Summary
If you enjoy dramas that lack the shock factor and feel comfortable and easy (like Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias), then PULSE is the medical show for you.
I used to believe that in a society that adores and is obsessed with medical dramas, a series such as PULSE would need to offer something new to its viewers, but now I’m unsure.
PULSE is a Netflix medical drama based in Miami at Maguire Hospital. We have a bunch of residents battling the toughness of their first year. The story’s main plot centers on the broken-down relationship of Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald, seen in Reacher, Strange Darling, Alarum) and Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell, seen in I Love America, The Continental: From the World of John Wick). It’s a gripping plot line that lasted the whole season and felt dragged out.
But here’s why I’m unsure if medical dramas need to add new elements to their genre to get viewership. Would I watch Season 2 after watching Season 1?
Probably. I like continuation. It’s like Sweet Magnolias and Virgin River. The shows, with their predictable plot twists and lack of character development, are what some might call basic and boring, but we continue to watch them; why? Because we’re hooked on the characters. And it hit me—medical dramas are no different. You continue watching because you like the characters and want to see their storylines develop.
With that, I will praise Willa Fitzgerald for her performance. She is a talented actress who fits into the role of Danny Simms very well. But apart from that, the acting felt pretty average. This begs the question: Does a medical drama need perfect performances? Probably not. As long as the cast has chemistry with each other, they did.
Can I share my biggest pet peeve from PULSE? This also relates to why I will continue to watch the series should more seasons develop. There’s potential for growth and improvement, and that’s something to look forward to.
Episode 1 goes in, all guns blazing—drama, excitement, anticipation, laughs, the full works. And this makes you hooked. There was something about the characters. So, I left the opening premise mind-blown and thought this would be a great new season to add to my binge list. But immediately in Episode 2, it fizzles and dies out. The high hopes of seeing more character development and engaging plotlines got killed, which upset me the most.
Additionally, if you’re like me, watching PULSE during the downtime of the day while watching the critically acclaimed series House at night, they just can’t and don’t compare. And all it makes me want to do is watch more of Dr. Gregory House – if you’re looking for an addictive and top-tier medical drama show, this is the one you need to go for.
Is PULSE worth a watch? Eh. It’s simple and easy. It’s nothing spectacular, but it’s becoming increasingly rare to see shows that create such an impact these days, with many series opting for quick entertainment over deep storytelling.
You can stick PULSE on in the background as you rot your brains on TikTok, and you’ll be able to keep following along. That’s what most humans these days are looking for.
Touching on the ending of PULSE. The twists at the end were created for dramatic effect, but they failed. There were themes of resolution but disruption—a beautiful cocktail to create an open end for the show.
