The essential episodes of The Night Shift
Watch these 15 in order and you've got The Night Shift — each pick states its reason.
- 01
Welcome to the night shift at San Antonio Memorial, where those who work the Night Shift are a special breed. Every night is a balancing act between the heroic efforts to save lives and the hard truths of running a hospital. After a rough night, TC Callahan, a gifted ex-Army doctor, deals with a life-threatening situation on his way into work. TC's current colleague and ex-girlfriend Jordan Alexander angles for the top job to run the night shift but she must convince their new boss Michael Ragosa that she has what it takes to bring order to the chaos. TC and Ragosa clash over hospital business matters - TC would do anything to save a patient while Ragosa has his eye on the bottom line. Later, TC and Topher are called to the scene of a nighttime crash and must deal with a dramatic injury that demands all of TC's expertise. Back at the hospital, ER psychiatrist Dr. Landry De La Cruz consoles the brother of the wounded teen while TC performs an unusual and extremely risky surgery. TC later counsels Drew about a secret he is keeping but unbeknownst to the staff, Ragosa is hiding a secret of his own.
- 02
Introduces the night shift team to his MMA group therapy leader Colonel Elwood "Smalls" Green, who surprises the group with special greeting from the White House. Jordan and Paul help a nine-year-old boy with a serious fever. When his high-strung mother begins to exhibit signs of distress as well, the team realizes there is more to the family dynamic than meets the eye. Topher is faced with a big decision about making an emergency trip overseas to help an old mentor. TC grapples with whether to accompany him on the journey. Meanwhile, Ragosa, Drew and Krista compete for the strangest cases of the night as the full moon brings out the worst in people.
- 03
Drew returns from deployment in Afghanistan and can't seem to shake off the stress of being back from overseas. Things get crazy right away as he, Jordan and Kenny treat a bride (Lindsey Morgan, "The 100") and her wedding party who have been injured during the festivities, as well as her father, whose presence is not making things easier. Meanwhile, TC helps Topher entertain his demanding mother, whose extended visit is putting stress on the family.
- 04
As the city erupts in violence over an impending jury verdict, the night shift becomes ground zero when they have to take in the man suspected of the racially-motivated shooting at the source of the unrest. His presence in the emergency room sparks sharp conversation and disagreements among the staff over the highly-charged topic and even close friends Kenny and Paul find themselves at odds. Topher does his best to control the mounting chaos in the ER while out in the field, TC makes a decision as to which of two patients to bring in, leaving Paul and Scott to question TC's motives. TV-14 D, L, V.
- 05
A fireworks explosion creates chaos at a concert, sending patients streaming into the hospital as TC and Topher race to the scene. Also, Syd returns from Afghanistan and faces her unique family dynamic; Jordan and Scott address simmering differences.
- 06
Topher's mother arrives in the ER with life-threatening symptoms. As her condition deteriorates, the team works furiously to save her before it's too late. Drew and Shannon treat a gravely injured foster mom and while Drew bonds with the scared young foster daughter, the team discovers the mother has a secret. Meanwhile, Jordan and Scott treat a patient with a rare condition and when an important piece of equipment needed for his treatment fails, Jordan must enlist the help of TC's new girlfriend Jessica whose company makes the machine.
- 07
When a bomb explodes outside the hospital, TC, Topher and Drew are forced to make the tough decision to stay and treat the injured or evacuate and begin transfers to nearby hospitals. Everything changes when TC suddenly realizes he may know the person responsible for the explosion. While the team works feverishly to tend to the wounded, the nurses go on strike just when the hospital needs them the most. Meanwhile, throughout the intense night shift, Shannon and Paul attempt to confront each other about something personal.
- 08
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
TC and Paul pull out all the stops when a crane collapses on a worker at a busy construction site. As Paul works tirelessness to save the crush victim, an observer falls into a deadly gravel pit. TC throws himself into the pit and races to save the patient before he's swallowed by the shifting gravel. Back at the ER, Scott is shaken as the teenage boy he paralyzed returns to the hospital with new complications. Jordan lends support as the emotional case exposes complicated feelings from the past. Meanwhile when a life-saving donor matches with cystic fibrosis patient, Brianna, Drew determines the depth of his feelings for her.
- 09
TC initiates a bar brawl, landing him and Drew in jail for the night. While behind bars, Drew and TC's relationship reaches a breaking point. Jordan rushes her date to the ER, where she's shocked to learn he's not who she thought he was. Topher fights for a patient who many doctors have dismissed. Scott and Annie struggle to save their relationship while Jessica works to win back TC's trust. Meanwhile, Syd meets Brianna, and Rick visits the hospital. Robert Bailey, Jr., JR Lemon and Tanaya Beatty also star.
- 10
In part one of this two-part season finale, Scott and Jordan face grave danger during a rescue mission at a rapidly spreading wildfire outside San Antonio. Tensions are high between Syd and TC as they find themselves in the middle of a humanitarian crisis on the Syria-Turkey border. Paul and Shannon argue over treatment for a patient. Meanwhile, a major setback threatens Drew's adoption plans for Brianna, Topher struggles to find a buyer for the hospital and medication goes missing.
- 11
Scott and Jordan must perform surgery in the field as the burning wildfire gains intensity around them. Syd has caught Typhus along with hundreds of other patients on the Syria-Turkey border, and TC goes to great lengths to get the medication. Meanwhile, Drew and Rick fight to keep Brianna, while San Antonio Memorial finds an unlikely buyer, though saving the hospital comes at a cost.
- 12
After performing a daring on-site rescue to save a teenage girl, Drew is forced to re-evaluate his priorities as a new father. Back at the hospital, the ER is flooded with mass casualty victims from an amusement park disaster. Hoping to get Paul back on staff, Jordan facilitates a rapprochement between Paul and his father. Meanwhile, Scott pursues a more active role in the hospital. Kenny tries to put Cain in his place, but Cain's deft handling of an emergency shows Kenny that he may have bit off more than he can chew.
- 13
Drew, his mom, and Rick's flight home turns into a medical crisis at 35,000 feet when passengers become sickened one by one. Jordan, Paul, Shannon, Kenny, and Cain spend their day off at an obstacle course fundraiser for Cystic Fibrosis, hosted by Akbar Gbajabjamila ("American Ninja Warrior"). Scott finds himself on a Tinder date he won't soon forget. Meanwhile, TC puts his own life in danger to operate on a soldier.
- 14
When Jordan realizes the hospital is under cyber-attack, she leads the team in managing patient care as chaos ensues. Drew and Kenny treat a critical patient forcing Drew to call on his medical and military training. TC joins Rick and his partner on a SWAT drug raid. Meanwhile, he wrestles with whether or not he should return to Syria to tie up loose ends.
- 15
A shooting at a nearby college sends TC, Jordan, Drew and Amira into the field, where they assist Rick with a deadly situation. Scott implements a new training program and locks horns with Julian. Drew struggles with frustrations about going to Army Ranger School while Shannon and TC both contemplate their future at San Antonio Memorial.
Shows like The Night Shift
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Drama·Action·MedicalThe essential episodes of Emergency!1972–2022Same network — NBC·
- 02Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of Arrow2012–2020·The CWAfter a violent shipwreck, billionaire playboy Oliver Queen was missing and presumed dead for five years before being discovered alive on a remote island in the Pacific.
- 03Drama·Action·Science-FictionThe essential episodes of The Flash2014–2023·The CW
After a particle accelerator causes a freak storm, CSI Investigator Barry Allen is struck by lightning and falls into a coma. - 04Drama·Action·SupernaturalThe essential episodes of Supernatural2005–2020·The CW
This haunting series follows the Winchester brothers as they crisscross the lonely and mysterious back roads of the country in their '67 Chevy Impala, hunting down every evil supernatural force they encounter along the… - 05Drama·ActionThe essential episodes of Chicago Fire2012–presentSame network — NBC·
- 06Drama·Action·CrimeThe essential episodes of NCIS2003–present·CBSNCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama.
