Reaction: The Pitt, "4:00 PM" | Season 1, Episode 10

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Regardless of the job, counting the hours left at work is relatable behavior. So is Dr. Robby’s “I can’t wait for this shift to be over” sentiment. There’s about three hours left when Dr. Robby is finding someone to cover the charge nurse role (Perla reluctantly agrees), but the season runs to 15 hours, so it implies there is a couple of hours to play with. Not only are the staff clock watching, but now I am looking at the timeframe curiously, especially after Noah Wyle made comments to The AV Club that everything following the first 10 episodes (the number given to critics in advance of the premiere) is “like a different show.” The Pitt isn’t a mystery box a la Severance nor does it offer up a teaser in its opening scene like The White Lotus, but it still kicks the speculation part of my brain into gear, especially as there are so many loose threads.

What follows are the observations I took from this tenth episode.

• The sigh I let out when Robby opened Langdon’s locker and found the pills was sizable. Making it seem like Santos was clutching at straws and ensuring Langdon is likeable (big outburst last week aside) comes across as a purposeful misdirect, so we think Santos just has an axe to grind. However, there are some late clues suggesting Santos is right before the big reveal as the way Langdon reacts to Dr. Collins calling him an “adrenaline junkie” is a red flag; ditto the way he deflects with jokes and outrage by his locker when Robby brings up the Benzo theft accusation. After so many other medical shows have done the doctor or nurse addicted to pain meds story (including Wyle’s character on ER), I do think this functioning addiction is a different take on this narrative—even if I kinda hate this storyline direction. But I also don’t know if I buy his ‘I was just weaning myself off’ excuse even if he hasn’t been too erratic (Santos blow-up aside). Is this the last we will see of Langdon? The way Robby calls him Frank underscores the severity, as does how he throws Langdon’s things at him. I can’t see this being a final farewell, but just in case, shout out to Patrick Ball, who sold the cocky but caring vibe (the chin dimple helps)—I am going to miss Langdon’s scenes with Mel and Whitaker.

• The Oscars are over, so my mind has switched to TV award season. By showcasing Dana’s array of emotions after this brutal, cowardly attack, Katherine LaNasa makes a strong case for securing one of the supporting Emmy slots in what will be a very crowded contender lineup (with the Spring shows alone).1 It also provides The Pitt an opportunity to highlight the very real rise in violence in hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

• There are a couple of extremely gnarly cases this week; the baseball teen and the gas explosion farmer. Both require procedures to release the pressure and offer great teaching moments. I am still haunted by a few eye-related moments in ER, so I was concerned about where this one was going. Thankfully, it wasn’t the horror show I was expecting—and once again the special makeup effects team does an outstanding job. It also proved to be a significant moment for McKay and Victoria, who both have shown impulse control issues. The way the dad talked to his son was too familiar for Victoria (who went to college at 13!), and she snapped. McKay meanwhile is confirmed as the person who called the police on David (aka incel kid), angering Robby. However, her reasoning is sound, and after Robby lets McKay take the lead on the eye, he admits he wasn’t considering the girls on David’s list. In a teaching hospital, every day is a school day no matter your seniority.

• The burn situation requires a similar pressure-reducing solution to the arm injury earlier this season, but on a much larger scale. Whitaker is the audience stand-in, from the update about no longer saying third-degree burns (it is either partial or full thickness) to thinking the patient will pull through, only to find out that is unlikely. The farmer connection also allows Whitaker to share more of his background and show off his natural talents when talking to a patient's family.

• Other background we glean this week comes directly from a patient as McKay’s insufferable ex has broken his leg in three places when skateboarding with their son, Harrison. Chad is the absolute worst, bitching about every little thing possible. We don’t quite get to the bottom of the ankle monitor but it has something to do with him.2 While I am not concerned with this slightly more melodramatic storyline, I did find McKay’s conversation with Collins about not changing a thing about her personal life to be heavy handed. We don’t need a clunky reminder that Collins is sensitive to children-related conversations.

• On the other hand, the “special sauce” exchange between Dr. Mohan and Mel and this team-up indicates how confident they are both becoming and at different rates. Whereas the plotting on Langdon takes an awkward sharp turn this week (for the worse), this pairing is a reminder of organic and well-paced storytelling. This interview with Taylor Dearden discusses Mel’s neurodivergent status, which I know has come up in the comments. The pun doctor is a fun addition; each time we meet a new specialist, it adds to the hospital world-building.

“Pretty fucked up day” is a pretty accurate statement from Dana and she doesn’t even know about Langdon yet. I have to say, I really loved the moment when Dana and Collins took a beat together to reflect on the different traumas they experienced. This friendship has been showcased throughout the season, and this respite is earned. It also feels appropriate that they break out into laughter rather than tears at the hand they have been served during this shift—laughter is the best medicine after all. Within the format, the writers have made relationships feel lived in, while developing new character bonds and discord over the day. At this two-thirds through the first season marker, are there dynamics you want to see more of? Are there any that don’t make any sense, feel forced or uneven?