Star Trek Firing Doctor Crusher In TNG Season 1 Never Made Sense

Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) was fired from Star Trek: The Next Generation after season 1 due to problems behind the scenes, but her departure never made sense. As the Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Crusher had one of the most important positions aboard the USS Enterprise-D. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) clearly trusted and respected her, and Dr. Crusher proved invaluable on numerous occasions in season 1 alone. On top of her duties as a doctor and Starfleet officer, Beverly was also one of the only parents on the show, and a single mother at that.

With everything Dr. Beverly Crusher brought to the crew of the Enterprise-D, it made no sense to let her go after season 1. Another female character, Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby), was already killed off in TNG season 1, making Dr. Crusher’s sudden departure even more glaring. Actress Gates McFadden has spoken about her departure in various interviews, saying that conflict with TNG season 2 showrunner Maurice Hurley led to McFadden being fired. Thankfully, TNG fans had already grown to love the character, and the producers (and Patrick Stewart) asked her to return for season 3.

Doctor Crusher Was Always A Great Character (Even When TNG Didn’t See It)

From the beginning of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Beverly proved time and again to be a skilled and compassionate doctor, who played an important role in numerous missions. Although TNG did not always give Dr. Crusher the chance to be the hero, she rose to the occasion whenever she was the one left to save the day. Beverly was not afraid to stand up to Captain Picard when she knew she was right, and she had the best bedside manner out of any Star Trek doctor. Dr. Crusher’s skills as a scientist also come in handy whenever the Enterprise encounters an unknown species or disease.

In TNG season 1, episode 18, “Home Soil,” for example, Dr. Crusher puts the tried and true scientific method to use when the Enterprise encounters an inorganic new form of life. In one of Beverly Crusher’s best TNG episodes, season 4’s “Remember Me,” Dr. Crusher finds herself the only person on the Enterprise who notices that crew members keep disappearing. Despite the fact that people do not believe her, she continues to search for answers until she finds the cause. Plus, Beverly manages to be an accomplished doctor and scientist, while also being a great single mother to her son, Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton).

Beverly Finally Realized Her Full Potential In Star Trek: Picard Season 3

Dr. Beverly Crusher makes a triumphant return in Star Trek: Picard season 3, which sees her reunite with the rest of the TNG cast. Beverly is central to Picard season 3, and it’s her distress call to Admiral Picard that starts off the main story. After Picard and Captain William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) commander the USS Titan-A and rescue Beverly, she reveals that she gave birth to Picard’s son, Jack Crusher (Ed Speleers), over 20 years ago. Dr. Crusher then spends the rest of the season fighting for her son and helping the reunited TNG crew stop the Changelings and the Borg.

Since her time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Beverly has added even more skills to her resume, as she proves by expertly operating the Enterprise-D’s weapons system against the Borg. She may have changed over the years, but Beverly still gets to be a doctor, a scientist, and a mom in Picard season 3. Dr. Crusher saves the life of Titan Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick) when the medical scanners miss internal bleeding, and she notices a pattern in the energy bursts when the Titan begins sinking into a gravity well. Picard season 3 gave Dr. Beverly Crusher the chance to achieve her full potential, showing how much she has grown as a character since the early days of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard are available to stream on Paramount+.