The computers are down, the waiting room is heating up, and people are beginning to fall through the cracks as The Pitt heads into the back half of S02.
Missed a review? Episode 2.01 / 2.02 / 2.03 / 2.04 / 2.05 / 2.06 / 2.07 / 2.08
“3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.” is a busy episode. Nearly every member of the core cast has their own patient, and several carry-overs from previous episodes are still kicking around, including cancer mom Roxie (Brittany Allen) and Howard Knox (Craig Ricci Shaynak). With so much happening, not every moment lands (at least not the way the last few episodes have with the sexual assault storyline), but overall, there’s a good amount of emotion on display here.
The best of the new stories is Jude (Anthony B. Jenkins), the 12 year old boy who blows off most of his hand with a cherry bomb. Initially it seems like a classic July 4th case, but slowly it becomes a guardianship when his sister/defacto parent Chantal (Sasha Compère) arrives. Over time it’s revealed that this is the ICE storyline that was referenced in a recent Deadline article because Jude and Chantal’s parents were deported back to Haiti, a place the boy has never been because he was born in the States.
While I find it difficult to believe there’s a balanced story to be told about ICE considering the fact they’re killing and arresting people without cause, it remains to be seen how The Pitt will handle this storyline moving forward. For now, the way the details slowly unfurl wound up working well because the truth is often more complicated than it initially appears.
The same can be said for McKay (Fiona Dourif)’s new patient, a young Black woman with ovarian cysts. Although Whitaker (Gerran Howell) suggests a quick fix that will free up the bed, the woman’s comments about not being listened to by doctors resonates with McKay. The empathetic doctor advocates to keep the patient longer and is ultimately proven correct when its revealed her ovary is twisted and she needs corrective surgery. This storyline does a good job of highlighting the different/poor medical treatment that Black women tend to receive without being too overbearing.
Despite my fears that Dr. Abbot (Shawn Hatosy, who also directs the episode) was going to disappear, he and Knox are back within an hour with news that the fat man definitely needs surgery. Much like Louie’s storyline earlier this season, there’s an undeniable air of doom about his chances (it carries a 50% survival rate), but damn if the Facetime call outside the ER with Knox’s sister didn’t do a great job of drawing out the waterworks.
The Pitt‘s ability to engender empathy for its “patient of the week” – these fly by night individuals who pop in for an hour or two – is virtually unparalleled outside of ER and Grey’s Anatomy. It’s the special purview of medical shows to highlight the humanity of individuals on the cusp of life and death in such a deeply humane way.
All this to say, I’m not hopeful for Howard’s chances <tears>
Other Observations
- Speaking of Abbot, there’s an especially tender moment between him and Robby (Noah Wyle) when the former reminds the latter to call him on his trip if things get “dark.” It’s a nice, subtle callback to the threat of suicide that opened the series back in episode one.
- Another good moment between colleagues is when Langdon (Patrick Ball) takes over for Mel (Taylor Dearden) after her sister Becca (Tal Anderson) comes in with a “stomach ache” (which is clearly an STI). Mel’s distraction about the deposition has grown exponentially over the last few hours, and for a moment it seemed as if she would miss it because she was so adamant about treating her sibling. But no: Langdon steps in and immediately puts Becca at ease.
- Javadi (Shabana Azeez) is also struggling as the tech shutdown leaves her temporarily flustered and she nearly makes a fatal error with an elderly patient. Dr. Garcia (Alexandra Metz) lays into her, but Whitaker reassures the young medical student that it was only a momentary lapse.
- Speaking of Garcia, someone needs to stage an interview with Dr. Santos (Isa Briones). I’ve low-key loved the reveal of their queer “relationship” this season, though it’s pretty evident that Santos is way more into Garcia than vice versa. The second year resident is definitely going to get her heart broken if she’s not careful.
- She’d be better to take up the Furry girl with heatstroke who observes that Santos would make a good dragon. Rawr.
- Speaking of Garcia, someone needs to stage an interview with Dr. Santos (Isa Briones). I’ve low-key loved the reveal of their queer “relationship” this season, though it’s pretty evident that Santos is way more into Garcia than vice versa. The second year resident is definitely going to get her heart broken if she’s not careful.
- The recurring gag about the beautiful X-Ray doctor, Nick Barker (Adam Shaukat) who distracts most of the female employees is pretty amusing, especially Dana (Katherine LaNasa)’s lack of patience for such shenanigans.
- Credit to Kristin Villanueva for once again dropping the comedic one-liners, such as when Princess hits on the guy with a simple: “I’m good at things, too.”
- Dana also calls in for reinforcements, which arrives in the form of retired charge nurse Monica (the amazing Rusty Schwimmer). Almost immediately Monica’s drill sergeant personality is super efficient, but also kinda cutting.
- The look on Emma (Laetitia Hollard)’s face when Dana confirms that this is basically an average day seemingly confirms that the new nurse is gonna tap out before shift’s end.
- Finally, love how the series has fooled us into thinking the big “emergency” this season would be a) July 4th, then b) Westbridge closing due to the cyberattack, then c) turning off the electronics. But LOL, the episode closes with a news story that there’s been a disaster at a water park. The hits just keep on coming!
The Pitt airs Thursdays on HBO Max