Review: The Pitt, "11:00 AM" | Season 2, Episode 5

Being switched on in a high-pressure environment without burning out is difficult. One decision or slip-up can be the difference between life and death. Even if you do everything right, a patient’s health can plummet in seconds. As a viewer, The Pitt calls for our undivided attention because you never know what might come back into play. While the doctors and nurses spin plates, we have to keep an eye on the ones that might fall. The fifth episode immediately picks up with Langdon and Donnie taking Debbie to a trauma room, throwing us straight back into a rapidly changing situation that adds to the urgency. The infection quickly spreads beyond the new Sharpie line, offering a visual that emphasizes the growing concern that this is MRSA (or worse). Throw in the unresolved Langdon and Robby issues, and The Pitt elevates personal and professional stakes without overdoing it.

Bookending this hour with two emergencies that thrust Langdon and Robby into the same small space proves that while Robby can continue to dodge a one-on-one conversation, he cannot avoid working the same cases. Robby doesn’t want a reminder of his mentoring failure, but the patients come first. That Louie requires life-saving measures adds weight to this cliffhanger because, like those working in the ED, we have built a connection. It is this bond that made me worry for Louie’s longevity on the series, even if his procedures are routine. Familiarity is also why Langdon isn’t too concerned at first at the sound of machines beeping, because Louie has a habit of removing his pulse ox. Unfortunately, this is not one of those times, and his life hangs in the balance. 

There is still time for Louie to pull through and bring Langdon and Robby closer together. Is this wishful thinking on my part? Probably. Previous events suggest that a happy ending isn’t likely, but I can hold out hope until next week. “You two kiss and make up yet?” Dana asks Robby. Telling her to go have a cigarette takes longer to say than “no,” but it gets the message across, especially as Dana is actively trying to quit.