The thing about the fandom’s interpretation of Data and Pulaski is that it makes both characters extremely flat and boring while also erasing their whole relationship. Data’s made into this flawless, naive baby that can’t defend himself (when he does - when Pulaski mispronounces his name, he tells her exactly why she should pronounce it correctly), while Pulaski is an ugly bitch-hag who is morally reprehensible. Most fanfics portray Data as being uncomfortable or scared of her, while Pulaski’s chomping at the bit to break him into parts. Their whole relationship in season two is based around the fact they both have flaws, and that Data is still learning about what exactly he is capable of as an android.
In “Elementary, My Dear Data”, the big question of the episode is if Data can solve a narrative mystery without it being based on his knowledge of the original stories. Geordi doesn’t know the answer. Pulaski doesn’t. Data doesn’t. From what they know of Data, Pulaski outright dismisses the possibility that Data can, which sparks the episode’s plot.
So when Geordi goes back later and prompts the computer to alter the program to be more challenging, both Data and Pulaski are excited! They want to see where this goes! They are openly having fun with this.
In her first episode, Pulaski dismissed Data when he tried to stay during Troi’s labour, and only relented when Troi said she wanted him there. But by “Penpals”, she assures Sarjenka that Data will be at her side the whole time. When Data expresses doubts, she assures him that this is what’s best for Sarjenka, but that his memories of her will still be important. This is also the same episode where Pulaski defends both her and Data’s personal involvement in the situation to Worf.
In “Measure of A Man”, the game opens with some of the crew playing a poker game. Data and Pulaski are obviously friendly and comfortable enough to socialize together outside of professional circumstances. And again, the scene shows Data calling the game simplistic and assuming he will win, but he turns out to be wrong.
Later in “Peak Performance”, Pulaski sets up Data to compete in Strategema, only for him to end up losing, to everyone’s surprise. The reason why Data’s confidence falls is because he had the exact same assumption about his computational abilities as Pulaski. They were both wrong! When she sees how much losing has affected him, she apologizes:
Data says that he must be malfunctioning. It’s not until Picard tells him that failure can happen even when you do everything right that Data accepts he can make mistakes - and that making mistakes is okay! By the end of the episode, they both know that Data is not infallible, and that he can be affected by failure as much as any human.
Pulaski makes assumptions and mistakes, and so does Data. They learn and grow from them, and their relationship is overall a very positive one despite their very different personalities. It’s an interesting dynamic that gets rewritten by fans entirely, despite the fact that it’s weirdly one of the more developed dynamics in the show.
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OVERHATED CHARACTERS POLL: Katherine Pulaski (Star Trek)
Feel free to explain your position in the comments or tags, but any harassment, over-the-top fighting, or personal attacks will result in you being blocked. Do not attack real people, be they fans or creators, over fictional characters.
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SWEET AS CHERRY WINE.
sorry for tagging everyone twice today but my dearest @delicateweapon gifted me with this sweet little kat/faith piece and i need y’all to behold: them. nika, this piece is so dreamy, ethereal even. you captured their weird little brand of softness perfectly. thank you so much again, my friend. 💜
tag list (ask to be added or removed OR opt in/out via this post): @queennymeria @chuckhansen @risingsh0t @nightbloodbix @shellibisshe @confidentandgood @florbelles @unholymilf @adelaidedrubman @shallow-gravy @blissfulalchemist @cptcassian @socially-awkward-skeleton @leviiackrman @roofgeese @gwynbleidd @marivenah @thedeadthree @loriane-elmuerto @macs-babies @kyber-infinitygems @inafieldofdaisies @cassietrn @belorage @simonxriley @harmonyowl
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[Image description Scene from Star Trek The Next Generation PULASKI: Dah-ta, look at this. DATA: My name is pronounced "Day-ta." PULASKI: Oh my God, I am so sorry! This is all just so new to me. I just need you to know I truly feel you are "Day-ta" in my heart. Third panel is on the bridge with Data focused forward at the conn. Text reads "3 WEEKS LATER" PULASKI:...I'm really not androphobic, I just grew up in a different time, I think over time you'll see I'm a good person and...]
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One depressing thing about TNG Era Trek, at least in relation to TOS Era, is that the position of Science Officer seems to have completely disappeared.
Like...where is the Science Officer above the Enterprise-D? Not on the Bridge that's for sure. Someone is running all the scientists, but they aren't important enough to be Senior Staff. Same thing on Voyager. Most Science Blues are Med Staff, not earnest scientists. Dax is the exception here, but she was pretty blatantly there to serve as Sisko's First Officer because Starfleet didn't trust his actual First Officer.
It's a shame to see that aspect of Starfleet fade.
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‘maybe i would’ve liked pulaski if she had more time on the show or had developed more’ buddy we saw her at the crew’s personal get-togethers. she played poker and enjoyed the holodeck. she wasn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with picard, she had an interesting dynamic with troi, she had significant moments with worf, she had an entire arc with data. the first thing she did when she stepped onto the enterprise was skip any ceremony and go right for sickbay. she was married 3 times and still on good terms with all of them. she was good with kids. she was technically exceptional and super competitive. she enjoyed taking risks. she asked important questions. what more do you want?
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