5 Medical Dramas That Hit the Same Nerve as 'The Pitt', Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes
These medical series depict the difficult lives of doctors as they really are.
For fans of medical dramas, The Pitt was a true revelation – intense and almost documentary-like, with the frantic pace of a real-life hospital.
But while waiting for new episodes of the second season, withdrawal inevitably sets in. If you crave more honest, emotional, and unvarnished stories like this one, we've rounded up the five best medical dramas to help you pass the time.
5. 'ER', 1994-2009
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
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The events of ER take place in a Chicago emergency room where patients are brought from all over the city. The main characters face situations such as a shortage of beds, dangerous patient behavior, and pressure from management.
This medical drama changed the face of TV and ran for 15 years. It introduced the world to actors such as George Clooney and Noah Wyle, and it paved the way for dozens of similar shows, from House M.D. to Grey's Anatomy.
It is ER that spawned The Pitt, a series co-created by R. Scott Gemmill, one of ER's writers.
4. 'The Knick', 2014-2015
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 92%
Set at the turn of the 20th century, the story takes place at a time when medicine was primitive and dangerous, and antibiotics were unheard of. The plot centers on the talented and ambitious surgeon John Thackery.
Obsessed with experimental treatments, he risks his reputation by undertaking complex surgeries. However, the conservative medical community is skeptical of his innovative methods.
The Knick is a series created, directed, and edited by Steven Soderbergh. With creative freedom uncommon in the early 2010s, the Oscar-winning director depicted the medical conditions of the past century with the utmost candor and in gory detail.
3. 'This Is Going to Hurt', 2022
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 96%
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Adam, an obstetrician-gynecologist, is teetering on the brink of a nervous breakdown. Endless shifts, sleeping in his car, and the pressure of the state system are destroying his personal life and professional confidence.
He isolates himself from his loved ones, fails to cope with his work responsibilities, and risks losing his job. Meanwhile, his intern, Shruti, is taking her first steps in the profession. She is taking her final exams and immersing herself in the harsh reality of hospital life.
She is enthusiastic, but even the most idealistic people are worn down by the hospital's harsh working conditions.
2. 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call', 2025-...
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 99%
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Baek Kang-hyuk has been appointed head of the trauma department at a university hospital – he is a brilliant surgeon who handles complex surgeries with ease and is dedicated to his profession.
He gradually earns the trust of his colleagues and assembles a strong team. However, not all employees adhere to professional ethics.
Meanwhile, the hospital administration views his work as an expense, forcing doctors to struggle not only to save their patients' lives, but also to overcome bureaucratic obstacles.
1. 'Berlin ER', 2025-...
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 100%
Welcome to the emergency room of one of the worst hospitals in Berlin. Suzanna Parker recently took over the ER. After experiencing a series of personal setbacks, she moved from Munich to the capital, hoping for a fresh start.
In her new position, she is confronted with a lack of funding, incompetent medical staff, and the traumas of the past.
Berlin ER is an Apple TV+ series that uncovers the inner workings of a German hospital. It is sure to delight viewers tired of sterile, glossy medical dramas.
