HBO Max The Pitt (1 Viewer)

[Josh Dial]

The Pitt is a new medical drama from R Scott Gemmill (ER, JAG, NCIS: LA).

The show has an interesting 24-esque conceit. Each of the 15 episodes covers one hour of a single 15-hour shift in the ER of a Pittsburgh hospital. (Jack Bauer voice) Events are roughly told in real time.

The Pitt stars Noah Wyle as the senior attending.

The show was originally planned and pitched as a sequel to ER, with Wyle playing an older and grizzled Dr. Carter. A bunch of stuff happened (documented elsewhere--I'll spare you the drama), and the show is now what it is on HBO MAX.

In many ways this is the spiritual successor to ER. There are even some obvious remnants of earlier "this is ER Part 2" scripts, including a not so vague reference to Dr. Greene.

But make no mistake: this is not your parents' ER (or your ER, if you are old like me). This is grittier, more real, and more tense than all but the best episode of medical TV. It's like every episode is ER's "Love's Labor Lost" and "Be Still My Heart".

In a word, this show is incredible.

Many reviews have characterized The Pitt as "ER meets The Bear meets The West Wing meets 24". I don't disagree. I can't assess the verisimilitude, but the internet seems to think the show is the most realistic medical show ever.

Anyway, if you are at all a fan of the genre, this is the best it's ever been.

10/10 for me so far (three episodes to go in season one).

 

[Ronald Epstein]

The show is incredible

Now at episode 8, I am immensely enjoying this rapid-paced drama. The best part of the show is discovering its characters, the doctors and med students of the trauma center. Never a dull moment. Highly, highly recommended

 

[Sam Posten]

I too am on Episode 8 after hearing all the buzz for the show, especially episode 11. I’m watching as fast as I can while still letting it sink in.

Having lost both my parents last year I can say I really related to the roller coaster of emotions the son and daughter had deciding how to proceed with their dying parent. My sister and I were lucky my parents were firm in their wishes and we respected them to the letter. It’s got to be very hard on a lot of people making those choices.

I honestly don’t know how they can keep the pace of this show up. Its excellence after excellence showing flawed people dealing with unwinnable battles. Very very compelling.

 

[Greg.K]

We started watching this (a little reluctantly having heard how it doesn't shy away from the squick factor). It's really very good. Finished episode 7 last hight.

Really liked the character Dr. Mel King & she seemed familiar so I had to look her up. Taylor Dearden (daughter of Bryan Cranston, btw) had a small role on For All Mankind so maybe that was where I remember her.

 

[WillG]

I’ve been watching it. It’s technically good. Though I understand an Urban ER can get busy, I’m wondering how realistic it is that you would see all these different types of cases in one shift. It’s like anything that could possible happen happens.

Though, how do I put this……let’s say there are ALOT of moments where half the audience will be pretty heavily eye rolling.

One thing I’m slightly confused about, maybe someone can explain

Spoiler

how did Santos piece together the whole thing with Langdon stealing the drugs. It stated with a vial she couldn’t open and I didn’t quite follow the whole thing

One thing that really bugged me too

Spoiler

the story with the underaged girl seeking an abortion. Her mother is dead set against it. Dr. asks the mother about her own experience giving birth to the daughter at a young age, Mother says it was difficult but having her was the best to happen to her. No sign she’s going to consent for the daughter to have an abortion. Then like two scenes later somehow the mother changes her mind and we see the daughter taking the drugs that will induce the abortion. We never see what changes the mother’s mind. Also IRL there’s a cheat here because Robby has to fake the fetal age so that the abortion can be performed legally, but to my knowledge PA doesn’t have the 12 week restriction

 

[Sean Bryan]

I’ve been really enjoying this as well.

 

[Clinton McClure]

I’ve never been anxious throughout a tv show until I watched episode 12.

 

[Clinton McClure]

I’ve been watching it. It’s technically good. Though I understand an Urban ER can get busy, I’m wondering how realistic it is that you would see all these different types of cases in one shift. It’s like anything that could possible happen happens.

Though, how do I put this……let’s say there are ALOT of moments where half the audience will be pretty heavily eye rolling.

One thing I’m slightly confused about, maybe someone can explain

Spoiler

how did Santos piece together the whole thing with Langdon stealing the drugs. It stated with a vial she couldn’t open and I didn’t quite follow the whole thing

One thing that really bugged me too

Spoiler

the story with the underaged girl seeking an abortion. Her mother is dead set against it. Dr. asks the mother about her own experience giving birth to the daughter at a young age, Mother says it was difficult but having her was the best to happen to her. No sign she’s going to consent for the daughter to have an abortion. Then like two scenes later somehow the mother changes her mind and we see the daughter taking the drugs that will induce the abortion. We never see what changes the mother’s mind. Also IRL there’s a cheat here because Robby has to fake the fetal age so that the abortion can be performed legally, but to my knowledge PA doesn’t have the 12 week restriction

No medical drama is remotely close to being realistic. That’s why most physicians dislike them. People watch the fast pace miracle workers then get upset when their doctor can’t cure Type 2 diabetes by using an NG tube, 50 CCs of saline, and a cold compress.

Trauma: Life in the ER was a fantastic show but it was actual emergency room medicine edited for time and content and never had the ratings of a medical drama because real ERs are fairly slow paced and boring. I’ve been in enough of them to know.

 

[Greg.K]

I found this interview with an attending physician at Johns Hopkins medical center discussing the realism of the show.

https://www.vulture.com/article/is-the-pitt-realistic-real-er-doctor-comparison.html

 

[Josh Dial]

I found this interview with an attending physician at Johns Hopkins medical center discussing the realism of the show.

https://www.vulture.com/article/is-the-pitt-realistic-real-er-doctor-comparison.html

Great interview, Greg. Thanks for sharing.

Long interview short: The Pitt is the most realistic depiction of emergency medicine on TV.

 

[Greg.K]

The last two episodes have been pretty harrowing.

 

[Josh Dial]

The last two episodes have been pretty harrowing.

Noah Wyle has my vote for the best actor Emmy.

 

[Chris Will]

I love this show and think it is the best straight to streaming show ever, so far.

Here is a Youtuber, Dr. Mike, reaction videos for The Pitt. He's only up to episode 3 but he provides some interesting insight:

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Thanks for sharing that video, Chris

I am all caught up waiting for this week's episode drop

I love this show. One of the best currently being streamed

 

[Clinton McClure]

Last Thursday just extended my anxiety. This show is so good!!!

 

[Clinton McClure]

Watched episode 15 tonight.

Ho. Lee. Shit! I was emotional and exhausted by the end. What an excellent show. I really hope we’re not going to have to wait three years for another season. I need more!!

 

[Joe Wong]

Watched episode 15 tonight.

Ho. Lee. Shit! I was emotional and exhausted by the end. What an excellent show. I really hope we’re not going to have to wait three years for another season. I need more!!

Those 3 hours before the season finale were pretty intense!

Looks like S2 is slated for Jan 2026.

Spoiler

The Pitt Season 2 Premise, Time Jump and Premiere Month Confirmed — Plus, Who Is (and Is Not) Returning

TVLine can confirm who is returning to 'The Pitt,' as well as the Season 2 storyline (involving a time jump) and when new episodes will premiere.

tvline.com

 

[Greg.K]

Ho. Lee. Shit! I was emotional and exhausted by the end.

Loved the wind down at the end, everyone drinking (Iron City, naturally) beer in the park. We the viewers needed that decompression too. Mel & her sister were great, Whittaker & Santos...

Just a great show.

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Loved the wind down at the end, everyone drinking (Iron City, naturally) beer in the park. We the viewers needed that decompression too. Mel & her sister were great, Whittaker & Santos...

Just a great show.

Agreed. Just finished the last episode, and I miss being in the middle of the chaos already.

This was a stellar series

 

[Clinton McClure]

Loved the wind down at the end, everyone drinking (Iron City, naturally) beer in the park. We the viewers needed that decompression too. Mel & her sister were great, Whittaker & Santos...

Just a great show.

My favorite character so far is Mel.