There is a huge difference between the Enterprise Doctor or Engineer overcoming odds and solving the problem and walking in saying, “I’m the Galaxy’s expert in this.” “Oh and I’m also the Galaxy’s expert in this and that too.”
You’re right. In the former case it’s utterly implausible that every ship doctor would not be an expert in a thing but still somehow be able to cure that thing. Every. Damn. Time.
At least with Pulaski they gave an excuse (well, assuming I buy your claims; frankly, I think you’re overstating things quite a bit).
There is a huge difference between the Enterprise Doctor or Engineer overcoming odds and solving the problem and walking in saying, “I’m the Galaxy’s expert in this.” “Oh and I’m also the Galaxy’s expert in this and that too.”
You’re right. In the former case it’s utterly implausible that every ship doctor would not be an expert in a thing but still somehow be able to cure that thing. Every. Damn. Time.
At least with Pulaski they gave an excuse (well, assuming I buy your claims; frankly, I think you’re overstating things quite a bit).
Not being an expert, having a problem, learning, and overcoming the problem is the narrative circle.
Walking in as the foremost expert on everything is called a Mary Sue and is correctly derided as bad writing.
If we had been introduced to Pulaski being a virologist and then in later episodes her expertise is useful, that’s fine, narratively.
Edited:
Picard travels to the best heart surgeon in the Federation. Billions of humans. The best out of Billion:
"PHYSIOLOGIST: You’re unwilling to make the attempt??
SURGEON: I’m not qualified.
PHYSIOLOGIST: I know someone who is."
<Pulaski>
Best virologists in the Federation (again that means billions of people) doing cutting edge research:
"KINGSLEY [on viewscreen]: To whom am I speaking, please?
PULASKI: I’m Doctor Pulaski, Chief Medical Officer.
KINGSLEY [on viewscreen]: Katherine Pulaski, author of Linear Models of Viral Propagation?"
It’s hamfisted writing.