Why Do We Hate Dr. Pulaski?
She Replaced Dr. Crusher, Clashed With Data & Picard - Is This Why Many Fans Resent Her?
Physician, do no harm. Maybe Dr. Katherine Pulaski missed this essential lesson from the Hippocratic Oath discussion during her medical school training. Did she do specific harm? Maybe not true physical harm, but she certainly made things more stressful for that Starfleet crew working on Captain Picard’s Enterprise 1701-D.
But hey, sometimes, that can be a good thing - no?
She Replaced Dr. Beverly Crusher
Look, nobody likes to see a favored character leave a show. This is especially true if that character has family relations who are also characters remaining on said show. Dr. Crusher’s son, Wesley, was left sort of stranded on board a big Starship, while his mother took leave to head up Starfleet Medical. More than a few fans probably felt sorry for Wes. Mommy had fled for a big career promotion. Seeing Pulaski come on as a female doctor replacement may have exacerbated their feelings of resentment.
Gates McFadden was essentially fired by TNG producers and Diana Muldaur was brought on as a replacement Starship Chief Medical Officer. No matter who they’d brought onboard to replace Crusher, the hoped for chemistry would have been hard to cultivate, which is why following the 2nd season, Muldaur herself was let go and McFadden brought back to resume her physician duties as Beverly Crusher for TNG’s season 3.
OK. Let’s pause for a wee bit. Following all of that?
And what of the official studio, stated reason for Muldaur’s termination? At first, the executive brass said Diana Muldaur wanted to pursue other projects, but the reality of it all? The hoped for chemistry between Pulaski, Captain Picard and the rest of the Enterprise crew never materialized.
She Gave Data A Hard Time
Androids have a definite fan base. And you better believe it ain’t artificial intelligence. Data is one sentient android with an enormous fan base. Bring on an a somewhat acerbic woman who challenges said android and his fan base may resent her.
At first Pulaski held Data nearly in contempt. To her, he was merely a machine - a walking, talking computer console with pre-progammed algorithms which held no interest for her other than to be critical of Data or even go so far as to humiliate him. Of course, to a woman who believes Data has no feelings to hurt (and wasn’t she right since Data had yet to get his emotion chip?) there’s no reason to believe she was doing any real damage to a real individual.
Did Data truly FEEL emotions before getting his emotion chip? Was it merely him mimicking his crewmates? Discuss.
She Clashed With Captain Picard
Dr. Crusher clashed with her commanding officer. Wait, what of Dr. Pulaski? She did as well, even more so. Of course, Pulaski didn’t have the long history and connection with Jean-Luc Picard. Crusher’s deceased husband, Jack, Wesley’s father, served with Picard and so when the two didn’t see eye to eye, that prior personal connection undoubtedly softened any professional blows the two exchanged.
Pulaski, not so much. Picard and the good doctor started from scratch, so all the challenge to his command decisions never contained a buffer of friendship or familiarity. Fans bristled at her clashes with Picard as much as Jean-Luc.
She Was An Older Woman
Ageism or sexism still existing in our far future chock full of warp drive capable starships? Well, perhaps it’s not fair to call it outright, but Pulaski, as a member of both groups, may have felt more of a sting of resentment because of her gender and age.
Both older women and men find it more difficult to fit into a group or be admired by a younger audience. Muldaur was still a dynamic, even vibrant woman, and she’s certainly a talented actress, but her real age may have played against her for more than a segment of TNG’s younger audience.
I was joyously taken in by Diana Muldaur when she played two roles in Gene Roddenberry’s classic Star Trek, and I was just as welcoming when she joined TNG as a regular cast member. I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Pulaski as a firebrand, pot stirrer and even well intentioned troublemaker. Pulaski is unpredictable, classy and always interesting, it’s unfortunate that so many of TNG’s fans felt otherwise.