The 10 Best Shows To Watch if You Like ER, Ranked
Powered through the frenetic pace and heart-wrenching stories of ER and are itching for more medical drama? This list got you covered.
10. "Saving Hope"
A supernatural twist to the medical drama. Surgeon Dr. Charlie Harris ends up in a coma and leaves his body, wandering the halls of Hope Zion Hospital in spirit form. He observes his colleagues as they work to save lives, including his fiancée, Dr. Alex Reid.
The plot straddles the line between the physical world and the afterlife. It's a "what if?" scenario that will leave you pondering long after the credits roll.
9. "New Amsterdam"
Based on the oldest public hospital in the US, Bellevue, "New Amsterdam" sets the stage with Dr. Max Goodwin as the new medical director. His mission? Tearing down bureaucracy, providing exceptional care, and breathing life into a crumbling institution.
It's not just about the medicine but the societal issues intertwined with healthcare. Think of it as a modern-day Robin Hood but in a hospital setting.
8. "Scrubs"
Alright, who said medical dramas can't be a laughing matter? Meet John "J.D." Dorian and his motley crew of doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital. It's less about those intense surgeries and more about the hijinks of medical life. Floating head doctor? Check. Dream sequences? You bet. And who can forget Dr. Cox's sarcastic rants?
This show offers a dose of medicine wrapped in hilarity.
7. "Third Watch"
Hey there, ER fan, remember Dr. Susan Lewis (Sherry Stringfield)? Well, buckle up, 'cause she's back as a cop in this gritty series. "Third Watch" isn't strictly medical; it follows the lives of New York City firefighters, paramedics, and police officers. They work the 3 pm to 11 pm shift, also known as—you guessed it—the "third watch."
From burning buildings to car crashes and crimes, it's a non-stop adrenaline ride.
6. "The Resident"
Tired of the rose-tinted lens often used in medical dramas? Enter "The Resident." The show takes a hard look at the bureaucratic side of things at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital. Through the eyes of Dr. Conrad Hawkins, a badass resident, and his team, we get a taste of the flawed healthcare system.
Corrupt leaders? Check. Profit over patients? Double-check. It's like pulling back the curtain on the Oz of medicine.
5. "Code Black"
Imagine being in the busiest, most understaffed ER in the nation. Welcome to Angels Memorial Hospital in LA, where the influx of patients is so high it leads to a "code black" situation several times a year.
The doctors here aren't just dealing with the standard ER fare. We're talking city-wide pandemics, highway pile-ups, and some rather intense showdowns with their own personal demons. Grab some popcorn, and maybe a stress ball; this one's a nail-biter!
4. "The Good Doctor"
Alright, hands up, who here has ever felt like the odd one out? If you have, then Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism and savant syndrome, might just be your new best TV friend. While Shaun's extraordinary medical gifts are undeniable, he often grapples with social interactions at San Jose St. Bonaventure Hospital.
It's a refreshing twist on the genre, focusing not just on saving lives but understanding them too.
3. "Chicago Med"
Chicago seems to be the hotspot for medical action, doesn't it? The Windy City returns to the spotlight in this modern medical marvel. At Gaffney Chicago Medical Center, the staff is a motley crew dealing with city-sized emergencies and daily life crises.
Think helicopter crashes, epidemics, and oodles of interpersonal drama. Plus, they do crossover episodes with "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago P.D."! It's like a triple treat of chaos, and honestly, who could resist?
2. "House, M.D."
Ah, Dr. Gregory House. Brilliant, sarcastic, and perpetually grumpy, he's the Sherlock Holmes of medicine. Along with his diagnostic team at Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, House faces challenging cases that most doctors wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.
Let's be real: who wouldn't want to see a doctor who could diagnose a cold as a rare tropical disease, then prove it? But it's not just about the cases. Watch House's battle with addiction, relationships, and his unique moral compass.
1. "Grey's Anatomy"
The show everyone and their grandmother has heard of, even if they haven't seen it.
Meredith Grey and her gang of scrappy surgical residents at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital (previously Seattle Grace) are here to fill the ER-shaped hole in your heart. These young doctors face intense surgeries, complicated love triangles (Meredith and Derek, anyone?), betrayals, and of course, the occasional hospital-wide disaster.
It's medicine meets roller derby, and by the end of it, you'll be asking, "ER who?"