The Unsung Heroes Of The ER: 7 Key Roles Of Background Actors In Pulse Show's "Choices" Episode

The high-stakes world of emergency medicine in Netflix’s medical drama *Pulse* is built on more than just the star power of its main cast. As of late 2025, the series continues to captivate viewers, especially with pivotal episodes like Season 1, Episode 7, "Choices." This critical episode, which aired on April 3, 2025, centers on career-defining decisions for the main residents, but the gritty realism of the Maguire Medical Center is truly brought to life by the legions of uncredited background actors.

The query regarding the "pulse show choices episode background actors" speaks directly to the essential, yet often overlooked, performers who create the atmosphere of chaos, urgency, and routine in a busy Miami hospital during a hurricane. While the names of the extras are not typically listed in official credits, their roles are fundamental to the show's topical authority and realism, particularly in a high-pressure episode where the main characters face intense professional scrutiny.

The Central Conflict of Pulse S01E07 "Choices" and Key Cast

Episode "Choices" is a turning point in the series, focusing heavily on the competition for the coveted Chief Resident position. Dr. Natalie Cruz, played by the formidable Justina Machado, closely scrutinizes the performance of the two top candidates: Dr. Danielle "Danny" Simms and Dr. Sam Elijah. The episode was written by Zoe Robyn and Joshua Troke, and directed by Wendey Stanzler, ensuring a focused, intense narrative.

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The episode’s central drama involves Dr. Danny Simms (Willa Fitzgerald) taking charge of a critical patient named Cynthia, a recent double lung transplant recipient who collapses at home. This scenario requires a busy, fully operational hospital environment, which is where the background performers become indispensable.

Main Cast of Pulse (Series Regulars)

• Willa Fitzgerald as Danielle “Danny” Simms (Third-year medical resident)
• Colin Woodell as Dr. Xander Phillips (Danny’s boss and former love interest)
• Justina Machado as Dr. Natalie Cruz (Chief of the ER)
• Jessie T. Usher as Sam Elijah (Resident competing with Danny)
• Jack Bannon as Dr. Max (A fellow resident)
• Daniela Nieves as Camila (A nurse)
• Chelsea Muirhead as Sasha (A nurse)

Guest and Supporting Cast in "Choices" (S01E07)

The episode also featured a strong lineup of guest actors who played patients, family members, or other medical staff, adding layers to the narrative. These roles are a step above background actors but below the main cast, and include:

• Arturo Del Puerto
• Santiago Segura
• Néstor Carbonell
• Jessica Rothe
• David Walton
• Kathe Mazur

The Vital Role of Background Actors in a Medical Drama

In a medical drama like *Pulse*, set primarily within the confines of the Maguire Medical Center, the background actors—also known as extras or background performers—are the lifeblood of the setting. Without them, the hospital would feel deserted and unbelievable. Their uncredited work is crucial for establishing the show's atmosphere and realism.

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The "Choices" episode, with its high-stakes environment where Danny and Sam are being evaluated, demands a palpable sense of urgency. The extras fill the hallways, operating rooms, and waiting areas, ensuring the main action feels grounded in a functioning, chaotic hospital setting.

7 Essential Roles of Uncredited Performers in "Choices"

While their names remain unlisted, the background actors in *Pulse* S01E07 "Choices" perform specific, critical roles that elevate the episode's production value and topical authority:

1. The Busy ER Staff: Actors dressed as nurses, orderlies, and other residents constantly moving through the Emergency Room. They are seen wheeling gurneys, rushing with charts, or speaking into phones, creating a continuous flow of activity that signifies a crisis.
2. The Anxious Waiting Room Occupants: These performers portray family members or friends of patients, sitting with worried expressions. They are essential for grounding the show in the emotional reality of a hospital during a high-pressure event like the impending hurricane.
3. Operating Room/Surgical Team Support: In scenes involving Dr. Xander Phillips or critical surgeries, extras are dressed as scrub nurses and surgical assistants. They provide the visual context of a full surgical team, even if they have no lines.
4. Patient Stand-Ins: Performers lying in beds or on gurneys, often with medical equipment attached, represent the constant stream of patients that the main characters are treating. The patient Cynthia's critical case is surrounded by other background patients.
5. Ambulance Crew: Actors who quickly wheel patients from the ambulance bay into the ER, shouting medical jargon to the main cast. This dynamic movement is key to creating a sense of emergency.
6. Hospital Administrators/Security: Extras dressed in business attire or security uniforms who occasionally walk through the background, reminding the audience that the hospital is a complex institution with non-medical personnel.
7. The "Chief Resident" Scrutiny Crowd: In scenes where Dr. Cruz is observing Danny or Sam, the presence of other staff (background actors) makes the evaluation feel public, increasing the pressure and stakes of the "Choices" being made.

The Casting Process: How Extras Become Part of Pulse

The casting process for a major Netflix medical drama like *Pulse* is a massive undertaking, and the background actors are typically sourced through specialized casting calls. These calls look for specific types to maintain realism, particularly in a medical setting.

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Casting notices for *Pulse* often targeted individuals who could believably portray medical professionals—nurses, doctors, technicians—and also the diverse population of Miami. The production, which filmed in locations like Albuquerque, New Mexico, often requires local extras to fill these roles.

One actor, Darren Anselmo, shared his experience of booking a role on the *Pulse* series, highlighting the professional casting networks used to find both principal and background performers. These casting calls are specific, requiring actors to have certain looks, sizes, and often, specific props or wardrobe (like their own scrubs or business attire) to fit the scene's requirements.

The ability of these uncredited performers to remain professional, follow complex directions (like moving a gurney precisely or reacting to a medical emergency without speaking), and maintain the atmosphere of the Maguire Medical Center is what allows the star actors—like Willa Fitzgerald and Jessie T. Usher—to fully immerse themselves in the drama of their character's "Choices." They are the essential, silent force that makes the world of *Pulse* feel real and urgent.

Topical Entities and LSI Keywords for Pulse

To fully understand the context of the "Choices" episode, it is useful to be familiar with the key entities and themes that dominate the *Pulse* series. The show is built on a foundation of professional rivalry, ethical dilemmas, and high-stakes medical scenarios, all set against the unique backdrop of Miami.

The central conflict between Danny Simms and Xander Phillips, stemming from a sexual harassment claim, provides a powerful undercurrent to the professional competition for the Chief Resident role. This dramatic tension, coupled with the realistic portrayal of emergency medicine, ensures the show's high engagement.

Key entities that tie the episode together include the Maguire Medical Center, the theme of Chief Resident selection, the patient Cynthia (a double lung transplant recipient), and the ever-present threat of the Miami Hurricane, which often dictates the flow of patients and the severity of the ER environment. The collective effort of the entire cast, from the leads down to the uncredited background performers, is what makes the "Choices" episode a memorable installment in the *Pulse* series.