Hello, everyone! How’s it going? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the show Pulse, which debuted on Netflix as their inaugural original medical procedural drama.
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Premiering on April 3, 2025, Pulse offers 10 episodes filled with gripping medical narratives, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Crafted by Zoe Robyn and overseen by showrunner Carlton Cuse, the series stars Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they tackle the demanding environment of emergency medicine in Miami.
The show delves into the personal and professional experiences of doctors and staff at a bustling trauma center in Miami, going beyond a conventional medical procedural. It portrays how a group of ER residents confront medical emergencies and personal turmoil amidst a contentious allegation at their hospital, creating a charged atmosphere that resonates through every episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Turmoil
Willa Fitzgerald plays Danny Simms, a multifaceted character balancing growing relationship struggles with the intense demands of emergency room work in Miami. Danny becomes pivotal to the central conflict of the series when she makes a serious accusation that fractures relationships among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s portrayal of Danny is rich and captivating. As Carlton Cuse notes, “Danny’s not just complicated; she’s even more layered than she appears,” and this depth contributes significantly to the show’s emotional impact. Her character development addresses themes of workplace harassment, power relations, and the personal repercussions of confronting authority in a high-stress medical context.
Xander Phillips: The Alleged and the Consequences
Colin Woodell depicts Xander Phillips, another resident whose connection with Danny becomes the focal point of the hospital’s main controversy. The series cleverly employs dual timelines—present events and flashbacks—to reveal the fallout from Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s performance navigates a delicate balance, presenting a character who elicits both sympathy and skepticism. The series avoids simplistic conclusions about guilt or innocence, instead concentrating on how the accusation impacts everyone involved, from other residents to hospital management.
The Tempest Inside and Out: Miami’s Tensions
As a hurricane approaches Miami, the situation in the Maguire ER is equally tempestuous, as the serious allegation has created divisions among the residents. The show cleverly uses the impending storm as a metaphor for the internal turmoil besieging the hospital staff.
The Miami setting serves not merely as a backdrop but as a vital aspect of the show’s essence. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural demographics, and the high-stakes medical cases frequently align with the unique challenges of practicing medicine in a major city susceptible to natural disasters.
Supporting Characters: A Divided Hospital
The ensemble 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 turmoil. These supporting characters are not mere extras; they each possess their own stakes in the outcome of Danny’s claim.
The concluding five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” act as a reset in certain respects, with several residents taking a well-deserved break while more details about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing are unveiled.
Mixed Reviews on Netflix: A Complex Launch
All ten episodes of Pulse became available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, yet the series has struggled with viewer reception. Some audiences believe Pulse suffered from unfortunate timing, coming soon after the acclaimed HBO drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Regrettably, Netflix canceled the series after one 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 response. While some critics commended the show for tackling challenging topics, others felt it didn’t fully establish its footing in the saturated medical drama landscape.
If you enjoy medical dramas that confront pressing contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is definitely worth a watch on Netflix. While it may not have enjoyed the same longevity as other medical series, it provides a thoughtful look at how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure settings.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a captivating, albeit brief, examination of medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of the genre should not overlook.
Show Details:
Number of Episodes: 10 episodes
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDb)
Genre: Medical Drama, Workplace Drama
Main Characters: Willa Fitzgerald (Danny Simms), Colin Woodell (Xander Phillips), Justina Machado
Adversary: The systemic issues within the hospital and the fallout from the harassment claim