Netflix’s medical drama series, Pulse, follows the lives of residents in a Miami Level 1 trauma center. Pulse is reminiscent of early episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, with its focus split between the personal and romantic lives of its main characters and the stressful medical situations that the doctors must take on, though the two often overlap. The characters of Pulse are far from perfect, making decisions based on their own feelings and rivalries despite the impact that those can have on patients, but it is precisely this that makes the series so entertaining.

Pulse follows third-year resident Danny Simms, who is promoted to chief resident while dealing with the fallout from her relationship with Xander Phillips, her former boss. Danny’s life and relationships with the other doctors of Maguire Medical Center grow increasingly complicated throughout the season, leading to Pulse‘s season 1 ending, which sees the Miami-based doctors thrust into difficult new situations. Much of what the group goes through throughout season 1 is directly impacted by their hospital’s Floridian location, which may leave viewers wondering if it was really filmed there.

Miami, Florida

The Series Was Really Filmed In its On-Screen Location

Pulse is set in Miami, Florida, so it makes complete sense that it was partially filmed there too. The vibrant city and beautiful coastal views contrast sharply with the intensity of the medical center, and the city also helps shape the characters’ lives. While the doctors do spend large amounts of their time in Maguire Medical Center, there are scenes throughout the series that take place in lively urban settings or serene beaches. Though Xander and Danny’s treatment of a victim at the beach shows that the beautiful landscape can also present dangers

Miami’s entrancing environment and how it is seen through the characters’ experiences makes the setting a character unto itself.

This is also true of the hurricane, which raises the stakes for the doctors even more. As the doctors deal with the storm and its aftermath, they have to overcome more difficult obstacles than ever before. Pulse‘s Miami setting and filming location are crucial to creating a series that feels real. Making use of beaches in the Miami area and using the real Jackson Memorial Hospital’s helipad help weave real settings into the characters’ lives. Miami’s entrancing environment and how it is seen through the characters’ experiences makes the setting a character unto itself.

Albuquerque, New Mexico

The Cast & Crew Used Albuquerque For Interior Scenes

Though the series’ setting aligns with its external shots, gracing viewers with scenic views of the ocean-front city and hospital, the interior scenes of Maguire Medical Center were actually filmed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Filming TV shows in real locations can create some trouble since productions can take a lot of time, space, and money. In order to avoid filming in a real working hospital, the Pulse team shot some of the interior scenes for the hospital on sets in Albuquerque.

Using Albuquerque to build interior hospital sets to stand in for real places in Miami likely made production much easier. The show’s cast and crew would have had more time to get familiar with their fictional medical center, making it much easier to get to the dramatic heart of Pulse without worrying about complications of filming in a real medical facility. Filming both on sets in Albuquerque and utilizing real locations in Miami helps give Pulse a sense of realism while still allowing the series’ drama to shine through.