commander fictional medical doctor american science fiction television series star trek generation chief medical officer aboard federation starship uss enterprise medical skills saved lives captain commander helped inspire commander data create professor self aware preferred avoid forced rely save life alien infection arriving previously served uss time romantically involved continued remain friends portrayed american actress replaced character commander second season contract renewed appeared second season opener child final appearance shades gray playing role appeared star trek original series playing different characters episodes return tomorrow truth beauty later worked series creator pilot series planet earth returned replace season reprising role remainder series reviewers criticized approach inability fit crew critics noted reminiscent original series relationship data interaction data raised comparisons original series episodes featuring leading role unnatural selection produced divided opinions critics describing key episode argued showed negative role concept development end season star trek generation staff members convinced drop executive producer opposed decision allow return future wrote character killing departure led opening new cast member producers contacted american actress unaware past involvement star trek planet earth pilot original series played role doctor episodes return tomorrow truth beauty worked pilot planet earth getting know wife annual star trek christmas parties required audition role instead given vhs season found exciting noting got better better better watched considered decision described tough finally agreed play role asked change character kate character modeled doctor original series like feared disliked colleagues dynamic revisited relationship lieutenant commander data believed deliberately created parallel characters shows debuted second season episode child making appearance series episode regular character generation listed opening credits special guest star overall described experience portraying hard work expected cast season unaware succeed left following production second season left series joined cast footage episode unnatural selection gain returned continue role generation remainder series appearances background touched episode factor previously romantically involved commander father rescue team responding attack federation realised romantic relationship work remained friends directly prior serving enterprise served uss captain sorry lose elementary dear data challenges data solve original mystery accepts challenge results creation self aware professor joins data lieutenant captured takes manual control enterprise demands find way enable leave persuaded captain release control stored ship computer memory means found grant wish years later released computer takes control ship computer demanding freedom finally tricked thinking wish granted remains trapped inside computer simulation ship bottle evident man went away team instead required beam transport vessel later save life unnatural selection infected disease planet accelerated aging process uses remove infection returned health demonstrates medical expertise occasions time squared discovers duplicate captain time slowly improve returns point left episode pen orders memories young girl called data corresponding helping violation prime directive whilst snare summoned perform heart surgery captain experienced surgeon nearby despite wish perform surgery concern image crew enterprise arrives lost colony long ladder kidnap commander steal dna clone new members colony advanced lack genetic diversity discover clones destroy helps resolve dispute suggesting allow rural people colony destroyed migrate world relied years longer sexually reproduce notes time familiar practice recommends form large group marriages create healthy population following data defeat game peak performance attempt console left captain convince data final appearance generation episode shades gray commander falls ill dangerous virus away team mission drives virus device memory centre discovers negative memories effective removing virus uses memories fear survival save life alternative future timeline portrayed star trek voyager finale said worked starfleet medical facility san_francisco novels appears books non canon novel series based adventures crew generation time period peter david novel reassigned captain following departure enterprise star trek progress book board uss progress visits wants check progress young girl generation episode pen appeared alongside michael jan good things generation series finale reception commentary book star trek called unnatural selection key episode science fiction writer felt displays worst traits episode including intensity constant people data time apologizes expresses concern health apparently wasn like described annoying noted feeling mirrored screen captain author observed rest crew events elementary dear data led film professor suggest inspired works notes argument data lacks reminiscent parts work human human relationship considered article dating data star trek generation notes frequently challenges data terms machine nature expressing supposed compares data state slavery reference child maya work know bird sings
Katherine Pulaski