Medical Dramas on Hulu: The 8 Best Series to Binge, STAT!

If phrases like “I need a crash cart, stat!” excite you or you know anything about the LVAD wire incident, then medical dramas might be your go-to genre. But getting an inside scoop of what goes on in the hospital walls is only a part of the thrill. They also always have an exciting dramatic aspect, hence the medical drama. Luckily, streaming has made it easy to binge all your favorite medical dramas on Hulu.

You may be familiar with the classics like Grey’s Anatomy or newer series like The Resident, but there are so many other medical dramas on Hulu that are just as enjoyable to watch. Maybe you want to try a more niche medical drama, in which case there’s The Good Doctor or House. No matter, medical dramas on Hulu are ubiquitous. Check out some of our favorites below!

Grey’s Anatomy

When you think of medical dramas, chances are Grey’s Anatomy is the first series to come to mind. Best known for starring McDreamy (Patrick Dempsey), McSteamy (Eric Dane) and of course, Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), this series has been ruling the screen since 2005. Currently on its 20^th season, this medical drama is a hit for a reason.

The show starts out following the work and love lives of Seattle Grace interns Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), Alex Karev (Justin Chambers) and George O’Malley (T.R. Knight), all of whom struggle to keep up with the fast-paced surgeons they aspire to be.

Of course, it’s been nearly 20 years since the beginning of the series, so faces have changed and leads have come and gone, but the story remains the same. The current season, which airs every Thursday night, follows an entirely new set of interns.

ER: Medical dramas on Hulu

One of the most iconic medical dramas on Hulu is ER. This multiple Emmy award winning series, that also brought George Clooney center stage, spanned 15 seasons from 1994 to 2009. Each episode chronicles a day in the ER, whether joyous or mundane. Starring Noah Wyle as John Carter and Laura Innes as Kerry Weaver, ER is the perfect medical drama if you’re looking for something a little nostalgic.

Clooney spoke about his time on the show and how the cast remains close, saying, “These are people that I really love, you know, and we grew up together, really grew up together, in many ways.”

Private Practice

This spinoff of Grey’s Anatomy follows McDreamy’s ex-wife and neonatal surgeon, Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh). The former Seattle Grace employee leaves Seattle behind for sunny Los Angeles, where she joins the ranks at a public clinic run by her friends Sam (Taye Diggs) and Naomi Bennett (Audra McDonald).

Walsh explained what it was like reprising her role from Grey’s, but in an entirely new atmosphere. “It was totally disorienting, because I’m playing the same character but in a totally new environment with a new job,” she said. “I think it’s the same way anyone would feel if they moved and started a new job.” Private Practice came to an end in 2013 after six seasons.

The Resident: Medical dramas on Hulu

As one of the newer medical dramas on Hulu, The Resident was a smashing success. Dr. Conrad Hawkins (Matt Czuchry) is Chastain Park Memorial’s charmingly arrogant employee. The series follows the ups and downs that occur in hospitals all the time. Czuchry says, “This show is a bit darker, a bit grittier, a bit more cynical, a bit more unapologetic [than other medical dramas].”

If you’re wondering why you should check out The Resident, Czuchry says that its very different from past medical dramas. “This show is willing to tackle themes that past shows in this genre may have been hesitant to address tonally.”

House

This one is a bit out of the ordinary for a medical drama and House is one of the most iconic series of the genre. Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) is the Sherlock Holmes of medical mysteries: he’ll do whatever it takes to diagnose a disease. With his quick wit and team of doctors, House becomes a well-respected doctor.

House’s Jennifer Morrison, who plays Dr. Allison Cameron, says the show is worth a watch for its main character. “First off, Hugh Laurie’s Dr. House is a unique character. He’s the antihero — crass and dated … but then you come to appreciate him for his honesty and his brilliance.”

Chicago Med: Medical dramas on Hulu

Medical dramas on Hulu are a continuing trend, which is why Chicago Med is so popular. This series follows a highly skilled medical team at the Gaffney Chicago Medical Center who deal with the challenges of saving lives. Meanwhile, the team of doctors and nurses try to navigate their own interpersonal relationships.

Torrey Devitto, who plays Natalie on the series, says that she hopes the show can help people learn. “If a viewer walks away knowing something they didn’t know before, connects with a character, or feels seen through one of the characters on our show, then I’ll feel like we did something right,” she explains.

St. Elsewhere

Similar to your other medical dramas on Hulu, St. Elsewhere follows the day-to-day of working at St. Eligius Hospital. But unlike the other shows, St. Elsewhere is not prone to pulling off miracles. In this 1982 drama series, doctors and other hospital staff deal with the realities of saving lives at this under-funded, old teaching hospital.

Actor Howie Mandel, who played Dr. Wayne Fiscus, shared the impact the show had on him and his career. “The kids that I was playing with, Denzel Washington … Ray Liotta and all the great writers … I’m a part of television history.”

The Good Doctor: Medical dramas on Hulu

This 2017 series follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, a young surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, who transfers to San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital. Although Shaun is alone in the world after a troubled childhood, his extraordinary medical skill and intuition helps him to find his place in life and at the hospital.

The show’s star, Freddie Highmore, shared his wish for the show to have made an impact. “I hope, if in some small, tiny, little way, we’ve been able to change perceptions surrounding autism [and] challenge stereotypes, that would be the thing that I’d be most proud of and that would make it feel, as we’d always hoped it would be, more than just a television show.”