Discover the Top 10 Medical Shows That Changed TV Forever!

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After marathoning through seasons of ER and House during those tough COVID-19 times, it seems my gaming hours spent on medical drama simulations have finally found a real-life payoff. The medical genre is making a comeback on our screens!

Previously, we weren’t residing in a barren medical landscape. Shows such as “New Amsterdam” and “The Resident” have recently concluded successful and well-received runs, while “Grey’s Anatomy” is set to outlast us all. However, the recent surge of new shows has been quite remarkable. In January alone, we saw the debut of “The Pitt,” Fox’s “Doc,” and CBS’s “Watson,” joining fall offerings like NBC’s “Brilliant Minds” and “St. Denis Medical,” as well as ABC’s “Doctor Odyssey.

What a perfect opportunity, then, for everybody’s favorite thing: listing!

Just like our curated list of the 50 Greatest TV Shows of the 21st Century thus far, this compilation of the Top 10 Medical Dramas of All Time is subject to change. It might not have been exactly the same a month ago, and it may vary in a year.

A couple of disclaimers.

Disclaimer 1: Due to the fact that I recently watched numerous medical dramas to compile this list, many timeless classics that aren’t currently available for streaming were unintentionally excluded. While there’s no denying the significance of series like Ben Casey, Dr. Kildare , and Marcus Welby, M.D. in shaping the genre, it seems that the studios are withholding these important pieces of our cultural heritage, similar to certain items being out-of-stock at a drugstore like CVS. It’s not only the vintage classics that are affected by this; even shows like CBS’ City of Angels, which concluded its run in 2000 and now feels significant in hindsight, is nowhere to be found on streaming platforms, making it impossible for me to rewatch.

Disclaimer 2: While psychotherapists could potentially be included in a list like this, for the sake of clarity and distinction, they are not part of our current discussion. Therefore, shows such as “In Treatment”, “Shrinking”, “The Patient”, “The Bob Newhart Show”, “Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist”, “The Sopranos”, “Hannibal”, “Frasier”, and “Sex Education” are not included in this particular list. You see? It’s a separate category altogether.

So, let’s get down to business. 

    10. Getting On (HBO, 2013-15)

    During the course of its three-season broadcast, it seems that viewers may not have fully recognized the exceptional ensemble of four main stars in the series Getting On. In Laurie Metcalf, Alex Borstein, Niecy Nash and Mel Rodriguez, creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer assembled performers capable of injecting humor into a setting that could easily become oppressively dark – a geriatric rehabilitation ward at a financially struggling Long Beach hospital. The show, airing only 18 episodes, is one of the finest television productions ever made about aging, caregiving and mortality – topics that are often shied away from in Hollywood productions, much like the health issues faced by patients in the Billy Barnes Extended Care Unit at Mount Palms Memorial Hospital.

    9. Grey’s Anatomy (ABC, 2005-present)

    Disregard ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ at your own risk. Spanning 438 episodes, Shonda Rhimes’ Seattle-based drama has aired more than even ‘ER’, despite being frequently underestimated or derided due to its soapiness, quirky soundtrack, playful character names, supernatural plot twists, Katherine Heigl-related controversies, and the writer Elisabeth Finch scandal. However, these aspects barely scratch the surface of what ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ is about, as it consistently delivers passionate in-show relationships, keeps viewers on edge with explosions, crashes, shootings, and disasters, tackles complex issues like COVID head-on, and continues to introduce new stars into its cast.

    8. Scrubs (NBC/ABC, 2001-10)

    15 years after its initial run, I never imagined that Scrubs, a show that didn’t initially stand out as a solo smash, would be making a comeback. The heartwarming bromance between Zach Braff’s J.D. and Donald Faison’s Turk has become so iconic that their chemistry is still being leveraged in commercials, even without any reference to its origins. I can’t help but smile when I think about John C. McGinley’s Dr. Cox, a character that has inspired countless tough-yet-affectionate comic authority figures, to the point where kids today might ask, “What’s an Emmy?” if you told them he was never nominated for one during the show’s run. The series creator, Bill Lawrence, whose knack for creating hangout comedies with heart and a touch of impending tears has only grown more refined over the years, from Cougar Town to Ted Lasso and now Shrinking. As a gamer, I’m always excited about the return of beloved franchises, and it feels like that’s exactly what’s happening with Scrubs!

    7. This Is Going to Hurt (BBC One/AMC+, 2022)

    As a gamer diving into the world of medical dramas, I’ve found “This Is Going to Hurt” to be the standout hit of the post-pandemic era so far. This semi-autobiographical black comedy, penned by Adam Kay, stars Ben Whishaw as a top-notch, yet perhaps not ideal, young doctor, and Ambika Mod delivers a breakthrough performance as an inexperienced doctor you might prefer to avoid during your visits. In terms of medical settings, few shows on this list can match the unappetizing one found in “This Is Going to Hurt”, which is precisely the point – even the best doctors in what we perceive as a largely commendable system can succumb to circumstances, red tape, and fate. It’s terrifying, hilarious, nauseating, and superbly written and acted.

    6. House (Fox, 2004-12)

    Instead of focusing on the later seasons filled with recurring antagonists, shifting team members, or complex political intrigue, let’s appreciate House, the renowned series by Paul Attanasio and David Shore, in its essence: those initial seasons where Hugh Laurie’s Gregory House and Robert Sean Leonard’s James Wilson played out a dynamic similar to Holmes and Watson, solving intricate medical mysteries. Each episode was skillfully designed as a 43-minute puzzle, ensuring that lupus was never the culprit. Although House isn’t considered the greatest medical drama of all time, Hugh Laurie’s performance might well be a genre peak—a portrayal of a limping, witty, socially awkward genius who hid his empathy beneath misanthropy, all while navigating flawlessly around an ensemble that included Lisa Edelstein, Jesse Spencer, Jennifer Morrison, and Omar Epps, each contributing distinct nuances to the series’ central character.

    5. M*A*S*H (CBS, 1972-83)

    For a long time, debates raged about whether The Bear truly qualifies as a comedy, yet Larry Gelbart’s series adaptation of Robert Altman’s renowned film should have demonstrated how fluid the boundaries between comedy and drama can be. The show, titled M*A*S*H, spanned 256 episodes, making it clear that during different weeks, it could utilize its Korean War backdrop to deliver biting critiques of the Vietnam War, absurd office antics, heart-wrenching medical dramas, or poignant reflections on life’s transience – all evoked in an instant whenever fans hear Johnny Mandel’s “Suicide Is Painless” tune. The series left a lasting impact with its timeless finale, some of the most shocking deaths on TV (not counting those involving elevator shafts or bus accidents), and a multitude of unforgettable characters that I can hardly count. It was all skillfully tied together by leading man Alan Alda, who also penned and directed numerous episodes.

    4. The Knick (Cinemax, 2014-15)

    For twenty hours, the series “The Knick” emphasized our collective gratitude for modern medicine, as it vividly portrayed a world where we wouldn’t want to seek help at the turn of the 20th century. This captivating drama significantly boosted Cinemax’s reputation as a platform for high-quality dramas. Unfortunately, Cinemax ceased producing original shows. Regrettably. The creators, Jack Amiel and Michael Begler, crafted an extraordinary spectacle with “The Knick,” filled with medical mishaps, opium-induced dreams, and a New York City on the brink of a major transformation. This setting provided a perfect platform for stars like Clive Owen and André Holland to shine, introduced future stars such as Eve Hewson and Chris Sullivan, and offered Steven Soderbergh a playground to work in. Collaborating with Peter Andrews, Mary Ann Bernard, and composer Cliff Martinez, Soderbergh fashioned a series that was visually, rhythmically, and sonically distinct from any other medical drama of its time or since.

    3. St. Elsewhere (NBC, 1982-88)

    If “St. Elsewhere,” initially conceived by Joshua Brand and John Falsey as a hospital version of “Hill Street Blues,” had persisted with this original concept, it could have defined the entire medical drama genre. The early seasons were raw, chaotic, and established a blueprint for almost every subsequent medical series. As the show evolved and changed its creative direction, “St. Elsewhere” became more introspective, humorous, dramatic, and emotional, often experimenting with time jumps, supernatural elements, or simply embracing the fact that it was a television show during a crucial period for the medium.

    “St. Elsewhere” deserves credit for launching numerous influential writers and for its ever-changing cast of talented actors who graced the halls of St. Eligius. However, it falls short for not fully recognizing or utilizing Denzel Washington’s talents during his six-season tenure, who would later become the renowned Denzel Freaking Washington.

    2. The Kingdom (Danmarks Radio/Viaplay/Mubi, 1994/1997/2022)

    The Danish-Swedish series created by Lars von Trier and Tómas Gislason can be described as a unique blend of “St. Elsewhere” and “Twin Peaks”, amped up to the max. This captivating show often switches between being an ordinary medical drama, featuring doctors innovating with treatments, grappling with scarcity of resources, and attempting to find romance; and then, it takes a dark turn. You might recall that the hospital where these events unfold was constructed on an ancient burial ground, giving rise to a ghost ambulance, eerie elevator mysteries, spectral pregnancies, and a chorus of orderlies with Down syndrome who provide a Greek-like commentary. The show’s humor can be surprisingly and inexplicably absurd at times.

    Settled among the Scandinavian lands as “Riget”, this series is characterized by its tense and unsettling atmosphere, interspersed with moments of bizarre and unexplained hilarity. The show stands out due to Eric Kress’ cinematography, which imbues every frame with a haunting quality, making it one of the most stunningly grotesque visual masterpieces ever created.

    1. ER (NBC, 1994-2009)

    ER, under the guidance of early directors Rod Holcomb and Mimi Leder, and script supervision by Michael Crichton and John Wells, masterfully combined elements that St. Elsewhere aimed for in its initial phases: it seamlessly integrated numerous patient-of-the-week cases, the tension of a thriller, and broader discussions on medical ethics into a compelling, fast-paced narrative set in Chicago. Compared to other medical dramas, St. Elsewhere appears sluggish after watching ER, while the opposite is true when viewing ER following St. Elsewhere. One reason viewers were drawn to this jargon-filled series was a versatile cast that, much like a snake shedding skin, continually replaced major stars yet maintained its fundamental structure and capacity to surprise even after repeated depictions of drug overdoses, hostile emergency room intruders, and suspicious helicopters had grown predictable.

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2025-01-17 17:55