Hello, everyone! How’s everything? 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, offering 10 episodes of gripping medical drama, each lasting 45 minutes and rated TV-MA. Created by Zoe Robyn and led by showrunner Carlton Cuse, this series stars Willa Fitzgerald and Colin Woodell as they navigate the intense realm of emergency medicine in Miami.
The show chronicles the personal and professional journeys of doctors and staff at a bustling Miami trauma center, but it transcends the typical medical procedural format. The series delves into how a group of ER residents confront medical emergencies and personal turmoil amid a contentious allegation at their Miami hospital, creating a charged atmosphere that influences every episode.
Danny Simms: A Resident in Turmoil
Willa Fitzgerald portrays Danny Simms, a multifaceted character balancing increasing relationship conflicts with the high demands of emergency room work in Miami. Danny becomes the focal point of the show’s primary conflict when she makes a serious allegation that causes divisions among the hospital staff.
Fitzgerald’s depiction of Danny is intricate and captivating. As showrunner Carlton Cuse describes, “Danny’s not as simple as she appears. She’s even more complex”, and this depth is central to much of the series’ emotional impact. Her character development explores themes of workplace harassment, power dynamics, and the personal ramifications of confronting authority in a high-stress medical setting.
Xander Phillips: The Accused and Its Impact
Colin Woodell plays Xander Phillips, a fellow resident whose connection with Danny becomes the crux of the hospital’s central dispute. 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 carefully navigates the line between sympathy and suspicion. The show refrains from providing straightforward answers regarding guilt or innocence, instead concentrating on how the allegation impacts everyone involved, from fellow residents to hospital administration.
The Chaos Inside and Out: Miami in Crisis
As a hurricane approaches Miami, turmoil also brews in the Maguire ER, where the serious allegation has strained relationships among the residents. The show skillfully utilizes the external threat of the hurricane as a metaphor for the internal disorder affecting the hospital staff.
The Miami location serves not only as a backdrop but as a crucial element of the show’s essence. The diverse cast mirrors the city’s multicultural demographics, and the high-stakes medical situations often relate to the distinct challenges of practicing medicine in a major urban area vulnerable to natural disasters.
Supporting Characters: A Divided Hospital
The ensemble features Jack Bannon, Jessie T. Usher, Daniela Nieves, Chelsea Muirhead, and Jessy Yates, each adding depth to their portrayals as residents, nurses, and staff entangled in the hospital’s crisis. These supporting characters are not mere background figures; they each have personal stakes in the outcome of Danny’s allegation.
The final five episodes, starting with Episode 6, “Homestead,” serve as a reset in certain aspects, with several residents enjoying a well-deserved day off while further details about Danny and her sister Harper’s upbringing are unveiled.
Mixed Reviews on Netflix: A Challenging Launch
All ten episodes of Pulse were released on Netflix on April 3, 2025, but the series encountered difficulties with audience reception. For some viewers, Pulse is merely a casualty of unfortunate timing, following closely on the heels of the acclaimed HBO medical drama The Pitt, which premiered on January 9, 2025. Sadly, Netflix canceled the series after 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 entirely unfavorable reception. While some critics applauded the show’s willingness to address challenging topics, others felt it struggled to establish a unique identity in the crowded medical drama genre.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that tackle serious contemporary issues like workplace harassment and power imbalances, Pulse is definitely worth a watch on Netflix. Although it may not have enjoyed the longevity of other medical series, it provides a thoughtful look at how personal conflicts can disrupt professional relationships in high-pressure surroundings.
Despite its cancellation, Pulse offers a compelling albeit brief exploration of medical ethics and personal responsibility that fans of medical dramas should not overlook.
Series Information:
Number of Episodes: 10 episodes
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 6.5/10 (IMDb)
Genre: Medical Drama, Workplace Drama
Protagonists: Willa Fitzgerald (Danny Simms), Colin Woodell (Xander Phillips), Justina Machado
Antagonist: Systemic issues within the hospital and the fallout of the harassment allegation