Pulse TV show Season 1 Ending Explained: Xander’s Confession, Danny’s Relief, new Chief Resident, and more

Pulse from Netflix is the streaming giant’s attempt to capitalize on the medical show niche. After all, Grey’s Anatomy has been renewed for season 22, so it's clearly a genre people love watching. The show follows a bunch of eclectic medics who have a lot going on in their lives. The series deals with multiple plotlines, but the major one is about the appointment of the next Chief Resident. 

This issue directly ties into an allegation of sexual harassment made by Danny against the existing Chief, Xander. This results in her taking over the position temporarily. So, who ultimately becomes the next Chief Resident? In this article, we will discuss that. 

What Happens to Glen and his baby?

In Episode 10 of Pulse, the hostile patient, Glen, who got into an altercation with Danny and her sister Harper, arrives via a chopper after getting into a life-threatening car accident with his wife, Catherine, and their baby. Due to their past, Glen doesn’t want to be treated by Danny. 

He blames the hospital for not treating his baby’s breathing issues, which resulted in his family getting into the accident- after all, he was rushing to get help for them. Danny then steps in to stabilize the situation as Dr Cruz watches on. 

Eventually, Harper’s initial diagnosis proves to be the correct one. This ensures that the underweight baby’s treatment begins right then. Later on, Cruz reveals to Danny that she is her choice for being the Chief Resident next year. 

The Truth About Xander

The show reveals that Xander made a fatal mistake when he treated a patient who arrived in the ER with extreme pain in his abdomen due to fluid buildup. At Kennedy, Dr. Bruce made Xander do the procedure to release the fluid. However, this was done without an ultrasound. 

Initially, everything seemed good, and the patient felt relieved. However, the patient then became unconscious as Xander realized that he must have nicked an artery. The patient, a favorite of Xander, ultimately died, and Xander could do nothing to stop it. 

This trauma starts affecting him when he begins operating on Catherine. She starts bleeding out, and Xander freezes. Danny steps in with a solution, which makes Xander get back in and save her life. However, the guilt of what happened eats away at Xander, and he confesses what happened to Danny. He also reveals that his mother covered everything up to protect their own reputation as well as his own. 

Xander Confesses his love for Danny

Xander understands that he was wrong for pushing Danny to accept a relationship with him even though she had articulated several times that she didn’t want to as it would put her in an impossible situation regarding her position as the interim Chief Resident. 

But he confesses his feelings for her, which surprises Danny. She says that she returns his feelings. Danny says that if she does get fired, then they can begin their relationship anew outside the confines of their workplace. 

Colin Woodell in an interview with Tudum said about the relationship between Danny and Xander: 

“They’re both two characters who want to be good partners to each other. But they also have a lot of work to do on themselves. Unfortunately, both of them need to figure some stuff out on their own first before they’re really available for the other.” 

Sophie’s Newfound Confidence and Relationship with Camila

Sophie finally questions Cole regarding his decision to change her surgery schedule. She asks him why he wants to put her down, and Cole admits that he has been unfair to her. He says that he has changed her rotation so that she no longer has to deal with it and work with him.

This change makes Camila proud as she was the one who suggested to Sophie that she believe in herself. Their friendship also seems to be blossoming into something more. But it goes downhill when Camila’s fiancée shows up. After a conversation with her, Sophie leaves feeling embarrassed for misreading her relationship with Camila. 

Who Becomes the new Chief Resident?

At the end-of-year party, Dr Patrick Sanchez is announced as the new head of the ER. In turn, Patrick announces that Sam is his choice for chief resident. This shocks Danny and Xander, but Danny congratulates Sam either way. Cruz tells Danny that she had no idea Patrick would oppose her decision. 

It makes sense why Sam got the position. It was because Cruz lost the ER as she didn’t fire Danny like the board and Xander’s parents had wanted her to. However, even though Danny lost the chief resident position, she would still be able to stay at the medical center. 

Xander Confesses his Crime

The season ends with Xander telling Danny that he told the hospital review board everything about what happened back at Kennedy. This could make him lose his license. However, he knows that it was the right thing to do and what Danny would have wanted him to do. So, he is following her example. 

Then, Sam gets ready to take over his new position while Danny dives into the sea, finally at peace away from the emergency heading for Sam to deal with. Actor Willa Fitzgerald talked to Tudum about that scene and said:

“It was an amazing moment to shoot. It was an amazing moment for the character as well. It was both this cathartic release for Danny and this surrender to the literal tides of her life and the things that she cannot control.”

Is the Pulse TV show Returning for Season 2?

At the time of writing, Netflix hasn't renewed Pulse for a second season. The renewal likely depends on the viewership it gets.

Pulse is streaming on Netflix.