Why Diana Muldaur’s Doctor Pulaski Replaced Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: TNG Season 2

Diana Muldaur joined the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation in season 2 as Dr. Katherine Pulaski, replacing Gates McFadden’s Dr. Beverly Crusher. During TNG’s In the first season, the writers’ room gained a reputation in Hollywood because the writers came and went so frequently. This led to an inconsistent season as the series struggled to define its characters and find its footing. Still, Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew proved interesting enough to hold viewers’ attention, and TNG has become one of the most beloved science fiction shows of all time.

Introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation feature film debut, Dr. Beverly Crusher was the Medical Director of the USS Enterprise-D. Beverly lived on the ship with her teenage son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton), and had an interesting past with Captain Picard. TNG the first season hinted at romantic feelings between Crusher and Picard, but the series never fully committed to exploring their relationship. Despite Dr. Crusher’s popularity as a character, Gates McFadden was fired by co-executive producer Maurice Hurley after TNG’s first season and replaced by Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Pulaski.

Diana Muldaur’s Doctor Pulaski Replacing Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: TNG Season 2 Explained

Gates McFadden left TNG after season 1 and Diana Muldaur joined the cast in season 2

Because of the chaos within the Star Trek: The Next Generation In the season 1 writers’ room, Maurice Hurley took over as the show’s head writer. Hurley disliked Gates McFadden and his character, Dr. fired her at the end of the show’s first season. Dr. Crusher’s departure was only briefly mentioned in the TNG season 2 premiere, when Captain Picard mentions that she left to become head of Starfleet Medical. As Wil Wheaton remained a member of the main cast, Wesley Crusher decided to remain on the Enterprise despite his mother’s new job.

Star Trek Creator Gene Roddenberry had worked with Diana Muldaur in the past, and she was hired as Dr. Pulaski, the Enterprise’s new Chief Medical Officer. Pulaski was introduced in TNG season 2, episode 1, “The Child”, and appeared in all but two episodes of the second season. Gene Roddenberry loosely based Dr. Pulaski on Dr. of Star Trek: The Original Series. In sharp contrast to Dr. Crusher, Pulaski had a gruff personality and questionable bedside manner that did not mesh well with the rest of the group. TNG team.

Why Diana Muldaur only lasted one season of Star Trek: TNG as Dr.

Muldaur did not renew his contract after TNG Season 2

Soon after his introduction, Dr. Pulaski proved to be significantly less popular than Dr. She not only butted heads with Captain Picard in his first episode, but also disrespected Lieutenant Commander Data (Brent Spiner), treating him like a machine. Picard and Data had already become popular characters, so Pulaski’s actions haven’t exactly endeared her to fans. At the end of Star Trek: The Next Generation Season 2, Maurice Hurley left the show and Rick Berman took over as showrunner. As a character, Pulaski was considered a failed experiment and Berman decided to bring Gates McFadden back as Dr. TNG season 3.

In turn, Diana Muldaur was not interested in renewing her Star Trek contract anyway. Muldaur spoke about his experience in TNG in several interviews, stating that it was not quite what she expected. Although Muldaur was a great actress, her character was not popular, and fans were writing to the studio asking for Dr. Crusher to return. Patrick Stewart also spoke on behalf of Gates McFadden, and she ultimately decided to return. Dr. Crusher would remain the Enterprise-D’s primary doctor for the remainder of the TNG and subsequent films.

Gates McFadden is much more popular as Dr. Beverly Crusher

McFadden returned as Dr. Crusher in Star Trek: Picard season 3

With your intelligence and deep sense of compassion, Dr. Crusher was a better fit for the Enterprise-D crew, and she remained popular with fans after her return. Although Star Trek: The Next Generation While Dr. Crusher hasn’t always gotten it right with its female characters, it has managed some solid stories over the years. She grew up and became one of Star Trek best doctors and came back in Star Trek: Picard Season 3 better than ever. Dr. Crusher Picard season three was a well-rounded person who has grown a lot since his time on the Enterprise-D.

After leaving Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dr. Pulaski was almost forgotten by the series and remains one of the most hated characters in the franchise. Still, that’s nothing against actress Diana Muldaur, who has only positive things to say about her encounters with Star Trek fans. Although there are certainly TNG viewers who found Pulaski refreshing as a character, Beverly Crusher remains the more popular of the two. It’s possible that Pulaski would have won over fans if it had lasted more than one season, as TNG rose to true greatness during its third season.

Diana Muldaur also played 2 Star Trek roles: the original series roles

All the characters in Muldaur’s journey were doctors

Diana Muldaur was no newcomer Star Trek when she took on the role of Dr. Pulaski and, in fact, her friendship with Gene Roddenberry helped her get the TNG paper. Muldaur appeared as two different characters in two different episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series. In Terms of Service Season 2, Episode 22, ‘Return to Tomorrow’, Muldaur played Lieutenant Commander Ann Mulhall, a doctor and astrobiologist who served on Captain James T. Kirk’s (William Shatner) USS Enterprise. When Mulhall joined a landing party on Arret and was temporarily possessed by a being called Thalassa.

In his second appearance, Diana Muldaur played Dr. Miranda Jones, a blind telepath and psychologist who visited the Enterprise in Terms of Service season 3, episode 7, “Is There No Beauty in Truth?” She was accompanied by the Medusan Ambassador Kollos, an incorporeal being whose appearance caused most humanoids to insanity. Jones’ blindness and telepathic abilities made her the perfect person to communicate with Kollos and she eventually established a true mental link with the Medusan. Although she Star Trek: The Next Generation role may not have worked, Diana Muldaur remains an important and beloved member of the Star Trek family.