Pulse (Australian TV series)

Last updated

Pulse
Written by
Screenplay byPaul Gerard Kennedy
Directed by
  • Peter Andrikidis
  • Jennifer Leacey
  • Ana Kokkinos
Starring
Country of originAustralia
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes8
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time60 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network ABC TV
Release20 July (2017-07-20) –
7 September 2017 (2017-09-07)

Pulse is an Australian television drama series that was first screened on ABC TV on 20 July 2017 and ended after eight episodes on 7 September 2017. [1]

Contents

The series was written by Kris Wyld, Michael Miller, Kristen Dunphy and Mandy McCarthy; directed by Peter Andrikidis, Jennifer Leacey and Ana Kokkinos; and produced by ClandestineTV and Beyond Productions in conjunction with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. [2]

Plot summary

The series follows the story of Frankie, a high-flying financial analyst who had it all before a failing kidney landed her at death's door until a transplant offered her a second chance. Inspired by the man who saved her life, Frankie alters course to become a doctor herself, working and learning in the high stakes, high pressure world of the cardio-thoracic and renal wards of a major teaching hospital. [3]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirectorWriterOriginal air dateAustralian Viewers
1"Episode 1"Peter AndrikidisKris Wyld & Mel Hill20 July 2017 (2017-07-20)512,000 [4]
Transplant patient and now doctor, Frankie starts her first day in Renal rotation; best friend Lou battles surgery's boys' club; and flatmate Tabb starts as an intern.
2"Episode 2"Peter AndrikidisMichael Miller27 July 2017 (2017-07-27)478,000 [5]
Frankie takes on the system to save a patient, and lands in trouble. Lou finds out it's not always wise to have an affair with a boss; and Tabb questions his ability as a doctor.
3"Episode 3"Jennifer LeaceyMichael Miller3 August 2017 (2017-08-03)404,000 [6]
When a heart transplant patient dies, Frankie fears the surgeons will close ranks to cover up a medical error. Lou realises she and best friend Frankie may be on different sides.
4"Episode 4"Jennifer LeaceyMichael Miller10 August 2017 (2017-08-10)437,000 [7]
When a patient wants to turn off the device keeping her alive Steele tries to dissuade her. Lou feels betrayed when Frankie takes on a Root Cause Analysis into a patient's death, threatening her job.
5"Episode 5"Ana KokkinosKris Wyld17 August 2017 (2017-08-17)413,000 [8]
When Berger learns Frankie has a fever in the middle of a hospital outbreak, he forces her into a bed for treatment, putting her secret at risk of exposure.
6"Episode 6"Anna KokkinosMandy McCarthy24 August 2017 (2017-08-24)392,000 [9]
Tanya is forced to tell Frankie she read her medical files - a breach of professional ethics; while Berger works with Eli Nadar to save a patient from deportation.
7"Episode 7"Peter AndrikidisKristen Dunphy31 August 2017 (2017-08-31)350,000 [10]
On the eve of an investigation into a patient's death, Frankie realises that all doctors are fallible when faced with the reality of a health system that isn't always able to cater for all.
8"Episode 8"Peter AndrikidisMichael Miller7 September 2017 (2017-09-07)384,000 [11]
Chad Berger's days as a doctor are coming to an end, but he is determined to see through a complex set of paired kidney exchange transplants.

Reception

Ratings

No.TitleAir dateOvernight ratingsConsolidated ratingsTotal
viewers		Ref(s)
ViewersRankViewersRank
1Episode 120 July 2017512,0001386,00011598,000 [4] [12]
2Episode 227 July 2017478,0001563,00012541,000 [5] [13]
3Episode 33 August 2017404,0001643,00015447,000 [6] [14]
4Episode 410 August 2017437,0001570,00014507,000 [7] [15]
5Episode 517 August 2017413,0001657,00015470,000 [8] [16]
6Episode 624 August 2017392,0001864,00016456,000 [9] [17]
7Episode 731 August 2017350,0001976,00016426,000 [10] [18]
8Episode 87 September 2017384,0001871,00013455,000 [11] [19]

Critical reception

This series has received mixed reviews.

Luke Buckmaster, writer for The Guardian, rated the series two out of five stars saying "medical dramas will probably never fall out of fashion. The genre is crowded, emphasising the need for programs with interesting and distinctive visions. Unfortunately, Pulse isn’t one of them". [20]

David Knox, writer for TV Tonight, rated the series four out of five stars praising the casting of the series and that it's "the strongest medical drama in years" saying that it holds strong against an overcrowded genre. [21]

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References

  1. ↑ Knox, David (17 June 2017). "Gallery: Pulse". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  2. ↑ "Production kicks off on ABC drama Pulse with Claire van der Boom in lead". Inside Film. Australia. 13 March 2017. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  3. ↑ Knox, David (9 September 2016). "ABC to set Pulse racing". TV Tonight. Retrieved 31 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 Knox, David (21 July 2017). "Thursday 20 July 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  5. 1 2 Knox, David (28 July 2017). "Thursday 27 July 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  6. 1 2 Knox, David (4 August 2017). "Thursday 3 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  7. 1 2 Knox, David (11 August 2017). "Thursday 10 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 Knox, David (18 August 2017). "Thursday 17 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 Knox, David (25 August 2017). "Thursday 24 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  10. 1 2 Knox, David (1 September 2017). "Thursday 31 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  11. 1 2 Knox, David (8 September 2017). "Thursday 7 September 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  12. ↑ Knox, David (28 July 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 20 July 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  13. ↑ Knox, David (4 August 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 27 July 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
  14. ↑ Knox, David (13 August 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 3 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  15. ↑ Knox, David (23 August 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 10 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  16. ↑ Knox, David (3 September 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 17 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  17. ↑ Knox, David (3 September 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 24 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  18. ↑ Knox, David (12 September 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 31 August 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  19. ↑ Knox, David (15 September 2017). "Timeshifted: Thursday 7 September 2017". TV Tonight. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  20. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (20 July 2017). "Pulse review – ho-hum plots and tin-eared dialogue plague bland medical drama". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  21. ↑ Knox, David (12 July 2017). "Pulse review". TV Tonight. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
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