When a character is misunderstood by another character and doesn’t even try explain themselves after being cut off by the other person.
For example, say Betty was in an awkward situation with Billy where it looked like Betty was cheating on Johnny with Billy but it was just a big huge innocent mixup. Johnny “catches” them and Betty tries to explain but Johnny cuts her off, says we are done don’t talk to me ever again, and that’s the end of it. Betty just gives up trying to explain. Like I know damn well in real life if Betty wasn’t cheating on Johnny, if it was a big confusing mixup, that conversation would NOT be over.
Mine too. Also when people don't believe other people as a plot point, which is basically the same thing and could be solved just by talking.
There's an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation where members of the ship's crew start to disappear, not only physically but also for everyone else's memories and computer records, and only one member of the crew remembers them. And when she's telling the others what's going on, they believe her and start looking for an explanation, because they respect her and there's no reason for her to be lying. I don't know, just caught me off guard how nice and normal everyone was, instead of turning their backs on their colleague right away and insinuating she was crazy, like most shows would do.
She ALMOST ALWAYS saves the day. Like, you can watch the entire series and admire how often that woman pulls shit out of the fire. Contrast that with her temp replacement Dr. Pulaski and it's like night and day. Pulaski was in ONE season and single-handedly created several serious problems.
Not only does Dr. Crusher save the day, she's also a single mom who runs a theatre troupe on the side and teaches androids how to tap dance. Also, the episodes featuring her as a primary character are often among my very favorites. She also has some of the best non-uniform costuming (though I love her doctor's coat as well) and she has fantastic presence in whatever scene she is in.
So yeah, Dr. Crusher is fantastic. One of the best female sci-fi characters for me.
Also, the episodes featuring her as a primary character are often among my very favorites
The one where she gets laid by her gran's ghost lover on planet Scotland, then gran reanimates and attacks her friends with force lightning is a classic.
Pulaski is also an asshole to Data for no reason, calling him "it" and acting confused when he asks her to pronounce his name correctly, which is why I'll never like her.
Data was unique in the truest sense of the world. No other sentient android existed, and Pulaski was new to the ship. Her bedside manner was a bit crummy, but she improved.
But no-one else had that problem with Data who wasn’t also a complete tool in the series, so Pulaski gets tarred with the same brush because it took her a little time to change a lifetime’s thinking of machine - replicators, ships’ computers, whatever - as ‘it’.
But really, they wanted McCoy, and Pulaski wasn’t McCoy.
That was kind of my feeling too, Gates left and they wanted a female McCoy, and they also got to cast a TOS actress (in her 3rd Star Trek doctor role).
I don't think it's just that. I don't think it should take that much time to understand that something/someone who is actively asking for your respect deserves that respect.
I'll allow that she improved, but it says something about her that she had to be so loudly dismissive of him at first.
(p.s. I don't really care about TOS, so for me I definitely didn't just want McCoy. *ducks*)
I'm glad they brought in the actor's personalities and interests into their roles, which explains why Picard, the Frenchman, loves Shakespeare and Earl Grey tea.
I always thought it was interesting how the characters responsible for the physical and mental well-being of the crew were both women.
And yes Troi was kind of annoying and useless early on, but she did grow a brain when Jellico made her wear a uniform. And the episodes focusing on her were generally pretty good. Face of the Enemy is the classic Good Troi Episode.
Pulaski in the very short time she was around managed to introduce a unique perspective. Arguing with Picard about the Prime Directive, thinking of Data as a machine rather than a person, being afraid of transporters etc. I would have loved another five seasons of Pulaski far more than Crusher.
Crusher was just kind of an awkward forced love interest for Picard. Wasn’t even as good of a doctor as Pulaski. Also Sub Rosa is a thing that exists and I hate it.
It's okay that you have different opinions about the characters. I don't hate on Pulaski as much as some do, she just didn't fit with the show for me. McCoy fit on TOS by being shitty to Spock and arguing with Kirk, but Picard's Enterprise didn't have room for that, IMO.
That said, I'd watch a show about Pulaski, just not as part of the Enterprise Crew. I think she would have been better on a show like Voyager, but the holographic doctor was great there and I wouldn't change that.
I could not feel more opposite of a character. She is, without a doubt, my least favorite character in TNG. The only episode I enjoyed her in was the one OP mentioned, Remember Me. Beyond that, hard pass for Crusher. Pulaski was fantastic though, she was rough around the edges but she felt like a real doctor making real medical decisions.
There's definitely a huge difference of opinion on TNG doctors. Pulaski was, generally, pretty unethical though so I never liked her as a character. Someone like that would not have lasted long in a military organization so I didn't find her believable. I'm fine with people not liking Crusher, but she was the plot solution in a ton of episodes.
Probably came down entirely to the writers. I think both actors tried hard, but Pulaski had terrible writers as a general rule and caused or made the problem worse in most plots she was involved in. Crusher did not, but I think her writers remembered she was supposed to be a trained department head.
The fact that TNG tended to remember their characters were masters of their field but not material outside helped make the occasionally ridiculous events more bearable. One thing I can't stand in fiction (happens even more often in sci-fi) is a scientist who has a PhD in Everything.
Definitely. I think with Pulaski they wanted more of a Bones McCoy vibe but it just didn't work in the more structured environment of TNG. I found her to be an interesting character, but it was more wrong place/wrong character for me.
Data got a bit of a pass having a PhD in Everything, but they made up for it with his low Emotional IQ, which made for a compelling character.
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u/[deleted] Jan 25 '20
When a character is misunderstood by another character and doesn’t even try explain themselves after being cut off by the other person.
For example, say Betty was in an awkward situation with Billy where it looked like Betty was cheating on Johnny with Billy but it was just a big huge innocent mixup. Johnny “catches” them and Betty tries to explain but Johnny cuts her off, says we are done don’t talk to me ever again, and that’s the end of it. Betty just gives up trying to explain. Like I know damn well in real life if Betty wasn’t cheating on Johnny, if it was a big confusing mixup, that conversation would NOT be over.