A wave of new medical television series is premiering across networks, each offering unique perspectives on the world of healthcare. From cruise ship emergencies to memory loss dramas, these shows cater to fans of procedural, mockumentary, and character-driven narratives. Us Weekly has compared the lineup to help viewers find their next binge.
The influx of medical dramas continues to captivate audiences, building on classics like Grey's Anatomy and Chicago Med. Executive producer Ryan Murphy enters the genre with Doctor Odyssey on ABC, premiering in September 2024. Starring Joshua Jackson, the procedural follows a doctor managing crises and leisure on a luxury cruise ship.
NBC contributes two entries: Brilliant Minds, which debuted in September 2024, and St. Denis Medical, arriving in November 2024. Brilliant Minds draws from Oliver Sacks' books, such as The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and features Zachary Quinto as the eccentric neurologist Dr. Oliver Wolf, focused on understanding patients' minds. In contrast, St. Denis Medical is a mockumentary sitcom created by Justin Spitzer of Superstore fame. It stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Mekki Leeper, and Kaliko Kauahi as overworked staff at an underfunded hospital.
HBO's The Pitt, led by Noah Wyle, premiered in January 2025 and provides a realistic portrayal of American healthcare challenges. The series unfolds over 15 episodes, each representing one hour of a single shift at a Pittsburgh hospital, viewed through frontline workers' eyes.
Fox's Doc, also debuting in January 2025, adapts the Italian series Nelle tue mani. Molly Parker portrays a doctor who loses her memory in a car accident, reshaping her life, alongside Omar Metwally, Amirah Vann, Jon Ecker, Anya Banerjee, Scott Wolf, and Patrick Walker.
CBS's Watson, premiering the same month, reimagines Sherlock Holmes lore with Morris Chestnut as the detective's partner now heading a clinic for rare disorders, six months after James Moriarty's killing of Holmes.
Netflix's Pulse arrives in April 2025, centering on a Miami trauma center with Willa Fitzgerald, Colin Woodell, Justina Machado, Jessica Rothe, and Nestor Carbonell navigating crises and personal issues.
Finally, Fox's Best Medicine, a remake of the British Doc Martin, launches in January 2026. Josh Charles plays Dr. Martin Best, relocating from Boston to a small practice in Port Wenn.
