Gates McFadden felt her character was matronly on Star Trek: The Next Generation

Gates McFadden is returning as Dr. Beverly Crusher on Star Trek: Picard but in a much different manner.

Gates McFadden always wanted to do more action on Star Trek: The Next Generation, but the series tended to keep her character, Dr. Beverly Crusher, on the sidelines, having her dispense advice and occasionally disagree with Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). Things got worse for the actress after she returned in season three.

At the Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, McFadden said she had a fantastic time working on Star Trek: Picard because she did get to do more action. And, when asked to elaborate on her statements by The Wrap, she said “I felt like with the switch between second and third season, I felt I came back and it was a much more matronly character.”

With a background in choreography, McFadden said she has done dance and combat and wanted to do more with her character, but it wasn’t allowed until the seventh season of the show. That’s when she became more like the character Gene Roddenberry told her she would be.

Terry Matalas had a different vision for Gates McFadden on Star Trek: Picard

McFadden said she really loved Terry’s ideas about her character and where Dr. Crusher would be now. She loved that she starts out the series’ third season doing something active, adding that she thinks there is a much bigger range to Crusher in this season.

From the glimpses we’ve seen of Dr. Crusher in the trailer for Picard’s third season, she definitely isn’t the doctor we knew aboard the Enterprise. In fact, she isn’t even in Starfleet anymore, and she’s handling a weapon like it’s a part of her. That speaks of good things to come for the good doctor, and it’s doubtful there will be any matronly scenes.