One of my favorite Beverly moments is in I, Borg when, during the scene where the crew is reviewing the plan to introduce a virus that will destroy the Borg, Crusher is the only person to say “so, JUST TO BE CLEAR, we're doing genocide now? And we're supposed to be okay with that? And you're all cool with genocide?" Even Troi didn't take that stance during that scene, but everyone came around to Beverly's point of view by the end of the episode.
True, but counterpoint: the next time the Borg come up, an admiral directly orders Picard to commit next time he has an opportunity like he did in I Borg, and Picard admits that in hindsight the admiral might just have a point, and his statement that the Borg can't be reasoned with and are committed to the destruction of the Federation and it's very culture is still true. It's an example of Beverly Crusher oversimplifying the situation and Picard having to remember that even despite what his previous conclusion, he and both of hisoat trusted confidantes, Crusher AND Guinan, might have made the wrong call even if it was the morally correct decision. His statement that the right decision and the correct decision are sometimes at odds with each other is a powerful reminder that ethics is complicated.
Great vid Steve! You missed out on her best line in the whole series though, which I think sums up Beverly's strong moral core perfectly: "If there's nothing wrong with me... maybe there's something wrong with the universe..." 😉👍
Gates McFadden really sold her character so, so well. She didn't always have a lot to do in several episodes, but she had a quiet, deep strength, commitment to her beliefs and sense of justice. And she was a damned good captain of a slowly disappearing starship. Always loved her work.
I Wanted to bring up " Pen Pals" Where the Doctor is the first to side with Data. Than I remembered: that wasn't Crusher. That was Pulaski. There is a theme there to make the medical professional the dedicated Conscience.
@@tempusavatarThat’s true. Even in something simple and funny as Bones’ question to Spock: “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?” Spock, in his way, realized that that was what Bones was doing. It may well be why we have that scene between them in Engineering in “The Wrath of Khan”.
This video is how I learned that the Nurse Ogawa actress died. Man that's sad... she was probably my favorite tertiary character in the series. I may or may not have even had a little crush on her...
Legit I think getting into Trek as a kid and seeing Beverly Crusher refusing to let shitty behaviour pass unquestioned had such a huge effect on my moral growth. (And got me into trouble with some of my less ethical teachers.)
I still remember the first time watching Higher Ground as a child on TV. Always hope in the reruns I would see it again. Never did. Decades later found out that episode only aired once due to its controversial nature. Was finally able to scratch that itch when TNG was on Netflix
Same: I think I've literally only seen 'The High Ground' once, when it first aired on TV, yet in all the years since then, I've never forgotten it, even though I've forgotten the plot points of many other great TNG episodes, even ones I've watched more than once.
I recently rewatched The High Ground, a very good episode of the show. What struck me during the episode was how much of a badass they made Crusher just by her actions throughout the runtime. They had her stick to her morals and try to help where she could but not allow herself to be bullied by her abductor.
I glade Gates McFadden stood up for her self with the writers/ directors and producers of TNG , her character was so much deeper when she returned to the show proving that if you fight for your rights you can make a change , although I would have enjoyed Dr Crusher and Dr Dr Polaski working together.
Before I start this video, I have to tell you, Steve, that u were so right about Maryland being a flag cult. I’m watching the DNC, and they get to Md, and everybody has a flag!! One woman had many! I watched the other states carefully. There were the Wisconsin cheeseheads of course. But I didn’t see any other state that could approach Maryland’s obsession with flags
The metaphasic shielding episode is amazing - one of the few episodes I missed until the era of DVD's. Great mix of trek tech scifi and character drama. The audiobook Star Trek TNG Reunion read by Mcfadden is pretty good trek flavored 'who done it' mystery too.
Dr. Crusher can also be the conscience in small ways. I don’t think most characters would follow up and research tennis rackets to surprise gift Guinan a racket that would solve the tennis elbow problem if Guinan had actually played tennis.
One of Beverly’s best quotes on this subject (from: I, Borg): “I’m here to help, but I don't have to like it.” Do you do your best work at night, like me? This is the second video this week that was posted at MIDNIGHT your time!
I know Picard was a mixed bag (to put it kindly), but I loved that Gates McFadden had some nice moments in season three as Beverly. Although I'll need to watch that scene with the captured Changeling again to see if she lost some of her legitimacy as TNG's conscience, as you put it. I remember the moral conundrum, but not how it was resolved.
Reminds me also of I, Borg when the characters are discussing a Borg Genocide & Crusher makes sure they look that fact straight on, rather than hiding behind euphemisms.
As CMO, I think she was the only crew member who could remove Picard from command if she thought he was impaired. That probably contributed to her behaving more as his equal. 🤔um...shouldn't she have known that Gibril's species could survive an autopsy? Just saying.
What I love about Crusher is that she breaks a lot of the stereotypes that can be associated with roles like that. Her strength is drawn from her role as a caregiver, and not something that exists in spite of it.
If I remember the Christie story correctly, Suspicions has some similarity to Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians), in which someone was murdered then others were murdered. Turns out the first victim hadn't been murdered but was the killer of the others, one by one.
You gotta respect a character that is so sure of themselves that they can say “If there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with the universe” with a straight face.
Thank you for explaining the different pronunciations for Kamala. I forgot which was which immediately. I think I better listen to it a few times more.
About Lwaxana, ironically, she has her best appearances in DS9 of all places, where she develops a great chemistry with Odo. Sadly, this often gets overlooked, maybe because many DS9 fans skip right to Way of the Warrior (when things "actually started") on repeat viewings. And these days, I can also empathize with the "masking your true self"-part a lot more. Make no mistake, Lwaxana Troi knows how people truly feel about her, at all times, whether she wants to or not. As for the gender stereotypes, I keep saying that it's a real shame we lost Tasha Yar - not only because it would've changed the 5:2 split to a 5:3 one, but also because Yar had a job not traditionally associated with women. This would not even have to impede Worf's development - later novels also realized that having security and tactical be handled by one person is not ideal, so they easily could've split up these responsibilities among themselves. Not to mention the cheap way Yar was killed, then was given a proper sendoff, only to then have her die as a romulan concubine for no reason other than the shock value provided by her very similar looking daughter, which went nowhere. On the actual topic of the video, Crusher sadly remains as the only female character on the show who absolutely operates on equal footing with Picard, Riker, Data and LaForge. TNG Worf gets thrown around too much, and Troi is too often reduced to stating stuff you really shouldn't need an extrasensory empath to tell you. Hell, even with all the gratuitous fanservice of Picard S3, Crusher blowing the everyliving hell out of a Borg ship isn't even out of character for her, given that she used the knowledge she gained in the episode you pointed to to blow up the Borg ship in Descent. Unlike Troi, she also gets to command the Enterprise outside of an emergency where literally no one else can reach the bridge - both regularly as part of shift rotations and in combat as seen in Descent.
One missed opportunity was the film First Contact. When Picard calls Word a coward on the bridge in the third act, Crusher's admonished "Jean-Luc!" is heard, but sadly not seen. Her tone is EXACTLY what you would expect from one old friend seeing abhorrent behaviour from another. I always wished we could see her expression. At least we get to see the follow up of Crusher going into an officer-mode. Her strained voice makes it clear she's trying to be professional but is clearly upset at an unwinnable situation.
I don't think I disagree with you on any of your points, however I always saw the whole crew as the conscience of the show. Probably because it was in both TOS's and TNG's DNA for the crew of the Enterprise to visit other planets, encounter & examine their issues and for the crew to somehow solve those issues for them. I guess that would make Doctor Crusher 'the conscience of the conscience' Also I loved how Doctor Crusher was an advocate *for* her patients, most notably in the episode "Ethics", where she seeks to protect Worf from Doctor Russell. Russell was promising a miracle cure for Worf's paralysis despite proper testing or medical evaluation, and Doctor Crusher saw her treatment for what it was; a medically unnecessary risk. She saw what his life could be and tried to make the best for him.
And now I see why you made the 'never stick to Star Trek' video. Starting off talking about High Ground, and people say keep politics out of Star Trek.
I was encouraged by the presence of Tasha Yar. I think she could have been given more action. It was a lost opportunity to not have her pair up with Worf more often.
You're so on point with your humor. Very funny episode. Don't know how you keep thinking of new jokes video after video. I definitely liked them apples or whatever we have.
This is why they did Dr Crusher dirty in First Contact - the wrath of Picard scene with the little ships is the best in the movie, but it should have been Crusher arguing with him in his ready room, not Lily. In fact I’d say after Worf questions his objectivity Picard never even makes it to the ready room ‘cause Crusher relieves him from command. What we got instead was some Voyager-level of crew going along with the captain’s bullshit.
Thank you, looking forward to your Trek 5 video. I feel like that guy defending the star wars prequels to people my age talking down on it, but I'm doing it for Trek 5. It's weird. It's a weeeeeird place to be. Aaaaaanywaaaaays.
I'm surprised that you didn't mention 'Ethics'. It is an episode in which Dr. Crusher is very much acting as 'The Conscience', but not necessarily right in her outlook because of the cultural differences between humans and klingons. While she is right to criticise Dr. Russel's medical ethics, denying Worf the experimental procedure based on her cultural beliefs was shortsighted.
There was an episode where I think Dr. Crusher seriously dropped the ball. It's the one where Worf was paralyzed, and she disagreed with a visiting doctor who wanted to use an experimental spinal procedure. There are two scenes I wish could've been added. First, Picard should've called her in, reviewed medical ethics, and pointed out that Worf was entitled to hear a second opinion, and to be the one to choose his course of treatment. Crusher would've had to admit he was right. Second, as the visiting doctor gets ready to leave, Crusher is delighted at Worf's recovery, but wouldn't feel good about claiming credit for it. The visitor took Crusher's opprobrium meekly, but should've stood up for herself and said medical researchers can't guarantee results but are the ones who make progress possible, by relying on their own judgment. And yes, she will accept congratulations from the medical community. Conscience or not, Crusher was categorically not the only doctor with a valid viewpoint.
Star trek autopsies are easy to live through because they are noninvasive. There's no cutting. It's just sensors and scans. That is what makes Crusher's "crime" ridiculous, quite apart from the fact that those remains were going to be completely desiccated and put in jars anyway. But she was specifically told not to do the autopsy by the family and the captain. So it is still considered a violation. Also, Dr. Reyga *did* record his experiment. He collected all the data he could. However since data and even video recordings are easy to falsify in Star Trek, and there were no other witnesses, the premise remains that the others can doubt his data and say they are being asked to rely on his word.
The problem with the supposed moral quandary in The High Groubd is that the terrorists could have struck the heads of the goverment and police and instead were blowing up and attacking non hostile targets.
They were the last head of security for the territory was assassinated that's how current security lady got her job (at least that's how I remember her punctuating one of her conversations with Riker). Could they have done more of that thanks to the inverter? Maybe, but you can imagine any number of reasons they couldn't. Maybe the high officials all went into hiding so they didn't no where to invert to. Maybe they made it impossible to scan government buildings so they risk inverting into a wall if they try and invert into them. Maybe all the big wigs are so surrounded by security that any attempt to assassinate them would still almost certainly kill the assassin and so on. Anyway, I never felt it was a full on moral quandary, just that there were some ethical tensions.
Not to diminish her character, but putting your career on the line is probably easier when your housing and healthcare don't depend on being employed. Worst case scenario, she goes back to her beautiful Earth apartment and continues to eat healthily and regularly even without being employed. Crisis scenario is that she ends up in an Earth prison where she is well-fed, well-treated, and prepared to return to civilian life as soon as possible. None of that is possible for us today. To risk your career is to literally risk your very life, and perhaps the lives of others as well.
There was also Tasha Yar in the first season, a woman security officer, but they killed off the character mid season 1. Yeh yeh good point it was a bit of a boys club.
Interesting take on the character. I agree that she does end up being one of the more consistent 'moral compasses' in the series, in that her characteristic viewpoint does not fundamentally shift so much as shift based upon the circumstances she's faced with, and applying her perspective. As I watched this, I couldn't help but wonder about what your perspective on Ro Laren as a character (As I say this, I am expressly focused and interested in her time on TNG until Season 7 and her departure, NOT her time in Star Trek: Picard, as I feel the heel turn of the character at that point was... unnecessary and bah, let's just not get into that. Her primary story was in TNG and that's the story that interests me.) I know, I know. You've already got a thousand topics you could talk about, and discussing Ro Laren as a character sort of stopped being of interest many years ago for quite a few, but I'd be interested to see your perspective on her. I always recall the end of her time on the Enterprises being one of the times where we truly see the cold fury of Picard, the sense of betrayal and how much he would wish to respond, even if he never does and can actually respond to the Ensign's actions within the course of TNG, and that plot point is left dangling, an issue never resolved in the whole of that series and most of the others, even DS9 and Voyager, both with their references to the issues of the Maquis. So, paint me as curious.
14:31 - An important element of this section is that Beverly is also the only one on the ship who can give orders to Picard (in very specific circumstances). She is the closest he has to there being someone of equal rank on the ship on a regular basis. This is why she is the only person on the ship he could have an ethical romantic relationship with as well.
I hadn't considered that, that's a great point. I think this underscores an essential component of what it means to be Chief Medical Officer: part of Dr Crusher's duty is to stand up to the captain, and that's no mean feat when the captain is Picard. Beverly standing firm in her morals often goes beyond her duties as chief medical officer, but it's through this that she hones her ability to hold the captain to account.
This is actually a big one for me as my view was the same as everyone elses, kill the borg. It was shocking to see her advocate for a person who couldn't defend themselves.
I feel like there’s a Steve Shives Cinematic Universe of Star Trek jokes. There’s the Lwaxana Troi joke, the Voyager joke, the Tuvix joke… (I feel like that sounds critical but for me it adds to the joke at this point because when you tee one up, there’s always a moment where I’m like, “oh wait, I bet I know where you’re going with this” that, like, raises the dramatic tension of the joke.
I never put it together before, but... Dr. Crusher probably disobeys Picard's orders more often than any other main character in TNG, when it's called for - when it's the "right thing to do". When starfleet officers attempt to forcibly relocate human colonists in a later episode, it's Dr. Crusher's son, Wesley, who disobeys those orders - and interrupts the mission - because it was the "right thing to do". Maybe he learned something from her.
Hey, Picard ended up doing pretty well, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Picard had Jack Crusher killed after he f***ed Beverly. I have nothing to base that on, just head canon.
One of the things I've always loved about star trek is the doctors being incredibly smart science minded individuals, that are also the most human members of the crew. Bones, Crusher, and Bashir are not fools, they are very technically minded, but they are also still in touch with their emotions, and usually the first to call out cruelty for what it is. So often we claim that a high inelegance, or a great deal of logic makes a person cold, but you can easily be foolish and cold. The doctors are just smart enough to realize that life is fragile, and the soul can get just as sick as the body.
Interestingly enough, I would include “The Doctor” in “Voyager”, despite being a hologram serves as a figure of conscience having even developed enough ethics to call out the eugenics of a certain planet in the episode “Critical Care”.
Of possible note, I don't think TNG wanted the mostly boys club either, they had Tasha as the security chief, a woman in the bad-ass department, Worf only became head of security because Denise dropped out. I'd like to imagine what later TNG would have been like with Tasha staying on the crew.
I don't know how we're supposed to take his supposition in the opening. Is he asserting this was an intentional outcome that had a motivation? Is he merely using hindsight to lay down a format for criticism through today's lens? Crusher was probably my 2nd fav character behind Data from watching it on TV initially, and I'm down for a discussion about how good an actress Gates was, and a character Crusher was .... but it sure seems like SS was trying to get some kind of digs in initially...
Yeah, he kinda conveniently leaves this out. Not to mention, it’s not like DS9 had a huge number of women in the regular cast. It’s basically Kira and Jadzia with Keiko occasionally showing up along with guest characters, but she too is a caregiver type being a mom and teacher. And If the argument is Kira is a more non-traditional character portraying a role more often portrayed by the boys, let’s not forget she was originally meant to be Ro Laren, a character that originated in TNG and was an adaptation of her when Michelle Forbes chose not to continue.
Always worth remembering that when TNG was being planned out, Dr.Crusher was meant to play the same role McCoy did in TOS. To be the conscience, the passionate doctor that didn't mind debating the right thing. Of course, she was also meant to play off Troi and Tasha Yar as female counterparts to Spock and Kirk respectively, but that didn't really pan out for obvious reasons, which honestly I think helped her character overall. What good would it do to have the doctor, the ship counselor, and the Chief of Security debating about the problem of the week off to the side when none of them would have final say to do anything about it?
Bless you.a million times for doing such a wonderful video for the most underrated character in the history of the Star Trek franchise. You totally nailed what makes her awesome. Thank you.
Interesting fact: British English lacks the first vowel sound used in Kamala Harris’s name as it’s halfway between two existing phonemes. It’s either having to be learned or approximated. Dr Geoff Lindsey has a great video on the linguistics behind it.
One of my favorite Beverly moments is in I, Borg when, during the scene where the crew is reviewing the plan to introduce a virus that will destroy the Borg, Crusher is the only person to say “so, JUST TO BE CLEAR, we're doing genocide now? And we're supposed to be okay with that? And you're all cool with genocide?" Even Troi didn't take that stance during that scene, but everyone came around to Beverly's point of view by the end of the episode.
True, but counterpoint: the next time the Borg come up, an admiral directly orders Picard to commit next time he has an opportunity like he did in I Borg, and Picard admits that in hindsight the admiral might just have a point, and his statement that the Borg can't be reasoned with and are committed to the destruction of the Federation and it's very culture is still true. It's an example of Beverly Crusher oversimplifying the situation and Picard having to remember that even despite what his previous conclusion, he and both of hisoat trusted confidantes, Crusher AND Guinan, might have made the wrong call even if it was the morally correct decision. His statement that the right decision and the correct decision are sometimes at odds with each other is a powerful reminder that ethics is complicated.
I had no idea Patti Yasutake had died... or that she was 70! She was excellent as Nurse Ogawa - one of my favourite recurring characters on TNG. RIP.
Oh, very sorry to hear that.
Yep. My mother is a nurse and a few years younger. She always felt seen by Nurse Ogawa’s portrayal.
Bonus points for her remembering (and using) the shield tech in a later episode because she still believed in him.
It even came into play in Picard. One of the member berries that actually belonged and was useful.
Don't forget that The high ground is the episode that references the Irish unification of 2024. Still time for that to happen by the way!
'Schools on this planet don't fuck around' gave me a legit laugh. That's a good gag there.
Dr. Beverly Crusher had a soft voice but was NEVER soft spoken.
Great vid Steve!
You missed out on her best line in the whole series though, which I think sums up Beverly's strong moral core perfectly: "If there's nothing wrong with me... maybe there's something wrong with the universe..." 😉👍
Looking at the state of the world right now, I definitely feel that quote. I'm sure many people do.
Gates McFadden really sold her character so, so well. She didn't always have a lot to do in several episodes, but she had a quiet, deep strength, commitment to her beliefs and sense of justice. And she was a damned good captain of a slowly disappearing starship. Always loved her work.
I Wanted to bring up " Pen Pals" Where the Doctor is the first to side with Data. Than I remembered: that wasn't Crusher. That was Pulaski. There is a theme there to make the medical professional the dedicated Conscience.
People forget that Pulaski gets over her prejudice to Data fairly quickly, though gradually.
Also if you look backwards, in the classic trinity of Kirk/Spock/McCoy, Bones was the conscience to compliment Spock's impartial calculus.
@@tempusavatarThat’s true. Even in something simple and funny as Bones’ question to Spock: “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?” Spock, in his way, realized that that was what Bones was doing. It may well be why we have that scene between them in Engineering in “The Wrath of Khan”.
This video is how I learned that the Nurse Ogawa actress died. Man that's sad... she was probably my favorite tertiary character in the series. I may or may not have even had a little crush on her...
Legit I think getting into Trek as a kid and seeing Beverly Crusher refusing to let shitty behaviour pass unquestioned had such a huge effect on my moral growth. (And got me into trouble with some of my less ethical teachers.)
Dood, you could just make a whole series summarizing Star Trek episodes like this. It's super hilarious when you quip during these summaries.
I still remember the first time watching Higher Ground as a child on TV. Always hope in the reruns I would see it again. Never did. Decades later found out that episode only aired once due to its controversial nature. Was finally able to scratch that itch when TNG was on Netflix
Same: I think I've literally only seen 'The High Ground' once, when it first aired on TV, yet in all the years since then, I've never forgotten it, even though I've forgotten the plot points of many other great TNG episodes, even ones I've watched more than once.
I recently rewatched The High Ground, a very good episode of the show. What struck me during the episode was how much of a badass they made Crusher just by her actions throughout the runtime. They had her stick to her morals and try to help where she could but not allow herself to be bullied by her abductor.
Let's just not talk about that time she hooked up with her grandma's old flame.
lmao
hee hee
Old Flame
We see what you did there.😊
I mean, who among us hasn't hooked up with their grandmother's ghost lover at least once?
A Scottish Alien Ghost named "Ronin."
_"Ronin."_
Why _"Ronin?!"_
I always appreciate the righteous moral orientation on this channel, regardless of the topic at hand
"Schools on this planet don't fuck around..!" 😄😄😄👍
LOVED the pronunciation lesson on Kamala! YES!!!
Hearing about Patti Yasutake's death this way kinda sucks :(
I glade Gates McFadden stood up for her self with the writers/ directors and producers of TNG , her character was so much deeper when she returned to the show proving that if you fight for your rights you can make a change , although I would have enjoyed Dr Crusher and Dr Dr Polaski working together.
This is probably one of the best ones you have done. BRAVO!
Damn, that was a long list of new supporters at the end. Congrats Steve, looks like things are going well.
Before I start this video, I have to tell you, Steve, that u were so right about Maryland being a flag cult. I’m watching the DNC, and they get to Md, and everybody has a flag!! One woman had many! I watched the other states carefully. There were the Wisconsin cheeseheads of course. But I didn’t see any other state that could approach Maryland’s obsession with flags
The metaphasic shielding episode is amazing - one of the few episodes I missed until the era of DVD's. Great mix of trek tech scifi and character drama. The audiobook Star Trek TNG Reunion read by Mcfadden is pretty good trek flavored 'who done it' mystery too.
Doctor, mother, Starfleet commander, she's my favorite. She embodies strength and compassion.
Dr. Crusher can also be the conscience in small ways. I don’t think most characters would follow up and research tennis rackets to surprise gift Guinan a racket that would solve the tennis elbow problem if Guinan had actually played tennis.
Still should of told Picard she was pregnant before she left him
One of Beverly’s best quotes on this subject (from: I, Borg): “I’m here to help, but I don't have to like it.”
Do you do your best work at night, like me? This is the second video this week that was posted at MIDNIGHT your time!
She is one of my favorite characters. Some of my favorite episodes are the ones where she is the lead role.
Remember Me is one of my favorite TNG episodes, glad it got a mention.
Star Trek V? Oh hell yeah. This is gonna be our time, Jimmy.
This video is a proper return to form for you Steve. Well done.
I know Picard was a mixed bag (to put it kindly), but I loved that Gates McFadden had some nice moments in season three as Beverly. Although I'll need to watch that scene with the captured Changeling again to see if she lost some of her legitimacy as TNG's conscience, as you put it. I remember the moral conundrum, but not how it was resolved.
Reminds me also of I, Borg when the characters are discussing a Borg Genocide & Crusher makes sure they look that fact straight on, rather than hiding behind euphemisms.
Also them not going through with it just delayed the Borg genocide, because Janeway (history’s greatest monster) eventually made sure it happened.
As a black person, I"m very glad Steve didn't go with Head Negotiator In Charge at any point. It would have been...awkward.
As CMO, I think she was the only crew member who could remove Picard from command if she thought he was impaired. That probably contributed to her behaving more as his equal.
🤔um...shouldn't she have known that Gibril's species could survive an autopsy? Just saying.
Good points, both.
She did, when picard was turned into a child. She walked into his office and basicly told him "step down quietly so i dont have to make it an order"
The acronyms & wordplay was done exceptionally well this episode and i laughed from my belly a few times.😂😂
What I love about Crusher is that she breaks a lot of the stereotypes that can be associated with roles like that. Her strength is drawn from her role as a caregiver, and not something that exists in spite of it.
If I remember the Christie story correctly, Suspicions has some similarity to Then There Were None (aka Ten Little Indians), in which someone was murdered then others were murdered. Turns out the first victim hadn't been murdered but was the killer of the others, one by one.
You gotta respect a character that is so sure of themselves that they can say “If there’s nothing wrong with me, maybe there’s something wrong with the universe” with a straight face.
Thank you for explaining the different pronunciations for Kamala. I forgot which was which immediately. I think I better listen to it a few times more.
About Lwaxana, ironically, she has her best appearances in DS9 of all places, where she develops a great chemistry with Odo. Sadly, this often gets overlooked, maybe because many DS9 fans skip right to Way of the Warrior (when things "actually started") on repeat viewings. And these days, I can also empathize with the "masking your true self"-part a lot more. Make no mistake, Lwaxana Troi knows how people truly feel about her, at all times, whether she wants to or not.
As for the gender stereotypes, I keep saying that it's a real shame we lost Tasha Yar - not only because it would've changed the 5:2 split to a 5:3 one, but also because Yar had a job not traditionally associated with women. This would not even have to impede Worf's development - later novels also realized that having security and tactical be handled by one person is not ideal, so they easily could've split up these responsibilities among themselves.
Not to mention the cheap way Yar was killed, then was given a proper sendoff, only to then have her die as a romulan concubine for no reason other than the shock value provided by her very similar looking daughter, which went nowhere.
On the actual topic of the video, Crusher sadly remains as the only female character on the show who absolutely operates on equal footing with Picard, Riker, Data and LaForge. TNG Worf gets thrown around too much, and Troi is too often reduced to stating stuff you really shouldn't need an extrasensory empath to tell you. Hell, even with all the gratuitous fanservice of Picard S3, Crusher blowing the everyliving hell out of a Borg ship isn't even out of character for her, given that she used the knowledge she gained in the episode you pointed to to blow up the Borg ship in Descent. Unlike Troi, she also gets to command the Enterprise outside of an emergency where literally no one else can reach the bridge - both regularly as part of shift rotations and in combat as seen in Descent.
Beverly has always been one of my absolute favorite characters across ALL of Trek. This video only further reinforces that.
One missed opportunity was the film First Contact. When Picard calls Word a coward on the bridge in the third act, Crusher's admonished "Jean-Luc!" is heard, but sadly not seen. Her tone is EXACTLY what you would expect from one old friend seeing abhorrent behaviour from another. I always wished we could see her expression. At least we get to see the follow up of Crusher going into an officer-mode. Her strained voice makes it clear she's trying to be professional but is clearly upset at an unwinnable situation.
24:06 "I saw the sun, and it opened up my eyes, I saw the sun."
That was most certainly a closer.
13:30 Was expecting at least a still of Kira to appear on the monitor.
Hey cheerz!! I appreciate ALL your videos keep up the amazing work!
I would love to see a Star Trek episode with dialogue written by you, in the same tone as your recaps.
Crusher: "Tell that to Sylvester Stallone when he shows up to murder you with a big knife."
Picard: "I'm not afraid of big knifes."
I saw the detention joke coming and laughed out loud anyway 😂
I don't think I disagree with you on any of your points, however I always saw the whole crew as the conscience of the show. Probably because it was in both TOS's and TNG's DNA for the crew of the Enterprise to visit other planets, encounter & examine their issues and for the crew to somehow solve those issues for them. I guess that would make Doctor Crusher 'the conscience of the conscience'
Also I loved how Doctor Crusher was an advocate *for* her patients, most notably in the episode "Ethics", where she seeks to protect Worf from Doctor Russell. Russell was promising a miracle cure for Worf's paralysis despite proper testing or medical evaluation, and Doctor Crusher saw her treatment for what it was; a medically unnecessary risk. She saw what his life could be and tried to make the best for him.
You'll be pleased to know that at the 40min mark, I did shout out "get to the ghost f**king!"
And now I see why you made the 'never stick to Star Trek' video. Starting off talking about High Ground, and people say keep politics out of Star Trek.
"So far-fetched, unbelievable" has strong, "I'm not anybody's lawyer..." vibes. Real Richard Tuckman, Esq. energy.
I was encouraged by the presence of Tasha Yar. I think she could have been given more action. It was a lost opportunity to not have her pair up with Worf more often.
Love your channel!
Great video about a great character.
You're so on point with your humor. Very funny episode. Don't know how you keep thinking of new jokes video after video.
I definitely liked them apples or whatever we have.
"The High Ground"...totally random fact, this episode was the sixth in a row to be aired in season three with a title that started with "The".
Got a bit weird at the end. And you didn't even mention Rowan the Candle Ghost.
This is why they did Dr Crusher dirty in First Contact - the wrath of Picard scene with the little ships is the best in the movie, but it should have been Crusher arguing with him in his ready room, not Lily.
In fact I’d say after Worf questions his objectivity Picard never even makes it to the ready room ‘cause Crusher relieves him from command. What we got instead was some Voyager-level of crew going along with the captain’s bullshit.
Dr. Crusher, another Star Trek Next-Gen all-star who was also easy on the eyes
Most of that cast was just too good looking! I suppose they saw a vision of the future where everyone has perfect bone structure.
Thank you, looking forward to your Trek 5 video. I feel like that guy defending the star wars prequels to people my age talking down on it, but I'm doing it for Trek 5. It's weird. It's a weeeeeird place to be. Aaaaaanywaaaaays.
11:26 ""This is a really nice ship, by the way. *I hate it* "😄
I enjoyed the "full-sized Maglite" comment
Ah, shit. I didn't know Patti Yasutake had passed away. Nurse Ogawa was great, if underused, character. Seriously bummed. RIP Patti.
I'm guessing Famke has adopted the American pronunciation of her last name, because it's not how it's traditionally pronounced in Dutch. 😅
In fairness to the writers, they tried to buck stereotypes with Tasha Yar. It didn't work out, but the intention seemed to be there.
I wish Troi and Beverly would have worked out more together.
Surely the phrase is: “don’t f*ck _with.”_
Pretty good summary.
I'm surprised that you didn't mention 'Ethics'. It is an episode in which Dr. Crusher is very much acting as 'The Conscience', but not necessarily right in her outlook because of the cultural differences between humans and klingons. While she is right to criticise Dr. Russel's medical ethics, denying Worf the experimental procedure based on her cultural beliefs was shortsighted.
16:46 Star Trek, in a sentence
There was an episode where I think Dr. Crusher seriously dropped the ball.
It's the one where Worf was paralyzed, and she disagreed with a visiting doctor who wanted to use an experimental spinal procedure. There are two scenes I wish could've been added.
First, Picard should've called her in, reviewed medical ethics, and pointed out that Worf was entitled to hear a second opinion, and to be the one to choose his course of treatment. Crusher would've had to admit he was right.
Second, as the visiting doctor gets ready to leave, Crusher is delighted at Worf's recovery, but wouldn't feel good about claiming credit for it. The visitor took Crusher's opprobrium meekly, but should've stood up for herself and said medical researchers can't guarantee results but are the ones who make progress possible, by relying on their own judgment. And yes, she will accept congratulations from the medical community.
Conscience or not, Crusher was categorically not the only doctor with a valid viewpoint.
If Picard had somehow made the decision to murder Tuvix, Crusher would have punched him out and declared him medically unfit while unconscious
I don't know, Data was more of the "consciens" by his outsider dispassionate perspective. He shined in the episode where Q became mortal.
Plot hole: So how did Jo'Brill move around the Enterprise and gain access to the shuttle bay without being seen or detected by security systems?
Star trek autopsies are easy to live through because they are noninvasive. There's no cutting. It's just sensors and scans. That is what makes Crusher's "crime" ridiculous, quite apart from the fact that those remains were going to be completely desiccated and put in jars anyway. But she was specifically told not to do the autopsy by the family and the captain. So it is still considered a violation.
Also, Dr. Reyga *did* record his experiment. He collected all the data he could. However since data and even video recordings are easy to falsify in Star Trek, and there were no other witnesses, the premise remains that the others can doubt his data and say they are being asked to rely on his word.
I still laugh at that scene in True Q... but i feel bad *kinda*
Yes, Crusher was the conscience of TNG. And then for Picard they turned her into a remorseless killer.
The problem with the supposed moral quandary in The High Groubd is that the terrorists could have struck the heads of the goverment and police and instead were blowing up and attacking non hostile targets.
They were the last head of security for the territory was assassinated that's how current security lady got her job (at least that's how I remember her punctuating one of her conversations with Riker).
Could they have done more of that thanks to the inverter? Maybe, but you can imagine any number of reasons they couldn't. Maybe the high officials all went into hiding so they didn't no where to invert to. Maybe they made it impossible to scan government buildings so they risk inverting into a wall if they try and invert into them. Maybe all the big wigs are so surrounded by security that any attempt to assassinate them would still almost certainly kill the assassin and so on.
Anyway, I never felt it was a full on moral quandary, just that there were some ethical tensions.
Not to diminish her character, but putting your career on the line is probably easier when your housing and healthcare don't depend on being employed.
Worst case scenario, she goes back to her beautiful Earth apartment and continues to eat healthily and regularly even without being employed. Crisis scenario is that she ends up in an Earth prison where she is well-fed, well-treated, and prepared to return to civilian life as soon as possible.
None of that is possible for us today. To risk your career is to literally risk your very life, and perhaps the lives of others as well.
There was also Tasha Yar in the first season, a woman security officer, but they killed off the character mid season 1. Yeh yeh good point it was a bit of a boys club.
16:25.
The pro wrestler Kamala's real name was James Harris making him "Kamala" Harris.
Interesting take on the character. I agree that she does end up being one of the more consistent 'moral compasses' in the series, in that her characteristic viewpoint does not fundamentally shift so much as shift based upon the circumstances she's faced with, and applying her perspective.
As I watched this, I couldn't help but wonder about what your perspective on Ro Laren as a character (As I say this, I am expressly focused and interested in her time on TNG until Season 7 and her departure, NOT her time in Star Trek: Picard, as I feel the heel turn of the character at that point was... unnecessary and bah, let's just not get into that. Her primary story was in TNG and that's the story that interests me.)
I know, I know. You've already got a thousand topics you could talk about, and discussing Ro Laren as a character sort of stopped being of interest many years ago for quite a few, but I'd be interested to see your perspective on her. I always recall the end of her time on the Enterprises being one of the times where we truly see the cold fury of Picard, the sense of betrayal and how much he would wish to respond, even if he never does and can actually respond to the Ensign's actions within the course of TNG, and that plot point is left dangling, an issue never resolved in the whole of that series and most of the others, even DS9 and Voyager, both with their references to the issues of the Maquis.
So, paint me as curious.
Oh, come on, Steve. "To Finn point" it was right there waiting to be used. 🫠
"Where are the calluses we doctors are supposed to grow over our feelings?" -- Dr. Crusher
"Perhaps the good ones never do." -- Captain Picard
14:31 - An important element of this section is that Beverly is also the only one on the ship who can give orders to Picard (in very specific circumstances). She is the closest he has to there being someone of equal rank on the ship on a regular basis. This is why she is the only person on the ship he could have an ethical romantic relationship with as well.
I hadn't considered that, that's a great point.
I think this underscores an essential component of what it means to be Chief Medical Officer: part of Dr Crusher's duty is to stand up to the captain, and that's no mean feat when the captain is Picard. Beverly standing firm in her morals often goes beyond her duties as chief medical officer, but it's through this that she hones her ability to hold the captain to account.
I loved in I Borg where she voices in simple language that the plan is to commit genocide and that every one seems to have no objections to that.
Also, in "I, Borg," Dr. Crusher is the first one with qualms about using Hugh as a weapon against the Borg.
This is actually a big one for me as my view was the same as everyone elses, kill the borg. It was shocking to see her advocate for a person who couldn't defend themselves.
I feel like there’s a Steve Shives Cinematic Universe of Star Trek jokes. There’s the Lwaxana Troi joke, the Voyager joke, the Tuvix joke… (I feel like that sounds critical but for me it adds to the joke at this point because when you tee one up, there’s always a moment where I’m like, “oh wait, I bet I know where you’re going with this” that, like, raises the dramatic tension of the joke.
I never put it together before, but... Dr. Crusher probably disobeys Picard's orders more often than any other main character in TNG, when it's called for - when it's the "right thing to do". When starfleet officers attempt to forcibly relocate human colonists in a later episode, it's Dr. Crusher's son, Wesley, who disobeys those orders - and interrupts the mission - because it was the "right thing to do". Maybe he learned something from her.
“Don’t f*** Beverly Crusher!” This should be a sign that is posted in any and all haunted houses within Federation space.
It should include a picture of Wesley to illustrate why this is such a bad idea.
The candle ghost also ended up in a billion phaser- vaporized atoms.
Hey, Picard ended up doing pretty well, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Picard had Jack Crusher killed after he f***ed Beverly. I have nothing to base that on, just head canon.
One of the things I've always loved about star trek is the doctors being incredibly smart science minded individuals, that are also the most human members of the crew. Bones, Crusher, and Bashir are not fools, they are very technically minded, but they are also still in touch with their emotions, and usually the first to call out cruelty for what it is. So often we claim that a high inelegance, or a great deal of logic makes a person cold, but you can easily be foolish and cold. The doctors are just smart enough to realize that life is fragile, and the soul can get just as sick as the body.
Interestingly enough, I would include “The Doctor” in “Voyager”, despite being a hologram serves as a figure of conscience having even developed enough ethics to call out the eugenics of a certain planet in the episode “Critical Care”.
Of possible note, I don't think TNG wanted the mostly boys club either, they had Tasha as the security chief, a woman in the bad-ass department, Worf only became head of security because Denise dropped out. I'd like to imagine what later TNG would have been like with Tasha staying on the crew.
I don't know how we're supposed to take his supposition in the opening. Is he asserting this was an intentional outcome that had a motivation? Is he merely using hindsight to lay down a format for criticism through today's lens? Crusher was probably my 2nd fav character behind Data from watching it on TV initially, and I'm down for a discussion about how good an actress Gates was, and a character Crusher was .... but it sure seems like SS was trying to get some kind of digs in initially...
They were actually going to get rid of Troi had Denise stayed because there were “too many women”
Yeah, he kinda conveniently leaves this out. Not to mention, it’s not like DS9 had a huge number of women in the regular cast. It’s basically Kira and Jadzia with Keiko occasionally showing up along with guest characters, but she too is a caregiver type being a mom and teacher.
And If the argument is Kira is a more non-traditional character portraying a role more often portrayed by the boys, let’s not forget she was originally meant to be Ro Laren, a character that originated in TNG and was an adaptation of her when Michelle Forbes chose not to continue.
@@Anonyomus_commenterAllegedly Gene didn’t want to, but was getting pressured by the studio.
Always worth remembering that when TNG was being planned out, Dr.Crusher was meant to play the same role McCoy did in TOS. To be the conscience, the passionate doctor that didn't mind debating the right thing. Of course, she was also meant to play off Troi and Tasha Yar as female counterparts to Spock and Kirk respectively, but that didn't really pan out for obvious reasons, which honestly I think helped her character overall. What good would it do to have the doctor, the ship counselor, and the Chief of Security debating about the problem of the week off to the side when none of them would have final say to do anything about it?
Bless you.a million times for doing such a wonderful video for the most underrated character in the history of the Star Trek franchise. You totally nailed what makes her awesome. Thank you.
Jo'Bril wasn't just autopsied. He was autopsied TWICE and survived somehow. lmao
Interesting fact: British English lacks the first vowel sound used in Kamala Harris’s name as it’s halfway between two existing phonemes. It’s either having to be learned or approximated. Dr Geoff Lindsey has a great video on the linguistics behind it.