‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 12 Recap and Review: “6:00 pm” - Give in to Fate or Take Control
The internal struggle of our favorite healthcare workers continues, as some want more control in their life, while others seem to be losing it.
This review of The Pitt contains spoilers.
It’s time to admit it. It took this many episodes, 75% of a season in, for this writer to finally recognize what the writers and showrunners of ‘The Pitt’ were trying to say in this sophomore season. It’s easy to admit that this season has seemed lacking at times in terms of the ‘big events’ of the premier season, even the promise of a cyber attack has seemed tame compared to the mass casualty climax of the first season, but it has finally dawned that the fireworks of this Fourth of July are mostly proverbial.
Occasionally they’re literal, but mostly proverbial.
It has been extremely consistent within these reviews to praise the performances of the cast in general as the interpersonal discourse between the entire staff has been captivating all season. The dynamics of clashing ideologies and personal conflicts has driven the drama far more than we had a chance to see in the first season, and as a result, it has been a far different season than the first. The aforementioned fireworks are not some massive external event, but watching the sparks inside each character; some are fanned and grow closer to explosion, others’ sparks are dying, and may lead to a quiet fizzle.
Throughout these reviews, admittedly, this writer has not focussed on yet another stellar season by lead Noah Wyle, but this episode, late in the shift has driven home exactly why he has been worthy of all the accolades he’s received recently for his work last year. There’s a quiet stare that he has cultivated, one that perhaps only Wyle can pull off where you can tell that his character, Dr. Robby is thinking about so much more than the dialogue is portraying. Often it’s during a section of the script where he is not speaking at all, and the subtext of the episode is elevated even more. Case in point, when Dr. Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi) was speaking to Brenda Azuremendi (Cathryn Dylan Ortiz) after the young mother almost walked into traffic, wracked with guilt over her son getting heat stroke. When Al-Hashimi was speaking with Brenda, she was asking if she ever thought about harming herself, and the camera brilliantly stayed on a close up of Robby the entire time. You could almost hear the inner monologue, rich with the dark thoughts that must haunt a man like Robby.
“6:00” gave us a handful of those moments, where other characters were speaking to Robby directly this time, but those same thoughts were clearly on his mind. Robby is perhaps the best person to play poker with in The Pitt, as you can read those thoughts all across his face, but that is a testament to Wyle’s abilities, as you can also see how desperately he’s trying to hide those thoughts. Notable conversations this episode includes another great moment with Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif) where she recognizes that Robby is the kind of individual to push himself to the edge to see just how close he can get. It’s not easy to forget that Robby was almost literally on the cliff’s edge last season, visiting the roof with his br Dr. Abbott (Shawn Hatosy).
This episode, a mousy whisper escaped the lips of Robby where he uttered the words “Amor fati”. This took place after a victim of a fireworks accident was talking about how gunpowder is in his blood, and that there’s nothing like the anticipation as one flies into the sky, just waiting to explode. The metaphor for Robby’s life is clearly mirrored with one of those trademarked Robinovich stares, as Wyle conveys that he clearly understands exactly what the patient is talking about. “Amor fati” loosely translates to ‘love of fate’, which spells out what Robby is thinking about. He’s definitely the kind of individual, as McKay recognizes that pushes himself - that he’s one to tempt fate and see just where it might take him.
Dourif has been quietly carrying this season, and it is the hope of this writer that she too, begins to see some accolades for her tremendous performance this season. McKay has changed quite a bit, she is happier, healthier, and in a better space mentally than she was last season, but that does not mean not without her picadillos either. In this episode she reveals that she just can’t cry anymore, as she quietly packs up Roxie’s (Brittany Allen) belongings that she left behind. This writer can admit, the way this particular character's death was dealt with was not the strongest choice, but to see that it was to mirror how every day an occurrence a thing like death is for these characters, and even a tragic passing like Roxie’s is something that doesn’t shed a tear. It made sense for the show to then, in this writer’s opinion, shortchange the emotional impact of that death and not be too overt with those scenes.
Yet it is hard to argue that this episode was not intended to be the climax of the season. The real fireworks came from Emmy Award winning journeywoman Katherine LaNasa, as Dana had quite an hour. Last episode left off with the cliffhanger of new nurse Emma (Laëtitia Hollard) ending up in a fairly serious chokehold from a drunken and irate patient, Curtis (Travis Van Winkle). Being the toughest mother figure on television today, Dana was on it, and the patient right away, giving him a shot, and in all likelihood being responsible for the bloody nose he had as well. This was perhaps the weakest part of the writing for this episode, as it was later revealed that Curtis had snorted cocaine and drank on the golf course, sending him into a delusional violent rage. It would have been much more on point for the show to make him a good person, as that can create a little more interest between characters. Then you begin to question everything, rather than simply cheering for a rich asshole’s arrest and downfall. They had done something similar with ‘The Kraken’ (Ian Stanley) last year, as he was eventually apologetic for his actions. This show is predominantly about the grey area surrounding forgiveness - forgiveness towards others, and ourselves. Forgiveness is not easy to come by, which is one of the hard-learned morals of this show, so it seemed off-brand for Curtis to be such an unmistakable villain.
Needless to say, when villains do rear their ugly heads in the Pitt, Dana is there to deal with them. But at what cost?
LaNasa certainly deserves praise once again, as this episode was a showcase for her. There has been a brilliant thread throughout season 2 in regards to Dana’s reaction to abuse, especially when it comes to abused women. The dichotomy of how much strength she shows in the face of abuse, and yet how much it affects her when she is alone, practically breaking down in an isolated bathroom. Her anger at the situation, most certainly justifiable, spilt over into a conflict with Robby. The two close friends hashed out what both of them have been picking up from the other one, and this kind of conflict is arguably one of the greatest strengths of the show. To see people who are so close call each other out on their often toxic behavior and to see two actors of this caliber put it all out there is why this show is such a hit. It was especially gratifying to hear Dana call Robby on his attitude towards Langdon (Patrick Ball) is based on some surrogate familiar betrayal.
Like much of the season, personal conflicts were the driving force of this episode, even if they were on the more humorous side. Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones), who has clearly had dark thoughts of her own seemingly needs her roomie and surrogate brother Whitaker (Gerran Howell) more than other. While their spat about actually being friends and enjoying living together was endearing and borderline cute, it was balanced brilliantly within the writing with Trinity reaching for a surgical blade at one point, and hiding it in her pocket. With the revelation of how many times she has self-harmed by cutting herself, this stressful day might be having a real impact on the young, hard-edged Santos.
This episode also revealed a compelling statistic, as Joy (Irene Choi) merely walked out at the end of her shift, something that was shocking in Langdon’s eyes considering how slammed the ED was at the time. Joy revealed that 62% of ED doctors admit to feeling burnt out, and with the threads of Santos’ self harm, and Robby’s soulful dread, the job clearly taking a toll on everyone in the Pitt. Save Joy, who knows how to set boundaries.
Like the dynamic between Dana and Robby, so many of these characters are cut from the same cloth in so many ways, (save a few key choices in their life) and it’s easy to lose count of how many things were revealed in the discussions between them. Is Dana, prior to the Doug Driscoll incident last year, a previous victim of abuse, perhaps even outside of the Pitt? How far is Robby willing to push himself and this ominous bike trip? Will he once again ride to the precipice? Is Langdon’s future at the Pitt in real danger now that Robby has clearly stated he doesn’t want him there, and that Al-Hashimi has seemingly shifted in terms of her perspective towards him? This was a truly captivating episode, and with only three left this season, there are plenty of questions going into the denouement.