‘The Pitt’ Season 2 Episode 15 Recap and Review: “9:00 pm” - So Many Wonderful Things to See
Surprisingly, The Pitt season finale seemingly managed the impossible, tying up several loose ends, only leaving a couple storylines teasing just enough to keep all fans wanting more.
This review of The Pitt contains spoilers.
As hypothesized last week, this writer had a feeling that ‘The Pitt’ would likely focus mainly on the mental health status of Robby (Noah Wyle) for the majority of this week’s episode. That’s also not as easy as it sounds. There were still plenty of subplots that haven’t had a concrete conclusion, but if viewers should take anything away from this show, it’s the fact that those conclusions are never as concrete as you would like.
Last season, there were plenty of things left up in the air, including who would be returning to both the cast and the staff of The Pitt. Langdon (Patrick Ball) appeared as if he might be on the wrong side of the law to return, or that his substance abuse issues would keep him out of the roster. Dana (Katherine LaNasa) had suffered a brutal bout of abuse at the hands of a patient and was questioning if the job was still worth it. Even wunderkind Victoria Javadi (Shabana Azeez) looked as if she had burnt out after her first day, and who could blame her considering the day they had.
But season two has brought audiences a much different battle. This season, more often than not, chose not to focus on the outside forces in the world that can make things a little more dreary, it chose to focus on the inside. A person’s inner thoughts. Our doubts. Our Demons.
If you require any strong reminder that this season is hitting us with a subtextual hammer over the head when it comes to mental health, look no further than Azeez’s portrayal of Javadi this season, and the journey she’s gone through. As mentioned, ever since last season’s finale, Javadi has doubted whether the ED is a place for her (as many do) but more importantly, she couldn’t decide on a specialty despite all the outside parental figures such as her parents, Robby or McKay (Fiona Dourif) trying to give her some guidance.
It took our beloved Huckleberry, Whitaker (Gerran Howell), who is often the voice of reason in the chaos to guide Victoria’s ship into a calm bay, or at least, calm for the time being. Considering how much Javadi has been preoccupied with her social media presence, how she is trying to create a safe space for herself and her fellow Gen Z members, it made perfect sense when Whitaker suggested that she perhaps focus on mental health as her future career. Just as Whitaker can often be the voice of reason, the young prodigy Javadi, while at times judgemental, can usually cut through the proverbial bull, and she summed up each character and their demons perfectly. She addressed how the ED has given Robby PTSD, has pushed Langdon to substance abuse, has created way too much stress in King (Taylor Dearden) and has virtually broken Mohan (Supriya Ganesh). What’s perhaps most interesting about this revelation that Javadi would be perfect for Emergency Mental Health, is that it perhaps gives the character a reason to be in the Pitt for the remainder of her schooling. Something every fan would love to see, not to mention, we can see how those parental figures have taken the news. At least it’s safe to say that after their somewhat heartfelt discourse in this episode, that Robby will most certainly support Victoria moving forward.
Speaking of support, this episode was essentially built off characters either choosing to support one another, or not, as has been the crux of the show all season. Within the latter (lack of support), the major concern of Dr. Al-Hashimi’s (Sepideh Moafi) health concerns essentially bookended the finale. In the end, and in typical fashion considering the season he has had interacting with colleagues, Robby decided that it is not in the best interest of the Pitt for Al-Hashimi to work until she is seizure free. There was an excellent heated exchange between the two attendings, calling each other on their collective hypocrisy. Al-Hashimi, quite justifiably had pointed out that Robby allowed Langdon to continue working for the ED, even after he had stolen drugs from the department, and Robby counter argued that Baran should not even be driving under her condition.
It was perhaps the climax of the episode, but considering how the writers set up Al-Hashimi’s condition in the very first episode this season, it also felt like a seasonal arc was dealt with, and dealt with wonderfully. Conflict has always bubbled within the Pitt, especially this season, and to have two actors of Wyle and Moafi’s calibre really lean into each other was one of the highlights of the television year thus far.
It wasn’t the only bit of conflict Robby had to deal with this episode, but again, this was all his fault considering how much he wanted to run away from his problems. Due to the events of last week, with Langdon readjusting a man’s spine to avoid the patient being paralyzed, it seems like Robby’s confidence in Langdon has once again returned. It was one of the most memorable moments of last week’s show, and that naturally carried over to this finale. Robby was finally ready for him and Langdon to have the conversation that was half a season overdue. Langdon brought up a very interesting point, asking what would have been his future in the Pitt if he had blown that procedure an hour earlier and paralyzed the man. It wasn’t necessarily the conversation that audiences wanted the two former friends to have, but it was certainly an intelligent way to circumvent expectations and give the story closure. Robby once again making it about himself, telling Langdon if he wasn’t there, Langdon would still be doubting himself, in this writer’s opinion cements Robby as the real major antagonist of the season. The chaos that comes into the ED as a result of patients is one thing, but a lot of the inner turmoil that has been infecting the Pitt has been a result of Robby’s toxic behavior. He was never intended to be a perfect individual, and it’s been a tremendous privilege to see Wyle play both sides of a moody coin.
One cloud of atmosphere that somewhat loomed over this episode is in a lot of ways, it felt like it could have been a series finale. With the exception perhaps of Al-Hashimi’s storyline, everything felt like there was closure, and to infect your mind with a little fear if you’re a fan, it almost felt like Robby was saying goodbye. His exchange with Whitaker especially seemed like he was ensuring the ‘kid’ was going to be okay, which Robby somewhat mentioned in passing in previous episodes. It begs the question what the future of the show might hold, especially considering Noah Wyle has now gone on record saying audiences should expect more cast changes. It is entirely possible that the show is planning something drastic. Robby might not return from his trip, or he might need more time to work on his demons. There’s no rule that says Wyle has to stay on the cast, especially considering he would still serve as producer, writer and occasional director. Perhaps that’s the foreboding atmosphere the show wanted to create.
Or perhaps they wanted audiences to take solace in the fact that it was extremely visible how many people got to Robby in this episode. Langdon’s exchange certainly hit a more pointed and angst-ridden note about people in dark places (like Robby) needing help. Jack Abbott (Shawn Hatosy) took a much more friendlier route, but was relentless in getting his point across. Their friendship has been a bond that makes the show glow with the warmth it can be known for. These are two men, who can (not always, but certainly can) represent what it means to be a healthy male role model. Maybe not Robby in this season, but the fact is they can show what real male friendship can do for those involved. That we can eliminate the stigma that has harmed the generations before us about bottling up our feelings. Abbott not only reminded Robby how important his friendship is, but reminded him of all the amazing things that can happen in the world. Both Wyle and Hatosy’s acting in the scene where Abbott is going through all the reasons that life has given him to stay buried in a dark place was tenderly performed, and the writing of R. Scott Gemmil was impeccable. Once again the writing was able to tap into something so real when it comes to depression, and more importantly, offer even a tidbit of how to help those who may suffer from depression. It’s a tap dancing on the head of a pin in terms of how precise you have to be with that writing. It would be so easy to fall into the trap of schmaltzy or preachy, but as always, this show pulls it off.
Especially considering that conversation might have done the trick. Robby was constantly reminded of the good that exists in the world, the good he’s done, and the bonds he’s created. It seems as if they aren’t thinking of doing anything drastic with his character because the closing scene in this episode was the very definition of heartfelt.
Robby went in for one last visit with Baby Jane Doe and in the most soothing voice he’s had all season began therapizing with the infant. He shared that both of them were abandoned, but that he was able to get through it, and so would she. Once again, Gemmil’s writing played the heartstrings like a maestro, having Robby whisper that Baby Jane Doe has “so many people to love” ahead of her, and “so many wonderful things to see”. It was obvious that Robby was not just trying to lull the little one to sleep, he was reminding himself. More importantly, it seemed he believed it.