Hello, everyone! How’s everything going? Today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on the drama Pulse, which made its debut on Netflix as their first original procedural medical series.
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Launched on Netflix on April 3, 2025, Pulse offers 10 episodes filled with gripping medical drama, each running for 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. The series, created by Zoe Robyn and helmed by showrunner Carlton Cuse, features Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they navigate the intense world of emergency medicine in Miami.
This series dives into the personal and professional journeys of doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center, transcending the typical medical procedural narrative. It delves into how a group of ER residents confront medical emergencies and personal turmoil amid a controversial allegation at their Miami hospital, creating a palpable tension that pervades each episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Turmoil
Willa Fitzgerald takes on the role of Danny Simms, a multi-dimensional character who balances escalating relationship issues with the high stakes of working in Miami’s emergency room. Danny becomes pivotal to the show’s primary conflict when she makes a serious accusation that causes division among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s interpretation of Danny is both nuanced and engaging. As showrunner Carlton Cuse notes, “Danny’s not as complicated as she seems. She’s even more complex,” and this intricacy lends significant emotional depth to the series. Her character arc navigates themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal toll of confronting authority in a demanding medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Target of the Accusation
Colin Woodell portrays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny becomes the focal point of the hospital’s significant controversy. The series employs dual timelines—present events and flashbacks to recent history—to depict the aftermath of Danny’s harassment claim against Phillips.
Woodell’s performance skillfully navigates the fine line of portraying a character who evokes both sympathy and suspicion. The narrative refrains from presenting straightforward answers regarding guilt or innocence, instead emphasizing the ripple effects of the allegation on all involved, from fellow residents to hospital management.
The Turmoil Within and Outside: Miami in Crisis
As a hurricane approaches Miami, the chaos is mirrored in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has caused fractures among the residents. The series cleverly uses the looming hurricane as a metaphor for the internal turmoil engulfing the hospital staff.
The Miami backdrop is not merely aesthetic; it is essential to the show’s essence. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural community, and the high-stakes medical situations often connect to the distinctive challenges of practicing medicine in a major urban area vulnerable to natural calamities.
Supporting Ensemble: A Hospital in Discord
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 a personal stake in the ramifications of Danny’s allegation.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” serve as a reset in certain respects, with several residents enjoying a much-needed day off while further details about Danny and her sister Harper’s background are unveiled.
Reception on Netflix: A Complex Premiere
All ten episodes of Pulse became available on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series faced hurdles regarding viewer reception. Some viewers consider Pulse a casualty of unfortunate timing, arriving shortly after the acclaimed HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Regrettably, Netflix canceled the series after a single season on July 2, 2025, despite the show’s ambitious narrative and strong performances.
The series garnered a 6.5 rating on IMDb, indicating a mixed but not wholly negative response. While some critics appreciated the show’s willingness to tackle challenging issues, others believed it struggled to establish its footing within the competitive medical drama genre.
If you enjoy medical dramas that address significant contemporary topics such as workplace harassment and power dynamics, Pulse is definitely worth checking out on Netflix. Although it may not have enjoyed the longevity of other medical series, it offers a thoughtful exploration of how personal disputes can disrupt professional relationships in high-stress settings.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse presents a captivating, albeit brief, examination of medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of the genre should not overlook.
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
Adversary: The systemic challenges within the hospital and the fallout from the harassment claim