Code Blue, Rush the Doctor It's easy to get swept up in the urgency and intense emotion of medical dramas Those of us with no medical training get an exciting (albeit fictional) look behind the scenes At the same time, we get an up-close look at doctors and nurses saving patients

For those of us who happen to be in the medical field, it would be more difficult to enjoy it without pointing out its flaws But for those of us who are happily naive, there is plenty of action to keep us on the edge of our seats

Hulu has a healthy (pun no doubt intended) selection of the best medical dramas, some of which have been on the air for years and some of which are little-known, and all of which have multiple seasons, making them ideal for missed subscriptions

Dr Gregory House, played by Hugh Laurie, has graced primetime television for eight seasons His quirky, somewhat rude, but surprisingly intelligent character provided plenty of medical jargon and wit while he and his team diagnosed complex and rare diseases His grumpiness was often directed at his patients, which was somewhat understandable since he was battling a foot injury that affected his ability to walk

Raleigh's House was not alone Dr James Wilson (Robert Sean Leonard), Dr Eric Foreman (Omar Epps), Dr Robert Chase (Jesse Spencer), Dr Allison Cameron (Jennifer Morrison), Dr Lisa Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein), Dr Remy Hadley (Olivia Wilde) all made this program an unforgettable experience Each in their own unique way bounced off House's messy reception and added a level of compassion that he was unable to provide to his patients During its run, “House” won five Primetime Emmy Awards and numerous other awards and nominations

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It's hard not to include “ER” in any list of best medical dramas; it was one of the biggest hits in TV history and has since set the bar that all other medical shows try to meet Created by Michael Crichton (best known as the author of “Jurassic Park”), the show focused on Chicago's County General Hospital and the ups and downs of working in an emergency room [The show began in 1994 and ran for 15 years It featured such amazing talents as George Clooney, Julianna Margulies, and Noah Wyle, as well as such now-unforgettable and famous guest stars as Octavia Spencer, Lucy Liu, and Adam Scott The series won 23 Primetime Emmy Awards and countless other awards

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Another show that is considered one of the best medical shows of all time is “Grey's Anatomy,” which began in 2005 and is still going strong, with season 21 () premiering on September 26, 2024 If you missed the show, you can catch up by watching all 20 seasons on Hulu There is plenty of romance in this medical drama Ellen Pompeo plays Dr Meredith Grey, the show's namesake, and she is the star of the show, starting as an intern and building a career as a successful surgeon

But Pompeo is not the only highlight of the show Dr Christina Yang, played by Sandra Oh, provides plenty of humor to temper the dramatic developments Patrick Dempsey as Dr Derek Shepherd (aka McDreamy), Gray's love interest, is also not to be missed However, that only scratches the surface of the countless number of memorable stars Something a little special also left the show when most of the original cast dropped out, but that does not detract from its entertainment value

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“St Elsewhere” may not come in at the top of the medical drama list However, it is a masterpiece that was willing to take many risks It focuses on a teaching hospital called St Eligius, often called St Elsewhere because it was a bit of a last resort for patients The series featured many familiar faces, including Denzel Washington, Howie Mandel, and David Morse

Despite the serious drama of “St Elsewhere,” there was also plenty of humor and romance, some of it groundbreaking, like the 1983 episode in which a hospitalized patient is diagnosed with AIDS If you are drawn to this series, be prepared for a shocking ending I won't bore you with the details, but this ending was a major talking point

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“Saving Hope” did not have the long run of its other medical drama predecessors (it only lasted five seasons), but it definitely has a more unique take on the typical format The show stars Dr Alex Reid (Erica Durance) as her fiancé, Dr Charles Harris (Michael Shanks), who is in a coma Dr Harris takes on a spirit form and Dr Reid fights to save his life The show's blend of paranormal and medical drama made it a one-of-a-kind show, although it failed to draw in a wide audience

After season one, NBC stopped airing the series, leaving the remaining four seasons to Canada's CTV However, those who were captivated by the first season and missed the reruns on Ion TV will be happy to know that the entire series is available on Hulu

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When a spinoff is created, it shows that the show is a success Private Practice follows the journey of neonatal surgeon Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) She leaves “Grey's Anatomy's” Seattle Grace Hospital to join a private clinic in Los Angeles run by her best friend and her best friend's ex-husband

If you compare the show to “Grey's Anatomy,” you are sure to be disappointed The characters in “Private Practice” act a bit more mature than the characters in the earlier seasons of “Grey's” But this may be a difference you will appreciate Over the six seasons that “Private Practice” ran, there was more of a balance between the three friends' relationships and the events at the clinic In addition, look out for several crossover episodes

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Last but not least is “The Resident” While many medical dramas allude to the complexity and hierarchy of the medical field, this film takes an unflinching look at it Matt Chukri stars as Dr Conrad Hawkins, an idealistic third-year resident who clashes with his supervisor, Dr Randolph Bell (Bruce Greenwood)

What makes the show unique is that it portrays insurance companies as (appropriately) supervillains There are many conflicts with certain physicians who treat patients like numbers The show focuses on doing what is best for the patient and the uncertainty of facing ethical dilemmas The show also features great performances by Emily VanCamp, Manish Dayal, and Shawnette Renee Wilson

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