If there’s one thing audiences can’t get enough of, it’s a heart-racing medical show that lets them live vicariously through talented doctors, nurses, and staff fighting for their patients' lives, all from the comfort of their couch. Over the decades, the TV world has been home to someunforgettable medical hits, likeMAS*H, ER, House, andGrey’s Anatomy. Medical dramas have recently experienced a resurgence in popularity, thanks to the critically acclaimed dramaThe Pitt, which has been praised for its extremely accurate depiction of life in the emergency room.
Whilefictional medical programsare undeniably crowd-pleasers,a docuseries featuring real-life hospital staff offers a fly-on-the-wall look into some of London’s most prominent trauma units, taking viewers on a pulse-pounding journey with the medical staff.Netflixdecided to throw its hat in the ring by releasing its own gripping medical original withCritical: Between Life and Death, which depicts London’s major trauma centers while showcasing the devoted staff rallying to save lives. Let’s take a closer look at the new series dazzling viewers.
Audiences Are Taken on a Harrowing Journey in ‘Critical: Between Life and Death’
Each of the six episodes inCritical: Between Life and Deathhighlights the dedicated heroes who go to painstaking lengths to save and treat their patients.The gripping series provides audiences with a revealing look at how emergency staff respond to critical injuries and features insightful commentary from paramedics, trauma surgeons, emergency responders, and patients, whileexploring the emotional tollof the job.
The Netflix synopsis reveals that 40 cameras were embedded for 21 days across the entire London Major Trauma System, capturing heartrending footage of patients arriving at the centers and depicting a range of ailments, from brain injuries and stabbings to car accidents and physical assaults.Critical: Between Life and Deathis not for the faint of heart, as it shows graphic, raw images of medical procedures and the intense efforts of doctors, nurses, and staff fighting to save lives. It also offers a devastating look at how patients' loved ones react to the unfathomable ordeal.
‘Critical: Between Life and Death’ Packs an Emotional Punch
Critical: Between Life and Deathcan leave viewers feeling deeply uncomfortable, almost voyeuristic, as they witness the intense emotional and mental toll that comes with being a trauma system worker. Seeing hospital staff keep their composure despite dealing with such harrowing injuries is downright inspiring. Netflix accurately summed up the show’s premise in its synopsis, saying: “In London, a major trauma happens every 60 minutes, and for the NHS, each call is a race against time.“The docuseries subsequently explores not only the incoming patients but also how the doctors and staff cope with everything they get thrown their way while amidst all the chaos.
The Netflix original is completely unfiltered and does not shy away from depicting what happens within the walls of these trauma centers. By following real-life heroes, the shocking imagery delivers an even more powerful emotional impact. Unsurprisingly,Critical: Between Life and Deathis already being lauded for its detailed depiction of real patients and the brutal injuries they’ve sustained, and seeing the gifted surgeons work their magic in a highly-stressful environment as lives hang in the balance will leave you feeling equally thankful and breathless.
Critical: Between Life and Deathswiftly emerged as a hit among viewers upon its July 23 premiere, holding a strong 8.2 IMDb rating from users. Most of the reviews on the platform have commented on how intense and graphic the show is and how it’s not for the squeamish, and that everything is presented in a refreshingly straightforward, no-frills sort of way. One user poignantly (and accurately) wrote in their review: “It’s very personal, real, and sometimes heartbreaking. The series shows just how fragile we are as humans.”
Netflix is a master at creatinghigh-quality, deeply immersive showsand movies, andCritical: Between Life and Deathproves that the platform enjoys catering to the tastes of its diverse audience. The docuseries is riveting and powerfully pays tribute to everyone in the medical field. It’s a perfect, binge-worthy original for those who are fascinated by the inner workings of hospitals and their staff, as well as compelling medical cases.StreamCritical: Between Life and DeathonNetflix.
