Hello, everyone! How’s everything? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the drama Pulse, which made its debut on Netflix as the streaming service’s inaugural original procedural medical drama series.
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Pulse launched on Netflix on April 3, 2025, offering 10 gripping episodes, each 45 minutes long, and rated TV-MA. Developed by Zoe Robyn and overseen by showrunner Carlton Cuse, this show features Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they tackle the intense environment of emergency medicine in Miami.
The series delves into the personal and professional journeys of the doctors and staff at a bustling trauma center in Miami, but it transcends the typical medical procedural format. It investigates how a cohort of ER residents manages medical emergencies and personal turmoil amidst a contentious allegation within their Miami hospital, leading to a charged atmosphere that runs through every episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in the Spotlight
Willa Fitzgerald takes on the role of Danny Simms, a multifaceted character who balances escalating relationship conflicts with the high stakes of emergency room work in Miami. Danny becomes the focal point of the show’s principal conflict when she raises a significant allegation that causes divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is intricate and engaging. As showrunner Carlton Cuse notes, “Danny’s not as complicated as she looks. She’s even more complicated,” and this depth contributes significantly to the series’ emotional impact. Her character journey addresses themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal toll of standing up against authority in a fast-paced medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Target and Its Consequences
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, another resident whose relationship with Danny becomes the epicenter of the hospital’s major controversy. The series employs dual timelines—present day and flashbacks to recent events—to illustrate the fallout from Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s portrayal treads a careful line, presenting a character who must evoke both sympathy and skepticism. The narrative refrains from offering clear answers about guilt or innocence, instead emphasizing the impact of the allegation on everyone involved, from fellow residents to hospital leadership.
The Turmoil Inside and Out: Miami in Crisis
As a hurricane approaches Miami, turmoil reigns in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has driven a wedge between the residents. The show cleverly utilizes the impending hurricane as a metaphor for the internal disorder engulfing the hospital staff.
The Miami backdrop is more than just a setting; it is essential to the show’s essence. The diverse cast reflects the city’s multicultural makeup, and the high-stakes medical scenarios often connect to the specific challenges of practicing medicine in a major urban area 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 contributing depth to their portrayals as residents, nurses, and staff entangled in the hospital’s turmoil. The supporting characters are not merely background figures; they each have significant stakes in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The concluding five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” act as a reset in several ways, with several residents enjoying 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 Launch
All ten episodes of Pulse were made available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series has encountered difficulties with audience reception. For some viewers, Pulse has simply suffered from poor timing, arriving shortly after the highly regarded HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Regrettably, Netflix canceled the series after just one season on July 2, 2025, despite its ambitious storytelling and strong performances.
The series received a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not wholly negative reception. Some critics commended the show for its boldness in addressing challenging topics, while others felt it struggled to establish itself in the crowded medical drama genre.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that delve into serious contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is worth checking out on Netflix. While it may not have 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 an intriguing, albeit brief, examination of medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of medical dramas won’t want to miss.
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 aftermath of the harassment claim