When it comes to medical dramas, the particular mixture of romantic foibles and complex surgical situations is a hallmark of the genre. This is especially true for “Pulse,” a new television series now streaming on Netflix.
Starting with a hurricane moving towards their Miami hospital in the first few episodes, “Pulse” follows a group of medical residents as they deal with a barrage of issues. Yet just as life outside of the emergency room (ER) becomes difficult, so too does life inside when a human resources complaint is made by Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) about her superior, Dr. Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell). What takes place afterwards, however, is both an upholding of genre expectations and an altogether disappointing attempt to move beyond them.
The show features a range of solid performances by the main cast, with Fitzgerald taking the lead as the anxious and dedicated Dr. Simms. As a medical resident whose personal relationship with Dr. Phillips ends up endangering her career, Fitzgerald’s performance draws the viewer deeper into her confusing and problematic situation. This is also emphasized through a series of flashbacks that Simms has, which are accompanied by her audibly slow heartbeats (in a case of seriously on-the-nose editing).
Another stand-out performance comes through the character of Sophie Chan (Chelsea Muirhead), an intern whose sour outlook on the job is challenged by a joyful new medical student (Daniela Nieves). Muirhead’s performance gives Dr. Chan a trademark sense of cynicism that has the viewer both resonating with her struggles and hoping that she can overcome them. As a result, she becomes a likable and grounded figure rather than what might have been an annoying side character.
Likewise, the tone of the show is evenly balanced between the hardcore drama of the operating room and the complicated relationships between each of the characters. Although the non-stop hustle of an ER is an expected feature of the genre, the show goes to great lengths to underscore the heavy tension bearing down on each doctor when they work on a patient.
Through a combination of lighting and close-ups, each scene inside the trauma bay is amplified by production techniques that keep viewers’ eyes glued to the screen. The dark blues and greens found in the operating scenes also help to emphasize the seriousness of these moments.
In contrast, the soulful tone of the romance is definitely at its strongest when honing in on the previous relationship between Dr. Simms and Dr. Phillips. Here, a golden tint — and Dr. Simms variety of different hairstyles — reflect happier times while simultaneously providing more intrigue about their present scenario.
Despite the performances and the tone balance, the show’s central storyline falls short of its intention to break away from genre conventions. At the center of Dr. Simms and Dr. Philips’s breakup is a harassment claim, which is largely kept under wraps to keep the audience guessing about its details. When finally revealed, however, it feels as though the topic – and its implications in the workplace — becomes bait for the audience rather than an important theme to explore between these characters.
In essence, the existence of a harassment claim feels out of place for the situation presented in their relationship, and the fact that the viewer has to wait to find this out makes for a troubling reveal. Although the show seemingly believes that its presentation of this conflict is compelling enough, its inability to examine the full complexity of the claim effectively turns much of the storyline into melodrama.
Another weirdly outstanding part of the series is how it uses production techniques to set up certain scenes as “romantic.” Outside of the central relationship, the love life of Dr. Cole (Jack Bannon) oscillates between relationships with a nurse (Jessica Rothe) and an admitted patient (Ash Santos). The love triangle is interesting enough on its own, but the show seems to believe that it benefits from very direct musical cues whenever something romantic is about to take place.
The effect itself is not so overpowering as to be cringy, but it does instill a certain disingenuousness in the show’s presentation of the characters. Rather than fully exploring the dimensions of the characters’ relationships, the show only alludes to them in a shallow attempt to keep their romantic appeal relevant.
Overall, “Pulse” presents an outline for the kind of medical drama that it wants to be, but the finished product does not reach its full potential.
Verdict: For all it’s trying to accomplish, “Pulse’s” central storyline falls flat on its face as it attempts to expand upon the constraints of its genre. However, for those looking for a middle-of-the-road medical drama with all the perks of a Netflix production budget, this might be worth a watch.
