Hello, everyone! How’s everything going? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the series Pulse, which marks Netflix’s first original procedural medical drama.
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Launching on Netflix on April 3, 2025, Pulse offers 10 gripping episodes, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Developed by Zoe Robyn and featuring showrunner Carlton Cuse, the series stars Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they tackle the demanding world of emergency medicine in Miami.
The narrative delves into the personal and professional dynamics of the doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center. However, it transcends the typical medical procedural by examining how a group of ER residents confront medical emergencies and personal issues amidst a contentious allegation at their Miami hospital, creating a charged environment that resonates throughout the series.
Danny Simms: A Resident in the Spotlight
Willa Fitzgerald takes on the role of Danny Simms, a multifaceted character who grapples with increasing relationship tensions while facing the intense demands of an ER in Miami. Danny becomes pivotal to the show’s central conflict when she makes a significant allegation that causes divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Danny is layered and engaging. As Carlton Cuse notes, “Danny’s not as complicated as she appears. She’s even more complicated,” and this depth adds emotional weight to the series. Her character journey delves into issues of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal repercussions of confronting authority in a high-stakes medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Accused and its Consequences
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny becomes the focal point of the hospital’s main controversy. The show skillfully employs dual timelines – the present and flashbacks to recent events – to illustrate the fallout from Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s performance delicately balances sympathy and ambiguity. The narrative refrains from offering clear-cut answers regarding guilt or innocence, instead concentrating on the ripple effects of the allegation on everyone from fellow residents to hospital administration.
The Turmoil In and Out: Miami Under Strain
As a hurricane approaches Miami, turmoil brews in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has created divisions among the residents. The show cleverly uses the impending storm as a metaphor for the internal disarray affecting the hospital personnel.
The Miami setting serves not just as a backdrop; it is crucial to the show’s essence. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural demographic, and the high-pressure medical scenarios often reflect the unique challenges of practicing medicine in a large urban area susceptible to natural disasters.
Supporting Characters: A Hospital in Conflict
The cast features Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Daniela Nieves, Chelsea Muirhead, and Jessy Yates, each contributing depth to their roles as residents, nurses, and staff entangled in the hospital’s turmoil. These supporting characters are not merely background figures; they each have personal stakes in the resolution of Danny’s allegation.
The last five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” serve as a sort of reset, with several residents taking a much-needed day off while revealing more about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing.
Mixed Reactions on Netflix: A Complex Debut
All ten episodes of Pulse were made available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series has encountered challenges regarding viewer reception. For some, Pulse suffers from poor timing, launching just after the acclaimed HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Regrettably, Netflix decided to cancel the series after its first season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
The series garnered a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not entirely unfavorable reception. While some critics commended the show for addressing challenging topics, others felt it struggled to carve out its niche in the competitive medical drama genre.
For fans of medical dramas that tackle pressing contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is worth a watch on Netflix. Although it may not have the staying power of other medical series, it provides a thoughtful perspective on how personal disputes can undermine professional relationships in high-pressure settings.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a fascinating, albeit brief, exploration of medical ethics and personal responsibility that enthusiasts of the genre should not overlook.
Series Information:
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: Systemic issues within the hospital and ramifications of the harassment claim