‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 11 Recap and Review: “5:00 pm” - The ‘Pitty’ Party is Over
As time winds down on the season and this shift, it seems that days might be numbered for a few key characters, as ICE and repercussions rear their ugly head.
This review of The Pitt contains spoilers.
Weeks ago, having the knowledge that this season, ‘The Pitt’ was going to deal with immigration and the damage I.C.E. is doing to families and the relative safety of those who encounter them, it was this writer’s perception that the show had dealt with it already. That could not have been further from the truth. That episode, where Chantal Augustin (Sasha Compère) discussed how she was legal guardian to her brother Jude, (Anthony B. Jenkins) since their parents were deported back to Haiti was merely an amuse-bouche to this week’s events.
The Pitt was visited in the most imposing manner possible as two ICE agents, one of whom, Agent Russo (Juju Alexander) struts in, face covered, splattered with sweat stains and towering over the already tall Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle). The two agents come in with a detainee (Ramona DuBarry) who suffered an injury during a raid on a local restaurant. They claim it was in the chaos of people running out the door, some of whom pushed her down a flight of stairs, but many, including a visibly sceptical Robby have their doubts.
It does not escape this Canadian writer, one who has an outside perspective on the insanity that is happening in the United States right now that there is no coincidence the writers of The Pitt chose this storyline to take place on their Fourth of July story arc. Their subtlety in the earlier deportation storyline was to be commended, but with this particular episode, they are not even trying to spell ‘subtlety’. Once again, however, it should be commended. This isn’t the time for subtlety, as ICE is certainly not an organization that attempts to embody that word. This episode vividly and intensely shows just how ICE can affect the world simply by being in it. There were countless patience, and even nurses who disappeared as soon as they heard ICE agents were in the building. At first the show even presented the agents as somewhat level headed, but that changes as soon as Robby points out what was just addressed, that they are a menace and a distraction, and that people deserve to feel safe and well taken care of whether that be at work, or in need of medical assistance. As a result of The Pitt health workers doing the right thing, one character that has not been featured enough, Jesse (real life nurse Ned Brower) found himself being pinned to the floor and detained for ‘interfering’ in ICE’s operations. It was great to see Jesse do the right thing, as the character and Brower have been getting more and more screen time, and rightfully so. Regardless of being an actual real life emergency nurse, the character has always had a calming presence, and Brower’s experience shines through in Jesse’s persona.
As many of these episodes seem to be guilty of, there was quite a bit going on in this hour, and in all honestly, it often felt a little jumbled compared to some. Seemingly with the big emergency event at a close, the waterpark casualties no longer have to be dealt with. There is still a major issue remaining, however, as the possible cyber-attack looms and the ED has to continuously deal with putting everything in the old school analog manner. The larger problem is, the show merely pushes this aside for a episodes whenever it suits them. This could be a subtle testament to how amazing and resourceful real life practitioners have to be, but for the sake of a high-tension drama, it didn’t exactly bring the high tension drama this season, save a couple episode right at the start of the issue. Instead, this episode really focussed on inter-personal relationships, which is naturally another strength of the show. Much like last week’s episode however, viewers should buckle in for another angst ridden and borderline uncomfortable hour, as the tension was again extremely high. This could serve as the drama that was aforementioned, the high stakes that felt like they were missing, but some of these storylines have been carrying on for a little while now, and certainly deserve a little closure. Which may have been the theme of the episode.
Most notably, Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) has been having a lot of difficulty this season with her mother and the rest of her personal life, culminating in a panic attack last week. As a result of a missed (and fairly easy diagnosis) when it comes to her patient with Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson) Robby was once again on her case. Robby has been remarkably callous this season, and has certainly lacked self-awareness, and once again that side came out as he berated Mohan for missing what could be a life saving diagnosis. Mohan’s future has been in doubt ever since the writer’s hinted that she might head to New Jersey to be closer to her mother, reminding us that this is often the case, that doctors merely move on when the time is right for them. Ganesh has been very strong this season showing hints of what we saw last season - that she does not really have it together completely. This job can get to her. Her mother can certainly get to her. It begs the questions whether she will return next season or whether she makes a bold choice at the conclusion of this shift.
Another fan-favorite who is having a rough shift is Dr. King (Taylor Dearden) who is certainly getting quite a juxtaposition compared to last season’s empathetic and predominantly cheerful performance. King has not only had to deal with her deposition this season, but a major revelation in terms of her sister Becca (Tal Anderson) and their relationship. Dearden, who has proven herself time and time again on this show to have a great range, has recently been able to show her frustration at the situation with Becca, as it was revealed that Becca has a boyfriend, and they’ve been sexually active for some time now. The moment in which Mel loses her cool with Becca regarding these secrets did seem a little forced, but the storyline was certainly important. Last season we learned the toll that being a caretaker can take on an individual, but all the scenes between Becca and Melissa just added to the sweetness of King’s character, that she would always be there for Becca. The question this episode addressed was what if Becca isn’t always there for Melissa? Dearden did superbly to make the audience believe that she is petrified of being left alone.
Sadly, with everything going on, there was one storyline that was ‘left alone’ a little too much for this writer’s liking. The conclusion of Roxie’s (Brittany Allen) storyline, and sadly, that meant Roxie’s passing was simply a whisper. It was almost barely seen or mentioned, which this writer feels is truly tragic. The storyline had certainly been one of the strongest patient storylines this entire season, and reminded audiences why we fell in love with this show and shed tears with it week after week. The storyline of Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif) and Ogilvie attending an unhoused patient was important to once again show Ogilvie’s lack of real empathy, but not having McKay and Roxie conclude their conversation about death on screen felt like a real disservice to the audience. The writers are better than that, simply put, and this writer does not fully understand the decision to cut that. While it’s understandable to show a storyline about empathy, which is ultimately a predominant thread this season makes sense, but to ignore one of the largest opportunities to show empathy is a major strike.
Which brings us to other major decisions that will never be fully understood, and the storyline of Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball). Langdon was, once again, the patient and empathetic individual he has been this entire season, but there were two major developments which once again threaten his future in The Pitt. Robby had already mentioned that he wasn’t sure if Langdon should still be a member of that ED, and it seems as if he is not alone. In a much needed confrontation with Dr. Santos (Isa Briones), Langdon tries to apologize for the disastrous shift we all witnessed last season where the two of them did got along at all. At first, Santos seems to simply brush it off as she always does, but that didn’t last long. She came back, and to no-one’s surprise, spoke her mind about the matter. Santos does not buy the goldenboy act, she thinks it’s unfair that Langdon was able to come back and practice medicine at all, and even tells him that she should have reported him to the state and had him arrested. While Langdon presents his side of the argument, it is reflective of what Santos has mention, while he seems genuinely sorry, and that he has put in the work to get better and sober, he doesn’t truly recognize how lucky he is. Langdon is one of this writer’s favorite characters, as it seems the writers have given Ball… well… the ball quite often to keep the play alive, and Ball has been tremendous in portraying a cocky but scared, and damaged individual. But Santos is right. This is the first time this writer would even admit something like that, as before, it felt as if she simply had a major chip on her shoulder, but writers Valerie Chu and Mel Herbert presented the argument with a balanced approach which could change even this writer’s mind. With the further complication that Langdon seemingly reinjured his back, the very injury that caused him to steal pills in the first place, and that Dr Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) overheard Santos reveal why Langdon was really forced to take a leave, it will be interesting to see what the future holds for Langdon.