I wasn't expecting to like this show as much as I did. I'm lucky as I was able to binge watch it on Netflix so didn't have to wait on episodes airing over the course of 8 weeks. I grew to care able the Doctors and their patients. I just wish a second two had been made as I would love to watch more.
10 Reviews
So real it hurts and haunts
amara-campbell13 August 2019
Having been in hospital more than I would like, this show is a brilliant and thoughtful view of both the patient and the doctor's experience.
It should be renewed. It strikes at the heart of our healthcare system in all its glory and failures.
Well written and thoughtful it's disappointing that this promising cast and the people behind the show were not given more time to grow their audience.
It should be renewed. It strikes at the heart of our healthcare system in all its glory and failures.
Well written and thoughtful it's disappointing that this promising cast and the people behind the show were not given more time to grow their audience.
Excellent realistic drama, (even if the medicine isn't always exactly right)
jamesmoule10 August 2017
I have become hooked on this medical drama. Unlike other reviewers, I only see the medical professional and public hospitals from the patient's point of view. I can understand why some in the medical profession would find this series confronting: the level of bullying of junior staff by their seniors, the level of male chauvinism among the surgeons, the arrogance, the "faces of Janus" when dealing with patients. Maybe some of the medical procedures are not quite correct but, Dr.Patel, perhaps hospitals in reality aren't quite correct either! The several sub-plots make this series a cut above the sentimental soap operas that usually frequent this genre: the health of the main characters, the professional pressure to "bury their mistakes", the elicit affairs between senior staff and those whom they supervise, the "glass ceiling" that seems to prevent women from becoming senior surgeons, the nepotism that ensures that the children of senior medical staff follow in their parents' footsteps. While many series have multi-cultural casts simply to be politically correct, "Pulse" reflects the true multi-ethnic make-up of Australian hospitals. Highly recommended.
Good enough Medical Drama from Australia
Dr_Sagan28 July 2017
I think its the 3rd time in a review that I'm mentioning that I am an actual MD and I'm always very critical about medical dramas. (You can read such a review in "Pure Genius", a ridiculous medical melodrama that I think I'm pretty much responsible for its unavoidable doom and cancellation).
Pulse is in its essence a more serious medical drama. I recognize many elements that are close to reality, despite the fact that some of them may appear exaggerated for dramatic purposes...
It is (very) realistic for young doctors to be and act more emotional than they should be. To feel empathy. To ...fall in love with their superiors. You have to learn to be more emotionally detached, so to be more efficient, more professional. It's also very realistic that young doctors have to stand-up for themselves if they want to learn. No one will take your hand and show things to you if you don't chase it, or even demand it.
On the opposite side of the ladder, the heads of medical departments have to fight with the healthcare system all the time. They have to take tough decisions and to deal with their consequences in order to be fair and ethically correct, as they possibly can be.
The cast is good enough, so is the acting with transparent performances which helps to learn the main characters quickly and follow them to their personal and professional journey.
The darker low-contrast photography adds to the realism and the music, mostly with a single guitar seems suitable.
Overall: Good medical drama. If it doesn't turn to a melodrama or jump the shark in the later episodes, it would be a nice show to watch.
.
Pulse is in its essence a more serious medical drama. I recognize many elements that are close to reality, despite the fact that some of them may appear exaggerated for dramatic purposes...
It is (very) realistic for young doctors to be and act more emotional than they should be. To feel empathy. To ...fall in love with their superiors. You have to learn to be more emotionally detached, so to be more efficient, more professional. It's also very realistic that young doctors have to stand-up for themselves if they want to learn. No one will take your hand and show things to you if you don't chase it, or even demand it.
On the opposite side of the ladder, the heads of medical departments have to fight with the healthcare system all the time. They have to take tough decisions and to deal with their consequences in order to be fair and ethically correct, as they possibly can be.
The cast is good enough, so is the acting with transparent performances which helps to learn the main characters quickly and follow them to their personal and professional journey.
The darker low-contrast photography adds to the realism and the music, mostly with a single guitar seems suitable.
Overall: Good medical drama. If it doesn't turn to a melodrama or jump the shark in the later episodes, it would be a nice show to watch.
.
Compulsive Viewing
pnpete925 August 2019
Superior hospital drama
carma_g200327 August 2019
I really rate this series and hope they decide to continue. Having watched Grey's Anatomy from the beginning, Pulse reminds me of the very early episodes of that drama. Great writing and acting, very believable stories too. More please!
Why didn't they use a Professional Medical Consultant?
sueredfern4 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Dreadful series! Very poor rendition of Medical/Surgical practices in a public hospital in Australia!
I feel that the only thing the producers got right, was hanging X-rays correctly.
Where was the transplant co-ordinator? Did "Australians Donate" get any input to make that particular episode accurate?
A cardiac patient on a gynaecological ward, monitoring equipment needing a 'thump' to function - so wrong on so many levels.
However...
Excellent portrayal of non-compliant kidney recipient patient...very realistic.
Of the Interns, Dr. Patel is very believable...marvellous acting.
I stayed with the whole series in the hope that it would improve, sadly not many saving graces.
I am rather sad that non-medical people will actually believe what has been portrayed...a poor indictment on Australian TV shows and the Medical/Surgical care in Australia!
Frankie, a doctor who's been a transplant recipient
aces_hands24 August 2017
My favourite show of the week (it's a tie with Utopia). Alright, I'm a sucker for beautiful women, especially, beautiful women who can play character roles. There is a separate review that wants to critique the hospital procedures. Me, I'm just gobsmacked to see innards exposed and organs such as a beating heart exposed and held in a surgeon's hands. The storyline is emotionally draining, so my wife won't watch it. Me, I'm captivated by the emotional demands put on the viewer by both the life and death decisions being made daily in the hospital and the career-changing political undercurrents. It's an aptly named series. My pulse quickens in response to both the beauty and stresses laid bare.
Utter tripe, the only good thing about this series is the opening titles!
susemb6 August 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Yes, I do mean tripe, although stomach lining WILL be lost if you watch this series. I am an Aussie anaesthetist, my OH a neurologist and he actually managed to note about 10-15mins into the first episode that "but this isn't set in Australia?" Had to disabuse him of that misconception. Sorry, I only watched the first episode, it was just TOO bad to have my life for another episode.
So, why it's so wrong? We don't operate when the AC is down. IF you can't do air exchange in the theatre then the air isn't of the quality required to assure "cleanliness" and so theatres would be cancelled. We don't assign cases to residents, you have a team you are assigned to for a term, so you might be the cardiothoracic resident for 10-12 weeks, you do their cases, although if they're cancelled that day, you're off on the wards!
I wouldn't mind if you had a transplant as my resident. But if you sent your dialysis requiring renal failure patient home (and he wasn't already unconscious) I'd suspect that he'd arrest from too much potassium as he already would have had significant uraemic encephalopathy. You've just proved that you really aren't up to scratch, probably shouldn't have passed third year medical school let alone being a renal resident (which in many hospitals is a medically streamed resident job) and would be spending significant time with medical admin rethinking your career path.
And there is much more that is just not what should or would happen in the modern Australian workplace. Seriously ER back in the 90s was a run of really bad days at work. This is just BAD! Read a book.
So, why it's so wrong? We don't operate when the AC is down. IF you can't do air exchange in the theatre then the air isn't of the quality required to assure "cleanliness" and so theatres would be cancelled. We don't assign cases to residents, you have a team you are assigned to for a term, so you might be the cardiothoracic resident for 10-12 weeks, you do their cases, although if they're cancelled that day, you're off on the wards!
I wouldn't mind if you had a transplant as my resident. But if you sent your dialysis requiring renal failure patient home (and he wasn't already unconscious) I'd suspect that he'd arrest from too much potassium as he already would have had significant uraemic encephalopathy. You've just proved that you really aren't up to scratch, probably shouldn't have passed third year medical school let alone being a renal resident (which in many hospitals is a medically streamed resident job) and would be spending significant time with medical admin rethinking your career path.
And there is much more that is just not what should or would happen in the modern Australian workplace. Seriously ER back in the 90s was a run of really bad days at work. This is just BAD! Read a book.
I really enjoyed it
gailipoo10 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not a person that usually likes Australian drama shows much, but this one I really liked. The story line was good and the acting was excellent. Very believable characters and great writing. I was surprised to find myself looking forward to each episode. I realise the ending was very sad, but I hope they find a way to continue this drama for at least one more season. I would definitely watch it.
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