Hello, everyone! How are you? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the drama Pulse, which debuted on Netflix as their inaugural original procedural medical series.
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Pulse made its debut on Netflix on April 3, 2025, showcasing 10 episodes of gripping medical storytelling, with each episode lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Designed by Zoe Robyn and featuring Carlton Cuse as showrunner, the series stars Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they navigate the demanding field of emergency medicine in Miami.
The show portrays the personal and professional journeys of doctors and staff at a bustling trauma center in Miami, but it transcends the typical medical procedural. It delves into how a group of ER residents confront medical emergencies and personal turmoil against the backdrop of a divisive allegation within their Miami hospital, crafting a tense atmosphere that is felt throughout each episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Crisis
Willa Fitzgerald takes on the role of Danny Simms, a multifaceted character balancing escalating relationship issues with the high stakes of working in an emergency room in Miami. Danny becomes pivotal to the show’s central conflict when she voices a serious accusation that causes divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is rich and captivating. As Carlton Cuse, the showrunner, notes, “Danny’s not as straightforward as she seems. She’s even more complex,” and this intricacy lends much of the series’ emotional depth. Her character arc addresses themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal ramifications of confronting authority in a high-pressure medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Accused and Its Consequences
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose relationship with Danny becomes the heart of the hospital’s primary controversy. The series employs dual timelines—present day and flashbacks to the recent past—to depict the fallout from Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s performance strikes a delicate balance, presenting a character who must evoke both sympathy and suspicion. The series avoids simplifying the issues of guilt or innocence, instead highlighting how the accusation impacts those around them, from fellow residents to hospital management.
The Turmoil Inside and Outside: Miami in Turbulence
As a hurricane approaches Miami, tensions run high in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has created rifts among the residents. The show cleverly uses the looming threat of the hurricane as a metaphor for the internal turmoil engulfing 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 demographic, and the high-stakes medical situations often relate to the unique challenges of delivering care in a large metropolitan area susceptible to natural disasters.
Supporting Cast: A Hospital in Disarray
The ensemble cast features 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. The supporting characters are not just background figures; they each have their personal stakes in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” serve as a reset of sorts, with several residents taking a well-deserved day off while more details about Danny and her sister Harper’s past are unveiled.
Mixed Reactions on Netflix: A Complex Introduction
All ten episodes of Pulse were made available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series encountered hurdles regarding audience reception. For some, Pulse seems to have suffered from poor 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 one season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious narrative and strong performances.
The series holds a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not entirely unfavorable reception. While certain critics lauded the show for addressing challenging issues, others felt it struggled to establish its footing within the crowded medical drama genre.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that engage with significant contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is certainly worth a watch on Netflix. Although it may not have enjoyed the longevity of other medical series, it offers a reflective look at how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure situations.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse provides a gripping yet brief exploration of medical ethics and personal accountability that any medical drama enthusiast shouldn’t overlook.
Series Information:
Episode Count: 10 episodes
Available On: 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 challenges within the hospital and the ramifications of the harassment claim