Star Trek Fans Recall TNG's Crusher as the Multitalented Dancing Doctor

Summary

Lt. Boimler expresses his interest in learning tap dance from Dr. Beverly Crusher in a recent episode of Star Trek: Lower Decks. The episode also uncovers Starfleet's focus on investigating former officers, including Dr. Crusher.

Dr. Crusher's current whereabouts in Star Trek: Lower Decks remain a mystery, as she has severed communication with her former colleagues.

In Star Trek: Lower Decks, Lt. Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) expresses his longing for Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) to teach him the art of tap dancing, reminding viewers of her role as the dancing doctor in Star Trek: The Next Generation. While the latest episode of Lower Decks commences like any other, Boimler and the rest of the Lower Deckers quickly find themselves stranded on the perilous planet Sherbal V. This planet serves as the exile location for abducted extraterrestrials, enforced by the antagonist of Lower Decks season 4, former Starfleet Academy Cadet Nicholas Locarno (Robert Duncan McNeill).

Throughout Season 4 of Star Trek: Lower Decks, Locarno has been attacking several non-Federation ships, demonstrating the ability to disable various systems. In Episode 9, "The Inner Fight," Captain Carol Freeman reveals that Starfleet has discovered that the unidentified enemy is specifically targeting former Starfleet officers. As a result, Starfleet provides the Cerritos with the names of four ex-Starfleet officers who must be located and escorted back to Earth. When Boimler sees the names, he excitedly exclaims, "Oh, my God, we're gonna meet Beverly Crusher?" However, Boimler is disappointed to learn that the USS Vancouver has been assigned the task of finding Beverly. Clearly, Boimler is a fan of the former Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise-D.

Star Trek: Lower Decks’ Boimler Reminds Fans Beverly Crusher Was The Dancing Doctor

Dr. Crusher revealed she could tap dance in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Data's Day."

After the Lower Deckers are forced to make an emergency transport down to Sherbal V, Lt. Boimler's thoughts continue to be consumed by Dr. Crusher. Seekingshelter in a cavern to rest, Boimler unconsciously mumbles in his sleep, requesting Dr. Crusher to teach him how to tap dance. In a specific episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, Season 4, Episode 11, named "Data's Day," Dr. Beverly Crusher assists an android named Lt. Commander Data in learning how to dance. The inclusion of the dancing scenes in the episode is partly due to Gates McFadden's own tap dancing abilities, as she was a renowned choreographer in Hollywood prior to her involvement in TNG. She took charge of choreographing the dance scene and performed all the dancing herself.

Throughout the series, Lt. Commander Data engages in various human hobbies and activities, and he decides to explore the world of dance in "Data's Day." After reviewing Dr. Crusher's service record and discovering her past experiences in dancing competitions, Data approaches her with a request for dance lessons. Initially hesitant, Dr. Crusher expresses her unwillingness to be labeled as the "dancing doctor" yet again. Nevertheless, she eventually agrees and proceeds to teach Data tap and ballroom dancing. Unfortunately for Dr. Crusher, her reputation as the "dancing doctor" seems to persist, particularly in Lt. Boimler's mind.

Where Is Dr. Beverly Crusher in Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Picard season 3 revealed Dr. Crusher left the USS Enterprise-E.

Lower Decks takes place within the Star Trek timeline, starting approximately one year after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis in 2379. Therefore, it can be inferred that Dr. Crusher departed Starfleet not long after the occurrences depicted in the film. According to the revelations in season 3 of Star Trek: Picard, Beverly and Captain Jean-Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart) conceived a son, named Jack Crusher (portrayed by Ed Speleers), during their shore leave in 2381. Following this, Picard faced numerous threats to his life. Combining this with Picard's aversion to children, Beverly made the decision to raise their son on her own. As a result, Dr. Crusher severed all communication ties with her friends and former crewmates from the USS Enterprise-E, leaving them uncertain of her whereabouts for nearly two decades.

According to the Star Trek timeline, in "The Inner Fight," Starfleet is searching for Dr. Crusher, implying that she has already departed from the Enterprise-E and severed communication with the crew. In Star Trek: Picard season 3, it is deduced that Beverly would have been either pregnant or caring for the infant Jack, considering Jack Crusher's age. The exact details of how Beverly and Jack spent the time between Nemesis and Picard remain unknown, but Dr. Crusher did continue practicing medicine by providing assistance to non-Federation planets. Unfortunately for Lt. Boimler from Star Trek: Lower Decks, it is doubtful that Beverly devoted much time to honing her dancing skills during this period.

Don't miss the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks, streaming on Paramount+ this Thursday.