The second episode of The Pitt, Max’s new medical drama starring Noah Wyle as the chief attending doctor in an overwhelmed emergency room in Pittsburgh, wraps up with some of the most intense and heartbreaking moments I’ve seen on TV in a while.
In just two hours of his shift, Dr. “Robby” Rabinavitch (Wyle) is faced with informing the parents of a teenager that their son is brain-dead after a fentanyl overdose. As the boy’s mother, Lily (Samantha Sloyan), sobs uncontrollably, Dr. Robby moves on to the next room to perform a procedure on an elderly man with dementia (Madison Mason), whom he has been unable to convince his family not to prolong his suffering. Meanwhile, student doctor Whitaker (Gerran Howell) refuses to stop chest compressions on his first patient (David Reivers), even though it’s clear the patient has already passed. The credits roll just as the weight of these moments sets in.
This powerful scene serves as both an invitation and a warning. Created by ER alum R. Scott Gemmill, The Pitt takes a brutally realistic look at the state of our struggling healthcare system. It’s also one of the most gripping medical dramas to come around since Grey’s Anatomy and ER.
The Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital’s waiting room is packed when Dr. Robby starts his shift, and he’s immediately confronted by questions about rumors the hospital is being sold. Nurses Princess (Kristin Villanueva) and Perlah (Amielynn Abellera) ask him whether it’s true, and while Robby reassures them it’s just talk, it’s clear the hospital is on the brink of collapse. Dr. Robby is then thrust into a chaotic environment, where eager young residents and med students — including Melissa King (Taylor Dearden) and Whitaker — are about to experience the harsh realities of working in an overcrowded, underfunded hospital.
The Pitt follows a familiar setup for medical dramas: veteran doctors like Robby, charge nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa), and senior residents Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) and Dr. Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) lead a group of fresh-faced students through the pandemonium of their first day. What sets The Pitt apart is its real-time storytelling format, with each episode covering one hour of Dr. Robby’s 15-hour shift. This choice, which could feel gimmicky, actually enhances the immersive, high-stakes atmosphere of the show, leaving little room for anything other than the constant churn of medical crises. The real-time element also gives the show space to explore broader social issues — from homelessness and addiction to mental health and sex trafficking — that intersect with the medical cases.
If you’re a fan of medical dramas that weave in romance or drama-filled love triangles, The Pitt might not be for you. There’s no time for that kind of fluff here. Instead, we get glimpses into the characters’ personal lives, but only in brief moments between the chaos. Robby is clearly still grieving the loss of his mentor during the COVID pandemic, and there’s a hint of unresolved tension between him and Dr. Collins. Meanwhile, Dr. Whitaker, who’s just starting his medical career, is hilariously hapless at times, evoking memories of ER‘s John Carter in his early days.
The cast is key to making The Pitt work. Wyle’s portrayal of Robby is a steady anchor in a storm of grief and exhaustion. He’s compassionate yet weary, holding it all together while the world around him falls apart. LaNasa’s Nurse Evans is the caring, maternal figure who ensures no one feels unsupported, whether they’re new to the job or regular patients. Howell’s Whitaker brings humor and vulnerability, while Dearden’s Dr. King is a standout as a sensitive, idealistic student eager to learn despite the heavy toll the job takes.
Though The Pitt has its flaws, like some clunky dialogue and moments of preachiness, these are minor issues in an otherwise compelling drama. For example, the show occasionally hammers home its themes with lines like “Violence against healthcare workers is a national problem,” and some of the characters’ speeches feel more scripted than natural. But these missteps don’t detract from the show’s overall strength. If anything, the show’s raw and realistic portrayal of emergency medicine and its impact on both patients and doctors is enough to keep you coming back for more.
The Pitt offers a glimpse into the harsh realities of working in an under-resourced emergency room. Its focus on the personal and professional struggles of the doctors and nurses makes it both engrossing and difficult to watch at times, but I’m eager to spend more time with this tough, determined cast.
The Pitt premieres with two episodes on Thursday, January 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Max.
