Grey’s Anatomy might show no signs of slowing down, but it seems Netflix’s shot at finding its own equivalent to ABC’s long-running medical drama did not quite work out.
As first reported by Deadline, Netflix has decided not to renew its new medical drama Pulse and has decided to cancel the show after just one season. News of the cancellation comes months after the show’s first season dropped on April 3 to mixed reviews, with many Grey’s Anatomy fans coming for the show and equating it to a knock-off version of their favorite soapy medical show.
“Trying too hard to be Grey's Anatomy,” one viewer summed up when reviewing the show on IMDb.
Set against the backdrop of Miami’s Maguire Medical Center, Pulse followed a group of doctors and surgeons as they juggled the challenges of their personal and professional lives while working under extreme pressures where decisions could have life-or-death consequences. The show featured a talented ensemble including Willa Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Justina Machado, Jessie T. Usher, Jack Bannon, Jessy Yates, Chelsea Muirhead, and Daniela Nieves.
While word of Pulse’s cancellation only just broke on July 2, Deadline reports Netflix quietly canceled the show over a month ago. According to the report, Netflix notified the show’s cast and creative teams of the decision, allowing the cast to begin taking new jobs, which many have already done.
Pulse certainly had promise and could have been a major success for Netflix, but the show debuted at the most inopportune time. You see, the series arrived on the scene a bit too late, debuting after a string of new medical dramas hit the airwaves both on broadcast and streaming.
Fall saw the arrival of NBC’s Brilliant Minds. Just a few short months later, CBS debuted its new medical drama Watson and Fox’s sleeper hit Doc, which became a major win for the network. Then came Max’s smash hit The Pitt, which is already getting Emmy buzz after a phenomenal first season. In fact, it’s The Pitt’s success that likely hit the show the hardest, as many fans couldn’t help but compare the show both to Grey’s Anatomy, which remains one of the best medical dramas on the air, and The Pitt.
“Cheesy acting, really bad cinematography, no realistic trauma, looks like characters are pulled directly from Grey's Anatomy. After watching a 10/10 The Pitt (which is no doubt destined to be one of the greatest series of all time), Pulse is an embarrassment,” wrote one reviewer.
If Netflix had managed to get Pulse out before the wave of new medical dramas, there was a chance that the show could have found a stronger audience. Yes, there were always going to be comparisons to Grey’s Anatomy. However, we can’t help but feel more fans would have embraced the show had it not come after a string of hit new medical dramas.