Dr. Kate Pulaski

[moyer777]

So after listening to the very fun podcast this last week I heard a lot of back and forth stuff about Dr. Pulaski. (thank you for the correct spelling Kevin!)

I thought it would be interesting to hear everyone's thoughts on her.

What did you think about her?  Did you like her?  If you didn't what was it that bugged you?

I thought she was more like McCoy, and thus actually enjoyed her character.  Kind of fiesty.  :)

So.. what do you say?

[KingIsaacLinksr]

I thought she was fine to be honest.  Although I did prefer having Crusher back.  Everyone blames her for what happens in TNG that season a lot though....I mean cmon, it could have happened to ANYONE. 

All in all, I liked her, it was nice that she came in and thus.  Nuff said.

King

[Geekyfanboy]

Yeah I agree with Rick.. she was more like McCoy and I liked her butting heads with Picard all the time. She is in one of my favorite episodes "Unnatural Selection". I think she added a different dynamic to the show. I was sad to see her go but happy that Dr. Crusher came back.

[Feathers]

Liked her too (although I thought that was an unpopular opinion). To disagree with the others, though, I'm not a particular Crusher fan so would have preferred it if Polaski had stayed on. She was a completely different character and the on/off conflict with Picard was very watchable.

I particulaly liked the episode where she saved Picards life during a heart replacement and the sheer annoyance this produced in him.

[alanp]

I don't dislike her as strongly as many others do.  This was another way to make TNG more like TOS but the old forumla just doesn't always work.  She was the female Bones but seemed to just hold down the fort in sick bay until Beverly came back.

[Ktrek]

I actually enjoyed Pulaski a lot and would have preferred that her character stayed on. I like Crusher but the Pulaski character gave much more freedom for conflict and thus better drama. I wish that some book writers would do something with Pulaski and redeem her character in the fans minds.

PS...You spelled her name wrong btw Rick!

Kevin

[Darth Gaos]

I had a "thing" for Gates McFadden so I was less than thrilled with Dr Polaski initially.  She was fine as a character but give me Dr. Crusher anytime.

[X]

I didn't have an opinion on her or crusher, to me they were both pretty much disposable characters that never really had that much to do and didn't do anything that Joe Doctor couldn't do.

It wasn't until Bashir and The Doctor that they finally make the medial personnel more than just glorified extras.

For me there were just too many shows where the TNG docs needed some medical specialist to come in and help them save the day.

I liked them both to an extent, but I wasn't impressed by either.

Crusher was just Wesley's less smart mom in too many shows for me to gain a true respect for her. The few times that she did something great didn't make up for the other times were it was almost impossible for her to do her job.

[Jen]

Eheeemmmm.... Doctor Crusher is one of my favorite characters. She was smart, beautiful and I liked the relationship she and Troi developed.  She was not a "throw away".  And, BTW, today is Gates McFadden's birthday too.  :)

I was in Jr. High when TNG aired and my teenage emotions were a bit on the spiky end when Crusher was replace. As a 13 year-old I could not identify with the Pulaski. I saw her as a grouch old lady and Crusher as a beautiful mom who should ultimately end up with Picard. I admit this is an adolescent view, but TNG is nostalgic to me as are the characters...and I loved all of them (except Pulaski). I was ecstatic when Crusher returned. When they actually devoted an episode to Crusher, they were good...save for the weird "Irish ghost" episode.  :smilie_bleh:

[sheldor]

Well, OBVIOUSLY you're not being at all biased Jen :D

I didn't like Dr. Polaski.  What was the reason for her one season stint anyway ?  I liked Diana Muldaur in TOS.  She did a great job with her characters.  Very good counterpoint to JTK.

In TNG, the writing wasn't up to par in the first 2 seasons but it was like she was at the bottom of the food-chain.   On more then one occasion, I was thinking "people don't talk like that, do they ?"

[Geekyfanboy]

Rumor had it that Gates MacFadden asked to be let out of her contract as she was not happy with the direction of Dr. Crusher in the first season. So they brought in a "Bones" type female doctor and the fans didn't take to her so they renegotiated with Gates and brought her back.

[davekill]

I don't know if it was the way Dr. Plaski was written or Dian Muldaur's performance in the roll, I didn't think she fit as a regular on the series.

She may have done better as a returning guest star, maybe a star-base doctor.

I did like her performance  as Kirk's babe-of-the-week in "Return to Tomorrow".

Meow!

[Bryancd]

Diane Mulduar was terrific in TOS and I liked her a lot in TNG. I'm not a huge Crusher fan, although the one place they really succeeded with her character was her relationship with Picard. The quasi-sexual tension and their history were great. Otherwise she was more in the background for me. Having said that, and making the B-Day girl mad, I don't think the Pulaski character would have worked either.

[Meds]

I'm in the "who the hell is this woman" camp when Crusher went and Polaski turned up. I liked the fact she was a strong woman but it really didn't work. TNG works because of the comradeship, alas she seemed more like Frank Burns from MASH. Thanks for the explanation Kenny, i was going to ask why gates left. Her character certainly got better as the seasons went on and i agree with Jen that the relationship between her and Troi was brilliant, especially during the episode with the two Rykers, she is supportive but also professional.

[PepperDude]

I liked Dr. Pulaski and didn't have a problem with her. However, I did like Crusher better because of her relationship with Picard (and I preferred looking at her than Pulaski).