets mentioned so often it creates the feelings that she was on more than she was. Overall though I think that Beverly was a better fit for TNG.
I've said many times that season 2 is great, and probably my favourite season overall. While TNG was still trying to prove itself, before it became a little too bland and safe. I find something to enjoy in most episodes, but some of my faves from this season:
The Royale
Time Squared
Peak Performance
A Matter Of Honour
The Measure Of A Man
Contagion
The Schzoid Man
Where Silence Has Lease
The Royale
Time Squared
Peak Performance
A Matter Of Honour
The Measure Of A Man
Contagion
The Schzoid Man
Where Silence Has Lease
Not in relation to a character whose sole reason for existing is to be objected to.
Agreed. She is definitely more entertaining as a character.
I agree season two had some great episodes, again when the series was still trying hard. For me season 5, 6 and 7 had some episodes that were playing it safe and lacked an edge that season 3/4 had. Even the cinematography from 5 onwards was safe and flat. I loved the cinematography of 3-4, even the white carpet on the bridge early season 3~!
Hmmmm Season 2 is a weak season and it has such horrible episodes like "The Child", "The Royale", "Manhunt" and "The Outrageous Okona"
Also as a child I wasn't a big fan of Pulaski, mainly because she replaced the much prettier Beverley Crusher and was so cold and harsh. Now I see the character could have brought a lot to the series if she had been kept on as a sort of medical second-in-command to Beverley.
Still season 2 includes one of my favourite episodes "Where Silence has Lease" (the only time Star Trek actually scared me!) and one of my favourite Troi moments, happening when she leads Worf to his Klingon Ritual in "the Icaris Factor"
Worf: Aren't you coming, Counselor?
Deanna (Turns around, slightly smiling): No....
I love that scene, Deanna should have been written like that more!
And the Emissary was a great episode too! K'Ehleyr was marvelous and they should have found a way to add her to the regular cast! We never saw the Enterpise's diplomatic officer, she could have been it!
Also as a child I wasn't a big fan of Pulaski, mainly because she replaced the much prettier Beverley Crusher and was so cold and harsh. Now I see the character could have brought a lot to the series if she had been kept on as a sort of medical second-in-command to Beverley.
Still season 2 includes one of my favourite episodes "Where Silence has Lease" (the only time Star Trek actually scared me!) and one of my favourite Troi moments, happening when she leads Worf to his Klingon Ritual in "the Icaris Factor"
Worf: Aren't you coming, Counselor?
Deanna (Turns around, slightly smiling): No....
I love that scene, Deanna should have been written like that more!
And the Emissary was a great episode too! K'Ehleyr was marvelous and they should have found a way to add her to the regular cast! We never saw the Enterpise's diplomatic officer, she could have been it!
I'm chiming in here as someone who doesn't hate Pulaski. I think TrekSurvivor has it right in that the latter half of Season 1 and all of Season 2 are a fairly consistent animal and one that should be considered in its own right (much like the pre- Gene Coon TOS). Pulaski started off fairly objectionable in regards to Data but by mid-season she'd overcome that prejudice and had started down the road to her own character, away from the McCoy knockoff. Had she been allowed to continue, it would have been a very different dynamic among the crew. Pulaski and Crusher together on the same ship - a very interesting mix!
Balok's Head I must admit, I'd never noticed the white carpet in Season 3!
Balok's Head I must admit, I'd never noticed the white carpet in Season 3!
It would have been marvelous! Especially since those two are so different, there would have been tension, character growth and perhaps even a source of humour. And God knows we could have used a few more female characters on TNG anyway!
In my opinion at the same time as Pulaski they should have also simply brought in a replacement goldfish for Yar. Ro sorta strikes my as that, but she was too little too late (especially too little) to leave much mark on the series.
I've always got the impressions the producers totally knew what they had with Michelle Forbes, that they'd found an actress (and character) that was a literal goldmine, and they did try to get her to sign on to both DS9 and VOY after all, but she wasn't willing to play ball.
I agree it was too little, too late. Ro was an excellent addition to the ensemble, she brought a great sense of tension to the cast, and really should've been a regular. But in total effect she was under-used...
I agree it was too little, too late. Ro was an excellent addition to the ensemble, she brought a great sense of tension to the cast, and really should've been a regular. But in total effect she was under-used...
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