In the high-stakes world of Miami medicine portrayed in Netflix’s freshman drama “Pulse,” viewers are treated to the familiar tropes of hospital romances, power struggles and professional challenges. While the show attempts to tackle meaningful issues — sexual harassment, power imbalances in workplace relationships and the crushing stress of medical careers — it simultaneously undermines its own potential depth through its reliance on an outdated narrative crutch: alcohol as the universal solution to life’s problems.
The Medical Field’s Open Secret
“Pulse” deserves credit for its realism in one respect: the medical profession’s complicated relationship with alcohol is well-documented. Studies have consistently shown higher rates of substance abuse among healthcare professionals compared to the general population, with some estimates suggesting that 10-15% of physicians will struggle with addiction during their careers. The show accurately portrays how medical professionals often turn to alcohol to manage stress, decompress after traumatic cases and navigate the emotional toll of their work.
However, realism doesn’t equal responsible portrayal. By showing Miami’s finest surgeons and residents repeatedly gathering for shots and cocktails after every crisis, “Pulse” normalizes a dangerous coping mechanism without examining its consequences. The characters slam back highballs, make important decisions while intoxicated and somehow maintain their surgical precision the next day while glorifying debilitating hangovers.
Female Empowerment or Lazy Storytelling?
Particularly troubling is the show’s portrayal of its female character’s relationship with alcohol. For someone who I personally think is sickly thin to begin with, her tolerance is, shall we say, “impressive” if not unrealistic. When our protagonist faces heartbreak, workplace discrimination or uncomfortable confrontations with her superior-turned-lover, the solution is invariably the same: drinks with the girls, complete with the performative “slam the glass down” moment that’s supposed to signal strength and resilience.
This isn’t female empowerment — it’s lazy character development. Rather than showing women processing complex emotions, developing genuine coping strategies or confronting problems with clarity, “Pulse” falls back on the tired trope that a woman drinking heavily is somehow breaking patriarchal boundaries. In 2025, do we really need another show suggesting that the path to female empowerment is paved with highballs?
The morning-after scenes are equally problematic. Instead of showing realistic consequences, the show often plays hangovers for laughs or, worse, as badges of honor. Our protagonist wakes up with hazy memories of the night before and it just feels normal — not problematic or at all addressing how hangovers affect work performance — especially in a profession where you are constantly making life-and-death decisions. I will say, however, that it does depart from the Grey’s Anatomy” approach where you saw staff nightly end their shift at the bar — at least “Pulse” makes it clear that it is a “night off,” but at the same time, some or all of them must have to work the next day. The message is clear: drinking to excess is not just normal but somehow admirable.
Missed Opportunities for Deeper Storytelling
What makes this approach particularly frustrating is the show’s demonstrated ability to handle complex issues with nuance elsewhere. “Pulse” doesn’t shy away from the complexities of its central romance, where a female resident falls for her male superior. The show thoughtfully explores how this relationship creates disproportionate risk for her career compared to his, highlighting the gendered power dynamics at play in professional settings.
Multicultural Miami: A Breath of Fresh Air
Where “Pulse” does shine is in its authentic portrayal of Miami’s rich multicultural landscape. The show seamlessly weaves Spanish and English dialogue throughout episodes, reflecting the genuine linguistic fluidity of many Miami residents. Characters switch between languages mid-conversation without explanation but with subtitles, treating bilingualism as the normal part of daily life that it is for many Americans.
This linguistic authenticity serves a deeper storytelling purpose as well. The Latin characters bring a warmth, expressiveness and familial closeness that creates a compelling contrast with some of the more reserved, traditional medical establishment figures. When tensions rise or emotions run high, the shift to Spanish often signals a character dropping professional pretenses and connecting with their cultural identity. These moments of cultural authenticity provide some of the show’s most genuine and often humorous interactions, highlighting how cultural background influences everything from communication styles to approaches to patient care.
The show deserves significant praise for not exoticizing this cultural element but instead presenting it as an integral part of the professional environment — a rare achievement in mainstream American television. If only the writers could apply this same cultural sensitivity and nuance to their portrayal of stress relief and coping mechanisms.
Unfortunately, when it comes to that,, the writers seem to have exhausted their creativity. In a show set in the healthcare industry — where professionals should understand better than anyone the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol — there’s a striking absence of healthy coping mechanisms or even acknowledgment of alcohol’s potentially destructive role.
The Cultural Impact: Beyond Entertainment
Entertainment doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Shows like “Pulse”both reflect and shape cultural attitudes, particularly about high-pressure professions. By continuing to glorify alcohol as the solution to stress while minimizing its negative impacts, the show contributes to a culture that normalizes problematic drinking among those who may already be vulnerable to substance abuse.
This is particularly concerning given the real crisis of burnout and mental health struggles in medicine. Recent studies show alarming rates of depression, anxiety and suicide among medical professionals. “Pulse” had an opportunity to acknowledge these realities while portraying healthier approaches to stress management — therapy, exercise (although our sexy lead does go for a shirtless run at one point), mindfulness, genuine connection with others — that don’t come in a glass.
Looking Forward: What Season Two Could Do Better
Should “Pulse” return for a second season — and it clearly will based on where they left it off — the writers have an opportunity to evolve this narrative. Imagine if one character began questioning their relationship with alcohol, or if we saw the contrasting experiences of characters who choose different ways to manage stress. What if, instead of another bar scene, we saw characters finding comfort in other activities or genuinely supporting each other without liquid courage?
The show doesn’t need to become a PSA about alcohol abuse, but it could certainly bring the same complexity to its portrayal of coping mechanisms that it brings to its romantic and professional storylines.
Conclusion: Entertainment with Responsibility
“Pulse” isn’t the first show to fall back on alcohol as a narrative shorthand for stress relief, and it certainly won’t be the last. However, as viewers become increasingly aware of mental health issues and the complexities of substance use, perhaps it’s time for our entertainment to evolve as well.
The show succeeds in many areas — creating compelling characters and exploring the unique vulnerabilities women face in hierarchical workplaces. Now it needs to apply that same thoughtfulness to how it portrays coping mechanisms. In doing so, “Pulse” could transform from just another medical drama to a show that genuinely reflects the complexities of modern professional life — hangovers not required.
The Mindful Binge Sobees Score: 3.5 out of 5
The Pulse Official Trailer – Netflix
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What are your thoughts on how “Pulse” or other medical dramas portray stress relief? Have you noticed this pattern in other shows? Share your perspective in the comments below.
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