The Pitt – 5:00 p.m.

The story is really picking up steam as we approach the end of the season. We get to see some new medical emergencies unfold while diving deeper into the lives of the doctors and nurses handling them.

Episode Summary

This episode lets us clear how Langdon’s sudden exit from the ER is taking its toll on the team. Robby is clearly overwhelmed without his right-hand guy. Mohan impresses Whitaker with her instincts—though it leads to yet another clash with Robby. Meanwhile, Collins and McKay each face tough cases that confronts them with their own motherhood. On top of that, Dana drops a bombshell about her future at the hospital, right before a shocking notification changes everything for the team at The Pitt.

Fiona Dourif – Photograph by John Johnson/Max 

New cases

Mohan and Whitaker treat a patient who’s in severe pain, but thanks to Mohan’s quick thinking, they realize he’s just trying to get morphine. At first, Dennis seems skeptical, but when Samira gives the patient meds to ease his withdrawal, he is impressed by how she handles it. Of course, this doesn’t sit well with Robby, since Samira once again bypassed his authority to make a big call on her own without asking him.

Highlights

Collins opens up to Robby, sharing that she lost her IVF baby. But instead of dwelling on it, she focuses on a case involving a surrogate mom who has to deliver her friends’ baby in the ER. True to The Pitt’s style, in a very graphic scene, the doctors pull through a difficult delivery and save the baby. This storyline dives into different aspects of parenting—the joy and concerns of the new parents and Heather’s quiet grief over her own loss.

Later on, Collins admits she’s tried getting pregnant multiple times but might have to stop because the treatments are super expensive and she may not be destined to be a mother after all. She also reveals she was once pregnant but didn’t feel ready, so she decided to have an abortion without telling the father. Since it’s been hinted that Collins and Robby had a relationship in the past, both Robby and the audience are left wondering if he could’ve been that father. The show cleverly keeps this unclear.

McKay also tackles her own maternal struggles. She manages a tough case involving a mom with severe bleeding, assisted by Javadi and Robby. The young daughter of this woman, who also needs a liver transplant, shares how she’s had to take care of her mom on her own. This case stirs up emotions for both Victoria (reflecting on her mom) and Cassie (thinking about her son). By the end, Cassie decides to confront the girlfriend of her ex, who seems to overstep boundaries and provoke her at every turn—something that’s hinted to have happened before, as we learn the woman has a restraining order against McKay.

Joanna Going, Noah Wyle – Photograph by John Johnson/HBO

Despite Langdon’s attempts to reach out, Robby refuses to talk to him. Langdon’s absence has left Robby juggling multiple complex cases, aside from comforting Theresa, who’s unsure about signing papers to admit her son to a mental clinic. Robby supports her and convinces her it’s the right move for her boy since he really needs the help.

Later, with only one hour left on the shift and a dwindling staff, since Robby also sent Collins to rest, Dana drops a bomb on him, admitting she’s thinking of quitting. She feels the job is too overwhelming and risky after all she’s been through, but reassures Robby that he’ll handle things just fine without her. Just as they’re talking, they get a chilling alert about an active shooter at the PittFest—where Jake, Robby’s stepson, and his girlfriend are.

Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor – Photograph by John Johnson/HBO

Characters of the Week

Heather Collins: Throughout the story, Collins has shown us she’s a complex character. On the one hand, Heather proves she’s efficient and tough in her work since she can overcome the most difficult moments to fulfill her duty, yet we get to see her vulnerability, making her more relatable.

Michael “Robby” Robinavitch: Robby might look like he has it all under control, but this episode reminds us how much he leans on his team. The ER wouldn’t function the same without the relationships he’s built with them.

Final thoughts 

The intense cliffhanger makes it clear why this shift is going way beyond the usual 12 hours. It’s obvious the focus for the rest of the season will be on resolving this crisis, along with wrapping up ongoing plots and cases. Also, is the shooter going to turn out to be David, Theresa’s son? That’s the easy guess—but I think maybe they could surprise us once again.

What did you think of this episode? Let’s chat in the comments!