Despite its name, Netflix’s new medical drama “Pulse” was dead on arrival. Time of death: 10 minutes into the show.
Given how inundated television is with medical dramas, there needs to be some kind of hook to make a new one stand out against the competition. To boot, if audiences don’t care about the characters, everything else flatlines.
I wanted to enjoy “Pulse,” but I was almost immediately bored. I’m a very character-driven person when it comes to TV, especially procedurals. If every episode feels the same and you’re not interested in what the characters have going on, there’s no reason to stick around.
For anyone disappointed by “Pulse,” there are an endless number of like-minded medical procedurals that do the genre better justice. Here are five character-driven medical dramas — outside of the usual suspects like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “ER” — that have a lot more heart and less attack.
‘The Pitt’
The Pitt | Official Trailer | Max – YouTube Watch On
Unfortunately for “Pulse,” Max’s new drama series “The Pitt” blows it out of the water.
It’s important to take timing into consideration when a new show airs. “The Pitt” does that; “Pulse” does not. The gritty Max series demonstrates why healthcare is so vital, while highlighting the industry’s current failures regarding the mental health and well-being of medical professional.
When it comes to the hook, “The Pitt” takes place over a single hospital shift, which gives the show urgency and momentum. Since most medical drama fans are more interested in the drama and less concerned with medical accuracy, appeasing real healthcare workers is a rarity. Yet, “The Pitt” has garnered praise from actual medical professionals — a rarity in the genre.
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Noah Wyle leads the show as Dr.
5 shows like ‘Pulse’ but better
