The Pitt is a new show on Max that premiered this past January and recently released its last episode of the season, so all 15 episodes are now available to watch. The show stars Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones, Gerran Howell, Shabana Azeez. A realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The Pitt is unlike anything else on TV today. Many have said it’s ER meets 24. Admittedly, I have never seen ER. After The Pitt, don’t be surprised if I end up watching that next. I did, however, grow up on 24. It was the show that my family and I watched as I grew up. I was actually a young kid when I was flipping through the channels and found the show only to have my parents engrossed next. I bring this up as I feel like there is a unique connection between that story and how The Pitt entered my life.

I do not have a medical background. I work in accounting. You’d think this show wouldn’t be for as much as it is. As I try to cover anything and everything, Max is a streamer that I find to have titles that interest me. To my surprise, The Pitt was the first show on the streamer that released at 9 PM EST instead of 3 AM EST. I remember watching the first two episodes with the second episode having one of the best cliffhangers I had ever seen. I watched the third episode at its scheduled time. Since I recently joined a critics union, I wanted to do more to help bring this show to light. Warner Brothers granted me each episode 48 hours before its scheduled time. Next thing I knew, I was getting other friends and family interested in the show. the fact that this show became as popular as it did made me feel validated with how I felt about the show to begin with.

The one small issue I had in the first half of the show was that each episode was not exactly an hour long. In hindsight, that was silly. Every episode still managed to feel like an hour, and you know what? Each episode ended at the right given time. Sure, there were cliffhangers, but everything came before had a lot of stress-induced moments and a lot of character-driven arcs that often felt satisfying.

Before this show, I did not know who Noah Wyle was. His appearance made it seem like I saw him somewhere before, but based on my research, there was none that I saw him in before. After this, I guarantee you the name will be known to so many more people than ever before. That goes for the other amazing cast members in this show. While the entire cast is incredible from top to bottom, it’s Noah Wyle who makes this all work and will certainly at least get an Emmy nomination. The guy presents so much emotion that made a grown man like me cry. His character wants the best for others, even if that means being hard on them.

I needed time to reflect more on my thoughts after the finale. 15 episodes is a lot to summarize in one review. I’d highly recommend you look at each individual episode review if you want to see more insights on each episode. I want to focus on the overall season here. I needed time to fully reflect on the overall season as there are some emotionally charged episodes that take time to fully process. There are also little details that I recalled from Whitaker being homeless and wanting to help the homeless in the beginning to Dr. Collins’ miscarriage. Every single character goes through their own special character arc that feels like we can see ourselves in them. For a medical show to capture the attention like mine, it helps get its main point across.

Taking place years after COVID, Dr. Robby (Wyle) is still reeling from PTSD due to his mentor dying, and we do learn more about that situation as the show goes on. The COVID pandemic was not that long ago. I have been a firm believer that we will still be feeling the effects from it long after it was over. The show makes that point heard based on how the doctors have to put their own personal issues aside to help those who need it most. They are doing the best with what they are given. Based on what happens in the show, the get urinated on or can even get punched. The show tackles gun violence in a shocking way that I did not see coming. That specific plot point truly struck a chord with me, especially when Dr. Robby has his mental breakdown.

For a show like this to have as many episodes as it does is unheard of nowadays. What’s even more unheard of is the fact that season 2 will already be coming back next January as the story revolves around the Fourth of July. 8 months feels like enough time to prepare for what happens, because what came before these past four months consistently had me on the edge of my seat. Just as I didn’t think the show could get more stressful, I was dead wrong. While I don’t know much about being a doctor, the show does a great job at bringing realism to what these doctors would do under such high pressure. Even more, I love that each character has their own distinct personality that helps the team get through the shift, even if it means they didn’t always save patients.

Overall, The Pitt is a masterful show with compelling & relatable characters, sharp direction, and a fast-paced energy. While there have been other great shows out there, this one stands out amongst the rest due to how real it is. The show tackles a lot of important themes that need to be discussed. I can only hope this continues to gain more viewers, and fans. Like many today, I can’t wait for season 2. Stay tuned for more The Pitt related material on the page!

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)

The end is here, at least the end of season one, even if this triumph of a show feels conclusive on its own. The show comes full circle after an overwhelming shift, with the team handling casualties from a mass shooting, and characters confronting parts of themselves, including Robby’s experiences during Dr. Adamson’s death.

When I first learned about this show, I didn’t expect it to take over my life the way it did over the next four months. After the first four episodes, I was hooked, but to be honest, I was reeled in after the second episode after the premiere and we had to anxiously wait for what happened next week. After I worked my magic, I was lucky enough to get each episode 2 days early, leading me to a finale that I believe will satisfy everyone.

Over the past few episodes, we have been feeling the decline from the shooting that occurred at a local music festival. It’s amazing how the show was able to ramp its way back up and then find a steady ground that feels not as nail-biting. The episode has plenty of exciting moments, but it is perhaps the calmest episode to help us feel satisfied with the season closing out. We learn more about characters & leave it open enough for more stories to tell. Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long.

If you’re reading this, then you probably already know what happened in last week’s episode. Needless to say, I was frustrated with happened. Luckily, the way that story closes out goes in a completely different direction that what I was expecting. I will leave it at that. We also get closure to a few more cases, including a young boy who had measles. That particular storyline is resolved in a satisfying way. Robby even does something shocking to get his point across. It might have been too much for him to do it, but I’d agree it was necessary.

Robby is truly at his breaking point in this episode, but in a good way. He uses frustration properly to get his point across, but also finds the time to still be there for others. It’s tough to see what happens with Jake. I think many viewers will certainly agree that Robby’s and Abbott’s dynamic works. Their way of being there for each other is commendable. We even learn more about Abbott that gives more insight into what he’s gone through without anyone having to directly say anything.

It is amazing how we still haven’t seen Tracy Ifeachor as Dr. Collins come back. I am sure she will be in the next season though. I am glad that she was able to avoid the chaos that ensued. Patrick Ball brings a lot of sympathy to a character that shouldn’t be redeemable due to his personality. We learn more about why he was stealing drugs, and I am glad to see how Robby reacts to it.

As for Katherine LaNasa as Dana Evans, I feel like her future is open-ended. Supriya Ganesh as Dr. Mohan shows a new side. Fiona Dourif as Dr. McKay, well… you just have to see it. Taylor Dearden as Dr. King continues to show promise as a leader. Isa Briones & Gerran Howell develops a new dynamic. Finally, Shabana Azeez as Javadi proves to be one tough individual after her first day on the job. It doesn’t get much better than the way these characters were written.

As for the way this season ends, it certainly leaves it up for more stories to tell. I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, I would be okay with this being a miniseries. I know the next season will tackle Independence Day, which I am sure will even be more nerve-wracking. I haven’t been this invested in a story and its characters in a TV show in a while. It’s commendable how well conclusive it is, proving that Noah Wyle is coming for that Emmy.

Overall, what a way to end one of the best new shows. I feel completely satisfied with what I saw. It feels like a true privilege being able to cover this show. I hope everyone else enjoys this as much as I did.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)

If you haven’t noticed by now, I am a huge fan of this show. After 3-4 episodes, I was hooked and Warner Brothers was kind enough to let me see each episode a few days in advance. Never once did I think I’d ever be so invested in a medical drama, but more importantly, I never thought it would take over my life like this one has. By the time this show ends, it would have taken over 4 months of my life. I was initially hesitant due to its episodic count. To be fully transparent, is not the kind of television you see anymore. I am 12 episodes in and I am not ready to leave after the next 3 weeks.

Like all the other episodes, this one immediately throws you into what happens next. It is revealed in the final minute of last week’s episode that most of the people who thought they were about to end their shift that a shooting at a local music festival occurred, forcing everyone to be all hands on deck. To make it somewhat worse, Robby’s somewhat stepson was at the music festival.

This episode wastes no time showing the reality of the situation. Dr. Robby has had quite the day mentally, so he was ready to go home. Due to the news of the shooting, Robby is instantly snapped into high gear, which is surprising since he’s been working nonstop for nearly 12 hours. I believe he does this due to having a loved one at the festival, a sense of community he is involved with, and having a direct connection to who the shooter might have been. It’s hard to believe these are the same characters who have all experienced what they have within the same day.

In the earlier parts of the show, a mother makes herself sick to force her son into taking her to the hospital, hoping it would get the help he would need. I don’t know why, but I didn’t think the son could be the shooter. So much occurs in between we last see the son and when the news of the shooting is revealed. It’s not deliberately stated that he was the shooter in this episode, but it’s heavily eluded to. I genuinely hope that is the case to follow through on the themes and to give Robby even more development.

At 40 minutes, I believe this is the shortest episode of the series. At first, it sounded disappointing. To be fair, the shorter runtimes have been growing on me, because they manage jam pack so much into each episode. This episode immediately shows everyone prepping for all of the victims, which unfortunately meaning all the waiting patients have to leave. I can imagine it’s frustrating, but with countless victims about to be sent there, it is the best case scenario.

Once all the victims start showing up, employees start coming in early into their shift, establishing a sense of community. This leads to a surprise return that I predicted would happen, but it’s still surprising nonetheless. To be fair, if I was equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help others, I would also flee to the ER to help. Just when the staff gets one situation under control, they have to start analyzing who needs help next. It can be overwhelming, especially when others are already getting help. How do you analyze who needs more help over others when others are working on them? It’s daunting and traumatizing.

If you have been paying close attention since the start of the show, you’ll see a throughline where Robby is consistently harassed by his admin about pushing numbers. When news breaks of the situation, she immediately changes her stance, putting all her confidence into Robby. It’s very satisfying to witness that show Robby is always right, no matter how others might see him. Robby will admit when he is wrong, but when he is right, it’s best to listen to him.

The conclusion doesn’t have the same jaw-dropping reveal as the last episode, but there is a reveal that could lead to devasting results. It’s never revealed who the shooter is nor do we know what happened to Robby’s somewhat stepson. I have my suspicions on what’s to come, but there is a reveal that could lead to worse ramifications for everyone at the ER. If it does happen, not only could it be more traumatizing than the pandemic they flashback to, it could lead to damaging repercussions for these characters, especially for whatever happens in the second season. I have a funny feeling we are going to be so much more sympathetic than ever before.

Overall, episode 12 of The Pitt is another flawless, perfect episode that pushes all the characters to their limits. There are sudden surprises that make complete sense and revelations that can lead to everlasting damages for these characters. The short runtime might leave some wanting more, but I am still amazed at how the show puts so much detail into each episode.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)

“I can’t wait for this shift to be over.” – Dr. Robby.

I think it’s only going to get worse from here.

Episode 10 of Max’s The Pitt begins to place the season into the endgame with only 5 episodes left. With a total of 15 episodes, it’s hard to believe that 5 episodes doesn’t feel like enough, especially after what happens in this episode. I winced. I looked away. I was shocked. I was emotional. That is The Pitt for you.

The show remains faithful to starting off from the prior episode. In last week’s episode’s final moments, we saw Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) get assaulted form a patient. When she walks back in and you see everyone drop what they are doing, you realize how much everyone loves her. Seeing Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) run to her even made me a little emotional. Robby goes through quite the arc in this episode (more on that later).

We don’t see much more of Evans. We don’t even see more of what happened to the guy that punched her. In less than an hour, she gets treatment and she’s back on the floor. Notably, she shares a scene with Dr. Heather Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) where they reflect on the horrible day they have been having. That’s no joke. Everyone is having a bad day. It’s nice to have these two characters sit in this moment, because I think it’s only going to get worse.

In what is probably the least exciting plotline involves Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) & Dr. Melissa King (Taylor Dearden) who helps a patient who had a stroke. It’s certainly intense, but this plotline gives these characters a moment to reflect on who they are and find some humor out of it. It’s nice to see these two character share some dialogue with each other. They are more alike than I ever thought. It’s great to see these two characters grow together.

Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif) probably has the most interesting story in this episode. First, we see the aftermath of her calling the cops on a potential school shooter. It leads to some intense interaction with Dr. Robby. We also learn she has a romantic fling with a co-worker that Victoria Javadi (Shabana Azeez) has a crush on. It leads to some awkward scenes. I am truly impressed by how the show can make me not like someone one episode, then care for them in another.

Medical student, Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell), deals with a burn patient. He interacts with the patient’s wife throughout the episode. Based on where this story ends, it makes me think that this may not be the last time we see the wife. Whitaker’s story also involves Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball), who makes him question himself on what kind of doctor he can become.

Back to Dr. Robby. The guy goes through the emotional ringer this episode. I appreciate how the show doesn’t show too many flashbacks with the pandemic. You can just see the trauma through his emotions and actions. The guy has his morals in tact. Unfortunately, his morals lead to him making a big decision that will in no doubt impact the rest of this season. It makes me very nervous for how the remaining 5 episode will be. I remain hopeful that we will get a nice ending to it all.

I typically can stomach blood and gore. Due to how realistic the show is with that, I found myself consistently looking away. I winced and held my breath. While some may not want something so anxiety inducing, there is no denying the fact how realistic the show is with its approach.

The show’s pacing manages to get better and better. I don’t mind the episodes being short an hour now. The show consistently has something going on. There is a nice balance between the dialogue giving the characters a chance to grow and putting them into action. It tests every single character in a way that makes us question who is the best character. I am 10 episodes in and I still can’t find one. Each one is morally complex, just as they would be in real life.

Overall, I can’t believe how perfect this episode is. Episode 10 of The Pitt gives everyone plenty of character development through their actions and dialogue. It’s a jam-packed episode that will leave you devastated and wondering what else could possibly happen in the season’s final 5 episodes.

VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)