[The Commodore]

Okay, let's be clear about this. =D *rubs hands, cracks knuckles* Pulaski was the greatest doctor of her period, and I don't just mean her medical expertise. She had the McCoy grittiness; in fact, she was infamous for standing up to Picard, and she was so tough that she had Worf's strong respect. She manipulated Professor Moriarty with sophisticated false charm, and she had a good bedside manner. A patient likes to be jovially strongarmed sometimes.

Discuss? *ducks*

[sir num nums]

I could not stand that character. She just rubbed me the wrong way.
Maybe it was because she took the place of Dr. Crusher, and the transition was very lame.

Not saying she was not a good doctor, because she did save Picards life after all, I just never felt she fit in the TNG family very well.

[Oregon_Coast_Trekkie]

She was a good doctor, but was a bit TOO much like McCoy, which I don't think was a good thing considering TNG was still in its early days and trying to distinguish itself on its own merits.

[Livingston]

Just curious, why did they bring in a new doctor to begin with? Anyone know? Did Mcfadden decide to leave for awhile and then come back or did they want a new doctor?

[TribbleWrangler]

Originally Posted by sir num nums

I could not stand that character. She just rubbed me the wrong way.
Maybe it was because she took the place of Dr. Crusher, and the transition was very lame.

Not saying she was not a good doctor, because she did save Picards life after all, I just never felt she fit in the TNG family very well.

My feelings exactly. I got tired of her dissing Data all the time. it had NONE of the old McCoy/Spock fun

[Elizadolots]

I believe Gates McFadden and the producers couldn't come to an agreement or something like that...Diana Muldaur was brought in to show her that the show would go on without her.

I liked Pulaski. I particularly liked that she was of Picard's age group. I know they tried to make out that Dr. Crusher and Picard were contemporaries, but it didn't work. She looked 20 years younger at a minimum. (what did she do? Have Weseley when she was 6?). I liked that the first time we meet her Picard is practically foaming at the mouth thinking she's spending her first shift drinking in 10 Forward, then has to learn that, no, she's really being a very good doctor to one of his favorite crew members. I particularly liked the episode where the colony had engineered their kids' immune systems to be so agressive, it was killing the adults...I loved how he was ready to beam her out into space if needed and I loved how they "almost hugged" when she was back on the ship safely...it was two curmudgeons getting periously close to showing affection for each other.

I think that it's probably for the best she was a short term character because, in the long run, she was really too much like Picard.

[Livingston]

Originally Posted by Elizadolots

I believe Gates McFadden and the producers couldn't come to an agreement or something like that...Diana Muldaur was brought in to show her that the show would go on without her.

I liked Pulaski. I particularly liked that she was of Picard's age group. I know they tried to make out that Dr. Crusher and Picard were contemporaries, but it didn't work. She looked 20 years younger at a minimum. (what did she do? Have Weseley when she was 6?). I liked that the first time we meet her Picard is practically foaming at the mouth thinking she's spending her first shift drinking in 10 Forward, then has to learn that, no, she's really being a very good doctor to one of his favorite crew members. I particularly liked the episode where the colony had engineered their kids' immune systems to be so agressive, it was killing the adults...I loved how he was ready to beam her out into space if needed and I loved how they "almost hugged" when she was back on the ship safely...it was two curmudgeons getting periously close to showing affection for each other.

I think that it's probably for the best she was a short term character because, in the long run, she was really too much like Picard.

Good point, she was alot like Picard and she really could stand up to him as well, hold her own with him. I liked Polaski, I liked Crusher too, but she always seemed so passive. I mean looking at the two doctors they're night and day, I just don't know how long it would've worked to have Polaski on there for an extended amount of time. It's too bad she couldn't come back occassionally, she would've been a nice recurring character I think. Don't get me wrong, I like Crusher, but it would've been interesting to see Polaski back on the Enterprise on occasion.

[Elizadolots]

I agree...she would have been a fabulous recurring character...It would have been cool if she had been brought in to "observe and evaluate" Crusher's sick bay for an episode. It would have been great if she could have been called in (at Picard's insistence!) to help deal with a problem that was vexing Beverly...

Bev was so lovely and squishy that I feel comfy calling her Bev. Fortunately, Picard had 3 other strong advisors because Bev wasn't up to the task....Where Star Trek had the trinity, Next Gen had the Quad: Picard, Riker, Date, Troi.

[CoW mAn]

She was racist to androids. She got better but I don't think she ever saw Data as equal to anyone else in the crew.

[RedAlertRiker]

I agree with you commodore she was an incredible doctor, brilliant, strong, fierce and fearless.

But what I've decided about star trek is that it is not science, or strength or intelligence that saves the day. Those are just tools of the one factor that is Star Trek's message.

Quality small group communication! They are all excellent communicators, and with out that skill, no amount of technology or brawn will save the day.

Pulaski did not fit into the bridge officers, nor do i think she ever really wanted to.

Crusher may not have been as knowledgeable or skilled or fierce, but she was an excellent communicator.