Pulaski was brought to revive the Dr./Spock dynamic with her and Data but instead created EPIC FAIL!
ETA: IMO.
ETA: IMO.
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Which Doctor Did You Like Better...Dr. Crusher or Dr. Pulaski?
- Thread starter CmndrSela318
- Start date
Depends on how you define EPIC FAIL. I don't really think of "more character growth in one season than Crusher managed in six" to be a failure...
It was such an epic fail that they had to hastily retool the character in an attempt to save her and that made it look like "character development" by accident.
Huh. That's a really good way to describe it.
I'm not denying any of that, but sometimes good things happen by accident: penicillin, microwave ovens, chocolate chip cookies... character development on Star Trek.
It would be interesting to think how reactions could be if she, or one of the other characters, had been antagonistic to/really perplexed by Data from the show's start before he got so quickly popular.
Was it character development though? I'm asking this honestly, because my memories of Season 2 aren't that strong. Were there situations and events that made Pulaski see Data in a new light? Interactions that made her re-think her opinion of him?
Or did she just go from "It knows how to scan, right?" to cheering him on in a chess match because "potatoes"?
The first would be character development, the second would a hasty retool.
Plus a lot of the TNG characters changed early on, if Pulaski had been kept on she'd have become just as static for the remaining seasons, most like.
I think the turning point is considered to be Measure of a Man?
I entirely agree with you.
I'm not even sure that they did flip-flop and retool Pulaski?
I think "Elementary, Dear Data" went a long way to convincing Pulaski to see Data in a new light.
And yet, after Pulaski leaves, we see other not-in-the-clique characters like Barclay, Ro, and Shelby come on board. Especially Shelby and Ro since they were actively combative and not shy/etc.
Was the real intent "Let's mimic the Spock/McCoy dynamic, because-- Reasons!!" or did the makers aim for more character conflict and the Spock/McCoy routine felt the most natural thing (if not the first thought) to build on, even though Pulaski accepting Data bears zero resemblance to the Spock/McCoy relationship over time. (Not just because McCoy didn't make a running gag out of mispronouncing Spock's name. Not because McCoy was always sniping at Spock over jealousy about ability. Not just because 60s television were their own isolated events and character growth wasn't "a thing", it was pretty much just the archetype and actor portraying it...)
Now Voyager's EMH, on the other hand, redid the "I'm a doctor not a trope" shtick incessantly yet nobody* complains about him parroting McCoy's catachphrase.
I don't recall if I brought that up in the thread earlier, short term memory is a wonderful thing to keep forgetting about... 
* well, few, anyway...
Either way, the makers didn't stop with Pulaski and knew some character-drama amongst the heroes was needed, especially when the crew got too cliquish.
That said, would the show have lasted years with such an active character such as Pulaski? Possibly. Possibly not. Pulaski could only be written to attend so many Klingon tea parties before the idea would get worn out. Partly because Pulaski had more character presence and genuine depth than Crusher's ever really had, so the latter could just be scene wallpaper mewling empty do-nothing one-liners about "will somebody pleeeeeease think of (insert from the following list below here)!"
- The children
- The suffering and how we can ease their symptoms!!
- How unethical the local doc of the week is so I'm always right, perioood!!!!!!!!
- My sooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- our ideal cuuuuuuuulture!!!!!!!!!!!!11!!11!!!11!!!!!
- innocent peoplllllllllleeeeeeeeee being killed by youuuuuuuuuuu!!1!!!111!!!!11!12 (and that was one of the few episodes where her character allegedly had any prominence!)
Not to mention, not every character can (or has to) be proactive. I always got a sense that Pulaski was far more driven or prominent in personality than Crusher ever was.
ETA: IMO.
I think they just knew that it was a popular bit on the old show, so they thought they could just transplant it over and people would love it too.
That clumsy attempt to ape TOS aside, I will admit that they tried at least something with Pulaski, the result was just a character I can absolutely not stand.
But I also still maintain that there was quite a bit potential in Dr.Crusher that could have made her a more memorable and more developed character. There was an "adorkable" side to her that could have been expanded a lot more, for example. I also think that Gates McFadden could have delivered more if she had been given better material. From time to time we see glimpses that she could have done much more than she did on the show.
But because fans back then reacted well to a beautiful, gentle female doctor they probably didn't see the need to expand or change her. Wasn't that a lot of television back then? "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?" (with "broke" being defined as creating a negative response in the target audience)
Considering how little they did with Beverley after they brought her back, I still say they should have brought her (or Selar) back as a recurring character, who'd only show up when there's a doctor needed. And instead they could have created an action-oriented female character to round out the main-cast.
I would trade all of TNG for a post Voyage Home version of Phase II on the "A", and Pulaski should absolutely be a relative of McCoy's. I would keep Riker, Troi, Pulaski, Data, Geordi, and Worf. Shatner in command. Uhura and Chekov made starring characters. McCoy and Spock making guest appearances (questionable on if Doohan could have done a couple years before Geordi takes over). Sulu written out as getting his own ship, because, well, screw Takei.
Maybe this should all go in the "contraversial opinions" thread instead.
Maybe this should all go in the "contraversial opinions" thread instead.
I would choose Pulaski over Guinan 20 times out of 10.
Well her first appearance/script "The Child" was directly reworked from an intended Phase II episode script (hence Jon Povill getting credit) I think because of from the writers' strike having to recycle some material with less time so yes I imagine the relationship and dialogue was pretty directly derived from McCoy/Spock and just hope fans would like or accept it rather than much ambition for later growth and development (though they may have realized they could tone it down later and that would be more liked).
Now Voyager's EMH, on the other hand, redid the "I'm a doctor not a trope" shtick incessantly yet nobody* complains about him parroting McCoy's catachphrase.
Only a few times and not a big part of his overall character.
Edit:
All the characters are team players and a lot of their role is discussing with their colleagues about what should be done, I don't think her perspective and stands in those discussions were at all empty. And characters also do sometimes get kidnapped and have to be rescued, I don't see how Pulaski being kidnapped/held hostage in "Elementary, Dear Data" was better or stronger than Crusher in "The High Ground" (Pulaski was more active against the danger to her in "Unnatural Selection", Crusher in "Remember Me").
Worf and Data were the most independent/driving although Picard of course got focus from his role and position, the others sometimes. If Pulaski had continued she probably would have become much more of member of the team also.
I'm not sure but I think she was showed to be impressed by him and his dedication in "Unnatural Selection" and, though more just implied, believably offput by Maddox in "The Measure of a Man" and that further changed, made her regret her initial view of him.
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I think if Pulaski had been there from S1 she would've been better received - except for the anti-transporter thing, that was just too much copying McCoy.
None of the audience knew much about Data back then, and so her questioning of him "It does know how to do that, doesn't it?" probably would've gone down better, and not totally unreasonable, as we were learning about him at the same time, unfortunately, by S2 most of the audience loved Data, and they didn't like Pulaski having a go at him, and so it put them off her.
The supposed romance between Picard & Crusher was never going anywhere, but there wouldn't have been any of that with Pulaski anyway, and so you would've had a stronger, more experienced doctor, and someone that could've been a confidant for Picard, and someone that had a bit more bite to them, and could've stood up to him when he was in the wrong.
None of the audience knew much about Data back then, and so her questioning of him "It does know how to do that, doesn't it?" probably would've gone down better, and not totally unreasonable, as we were learning about him at the same time, unfortunately, by S2 most of the audience loved Data, and they didn't like Pulaski having a go at him, and so it put them off her.
The supposed romance between Picard & Crusher was never going anywhere, but there wouldn't have been any of that with Pulaski anyway, and so you would've had a stronger, more experienced doctor, and someone that could've been a confidant for Picard, and someone that had a bit more bite to them, and could've stood up to him when he was in the wrong.
Ironically, Pulaski’s initial assessment was proven correct: when faced with the “truly original” problem, Data was unable to solve it. Picard had to intervene to save the day.
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