Hello, everyone! How’s everything? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the series Pulse, which debuted on Netflix as their inaugural original procedural medical drama.
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Pulse debuted on Netflix on April 3, 2025, offering 10 gripping episodes, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Created by Zoe Robyn and featuring showrunner Carlton Cuse, this series showcases Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they navigate the intense landscape of emergency medicine in Miami.
The series intricately depicts the personal and professional experiences of doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center, but it transcends the typical medical procedural. The show delves into how a cohort of ER residents handle medical emergencies and personal dilemmas amidst a controversial allegation at their Miami hospital, crafting a charged atmosphere that resonates throughout each episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Crisis
Willa Fitzgerald plays Danny Simms, a multifaceted character who balances escalating relationship issues with the high-stakes environment of an emergency room in Miami. Danny becomes the focal point of the series’ main conflict when she levies a serious allegation that causes divisions within the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is rich and engaging. As showrunner Carlton Cuse notes, “Danny’s not as complex as she appears. She’s even more intricate,” and this depth contributes significantly to the series’ emotional gravitas. Her character’s journey highlights themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal ramifications of confronting authority in a demanding medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Alleged and Its Consequences
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny becomes the epicenter of the hospital’s primary controversy. The series employs dual timelines – the present and flashbacks to recent events – to depict the fallout from Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s portrayal strikes a delicate balance, presenting a character who is both sympathetic and questionable. The show avoids simplistic conclusions about guilt or innocence, focusing instead on how the claim influences everyone involved, from fellow residents to hospital leadership.
The Turbulence Outside and Within: Miami in Crisis
As a hurricane approaches Miami, turmoil reigns in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has created rifts among the residents. The show cleverly employs the looming threat of the hurricane as a metaphor for the internal turmoil affecting the hospital staff.
The Miami backdrop is not merely a setting; it is essential to the show’s identity. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural population, and the high-stakes medical situations often relate to the unique challenges of practicing medicine in a major urban area prone to natural disasters.
Supporting Characters: A Hospital Torn Apart
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 hospital staff caught in the middle of the crisis. These supporting characters are not mere background figures; they each hold significant stakes in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The last five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” function as a reset in some respects, with several residents taking a well-deserved day off while more details about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing come to light.
Mixed Reviews on Netflix: A Challenging Premiere
All ten episodes of Pulse were made available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series encountered issues with viewer reception. For some, Pulse is simply a casualty of unfortunate timing, arriving shortly after the praised HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Sadly, Netflix canceled the series after a single season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
The series received a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating mixed but not entirely negative feedback. While some critics lauded the show’s willingness to address challenging topics, others felt it struggled to find its place in the saturated medical drama landscape.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that confront serious contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is worth your time on Netflix. Although it may not have enjoyed the longevity of other medical series, it provides a thoughtful exploration of how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure settings.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a fascinating albeit brief look at medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of medical dramas should not overlook.
Series Information:
Episodes: 10 episodes
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDb)
Genre: Medical Drama, Workplace Drama
Main Cast: Willa Fitzgerald (Danny Simms), Colin Woodell (Xander Phillips), Justina Machado
Antagonist: The systemic issues within the hospital and the aftermath of the harassment claim.