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, presenting 10 episodes filled with gripping medical drama, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. The series was crafted by Zoe Robyn and features showrunner Carlton Cuse, with Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell leading the cast as they navigate the intense realm of emergency medicine in Miami.
This series delves into the personal and professional journeys of doctors and staff at a bustling trauma center in Miami, but it transcends the typical medical procedural. It sheds light on how a group of ER residents confronts medical emergencies and personal conflicts amid a controversial allegation at their Miami hospital, generating a tense ambiance that resonates throughout each episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Crisis
Willa Fitzgerald takes on the role of Danny Simms, a multifaceted character who balances escalating relationship issues with the high demands of working in Miami’s emergency room. Danny becomes the focal point of the show’s primary conflict when she makes a serious claim that creates divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is rich and captivating. As showrunner Carlton Cuse articulates, “Danny’s not as complicated as she appears. She’s even more complex,” and this complexity significantly contributes to the emotional depth of the series. Her character’s journey explores themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal repercussions of standing up against authority in a high-pressure medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Accused and Its Repercussions
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny sparks the hospital’s central controversy. The series employs dual timelines—present-day events and flashbacks to recent history—to illustrate the fallout from Danny’s harassment accusation against Phillips.
Woodell’s portrayal treads a delicate line, showcasing a character who is both sympathetic and questionable. The show refrains from providing clear-cut answers regarding guilt or innocence, instead highlighting how the allegation impacts everyone involved, from other residents to hospital administration.
The Turmoil In and Out: Miami in Crisis
As a hurricane threatens Miami, tensions rise in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has created fractures among the residents. The show cleverly uses the looming hurricane as a metaphor for the internal turmoil affecting the hospital staff.
The Miami backdrop is not merely a setting; it plays a crucial role in the show’s essence. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural fabric, and the high-stakes medical scenarios often intertwine with the unique challenges faced in a major city vulnerable to natural disasters.
Supporting Cast: A Hospital in Turmoil
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 entangled in the hospital’s crisis. These supporting characters are not mere background figures; they each have their own stakes regarding the outcome of Danny’s claim.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” serve as a reset of sorts, allowing several residents a much-needed day off while further details about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing come to light.
Reception on Netflix: A Challenging Start
All ten episodes of Pulse were released on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series has encountered challenges regarding viewer reception. For some, Pulse appears to have suffered from unfortunate timing, arriving shortly after the 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 garnered a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not entirely unfavorable reception. While certain critics applauded the show for addressing challenging topics, others felt it struggled to establish its footing amidst a crowded field of medical dramas.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that confront serious contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is definitely worth a watch on Netflix. Although it may not have achieved the longevity of other medical series, it offers a thoughtful analysis of how personal disagreements can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure settings.
Even with its cancellation, Pulse provides a compelling, albeit brief, exploration of medical ethics and personal accountability that should not be overlooked by medical drama enthusiasts.
Series Information:
Episode Count: 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 fallout from the harassment claim