Medical dramas are some of the most popular TV showsairing today, but these series are notable for being the best of the genre. Packed with built-in drama when it comes to both the doctors and patients alike, it’s not surprising that audiences find themselves so drawn to the intensity of a series set against the backdrop of a fast-paced hospital.
Medical dramas are an effective format because they allow the series to touch upon relevant social issues. People from all walks of life end up in the hospital, making it the convergence point for any type of character or story arc. There are manyrecent medical drama TV showsthat are pushing the genre forward, changing our perceptions of what these kinds of shows can be.
7Call The Midwife (2012–Present)
Call the Midwifehas changed a lot since it first premiered in 2012, but the period drama has become no less compelling as the seasons have progressed. Though the show isn’t always the most medically accurate, often prioritizing story over science, this isn’t an uncommon practice within the genre, and the central characters are likable enough to forgive this.
Set in London in the 1950s,Call the Midwifehas followed its ever-changing cast over the decades, engaging with the experiences of working-class women in the latter half of the 20th century as social and cultural changes took hold of the nation’s identity. Primarily focusing on pregnancy and reproductive health,Call the Midwifehas tackled many important subjects throughout its run.
Call the Midwife (2012–Present)
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Call the Midwifeisn’t as fast-paced as other contemporary medical shows, and it often opts for the happy, sentimental ending in its stories, but this can be a relief compared to some of the gorier projects available to watch today. Audiences looking for a more feel-good addition to the medical oeuvre will find comfort inCall the Midwife.
6The Pitt (2025–Present)
HBO has only released one season ofThe Pitt, and a lot could change before the series concludes. However, so far, it’s safe to say thatThe Pitthas earned a place in the pantheon of the best medical dramas we’ve seen in years. Its long-term impact and legacy might be unknown, but the cultural conversation thatThe Pittseason 1 has sparked can’t be overlooked.
AsThe Pittseason 2 approaches, audiences and critics are getting excited to find out how the show will top the fast-paced thrill ride of the first installment and maintain its momentum. Unfolding in real time over the course of a fourteen-hour shift in the emergency room,The Pittfollows veterans of the ER and newcomers alike, crafting one of the most realistic depictions of modern medicine.
Unafraid to grapple directly with issues like budget cuts, discrimination, and the insurance crisis in the United States,The Pittthrives thanks to its ensemble cast and the anchoring lead performance from Noah Wyle. As an actor who’s well known for his contributions to the medical genre, Wyle provides the necessary authority, experience, and vulnerability to make Dr. Robby so unforgettable.
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5MAS*H (1972–1983)
MASHbeganas an unconventional comedy series with elements of drama, but it quickly became one of the most important medical shows in history. Following a unit of army doctors stationed near the front line during the Korean War,MASHpushed boundaries immediately, playing with form and style to communicate staunch anti-war messages, commenting on the Vietnam War.
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Alan Alda’s turn as Hawkeye, the charming and eternally competent surgeon, made the actor a star. As Alda became more involved in the creative work behind the scenes inMAS*H, the show was able to lean into the more dramatic arcs of the series, culminating in one of the best series finales of all time, which didn’t shy away from the real cost of war.
MASH’s best charactersdefined the series, but that didn’t mean the show wouldn’t give them tragic endings.MASHmade the depth of its drama clear through shocking character deaths and grueling explorations of what the doctors had to experience in trying to save the lives of soldiers and civilians. Though the medical elements sometimes take a backseat,MAS*His about the characters' work as doctors until the end.
4House (2004–2012)
Sometimes, the best thing a medical drama can do is have an unlikable lead, and the hit medical series,House, knew this better than any other show. Led by Hugh Laurie at his best as Dr. Greg House, the misanthropic but brilliant diagnostician,Housefollows his evolution as a character, his obsession with solving medical mysteries, and his struggles with addiction.
Of course, in real life, it would be challenging to have a doctor like House, but in the context of the show, it’s fascinating to watch how his mind works and watch him unravel seemingly undiagnosable cases. Like other medical dramas, there’s a revolving cast of characters that make up House’s interns and the hospital staff. This opened the door for many great guest stars and fresh storylines.
However, House and his best friend, Dr. James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), are standbys of the series. This relationship ended up becoming the most compelling inHouse’s history. House’s unpredictability as a character and penchant for making selfish choices, often in the name of medical discovery, makeHousean ideal blend of interpersonal drama and thrilling medical cases.
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3Nurse Jackie (2009–2015)
Just a few years after her legendary performance as Carmela Soprano inThe Sopranos, Edie Falco starred inNurse Jackieas the titular character for all seven seasons. While there’s no question that Falco’s work as the lead character was a large part of what made the show work, the premise also allowed the project to stand out among the many medical dramas airing at the time.
Like all great medical series, there’s an element of comedy inNurse Jackiethat’s critical to the series' success. The driving force behind the drama inNurse Jackiedoesn’t just come from the medical cases, but the fact that Jackie struggles with addiction throughout the series, and how her close proximity to medication fuels some of her darkest moments.
There are times whenNurse Jackiecan be hard to watch, as Falco gives her all to portraying Jackie, and the writers put her through intense emotional ups and downs. As the series progresses,Nurse Jackiestays true to its themes and never shies away from grappling directly with the dramas of Jackie’s work as a nurse and the way this manifests in her continuous battle with addiction.
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2This Is Going To Hurt (2022)
Ben Whishaw and Ambika Mod lead the cast of the darkly comic miniseriesThis Is Going to Hurt, based on the memoir by Adam Kay. Following Adam and Shruti and their work in the OB-GYN department of a hospital in London,This Is Going to Hurtgives intimate insight into how the long hours, emotional turmoil, and thankless nature of the job weigh on the characters.
While many medical dramas don’t hesitate to use sensationalized cases and scientifically fascinating medical issues to capture the audience’s attention,This Is Going to Hurtroots itself firmly in reality. Premiering in the wake of the genre’s height,This Is Going to Hurtsuccessfully subverts the audience’s expectations when it comes to the traditional medical series.
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Everything from the atmosphere of the hospital to the performances by Whishaw and Mod immerses the viewer in the world of being a doctor, with no intention of glamorizing the profession. ThoughThis Is Going to Hurtis a miniseries with just one installment, this doesn’t lessen the impact and makes it easy for fans of the genre to dive into the story.
1ER (1994–2004)
Audiences have recently been rediscovering the magic ofERthanks to Wyle’s starring role inThe Pitt. However, the iconic medical procedural has a legacy that far outweighs its biggest stars. WhenERpremiered, most audiences had never watched a show so frank about the high cost of the medical field and the experience of being both a seasoned doctor and a newcomer in the hospital.
ER (1994–2004)
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ERwas thelongest-running medical drama beforeGrey’s Anatomy, and without this series, it’s likely that the entire genre would be significantly different today. Though the series focused on the patients and cases that came through the emergency department,ERalso spent time getting to know the doctors and investing in their personal lives.
Though the early seasons ofERwere the strongest, the show remained gripping and consistent in its ability to surprise the viewer. The final few years ofERbegan to flag a bit, but the series was always true to its premise and thrived thanks to its ensemble cast.ER’s legacy and impact make it impossible not to acknowledge the show’s importance to medical television.
