The Pitt Recap: Gut Instincts

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It’s 8:00 AM and the shift continues with Dr. Rabinavitch and Dr. Al-Hashimi, and the tension between them is definitely increasing. Dr. Al-Hashimi seems more settled now and is starting to challenge Dr. Rabinavitch’s decisions in the trauma room, even though his calls have been correct so far. She also seems dismissive when residents bring him their instincts or hunches – she clearly prefers to rely on data and established procedures. Dr. Al isn’t trying to be difficult or is incompetent, but coming in on your first day and suggesting changes to someone who’s been in charge for years is bound to cause friction. I’m not saying Dr. Rabinavitch is perfect, but I’m firmly on his side and completely support him.

In the show “8:00 AM,” two doctors frequently disagree on how to treat patients. One instance involves baby Jane Doe, who needed to urinate. Dr. Al-Hashimi wanted to insert a catheter immediately, but Dr. Robby believed that was too drastic and successfully used a simple trick with a cotton swab and water to get a sample. The second disagreement was more heated. When a patient, Barry, began choking after breakfast, the standard Heimlich maneuver didn’t work. Both doctors knew they’d need to examine his esophagus. Dr. Al-Hashimi wanted to use strong sedatives, ketamine and rocuronium, preparing for the possibility of needing to insert a breathing tube. Dr. Robby argued that ketamine alone was sufficient, as the issue was likely just food. He proceeded with his approach, overruling Dr. Al in front of their colleagues. She reluctantly agreed, but with a sarcastic comment and a warning about potential legal issues. Dr. Robby was right – a piece of broccoli was removed easily. Dr. Al-Hashimi’s plan would have unnecessarily intubated Barry and put him on a ventilator. The narrative suggests that Dr. Al-Hashimi will eventually be proven right, but for now, the two doctors remain in conflict.

Robby and Al-Hashimi aren’t the only ones clashing tonight. Javadi, our bright med student, is starting to see Ogilvie as a real threat for the emergency medicine residency at PTMC – though Santos was quick to point that out to her. It’s funny, because last time we saw Javadi, her mother thought she was still undecided about her specialty. But the moment Santos suggests she might not get the emergency medicine spot, Javadi immediately jumps to defend her place. Seems pretty clear what she wants to me, but maybe I’m just overthinking it.

When an unconscious patient, Orlando Diaz, is admitted with symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis, Javadi and Ogilvie fall into a competitive spiral, trying to impress each other, the residents, and Robby with their medical knowledge. However, their behavior doesn’t impress anyone – everyone, like Mohan, is clearly unimpressed. Robby has to remind them that being a good doctor isn’t just about knowing a lot, but also about teamwork. I’m hoping Javadi wins this little competition; she’s experienced and genuinely nice. It’s hard to imagine how Ogilvie would have handled a difficult patient like Sister Gonorrhea. Honestly, this whole display has made me appreciate Joy Kwon, the other third-year med student who seems completely unconcerned, even more. While her attitude isn’t exactly what Robby encourages, it’s certainly entertaining. (Though maybe not for her patients.)

Our medical students should all look up to Whitaker as a model for becoming truly good doctors, not just ones who impress people. He really seems to have taken Robby’s example to heart, particularly in how he connects with patients. It’s amazing how much more confident he is now compared to just ten months ago, and it’s especially touching to see his genuine empathy – and to see Robby recognize it. Last week, after Mr. Bostick passed away, Whitaker led a moment of silence with the students, even though everyone found it difficult. Later, he had the incredibly difficult task of telling Mr. Bostick’s wife, who has dementia, about her husband’s death. He had to repeat the news multiple times, and even after she saw his body, she didn’t fully understand. He stayed with her anyway, offering comfort. Hopefully, he won’t have to face a situation like that again anytime soon!

Dr. Whitaker seems to embody Robby’s compassionate side, while Dr. Santos represents his more instinctive approach to patient care. It’s no surprise Robby often asks her to trust her gut, and she generally does – as we saw last season and again in this episode. Sometimes her instincts are spot-on, like with the REBOA procedure last year, but other times she goes too far. Robby’s years of experience provide a solid base for his decisions, whereas Santos relies heavily on her confidence. This dynamic is highlighted in the case of her young patient, Kylie, and the suspicion of abuse. While Santos is following medical procedures, she strongly believes Kylie’s father is abusive. Several people, including Robby and the social worker Dylan, caution her against jumping to conclusions. Although she insists she’s not, Santos also hints at taking matters into her own hands if the father doesn’t appear. Given her accurate diagnosis last season – correctly identifying a father molesting his daughter, and informed by her own past – it’s unclear whether her gut is right this time, or if she’s heading for a disaster. Only time will tell.

It must be difficult for Langdon to watch the doctors he once hoped to join flourish under Robby’s guidance. He’s still stuck working in a less desirable role, ignored by both Robby and Santos, but he continues to try and repair relationships. Despite being abandoned by his mentor, Langdon quickly found his own mentee, Mel King, proving his ability to guide others.

This episode features a touching scene between two characters. The man who was flirting with Dr. King previously continues to do so, unaware she notices. However, when he spots police officers entering the emergency room, he quickly makes an escape, accidentally bumping into Dr. King and causing her to fall. (It’s revealed he robbed a liquor store the night before and was hiding in the ED.) After seeing Perlah apply ice to Dr. King’s head following the fall, Langdon takes her aside for a thorough check-up. During this private moment, he shares his past with her, revealing he was in rehab for benzodiazepine addiction. He insists his addiction never impacted his work and that he’s now recovered, but acknowledges he disappointed many people. Dr. King assures him he never let her down, a moment that feels incredibly heartfelt. He counters that he should be a role model, not a warning. When the police question Dr. King about the fleeing patient and inform her she may be a key witness, her anxiety visibly rises. Langdon immediately notices and skillfully deflects the officers, encourages her to rest, and creates a calming environment by dimming the lights and closing the door – a gesture reminiscent of how she cared for an anxious autistic patient last season. Frank Langdon continues to be a remarkably likable character.

Discharge Papers

The medical drama The Pitt is back with its signature gross-out moments! This episode features several shocking cases: a homeless man named Digby has maggots discovered under his arm cast, a man’s dislocated arm is put back into place (with a very graphic procedure involving Dr. King), and Dr. King and Santos deal with a man experiencing a prolonged and painful erection. Be warned – there’s a lot of blood involved in the latter case!

The episode opens with Dr. Al-Hashimi visibly upset about baby Jane Doe, but she quickly tries to hide her distress when Mohan asks if something is wrong. The storyline doesn’t move forward with this issue at this time.

Okay, so a lot of Santos’s jokes usually miss the mark for me, but that bit about Javadi’s nun, Sister Grace, getting pinkeye from gonorrhea – calling it “the immaculate infection”? That one actually made me laugh out loud! Don’t worry, she’s going to be okay. And it’s not like she’s secretly living a wild life or anything. She actually works at a homeless shelter, doing laundry without gloves, which is how she probably got sick in the first place. Luckily, Mohan is stepping in to get her some proper supplies.

Did anyone notice Robby quickly asking Santos if she’d seen the trauma counselor this week? It seems like everyone involved in the recent mass casualty event is still required to check in with counseling services. Also, Caleb, the psychologist, appears to be close with Robby. I appreciate that The Pitt isn’t focusing heavily on what happened after PittFest, but it’s obvious the event has still affected the community.

The show can’t tease us with the information that Mel King has a persona as a woman from 17th-century France who appears at Renaissance Fairs without giving us the full story. After everything we’ve invested in the show, we deserve a more complete explanation.

I’m really getting worried about Mr. Williams! Dr. McKay is still trying to figure out if he has a head injury, but things are just…weird. He was unbelievably nice when she checked on him, which is totally different from before. It’s making me wonder if there’s something more going on. Dr. McKay’s now trying to track down his family to see if he has any history of mental health issues – they’re trying to cover all the bases, and honestly, I’m glad they are!

Okay, so I just heard some crazy gossip! Apparently, Dr. Robby is seeing someone – Nurse Noelle Hastings! She works at the hospital as a case manager, which means she’s kind of a necessary evil for the doctors, so people don’t love her, but she and Robby are apparently a thing. Honestly, Dana seems really upset about it, and I get why she’d be protective, but Robby definitely deserved some happiness after everything that happened last season. I’m a little cautious about this whole situation, but I’m hoping it works out for him!

• Not Robby casually dropping a line from Henry IV, Part 1 — he contains multitudes!

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2026-01-16 05:56