‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 9 Recap and Review: “3:00 pm” - Bringing the Healing to a Major Issue Within America
The chaos of the analog nightmare continues, but even with a topical look at I.C.E., things slow down in ‘The Pitt’ as the orchestra begins to warm up the heartstrings.
This review of The Pitt contains spoilers.
What might be one of the most interesting aspects of the show, but rarely dissected by this writer, is just how interesting the writers and showrunners of ‘The Pitt’ can make the medical jargon of the show engaging and interesting. It’s akin to almost any Star Trek show where an engineer will have to spout off some technobabble when the flux capacitor is causing a coolant leak in the ship’s reactor. Perhaps that was a mixed metaphor.
Hour nine starts amidst the chaos of the continued ‘dark ages’ as Ogilvie (Lucas Iverson) put it last week. Sensing the panic in their staff, Dana (Katherine LaNasa) and Robby (Noah Wyle) quickly rally the troops to ensure major issues are attended to, and that those who have questions (which is everyone) get some answers. Or at least two or three people get answers. It was merely a continuation of the plot from last week, a quick two minute reminder of all the problems they are encountering using that same techno-jargon that makes viewers feel like they are included as part of the crew, even if it sounds as if they’re speaking a different language. Ironically, Ogilvie, who often feels as if he’s speaking a different, more callous language, gets put in his place when Robby quickly dismisses his concern, and here’s hoping that is the beginning of that character's journey towards empathy.
…wait. Where’s Abbot?
Noticeably absent from the chaos is Dr. Jack Abbot (Shawn Hatosy) who, much like last season, in very little time has left quite an extensible mark on the rhythm of the show and labido of the audience. Abbot is a fan-favorite for so many reasons, so any time he’s not there, even as a guest performer, his energy is missed (although he can be excused this time, as he’s serving double duty as director of this episode). Hatosy and the character has often served as a calming force in the insanity that can envelop The Pitt, and this writer cannot be the only one who thinks it’s time he becomes a main cast member on the show. (And not to worry, Abbot fans, he does return, and there’s mention he even does nude yoga to keep you tuned in).
Yet much like the havoc of the Fourth of July, we all must move on, and move on this episode does. 12-year-old Jude Augustin (Anthony B. Jenkins) is rushed in after a mishap with a firecracker, unfortunately blowing off two of his fingers. Once again, the characters are nothing but empathetic towards the frightened child, and it’s always refreshing to see the sarcastic, often mean-spirited Santos (Isa Briones) show her warm, perhaps even maternal side when she cares for young children. The show has reiterated that aspect of her character several times throughout the show’s run, most notably this season when she thought a young girl was being abused, and when she tenderly sang Baby Jane Doe a Filipino lullaby. The show has always been well-balanced in almost every respect, and whether that means it’s just a throw away line from Santos to comfort a scared kid, or showcasing Briones’ broadway seasoned voice, it’s a touching moment that doesn’t go unnoticed.
Jude’s storyline becomes the central story of this hour as while the crew are treating his injuries, someone notices alcohol on Jude’s breath. As a result, social worker Dylan (Becca Blackwell) is called back in to assess. When Jude’s sister, Chantal (Sasha Compère) is called in, we discover she is practically a kid herself, with the parents not in the picture. There is, understandably, a bit of tension between the siblings as Jude could have lost a lot more than just a few fingers. The two argue about the situation, and for a moment the show lets you hypothesize why their parents are not around. Was there a tragic accident? Are they alcoholics themselves? Are they merely deadbeats? Nothing so pedestrian for the strongest written show on television today. Chantal reveals that their parents were deported nine months ago after they were detained during their immigration hearing. As always, the show deals with a very touchy subject with such deftness and delicacy that it doesn’t come across as preachy at all. Granted, they're showing the damage that an agency like I.C.E. and this administration can cause with their immigration policies, how it can rip families apart, but the show chooses to deal with the humanity of the situation rather than the politics.
Family, and specifically sibling relationships are an important thread throughout this episode, as we get the return of Dr. Mel King’s (Taylor Dearden) sister, Becca (Tal Anderson) who comes in with stomach issues. It is even more of a distraction for the already distracted Dr. King, who is summoned for her deposition that very hour. Luckily, her surrogate older brother, Langdon (Patrick Ball) is the one who can take Becca as a patient, and deal with her neurodivergent issues with the compassion Mel taught him last season. Mel is a beloved character, and Langdon is a personal favorite of this writer, and every time they interact it’s genuinely some of the most heart-warming content the show creates. Langdon was able to give our Queen of empathy, King even a little bit of comfort in what is arguably her toughest moment as a young doctor, and it was beautiful to bring the surrogate King brother into the fold with the King sisters, (while at the same time allowing Anderson the opportunity to acknowledge that Ball has the best hair in the show.)
Another surrogate relationship that gets the spotlight, if all too briefly, is that between Robby and Whitaker (Gerran Howell). The two have been almost like brothers, with Robby assuming the role as a mentor again, a role he slips into rather easily. It may even be that Robby defines himself by these mentor/mentee relationships. It has not gone unnoticed that Robby does not speak of his family all that often, other than his surrogate step-son Jake (Taj Speights). The only people Robby lets it, or becomes close with are those he works with. His former mentor helped define who he was, and his current mentees define who he is. With Langdon on the outs with Robby, Whitaker has certainly taken up the mantle of surrogate brother within Robby’s life. Robby even offered Whitaker his house for the time he’s on his bike trip, which helps both of them.
What also has not gone unnoticed is the non-so-subtle subtext of how often a bike accident has been brought up on this shift. Is this foreshadowing something? Probably. What worries this writer even more is Robbie telling Whitaker that if he “doesn’t return” Whitaker would have a swinging bachelor pad. When Abbott briefly returns, he and Robby even talk about the possibility of “things getting dark” and that Abbott is here for support, hinting that the suicidal tendencies of both these veterans are clearly mutually recognized, and even a possibility for Robby while he’s away soul-searching.
Could ‘The Pitt’ do something unthinkable and possibly kill off its main character for the third season? Could they at the very least be setting up a major cliffhanger, now with only half a dozen episodes left? With the success of the show, especially Wyle sweeping award season, it does seem highly unlikely, but modern television, especially HBO, has certainly taken some chances when it comes to killing off characters.
While Robby would certainly leave a massive hole in the show, there are characters that some still wish would leave (despite, once again, the great balance of the show’s writing and how it builds well-rounded characters). While Santos’ softer side has to be acknowledged, many still see her as rude or often downright catty. That title should certainly go to Dr. Garcia (Alexandra Metz) who screamed at our beloved baby-faced Pittling, Javadi (Shabana Azeez) calling her a ‘nepo baby’ when a late diagnostic could complicate surgery. While Whitaker tries to reassure Javadi that everything is ok, and she did everything correctly, Javadi clearly takes it personally. Garcia has always been an abrasive force, perhaps recognizing that same characteristic in her casual ‘hookup’ Santos. Truly, no one can out ‘abrasive’ Yolo, as she has constantly reminded Santos that things are just light and loose with the two of them, despite this clearly making Santos uncomfortable. It was nice to see that Santos, who may or may not deserve a little abrasion seemed to receive a little flirtation from a local furry, Iris (Elizabeth Hinkler). That wasn’t the only bit of flirtation, as the thirstiest nurse in all of Pittsburg, the one-and-only Princess (Kristin Villanueva) was staring a hole so deep into Dr. Nick Barker (Adam Shaukat) that he should have been wearing a lead apron.
Both Iris’ and Santos’ cute run-in and Ogilvie’s encounter with new patient Austin Green (Johnny Sneed) gave us some much needed insight into The Pitt’s more antagonistic figures. Turns out Ogilvie’s father is a high school English teacher, just like Mr. Green, who quickly reveals how pretentious even public educators can be at times. Ogilvie also reveals that he is clearly not close with his father, and that revelation is the first real bit of insight into who Ogilvie is and how he was shaped. Iverson has done well all season to give audiences a character that feels very real, and that often means he speaks his mind or judges others without thinking. To see that perhaps there’s a reason Ogilvie judges others so quickly, perhaps being a learned trait is a small but exciting tidbit. Here’s hoping there’s certainly more striking development for the new characters in the weeks to come.
While there is naturally so much to talk about this week, it is certainly not the most notable episode of this season. Hatosy, as director, was certainly serviceable, but for an apt simile, it is like someone on the Fourth of July dipping their toe into a turtle pool rather than the actual swimming direction often is. The upcoming weeks seem to be ones that are going to absolutely shatter audiences emotionally. This week set up recurring guest star Brittany Allen, who plays Roxie to possibly exit her tragic saga very soon. Roxie’s storyline has been one of the most touching, and gave the show a needed shot in the arm a few weeks ago.
The sad story of overweight patient Howard Knox (Craig Ricci Shaynak) looks like it might be coming to a tragic end as well. As much as he remains in fairly good spirits, as he continues to joke around with Abbott, the likeliness of him surviving surgery seems very unlikely, and the show absolutely ripped out whatever heartstrings they meant to tug with his phone call to his sister. This writer specifically pointed out how it was a very personal story in last week’s review, and as a fan of the show, the investment in a guest character is at an all time high.
Yet as these characters inch towards their possibly tragic end, and the cliffhanger of a fatal water park accident seems like this is merely a set-up kind of episode. A middle of the road type of story that merely is taking us from point A to point C. Perhaps Hatosy as director will tackle a more dynamic and challenging episode in the future (although I’m sure this was challenging enough) but it certainly wasn’t the most memorable of the season.