The Pitt Season 2 Review: A Compelling Medical Drama Slightly Held Back by Its Format
Having recently watched and enjoyed Season 1 of The Pitt, I was excited to check out this second season, which has now been fully released. I’m happy to report that this sophomore outing of the medical drama is on par with that initial season in terms of quality. However, there are a few aspects of the show that prevent it from being truly outstanding.
As with Season 1, Season 2 centers on one day at the titular Pitt, more formally known as the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. This time, the day in question is July 4th, which is roughly ten months following the events of the first season.
Most of the central cast returns with the standouts of the show being Noah Wyle as senior attending physician Dr. Robby and Katherine LaNasa as Dana, the day-shift charge nurse. The Pitt is definitely an ensemble show, but out of all the characters, we spend the most time with Dr. Robby. He’s the most complex character on the show and Wyle does an excellent job conveying his inner struggles.
Dana is probably the second most pivotal character since she’s the glue that holds the entire staff together. We get more of her this time around as she helps teach a first-day nurse the ropes at the hospital.
Several new characters join the cast this season, with the most important of them being Dr. Al-Hashimi, played by Sephideh Moafi. Since Robby is planning on leaving for a sabbatical after his shift, Dr. Al-Hashimi is going to be taking over his role in the Pitt in his absence. A couple of new medical students are the other main new cast members.
I think these new additions all felt believable in their roles, but I don’t think any of them are as enjoyable to watch as any of the doctors we first met in Season 1. I can see basically any character we met in that initial year as being a viewer’s favorite, but I’d be surprised if anyone really felt that way about those introduced in Season 2.
As far as each episode’s pacing goes, the show is fast-paced and stressful. There is never a dull moment on The Pitt. This is actually probably one of the least bingeable shows on TV, just given how intense each episode is. I’m more likely to need a detox with a lighter show after an episode than I am to watch two episodes in a single night.
I think that having each episode be one hour in a single day is a good hook for the show. It turns The Pitt almost into an experience as much as it is a typical show. Viewers really feel what a super stressful shift in an ER is like.
At the same time, I think this formatting can sometimes work against the series. How much can characters really grow and develop in a single day? The Pitt gives us a brief, one-day glimpse at the lives of the hospital staff, but we don’t get to see how each of them, and their relationships with one another, change over time. It’s an element of depth that the show lacks just by the nature of its formatting.
I enjoy that The Pitt shows events occur in real time, but I almost wish they had decided to show us three different days instead of one. Maybe they could’ve done five hours of each of three different days several months apart. I, for one, would like to see some of what results from the interactions between the staff that occur on July 4th instead of simply guessing what’ll happen in the future.
As it is, The Pitt Season 2 remains a solidly above average show. It works best when viewed as a realistic look at what it’s like to work in a hospital ER. It’s compelling, emotional TV, and I’m definitely engaged when I watch it. Still, I wouldn’t mind if the show did something different with its formatting next season to really develop the characters further over a longer period of time than a single day.
Grade: 8/10