Previously, in the new Netflix series Pulse, we were introduced to the staff of Maguire Hospital in the Level 1 Trauma Center. Dr. Danielle Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) was promoted to the new Chief of Residence by Dr. Natalie Cruz (Justina Machado), who replaced Xander Phillips (Colin Woodell). A new intern, Camila Perez (Daniela Nieves), came in, ready for her first day. The medical staff have multiple trauma patients from car crashes and other emergencies due to Hurricane Abby.

The next episode starts with the hurricane getting much worse. The new paramedic, Nia Washington (Ash Santos), is with her partner, Shannon Kincaid (Kathryn Smith-McGlynn), driving through the storm. Shannon is teasing her for having a crush on Tom Cole (Jack Bannon), but Nia denies it. Before Shannon can say anything else, they see a woman running for help. They stop the truck. A tree fell on the woman’s house, and her kids are inside.

Next, we see Danielle and Xavier with their next trauma patient. Nurse Gabriel Moreno (Santiago Segura) asks what to do, and instead of following Danielle’s orders, he follows Xavier’s. As Gabriel takes the patient away, Xavier apologizes to Danielle, telling her that it won’t be easy for the employees to remember who is now in charge.

Danielle tells Camila to find a place for the medical staff to sleep overnight, since the new trauma patients have to stay in the conference rooms. The hospital is beginning to fill in very quickly.

While walking in the hallway, Danielle gets stopped by her sister, Dr. Harper (Jessy Yates). Harper tells her that their dad isn’t answering her calls and that she’s worried about him. Danielle calls and leaves him a voicemail.

Later, Danielle, Sam, Gabriel, and Harper wait by the doors for the arrival of their next trauma patients. Shannon and Nia bring in the mother and her two children, a five and a ten-year-old. Nia is also on a stretcher, injured from saving the children in the house. The mother and her husband are okay.

After a procedure, Danielle has a flashback to one year ago. She meets the team for dinner. She and Xavier share a moment alone at the bar. He asks her where she goes when she needs a moment alone in the hospital, and she tells him that she’ll let him know if he can get the bartender’s attention first. She hops across the bar and grabs a bottle of alcohol. He loses the bet.

We go back to the present. Danielle sneaks off to the radiology floor and hides in the bathroom. That’s where she goes for quiet.

Tom tells Nia she has a liver injury and will need surgery. Dr. Sophie Chan (Chelsea Muirhead) helps with her medical examination.

Cruz is with her daughter, who is still unconscious. She just went through surgery. Dr. Ruben Soriano (Nester Carbonell) checks on her. Cruz is waiting for her to wake up.

Camila tells Danielle that she can’t find space for the staff to sleep. Danielle tells Camila to follow her. She breaks a window to a locked room and orders Camila to tell the staff to bring some beds over there. Suddenly, the generator collapses, shutting off some of the power.

Xander tells the staff that their generators need fuel. The fuel is being pumped from underground, and they are now on their last generator. Despite this setback, hospital staff continue to do everything they can to help their patients.

Tom goes to Ruben as he’s doing a surgical procedure. He asks if he can start prepping for Nia’s surgery, since all surgeons are in the middle of procedures. After a couple of minutes defending his reasoning, Ruben agrees to let Tom get started.

Danielle goes back to the Radiology floor’s bathroom and hears a woman in a stall. She looks inside and notices the woman’s water breaking. Danielle has a phobia of delivering babies, ever since Xander had her in charge of one when he was their Chief. She successfully delivers the baby.

Tom starts Nia’s surgical procedure and opens her stomach with Sophie’s help. He accidentally touches the impalement, making it bleed. Her blood pressure begins to fall, and Sophie urges him to let her get Ruben, with Nia’s vitals getting worse. Ruben hurries inside, taking Tom’s place. Ruben gets Nia stable and tells Tom that he did a good job, which relieves his nerves.

Cruz is starting to get nervous about the situation with her daughter. The generator doesn’t have much time left, and she’s scared of what will happen once the hospital loses its full power. Ruben tells her that when the time comes, they’ll figure it out.

Next, Sam finds Danielle crying in the bathroom. He asks her if she wants to be alone, and she shakes her head no. He helps her change her shirt before hugging her and letting her cry in his arms.

The lights begin to flicker as Danielle leaves Sam, after having a flashback of her and Xander. Cruz is still in the room with her daughter.

Overall, this was a good episode. We get to learn more about Xander and Danielle’s work dynamic, and we also get to learn more about how Tom works as a Doctor. Danielle and Sam have a very strong bond, and it’ll be interesting to learn more about their friendship. What will happen now that the hospital’s last generator has died? What will happen to Cruz’s daughter?

Rating: 8/10