Hello, everyone! How’s everything going? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the drama Pulse, which debuted on Netflix as their inaugural original procedural medical drama series.
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Pulse made its debut on Netflix on April 3, 2025, offering 10 episodes of gripping medical drama, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Created by Zoe Robyn and led by showrunner Carlton Cuse, this series features Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they tackle the intense environment of emergency medicine in Miami.
The narrative centers around the personal and professional journeys of doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center, but it transcends the standard medical procedural. The show delves into how a cohort of ER residents cope with medical emergencies and personal turmoil amidst a divisive allegation at their hospital, creating a charged atmosphere that permeates each episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Crisis
Willa Fitzgerald portrays Danny Simms, a multifaceted character who balances escalating relationship issues with the high demands of working in Miami’s emergency department. Danny becomes the focal point of the show’s primary conflict when she makes a significant allegation that causes friction among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is both intricate and engaging. As showrunner Carlton Cuse states, “Danny’s not as complex as she appears. She’s even more complex,” and this depth contributes substantially to the emotional gravitas of the series. Her character development addresses issues of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal repercussions of confronting authority in a high-stress medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Alleged and the Aftermath
Colin Woodell takes on the role of Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose relationship with Danny becomes the epicenter of the hospital’s major controversy. The series utilizes dual timelines—present-day scenarios and flashbacks to the recent past—to illustrate the repercussions of Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s performance carefully navigates the line between sympathy and suspicion. The show refrains from providing straightforward resolutions regarding guilt or innocence, instead emphasizing how the allegation impacts everyone involved, including fellow residents and hospital management.
The Turmoil Inside and Outside: Miami in Distress
As a hurricane approaches Miami, the atmosphere in the Maguire ER is equally tumultuous, with the serious allegation creating divisions among the residents. The show cleverly employs the external threat of the hurricane as a metaphor for the internal disorder afflicting the hospital staff.
The Miami backdrop is not just a setting; it is essential to the series’ character. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural demographic, and the high-stakes medical scenarios often relate to the specific challenges of providing healthcare in a major urban center vulnerable to natural disasters.
Supporting Ensemble: A Divided Hospital
The cast features Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Daniela Nieves, Chelsea Muirhead, and Jessy Yates, each adding depth to their characters as residents, nurses, and staff embroiled in the hospital’s turmoil. The supporting roles are not merely background figures; they all have vested interests in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” act as a sort of reset, with several residents taking a well-deserved day off while revealing more about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing.
Mixed Reviews on Netflix: A Challenging Debut
All ten episodes of Pulse were released on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series encountered obstacles regarding viewer reception. For some, Pulse seems to suffer from unfortunate timing, following closely on the heels of the critically acclaimed HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Regrettably, Netflix canceled the series after its first season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
The series received a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed yet not entirely unfavorable reception. While some critics acknowledged the show’s courage in addressing tough topics, others believed it struggled to establish its identity in the competitive medical drama genre.
If you enjoy medical dramas that confront pressing contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is definitely worth a watch on Netflix. Although it may not have enjoyed the longevity of other medical series, it provides a thoughtful analysis of how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-stress environments.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a compelling albeit brief exploration of medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of medical dramas should not overlook.
Series Information:
Total 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
Antagonist: The systemic issues within the hospital and the impacts of the harassment allegation