Why is Doctor Pulaski (2nd season of TNG) almost universally disliked by Trek fans?

https://www.quora.com/Was-Dr-Pulaski-viewed-negatively-because-of-her-interactions-with-Data-or-because-Dr-Crusher-was-actually-missed-in-season-two-of-Star-Trek-TNG-I-always-liked-her-character-better-but-think-it-s-a-minority-opinion/answer/Jon-Mixon-1

Something about the way that Muldaur emotes or inhabits her characters makes her “off putting” to the average viewer. Although she was in two episodes of the original series, in neither one was she particularly sympathetic. In fact, despite being the victim of alien taking over her mind in her first appearance, Muldaur came across as being the episode’s antagonist.

If you watched her performances throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, prior to her being cast in Star Trek: TNG, it’s clear that productions had great difficulty classifying her, and she experienced a great deal of career turnover (although a lot of work) until she landed on Star Trek for the second time. A good example of why it’s difficult to cast Ms. Muldaur can be seen in the 1970s anthology series McCloud, where she portrayed a love interest for the main character, but seems to have little chemistry with him.

By the time that Star Trek: TNG came around, Muldaur was a television veteran, but not someone who was in high demand. She replaced Gates McFadden who was a likable, if bland actor, when McFadden left due to what now seems to have been an extended period of sexual harassment, but Muldaur wasn’t able to define her character. She came across as prickly and cold and that’s not what the role required. Unfortunately, since Muldaur was also older at the time and not dressed in a figure flattering wardrobe, she came across as matronly and not a desirable character.

> Her acting was absolutely terrible.

Agreed. Whether she was playing Pulaski on TNG, or Rosalind Shays on L. A. Law, or her roles on TOS, or anything else, Diana Muldaur seemed to have one facial expression and one tone of voice she used for every situation -- love, rage, fear, etc. I'd call her acting "wooden" but that would be an insult to trees.

I heard that just about everybody in the main cast with the exception of Michael Dorn, hated working with Diana Muldaur. They didn't like the fact that she was making more money than all of them except Patrick Stewart due to her long career in television. They were also pissed that Muldaur got a more comfortable uniform because she refused to wear the one piece uniform (Stewart had been pushing for a costume change since the first season).

And speaking of Patrick Stewart, he in particular, went out of his way to give her shit for having so much trouble memorizing the medical jargon she had to spout that she resorted to cue cards. Stewart found that to be completely unprofessional. It didn't help that he adored Gates McFadden and was deeply upset by her firing.

Pulaski WAS a bully. End of.