Netflix’s New Grey’s Anatomy Rival: Why Critics and Audiences Are Completely Aligned on Rotten Tomatoes

The new medical drama series from Netflix has been teased as having some resemblance to the early years of Grey’s Anatomy. While this made for some promising hype, the show has been met with a disappointing Rotten Tomatoes score — and the audiences agree.

Currently, Netflix’s Pulse has an approval rating from critics of 47%. The rating is equally matched by the audience score on the Popcornmeter, which is tied at 47%. It’s clear that the show is polarizing, and while it’s been getting some praise, there are enough reviews to firmly make the series considered “rotten” by the review aggregator website. Some critics have verified that the series is reminiscent of Grey’s Anatomy, and while THR critic Angie Han felt that the show wasn’t perfect, it shows a lot of promise, resulting in a positive review.

“[Resembles Grey’s Anatomy] with its mix of medical drama and soap operatics,” Han wrote in a review. “And seen that way, it’s not half bad — entertaining enough to scratch the same itch, if not yet satisfying enough to claim its own place in the pantheon of hospital shows.”

Ed Power of the Irish Times similarly wrote, “As soapy distraction, Pulse is hugely effective – albeit as paper-thin as a hastily applied Band-Aid. In other words, it is not good for your health, yet there is no denying that it goes down easily.”

Other Critics Were Much Less Impressed

Meanwhile, the negative reviews aren’t quite as kind. As Isabelle Soares of Collider put it, “From what has been shown thus far, the Netflix series only exists as more of a Grey’s Anatomy wannabe than a unique, blood-pumping medical drama.”

“Pulse is one of the most generic medical dramas we’ve seen in some time, with characters who aren’t compelling and medical situations that are eye-rolling to watch,” Joel Keller of Decider also said.

Pulse was created by Zoe Robyn, who serves as showrunner alongside Carlton Cuse. The series stars Willa Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Jessie T. Usher, Justina Machado, Jack Bannon, Daniela Nieves, Nestor Carbonell, Jessica Rothe, and Arturo Del Puerto.

“Yeah, Pulse is a medical drama, so Netflix, it’ll be airing sometime this spring,” Jessie T. Usher previously told Screen Rant about the show. “I play Dr. Elijah. I can’t give away story points on it, but it has the feel of early Grey’s Anatomy. It’s sexy, and it’s romantic, and it’s dramatic in a lot of ways. It was one heck of an experience.”

“We just wanted the show to be fun and entertaining — something that you could really enjoy after you come home from a long day,” Cuse also said about Pulse. “We really want the audience to fall in love with the characters as much as we love the characters.”