Reaction: The Pitt, "6:00 PM" | Season 1, Episode 12

Hey, everyone—per request, I’ve added a section for The Pitt so that subscribers can remove it from their email preferences (under Manage Subscription) if they’re not watching, and in preparation of the show becoming part of our full roster in season two. In the meantime, all subscribers who remain subscribed to “The Pitt” will receive our coverage through the finale.

Sustaining a format like The Pitt’s without losing momentum means upping the stakes as the season progresses, from Dr. Robby’s mental state to the stretched resources. Given that I was initially a little disappointed that I’d interpreted the PittFest mass shooting signposts correctly, I will hold my hat in hand to say that the execution so far is nothing short of brilliant. It is a masterclass in pacing, allowing time to brief the staff about hospital-wide emergency protocols and assigning different areas to work in before all hell breaks loose.

We follow Dr. Robby from the ambulance bay-turned-triage and then inside, surveying the carnage as each designated team adapts to a lack of technology, quickly depleted equipment, and even blood. It isn’t all through Robby’s point of view, but having him as the anchor helps navigate the chaos.

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

• Losing Collins (who hasn’t returned yet) and Langdon (who has) reduces the senior staff, but thankfully, some of the night shift team is already arriving. Dr. Abbott heard about the shooting on the police scanner and is a welcome sight because he can share duties with Robby. Plus, his already-established military background makes him a crucial resource. The first 12 minutes of “6:00 PM” establish how the department will run with Abbott and Robby tag-teaming details about disaster kits, color zones, equipment, and “no frills” medicine. Having two authoritative voices dish out this information dump ensures it isn’t too overwhelming. It is efficient storytelling, demonstrating how a trauma center responds to an event that doesn’t feel like a stretch. While it is a depressingly accurate mass casualty set-up, I did find it fascinating and eye-opening to see details like using color-coded slap bracelets during the 10-second triage because this is an accessory I typically associate with ‘90s fashion.
• I’ve mentioned how effective the lack of score was before, but this absence hit me again as the PA system messages provided the soundtrack before the victims came pouring in.

• Part of the tension in this opening comes from knowing they are about to receive an onslaught of patients unlike anything we have seen throughout the season. If I remember correctly, there was only one gunshot patient before this. Having Robby geared up for what is to come versus Dr. Shen's (the night shift attending) super chill vibe adds to this anxiety. While highlighting different temperaments (and how on the edge Robby is), to see Dr. Shen sipping on iced coffee and talking about the weather is jarring.1

• There is no confirmation about whether David is the shooter, but it is concerning that his cell phone is pinging near the PittFest area. I can only hope that this is a misdirect. The other big question is where Jake is. Robby can’t get in touch with him, which isn’t necessarily a sign he is injured, as cell service is overwhelmed. Not answering either question at this point means we can focus on the immediate impact, yet I hope they don’t drag it out for too long.

• My one niggle in what I think is an excellent episode is Victoria losing it with her mother. She struggles to regulate her anger (see baseball dad), but it still feels unnecessary. However, Victoria's suggestion of how to adapt the limited equipment is a nice win, even if I don’t quite buy her surgeon mom being initially this rigid about these methods in these circumstances.

• Okay, I have a second nitpick. Santos assumes the guy who was filming on his phone is a journalist. Yes, I love that she “accidentally” drops his phone in the bloody mop bucket, but not the insinuation that a member of the press would steal a victim’s hoodie and pretend he was shot to score a story. Perhaps I am being naive, but this feels more like the actions of someone who wants online clout and not a reporter.

• Grumbling over! All the various old-school techniques and shortcut solutions are thrilling (and stressful) to watch. However, I was also impressed with the portable Butterfly ultrasound, which uses a phone app to circumvent the lack of regular ultrasounds. Robby’s “ooh cool” reaction to Abbott showing this device is very relatable.

• Speaking of Robby's reactions, he is unsurprisingly unhappy that Langdon has resumed his shift. It is director Amanda Marsalis’ fourth episode of The Pitt, and the way she follows Robby around the hospital as he gauges the big picture is fantastic. The choice to hear Langdon before we see him is striking because the familiar, authoritative voice working on a patient is reassuring until we see Robby’s flicker of anger. It is all hands on deck, and despite the discovery of the stolen meds, Robby lets him continue. Mel is ecstatic to see Langdon, and her “You came back!” is delightful. Dana is off with Langdon, and his return understandably perturbs Santos. Throwing personal animosity in the mix during a mass casualty event could be distracting, and luckily, it is acknowledged but doesn’t boil over.
• Blood is both everywhere and running out. It is all over the disposable gowns and the floors—Mel slips on a pool—and the supply hits zero before the end of the hour. While delivery is 10 minutes out, some patients will die in that window if they don’t get a transfusion. It feels entirely plausible that staff would donate or that Robby would forgo the screening process to save lives (again, perhaps I am blinded by the magic of TV). Mel immediately uses her donation for her patient, and Abbott donates while still working. Outside of the first episode, we haven’t spent time with this character, and little moments like this fill in some blanks.

There is a lot to take in throughout “6:00 PM,” from the different equipment and procedures to keeping track of all the patients coming in, not to mention that there are non-gunshot wounds and injuries from PittFest. At 40 minutes, it is the shortest of the season so far, but the level of intensity means this length is welcome. Creator Scott Gemmill co-wrote the episode with medical advisor Joe Sachs, which speaks to the depiction of procedures in this situation with the overall narrative; The Pitt continues to strike a balance between ambitious storytelling and its depiction of emergency medicine. What did you think about the change in tempo this week?