I Think Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Doctor Crusher Replacement Was Better Than You Remember

When I think about Star Trek: The Next Generation's Chief Medical Officer, I cannot help but think about Gates McFadden's iconic role as Doctor Beverly Crusher. Dr. Crusher is the USS Enterprise's Chief Medical Officer for six of TNG's seven seasons. But Crusher was not the Enterprise's only physician. In Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2, Dr. Crusher left the USS Enterprise to be the head of Starfleet Medical – a role she would resume after Star Trek: Picard season 3.

The role of Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise was filled by Diana Muldaur's Doctor Katherine Pulaski in Star Trek: The Next Generation season 2. Dr. Pulaski was a wholly different sort of doctor for the Enterprise. Whereas Dr. Crusher had a relationship with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) that skirted romance, Dr. Pulaski was a firebrand who often clashed with the Enterprise crew. But I have to admit, I have always had a soft spot for Dr. Pulaski. Indeed, I think she was a much better doctor and character than she is sometimes given credit for.

Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Pulaski Was Better On Star Trek: TNG Than You Remember

She Fought With The Crew, But That Was The Point

While Dr. Pulaski may not have been the most iconic Chief Medical Officer on the USS Enterprise, Diana Muldaur is incredible in the role. Star Trek: The Next Generation season 1 is not the series' strongest, as the spinoff was still in the shadow of Star Trek: The Original Series. With constant turmoil in the writers' room causing creative chaos, it's hardly surprising that Dr. Crusher in TNG season 1 was not quite as polished as her later appearances.

When Dr. Pulaski took over in TNG season 2, she was like a breath of fresh air. Her clashes with the other Star Trek: The Next Generation characters make Dr. Pulaski immediately engaging to me. I’m not alone in thinking that "The Measure of a Man" is one of the greatest episodes in Star Trek history. The themes of "The Measure of a Man" were first raised by Dr. Pulaski, who doubted Lt. Commander Data's (Brent Spiner) personhood in "Elementary, Dear Data." Watching Dr. Pulaski learn to respect Data's sentience and agency is one of the most compelling arcs in Star Trek.

Dr. Pulaski's best TNG episode, "Unnatural Selection," dealt with themes of humanity and eugenics in ways that fundamentally changed the tone of Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode is centered on Dr. Pulaski's capabilities as a doctor and her relationship with Data. "Unnatural Selection" forced an ill Dr. Pulaski to rely on Lt. Commander Data for comfort and confront her own biases. Whenever I rewatch TNG, I cannot help but look forward to seeing Dr. Pulaski shake things up on the Enterprise and grow into a better person.

Why Diana Muldaur’s Dr. Pulaski Only Lasted 1 Season On Star Trek: TNG

I Love Her, But There Were Some Real Issues

Dr. Katherine Pulaski only appeared in one season of Star Trek: The Next Generation, and by the time TNG season 3 came around, Gates McFadden was back as Dr. Beverly Crusher. Dr. Pulaski's departure went unremarked in TNG. While a lot has been said about why Diana Muldaur left Star Trek, it is worth noting that she only signed a one-year contract to join TNG, rather than the more standard five-year contracts. In other words, Diana Muldaur never intended to stay on as Dr. Pulaski in the long run.

There were more than just contract issues regarding Diana Muldaur's departure from Star Trek: The Next Generation. Fans did not warm to Pulaski and criticized her treatment of Data. I have to admit that Pulaski's early antipathy towards a beloved character can be hard to watch. Dr. Pulaski was meant to shake things up for TNG, but it isn't always fun to watch her argue with Captain Picard or belittle Data.

At an even broader level, there were some problems with Dr. Pulaski in the overarching structure of TNG. Star Trek: The Next Generation improved dramatically over the first few seasons, as it grew away from the mold set by Star Trek: The Original Series. And Dr. Pulaski was a lot like Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) from TOS. In an era when what the series needed most was distance from its predecessor, Dr. Pulaski was a reminder of the past, whereas Dr. Crusher represented a new generation of Starfleet medicine.

What Happened To Diana Muldaur & Dr. Pulaski After Star Trek: TNG Season 2

Muldaur Moved On, But Dr. Pulaski Just Vanished

Given that Diana Muldaur never intended to play Dr. Pulaski long-term on TNG, it is hardly surprising that her acting career expands far beyond Star Trek. You might recognize her voice as Dr. Leslie Thompkins in Batman: The Animated Series. Immediately following her time on TNG, Muldaur had a recurring role as Rosalind Shays on L.A. Law, a role for which she received multiple Emmy nominations. Now that she has retired from acting, however, Diana Muldaur works as a dog breeder and dog show judge. Reflecting on leaving Star Trek, Muldaur has said:

There was a reason for it that I don’t want to go into, but it had nothing to do with Gene or the cast. I left the show because the year was up, simple as that, under my own power. And if anything else happened, I would still be leaving under my own power. I would not have stayed, let’s put it that way.When it comes to the timeline of Star Trek, it is a lot less clear what became of Dr. Pulaski. The only other mention she gets on Star Trek: The Next Generation is when Dr. Crusher uses one of her memory engram techniques in season 3. In the final episode of Star Trek: Voyager, "Endgame," the name "Dr. Pulaski" can be heard on the intercom at Starfleet medical in the timeline that Admiral Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) ultimately erases. So, while I think she's underrated on Star Trek: The Next Generation, most of Dr. Pulaski's story is left to the imagination.