Hey, everyone! Hope you’re all doing well. Today, I’m diving into a review of the drama Pulse, which made its debut on Netflix as their inaugural original medical drama series.
Debuting on Netflix on April 3, 2025, Pulse offered viewers 10 gripping episodes of medical drama, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Created by Zoe Robyn with Carlton Cuse as the showrunner, the series features Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell navigating the intense world of emergency medicine in Miami.
The narrative follows the intricate personal and professional lives of doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center. It’s more than a standard medical procedural, delving into the lives of ER residents as they face medical emergencies and personal conflicts amid a contentious accusation at their Miami hospital, creating a charged atmosphere throughout the series.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Turmoil
Willa Fitzgerald plays Danny Simms, a multifaceted character managing rising relationship tensions along with the high stakes of working in a Miami ER. Danny becomes the focal point of the main conflict when she makes a grave accusation, causing divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s depiction of Danny is both layered and captivating. As showrunner Carlton Cuse mentions, “Danny is not as complex as she seems. She’s even more intricate,” and this complexity adds significant emotional depth to the series. Her character’s journey delves into themes of workplace harassment, power struggles, and the personal repercussions of speaking truth to power in a demanding medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Accused and Its Aftermath
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny sparks the central controversy in the hospital. The series employs dual timelines—present day and flashbacks—to unravel the ramifications of Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s portrayal is skillfully balanced, depicting a character who is both relatable and questionable. The show refrains from providing straightforward answers regarding guilt or innocence, instead highlighting the impact of the accusation on everyone, from fellow residents to hospital management.
The Internal and External Storms: Miami Under Duress
As a hurricane looms over Miami, turmoil is equally prevalent in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has caused fractures among residents. The series cleverly uses the external threat of the hurricane as a metaphor for the internal chaos affecting the hospital staff.
Miami’s setting is more than just a backdrop; it’s essential to the show’s identity. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural community, and the high-pressure medical cases frequently connect to the unique challenges of practicing medicine in a major metropolitan area susceptible to natural disasters.
Supporting Cast: A Hospital Divided
The ensemble cast includes Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Daniela Nieves, Chelsea Muirhead, and Jessy Yates, each adding depth to their roles as residents, nurses, and staff caught in the hospital’s crisis. The supporting characters aren’t mere background figures; each has their own stakes in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” represent a reset in some aspects, offering several residents a needed break while revealing further details about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing.
Mixed Reception on Netflix: A Challenging Debut
All ten episodes of Pulse were released on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series encountered challenges with viewer reception. Some believe Pulse suffered from unfortunate timing, debuting soon after the acclaimed HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered January 9, 2025. Sadly, Netflix canceled the series after one season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
The series earned a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not entirely negative reception. While some critics appreciated the show’s boldness in addressing complex issues, others felt it struggled to establish itself in the crowded medical drama genre.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that confront contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is worth watching on Netflix. Although it didn’t achieve the longevity of other medical dramas, it provides a thoughtful exploration of how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure environments.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a brief yet engaging look into medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of the genre shouldn’t miss.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 10 episodes Platform: Netflix Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDb) Genre: Medical Drama, Workplace Drama Protagonists: Willa Fitzgerald (Danny Simms), Colin Woodell (Xander Phillips), Justina Machado Antagonist: The systemic issues within the hospital and the consequences of the harassment allegation