Noah Wyle can't seem to escape the emergency room: He's back in scrubs in HBO Max'sThe Pitt, playing Dr. Michael "Robby" Rabinavitch, senior attending at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s emergency room. Now airing its second season, each episode of the buzzy and impossibly tense medical drama takes place over a single hour of one very long shift, lending immediacy to the action. It's claustrophobic, frequently inspiring, and wildly addictive, making all those doctor show tropes feel fresh.
The Pitthas already been renewed for a third season, but if you're looking for similar shows to watch between episodes (or seasons), there are plenty to try out.
Lenox Hill(2020)
In deference toThe Pitt's apparent verisimilitude, your first stop might well be something less fictional, like this acclaimed documentary series following four physicians at an NYC hospital. Directors Ruthie Shatz and Adi Barash spent a year following two neurosurgeons, an ER doc, and an OBGYN resident—who also happen to represent two men at the tops of their fields and two women of color, both pregnant, and both navigating complicated work-life trajectories in a high-pressure environment. The subjects are as fascinating as their patients, and as withThe Pitt,the overwhelming sense is that doctors are dealing witha lot. The show was mostly filmed in 2018, but a concluding episode revisits the four doctors at the height of the Covid pandemic.StreamLenox Hillon Netflix.
Code Black(2015 – 2018)
Based on a documentary of the same name, but highly dramatized, this show stars Marcia Gay Harden as Dr. Leanne Rorish, a troubled ER attending physician at the fictional Angels Memorial Hospital. The "Code Black" of the title refers to an emergency room at or beyond capacity, and the storylines all deal with the trials faced by doctors, nurses, and staff at a city hospital that's perpetually understaffed and overcrowded.StreamCode Blackon Prime Video with Ads.
Five Days at Memorial(2022)
Much asThe Pitttackles American medical care in the aftermath of COVID-19 (I sayaftermathas though the virus just disappeared), this miniseries, dramatizing a nonfiction book, takes us to Memorial Medical Center in New Orleans in August 2005, just after Hurricane Katrina's landfall. Vera Farmiga leads as the real-life Dr. Anna Pou in a series that's simultaneously tense, horrific, and inspiring in its depiction of doctors doing their damndest under some of the worst possible circumstances.StreamFive Days at Memorialon Apple TV+.
Watson(2025 – )
Hard to say if this new Morris Chestnut-led series will go any kind of distance, but it’s looking promising, and the premise is so wacky, it's worth checking out either way. Chestnut plays a modern-day Dr. John Watson (yes,thatDr. Watson), who was sidekick to Sherlock Holmes before his detective pal took a header off of the Reichenbach Falls. Now he’s on his own in Pittsburgh, running clinic dedicated to helping people with mysterious ailments—ones requiring a doctor who’s also a bit of a detective.StreamWatsonon Paramount+.
Call the Midwife(2012 – )
Set at the dawn of Britain’s National Health Service,Call the Midwifeexplores an era when many were receiving modern healthcare for the very first time, as the nuns of London's Nonnatus House, who had been providing basic midwifery services for decades, are joined by secular nurses and given public funding. The show deals frankly with women’s health issues in a way that few other series have ever bothered, and its rotating cast of characters has helped it to remain a beloved favorite for over a decade, both in its native Britain and across the pond.StreamCall the Midwifeon Netflixand PBS.
Berlin ER(2025 – )
An understaffed, overfilled emergency room in a major city—this stylish, new show isThe Pitt-level tense, and then some. Young Dr. Suzanna Parker is seeking a fresh start in Berlin, but taking over the management of a chaotic urban emergency room is definitely not going to be a vacation. One of the show's co-creators, Samuel Jefferson is a former emergency room doctor, and the show's heightened realism has earned it a ton of praise, including the German Television Award Best Drama. It's been renewed for a second season.StreamBerlin ERon Apple TV+.
New Amsterdam(2018 – 2023)
Even the most realistic medical dramas have soapy aspects, butNew Amsterdamleans into that side of things more than most. Ryan Eggold plays Dr. Maximus "Max" Goodwin, the slightly annoying new medical director at one of the oldest public hospitals in the U.S. He looking to freshen up the outdated hospital and bring down its stodgy bureaucracy, withDoctor Who’s Freema Agyeman by his side. The show occasionally sags under the weight of its subplots, but it’s still fun to watch Max fight for public health.StreamNew Amsterdamon Peacock.
House(2004 – 2012)
Like the much more recentWatson,Houseshowcases investigative medicine, with Hugh Laurie’s as the titular Dr. Holmes (er, House) and Robert Sean Leonard as Watson (OK, Wilson). Not only is the show tightly paced and compact, it also has the benefit of Laurie, giving a career-defining performance as one of TV’s greatest assholes, a wonderfully acerbic curmudgeon who nonetheless gets results.Stream House on Prime Videoand Hulu
Getting On(2013 - 2015)
One of the few medical shows willing to tackle aging and geriatric care,Getting Onconsiders the trials faced by the staff at an underfunded extended care facility. The fact that it’s a frequently very dark comedy doesn’t make it any less impressive in its handling of tough topics. Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash, and Mel Rodriguez star.StreamGetting Onon HBO Max.
Dr. Romantic(2016 – 2023)
Following a traumatic incident, a lead surgeon (Han Suk-kyu) at Seoul's biggest medical center changes his name and moves to a small hospital in the more sparsely populated Gangwon Province. Now called Kim Sa-bu, he's tasked with mentoring young, idealistic doctors and reigniting the fire in a few who have just about had it. The wildly popular show blends hospital drama with impressive character development and, in the best tradition of K-drama, plenty of threads about the corrupting power of money on modern medicine.StreamDr. Romanticon Huluand Netflix.
The Knick(2014 - 2015)
The Steven Soderbergh-directedThe Knicktakes us back to the glory days of American medical care—specifically, 1900 New York, and the fictional Knickerbocker Hospital, with Clive Owen’s Dr. John Thackery as the well-intentioned head of surgery who also happens to have a rather significant opium addiction. He’s joined by André Holland as Dr. Algernon C. Edwards, a Black assistant chief surgeon who runs rings around most of his colleagues but still can’t seem to get any credit for it (he’s based on a couple of real-life doctors of the era). Like the best period medical dramas, this one’s a good reminder that modern medicine ain’t so bad.StreamThe Knickon HBO Max.
E.R. (1994 - 2009)
A natural successor toSt. Elsewhere,E.R.is less weird but does one better in its commitment to portraying something hospital drama that at least feels like reality. With another rotating cast that kept the show fresh over an impressive 15 seasons,E.R.’s innovation was in its willingness to drag viewers along at a breakneck pace, counting on us to keep up with the fast-paced dialogue loaded with medical jargon. At its best, the show makes you feel like you’re really catching a glimpse of life in an underfunded city emergency room.StreamERon HBO Maxand Hulu.
Childrens Hospital(2008 - 2016)
A relentless, and relentlessly memeable satire of medical dramas in general, this comedy centers on the staff of the titular hospital, named for founder Arthur Childrens (motto: “I believe that Childrens is the future.”) The show can’t be bothered with continuity; instead, each episode dives into a very silly/smart brand of dark comedy defined by its commitment to randomness. The stacked cast includes creator Rob Cordry, Lake Bell, Erinn Hayes, Rob Huebel, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Henry Winkler, and Malin Åkerman.StreamChildrens Hospitalon Tubior buy episodes from Prime Video.
Scrubs(2001 - 2010)
This scrappy sitcom was resuscitated at least once during its initial run, only finally declared dead after an impressive nine seasons, though it’s due shortly for a revival from original creator Bill Lawrence. Zach Braff plays J.D. Dorian, who begins the show as an intern at the fictional teaching hospital, Sacred Heart. While playing with slapstick and incorporating surreal dream sequences, the show earned high marks from medical professionals, who apparently found it more accurate in depicting details of hospital life than many prestige medical dramas.StreamScrubson Hulu.
Grey’s Anatomy(2005 - )
FromGrey’s Anatomydid Shonda Rhimes’ mighty TV empire spring, yet the show that started it all is somehow still going strong in its 21st season. Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompey) continues to head the team of doctors at Seattle Grace alongside Chandra Wilson and James Pickens Jr. Deft cast rotations have kept things relatively fresh for over two decades and more than 430 episodes.StreamGrey’s Anatomyon Huluand Netflix.
The Trauma Code(2025 – )
Ju Ji-hoon (Kingdom) stars as Baek Kang-hyuk, an experienced war-zone trauma surgeon tasked by the Ministry of Health to take charge of a university hospital's struggling trauma center. Of course, his wildly unorthodox methods rub the established doctors the wrong way—but he's gonna do what he's gotta do.Trauma Codedoes away with some of the personal drama that characterizes many of the other shows here in favor of more purely medical-trauma-related thrills.StreamThe Trauma Codeon Netflix.
This is Going to Hurt(2022)
This British miniseries, loosely adapted the memoir from comedian Adam Kay, chronicles Kay’s time as a trainee doctor in obstetrics and gynaecology circa 2006. Ben Whislaw stars as Kay, facing down daily challenges that range from the very funny to the shocking and horrific. The show makes clear that, while the contexts are very different, British doctors also struggle with chaotic working conditions and lack of institutional support, particularly at the intern level.StreamThis is Going to Hurton Netflixand AMC+.
Transplant(2020 – 2024)
There’s much that’s familiar in this Canadian drama, but the show stands apart because of the unique perspective of its lead character (at least as far as mainstream medical dramas go). Hamza Haq plays Bashir "Bash" Hamed, a refugee of the Syrian Civil War who comes to Toronto to rebuild his life and career as an E.R. resident. He‘s unable to get a job in his chosen field until his heroic actions during the first episode garner him the right kind of attention. Even still, he faces discrimination as a doctor, and suffers the aftereffects of wartime trauma, even as his skills and experience prove extremely valuable.StreamTransplanton Peacock.
Nurse Jackie(2009 – 2015)
Edie Falco followed up her run onThe Sopranoswith this similarly lauded comedy-drama that earned her six consecutive Emmy nominations and one win. She plays the titular nurse in the Emergency Department at All Saints’ Hospital in NYC. At the outset of the series, Jackie is married but having an affair, mostly to get the various pills she’s addicted to—which gives you a sense of the messiness of Jackie’s life and work.StreamNurse Jackieon Netflix.
Adolescence(2025 – )
A bit of a wildcard here, given that the focus isn't strictly medical, but the format of this crime drama gives it a feel not entirely dissimilar fromThe Pitt.Starting on the morning of May 8, 2024, police raid the home of the Miller family, with the suspicion that 13-year-old Jamie has murdered a classmate in his school, a girl who rejected him. The family faces backlash from the community while the police conduct their investigation and a forensic psychologist tries to get to the bottom of Jamie's manosphere-influenced views on women. The atmosphere is heightened by the show's structure: Each episode is filmed in one (seemingly, at least) continuous take, a storytelling choice that manages to not feel gimmicky here, and that earned it a load of Emmy nominations.StreamAdolescenceon Netflix.
