Katherine Pulaski

Last updated

Katherine Pulaski
Star Trek character
Katherine Pulaski.jpg
Commander Katherine Pulaski
First appearance"The Child" (1988)
Last appearance"Shades of Gray" (1989)
Created by
Portrayed by Diana Muldaur
In-universe information
SpeciesHuman
TitleDoctor
Affiliation United Federation of Planets
Starfleet
Significant otherKyle Riker
Posting USS Enterprise-D
(Season 2)
PositionChief Medical Officer
Rank Commander

Dr. Katherine Pulaski is a fictional medical doctor in the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation . She served a rotation as the chief medical officer aboard the Federation starship USS Enterprise-D. During her time on the ship, her medical skills saved the lives of both Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Commander William Riker. She inadvertently caused Geordi LaForge to create a hologram of Professor Moriarty that became self-aware, after a bet involving the abilities of Lt. Commander Data. Pulaski seemed averse to most new technology and preferred to avoid the transporter, but was forced to rely on it to save her own life from a genetically modified infection. Before arriving on the Enterprise-D, she previously served on the USS Repulse. For a time in her past, she was romantically involved with William Riker's father, Kyle Riker, with whom she has maintained a friendship.

Contents

Portrayed by actress Diana Muldaur, Pulaski replaced the character of Commander Beverly Crusher for the second season after Gates McFadden's contract was not renewed. Thus, Pulaski first appeared in the second season opener "The Child", and made her final appearance in the closing episode of the season, "Shades of Gray". Before playing the role of Pulaski on The Next Generation, Muldaur appeared in the original Star Trek, playing different characters in the episodes "Return to Tomorrow" and "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" She later worked with series creator Gene Roddenberry on a pilot for the series Planet Earth . McFadden returned to replace Muldaur in the third season, reprising her role as Dr. Crusher for the remainder of the series.

Reviewers criticized Pulaski's approach, as well as her inability to fit in with the crew. Critics noted that her transporter phobia was reminiscent of Dr. Leonard McCoy from the original Star Trek, as was her relationship with Data; Pulaski's interaction with Data raised comparisons to that of McCoy and Spock from the original Star Trek. Episodes featuring Pulaski in a leading role produced divided opinions among critics, with some describing "Unnatural Selection" as a key episode while others argued that it showed only the negative side of her role.

Concept and development

Towards the end of the first season of Star Trek: The Next Generation , staff members convinced Gene Roddenberry to drop Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher from the show. Executive producer Rick Berman opposed this decision. [1] To allow for McFadden's return in the future, Roddenberry wrote Crusher's character out rather than killing her. [2] McFadden's departure led to an opening for a new cast member. [3] The producers contacted actress Diana Muldaur, unaware of her past involvement with Roddenberry's Star Trek and Planet Earth pilot. [4] In the original Star Trek series, Muldaur played the role of a doctor in two episodes: as Dr. Ann Mulhall in "Return to Tomorrow", and as Dr. Miranda Jones in "Is There in Truth No Beauty?" [5] Muldaur also worked on the pilot for Planet Earth after getting to know Roddenberry and his wife, Majel Barrett, through their annual Star Trek Christmas parties. [6]

Muldaur was not required to audition for the role of Pulaski. [7] Instead, she was given 15 VHS cassettes of the first season. She found it "very exciting", noting it "got better and better and better" as she watched it. [4] Christina Pickles was also considered for the part of Pulaski, a decision Berman described as "very tough". [1] Muldaur finally agreed to play the role, but asked Roddenberry to change the name of the character to Kate, which became Katherine. [6] The character of Katherine Pulaski was not modeled on Doctor Leonard McCoy from the original Star Trek, despite claims to the contrary.[ citation needed ]

Pulaski debuted in the second season episode "The Child", along with Whoopi Goldberg making her first appearance as Guinan in the same episode. Even though Muldaur was a regular character on The Next Generation, she was listed in the opening credits as a "Special Guest Star". [5] After the second season, Muldaur left the series and joined the cast of L.A. Law . She used footage of the episode "Unnatural Selection" to gain the part. [6] Gates McFadden returned to continue her role as Dr. Crusher for the remainder of the series. [8]

Appearances

Pulaski's background is touched upon in the episode "The Icarus Factor". She is thrice divorced and was previously romantically involved with Commander William Riker's father Kyle Riker (Mitchell Ryan), after she was part of a rescue team responding to a Tholian attack on a Federation Starbase. She realised that a romantic relationship with Riker would not work, but they remained friends. [9] Directly prior to serving on the Enterprise-D Pulaski served on the USS Repulse. [10]

In, "Elementary, Dear Data" she challenges Lt. Cmdr Data to solve an original Sherlock Holmes mystery on the holodeck. He accepts her challenge, which results in the creation of a self-aware hologram of Professor Moriarty (Daniel Davis). Pulaski joins Data and Lieutenant Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), but is captured by Moriarty who also takes over control of the Enterprise. Moriarty demands that they find a way to enable him to leave the holodeck, but is persuaded by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) to release control and be stored within the ship's computer memory until a means can be found to grant his wish. [11]

Pulaski's apprehension at using the transporter was evident in "The Schizoid Man", where Dr. Selar (Suzie Plakson) went with the away team instead of Pulaski, as it required her to beam over to a transport vessel. [12] However, the transporter would later save Pulaski's life in "Unnatural Selection", after she was infected with a disease from the planet Gagarin IV that accelerated her aging process. The transporter is used to remove the infection and she is returned to health. [13]

She demonstrates her medical expertise on several occasions. In "Time Squared", Pulaski discovers that the duplicate Captain Picard is out of sync in time and will slowly improve until he returns to the point at which he left. [14] In the episode "Pen Pals", Picard orders Pulaski to wipe the memories of a young girl called Sarjenka, whom Data had been corresponding with and helping in violation of the prime directive. [15] In "Samaritan Snare", she is summoned to Starbase 515 to perform heart surgery on Captain Picard, as she is the most experienced surgeon nearby. This is despite Picard's wish for her not to perform the surgery, due to his concern with the image it might give to the crew. [16]

When the Enterprise arrives at the lost colony of Mariposa in "Up the Long Ladder", the Mariposans kidnap Pulaski and Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) and steal their DNA to clone new members of their colony. Although technologically advanced, the Mariposans lack genetic diversity. When Pulaski and Riker discover the clones, they destroy them. Picard helps resolve the dispute by suggesting the Mariposans allow the Bringloidi, a preindustrial, rural people whose colony was destroyed, to migrate to their world. The Mariposans, however, have relied on cloning for 300 years, and no longer sexually reproduce. Pulaski notes that with time, they will become familiar with the practice once again, and recommends that the Mariposans form large, group marriages with the Bringloidi to create a healthy population. [17]

Following Data's defeat at a game of stratagema in "Peak Performance", Pulaski and Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis) attempt to console him, but it is left to Captain Picard to convince Data that he is not malfunctioning. [18] Pulaski's final appearance on The Next Generation was in the episode "Shades of Gray". When Commander Riker falls ill to a dangerous virus during an away team mission, Pulaski drives out the virus with a device that stimulates his memory centre. After she discovers that negative memories are more effective in removing the virus, she uses memories of fear and survival to save Riker's life. [19]

In the alternative future timeline portrayed in "Endgame", the Star Trek: Voyager finale, Pulaski is said to have worked at the Starfleet Medical facility in San Francisco. [20]

Novels

Pulaski appears in several books of the non-canon novel series based on the adventures of the crew in The Next Generation and elsewhere in the same time period. In Peter David's novel Vendetta (1991), Pulaski is reassigned to the Repulse under Captain Taggart following her departure from the Enterprise. [21] In Star Trek: Progress (2006), a Starfleet Corps of Engineers book by Terri Osborne, Pulaski is on board the USS Progress when it visits Drema IV, as she wants to check up on the progress of Sarjenka, a young girl from The Next Generation episode "Pen Pals". [22] [15] Pulaski also appeared alongside Wesley Crusher and Guinan in Michael Jan Friedman's "All Good Things..." (1994), a novelisation of The Next Generation series finale. [23]

Reception and commentary

In their 1998 book, Star Trek 101, Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block called "Unnatural Selection" the key Pulaski episode. [24] Science fiction writer Keith DeCandido described Pulaski as "charming" and noted that this feeling was mirrored on screen by Captain Picard. [25] In Science Fiction Television: A History, author M. Keith Booker observed that "Pulaski never quite meshed with the rest of the crew". [26]

The events of "Elementary Dear Data" led film professor Zoran Samardžija to suggest that Pulaski may have been inspired by the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. [27] In Sherlock Holmes and Philosophy: The Footprints of a Gigantic Mind (2011), Samardžija notes that Pulaski's argument that Data lacks intuition is reminiscent of parts of Nietzsche's 1878 work Human, All Too Human . [27] [28] The relationship between Pulaski and Data was further considered by Rhonda V. Wilcox in her article "Dating Data: Miscegenation in Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1993). Wilcox notes that Pulaski "frequently challenges Data in terms of his machine nature." [29] She compares Data's emotionless state to slavery due to the reference in "The Child" to Maya Angelou's 1969 work I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings . [29]

In 2016, Pulaski was ranked as the 39th most important character of Starfleet within the Star Trek science fiction universe by Wired magazine, out of 100 characters. [30] In 2019, she was listed as one of the underrated characters of the Star Trek universe by CBS. [31]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Nemecek (2003): p. 64
  2. ↑ Reeves-Stevens (1998): p. 76
  3. ↑ Gross; Altman (1993): p. 171
  4. 1 2 Warren, Bill (April 1989). "Diana Muldaur, Ship's Doctor". Starlog (141): 30–33. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Decandido, Keith (August 11, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "The Child"". Tor.com . Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 "Catching Up With Diana Muldaur, Part 2". Star Trek.com. January 12, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Catching Up With Diana Muldaur, Part 1". Star Trek.com. January 11, 2013. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ DeCandido, Keith (October 31, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: Second Season Overview". Tor.com. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  9. ↑ Assael, David; McCullough, Robert L. (April 24, 1989). "The Icarus Factor". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 14.
  10. ↑ Summers, Jason; Povill, Jon; Hurley, Maurice (November 21, 1988). "The Child". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 1.
  11. ↑ Lane, Brian Alan (December 5, 1988). "Elementary, Dear Data". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 3.
  12. ↑ Tormé, Tracy (January 23, 1989). "The Schizoid Man". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 6.
  13. ↑ Mason, John; Gray, Mike (January 30, 1989). "Unnatural Selection". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 7.
  14. ↑ Bensmiller, Kurt Michael (April 3, 1989). "Time Squared". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 13.
  15. 1 2 Snodgrass, Melinda M.; Shearer, Hannah Louise (May 1, 1989). "Pen Pals". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 15.
  16. ↑ Landau, Les (May 15, 1989). "Samaritan Snare". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 17.
  17. ↑ Snodgrass, Melissa M. (May 22, 1989). "Up the Long Ladder". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 18.
  18. ↑ Kemper, David (July 10, 1989). "Peak Performance". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 21.
  19. ↑ Hurley, Maurice; Manning, Richard; Beimler, Hans (July 17, 1989). "Shades of Gray". Star Trek: The Next Generation. Season 2. Episode 22.
  20. ↑ Biller, Kenneth; Doherty, Robert; Berman, Rick; Braga, Brannon (May 21, 2001). "Endgame". Star Trek: Voyager. Season 7. Episode 25.
  21. ↑ David, Peter (1991). Vendetta. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN   9780671741457.
  22. ↑ Ayers (2006): p. 390
  23. ↑ Decandido, Keith (April 3, 2013). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "All Good Things..."". Tor.com . Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  24. ↑ Erdmann & Block (1998): p. 65
  25. ↑ Decandido, Keith (October 10, 2011). "Star Trek: The Next Generation Rewatch: "Samaritan Snare"". Tor.com . Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ Booker (2004): p. 194
  27. 1 2 Samardžija (2011): p. 300
  28. ↑ Samardžija (2011): p. 299
  29. 1 2 Harrison et al. (1996): p. 76
  30. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (2016-09-05). "Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked". Wired. ISSN   1059-1028 . Retrieved 2019-03-20.
  31. ↑ "The Most Underrated Star Trek Characters Ever". www.cbs.com. Retrieved 2019-07-12.

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> American science fiction television series

Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry. It originally aired from September 28, 1987, to May 23, 1994, in syndication, spanning 178 episodes over seven seasons. The third series in the Star Trek franchise, it was inspired by Star Trek: The Original Series. Set in the latter third of the 24th century, when Earth is part of the United Federation of Planets, it follows the adventures of a Starfleet starship, the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701-D), in its exploration of the Alpha quadrant and Beta quadrant in the Milky Way galaxy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Riker</span> Fictional character from Star Trek

William Thomas "Will" Riker is a fictional character in the Star Trek universe appearing primarily as a main character in Star Trek: The Next Generation, portrayed by Jonathan Frakes. Throughout the series and its accompanying films, he is the Enterprise's first officer, and briefly captain, until he accepts command of the USS Titan at the end of Star Trek: Nemesis. He is the husband of Deanna Troi.

Guinan (<i>Star Trek</i>) Character in Star Trek

Guinan is a recurring character in the Star Trek franchise, portrayed by American actress Whoopi Goldberg. The character first appeared in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1988 and went on to appear in the films Star Trek Generations and Star Trek: Nemesis as well as the television series Star Trek: Picard. She was also played as a child by Isis Carmen Jones in the episode "Rascals" and a younger version of the character by Ito Aghayere in Picard.

"When the Bough Breaks" is the seventeenth episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The episode first aired in broadcast syndication on February 15, 1988. It is the first episode written for the series by Hannah Louise Shearer and the only episode of the series with Kim Manners as director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Muldaur</span> American actress (born 1938)

Diana Muldaur is an American film and television actress. Muldaur's television roles include Rosalind Shays on L.A. Law and Dr. Katherine Pulaski in the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She appeared in two episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series in the late 1960s, playing different roles. She has been nominated for an Emmy twice, as a supporting actress on L.A. Law in 1990 and 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elementary, Dear Data</span> 3rd episode of the 2nd season of Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Elementary, Dear Data" is the third episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 29th episode overall. It was written by Brian Alan Lane and directed by Rob Bowman. It was originally released on December 5, 1988, in broadcast syndication.

"The Child" is the first episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 27th episode overall. It was originally released on November 21, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The story was originally written by Jaron Summers and Jon Povill for the cancelled late 1970s series Star Trek: Phase II. Due to the tight deadlines caused by the 1988 Writers Guild of America Strike, the producers of The Next Generation searched the records of that earlier television project, resulting in the script being amended by show runner Maurice Hurley.

"Hide and Q" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and originally aired on November 23, 1987, in broadcast syndication. The story was originally written by Maurice Hurley but went under numerous re-writes by the show's creator Gene Roddenberry. The episode was directed by Cliff Bole, and saw the return of John de Lancie as Q.

"Up the Long Ladder" is the eighteenth episode of the second season of the syndicated American science fiction television show Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 44th episode overall, first broadcast on May 22, 1989.

"The Arsenal of Freedom" is the twenty-first episode of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, originally aired on April 11, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The teleplay was written by Richard Manning and Hans Beimler, based on a story by Beimler. The episode was directed by Les Landau.

"Skin of Evil" is the 23rd episode of the first season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation; it first aired on April 25, 1988, in broadcast syndication. The story premise was written by Joseph Stefano, whose teleplay was re-written by Hannah Louise Shearer. The episode was directed by Joseph L. Scanlan.

"Peak Performance" is the twenty-first and penultimate episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 47th episode overall, first broadcast on July 10, 1989.

Rascals (<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>) 7th episode of the 6th season of Star Trek: The Next Generation

"Rascals" is the seventh episode of the sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 133rd overall. It was originally released on October 30, 1992, in broadcast syndication. "Rascals" was credited to Alison Hock from a story by Ward Botsford, Diana Dru Botsford, Michael Piller, although the script was revised by several writers with Ronald D. Moore conducting the final draft. It marked the directorial debut of Adam Nimoy.

"Unnatural Selection" is the seventh episode of the second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 33rd episode overall. It was first broadcast on January 30, 1989. It was written by John Mason and Mike Gray, and directed by Paul Lynch.

"Evolution" is the first episode of the third season of the syndicated American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The 49th episode overall, it first aired in the United States on September 25, 1989.

"Ménage à Troi" is the 24th episode of the third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, and the 72nd episode of the series overall.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> season 2 1988–89 season of American television series

The second season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on November 21, 1988, and concluded on July 17, 1989, after airing 22 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. Season two featured changes to the main cast, following the departure of Gates McFadden. Diana Muldaur was cast as Dr. Katherine Pulaski for a single season before the return of McFadden in season three. Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg also joined the cast after pursuing a role from the producers.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> season 3 1989–90 season of American television series

The third season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 25, 1989 and concluded on June 18, 1990 after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D. This season featured the return of Gates McFadden as Dr. Beverly Crusher after she was replaced by Diana Muldaur for the second season. The season also saw the debut of several actors who would reappear in the same roles and others throughout the franchise, such as Dwight Schultz as Lt. Reginald Barclay, and Tony Todd as Kurn.

<i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i> season 6 1992–93 season of American television series

The sixth season of the American science fiction television series Star Trek: The Next Generation commenced airing in broadcast syndication in the United States on September 21, 1992, and concluded on June 21, 1993, after airing 26 episodes. Set in the 24th century, the series follows the adventures of the crew of the Starfleet starship Enterprise-D.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.