The Pitt Recap: Cheap Shots

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Has anyone managed to move past the heart-wrenching child drowning incident portrayed in ‘The Pitt‘ last week? Seems like no one has. Well, I’m no exception either. That scene of Esme, the janitor, picking up Amber’s small hair clip off the floor isn’t going to make it any easier anytime soon. Although I feel a bit strange using the word ‘happy’ in this context, I must admit that I was relieved to see ‘The Pitt’ not rushing into the next case in “3:00 P.M.” When we rejoin the story at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, the entire staff is still dealing with the aftermath of what transpired. Langdon calls home to hear his son’s voice, Mel listens to calming ocean sounds, and even Trinity attempts to console Javadi, a first-timer in such a situation. And while I have developed a deep emotional connection with Dr. Robby, I can acknowledge that his speech to the staff about how he coped with losing a 5-year-old during his first day of residency by finding a metaphorical tomb for his feelings is both vulnerable and, as Dana points out, quite poor. “You just gave a speech titled ‘How to Literally Bury Your Feelings’,” she tells him, patting him on the back. Not his finest moment, but everyone’s trying their best. With that, the team continues with their day.

At exactly noon, Dana demonstrates her nurturing side fully. She consoles Heather when she reveals her miscarriage (Heather’s comment about the stroller really upset me), and manages Robby’s questions regarding his senior resident without adding to his stress. Dana finds Javadi’s awkward attempt to ask Mateo out on a date amusing yet refrains from humiliating her. She skillfully handles Doug Driscoll, our temperamental patient, as he continues to vent at the staff for their long wait time and belittle others due to his assumption of their financial status, and harasses sweet Mateo with racist remarks. Dana maintains composure by repeatedly explaining that patients are attended based on urgency, and Doug might leave when offered an AMA form, but unfortunately, he returns after learning about the importance of waiting for doctors to review his lab results. As always, Doug remains angry.

In this hour, what stands out most about Dana is her quick intervention when two women were fighting in the waiting room. The woman with the coughing child was upset about masks, while the other was an advocate for them. Tensions escalated to a physical altercation, with one woman landing the other’s tooth in her fist. Dana, stepping in, sternly reminded both of them that they were at a hospital and there were children present, and they should feel ashamed. As a fellow Philadelphian, I must admit I found it amusing, despite some initial offense at Dana’s remark about “this ain’t Philly.” Dana herself described her actions as inspiring, terrifying, and slightly shaming. Robby praised her as the epitome of crowd control.

However, it’s not just Dana who has a memorable scene; two other women create quite a spectacle by arguing loudly through their hospital room walls in the ER. When Langdon informs the anti-masker that she’ll need surgery due to another woman’s tooth embedding into her joint bone, the woman in dire need of dental care responds angrily, “Good! You attacked me!”

Interestingly, when Langdon suggests allowing surgeons to perform the operation without masks, despite medical professionals believing that masks reduce the risk of disease and infection spread, this woman surprisingly changes her mind. In the end, she agrees to the surgery with the masks on. I couldn’t help but cheer!

In this episode, Langdon experiences quite a rollercoaster of events. If you’ve been anticipating the conflict between him and Dr. Santos, this is the moment. A case involving an MDMA overdose arrives from PittFest, and the woman’s body temperature reaches an alarming 107 degrees – dangerously hot, bordering on brain-frying temperatures. They manage to get her into an ice bath, but while Dr. Mohan and Trinity are trying to cool her down, she starts having seizures. Before the lab results are even back, Trinity discerns that the woman’s sodium levels must be critically low due to dehydration – she has hyponatremia – and administers saline. It’s a risky move, but it works, stopping the seizures. Langdon, overseeing the case, enters just as things are wrapping up, and though he appreciates someone addressing the sodium levels, he’s furious that no one notified him immediately when the seizures began. Trinity admits her delay in alerting him was her fault, while Dr. Mohan took the initiative with the saline treatment. Later, she clarifies to Mohan that Langdon already harbored resentment towards her, so there was no need to aggravate him further. This seems unusual coming from Trinity, but understandable. In a fit of anger, Langdon lashes out at Trinity. He’s loud, cruel, and demeaning, with Trinity doing her best to hold back tears. Fortunately – for Trinity, not for Langdon – Robby arrives in time to put a stop to it.

In this instance, Robby confronts Langdon, a situation that seems unusual given their past interactions. Instead of speaking calmly as usual, Robby raises his voice and strongly advises Langdon to stop talking. He expresses disapproval towards Langdon’s harsh treatment of Santos, stating that such behavior will not be accepted. He believes Langdon should use his senior position to demonstrate leadership rather than acting in this manner. This frank conversation leaves a strong impact on Langdon, and while it may be uncomfortable for him, it could potentially be exciting for some observers – if only Langdon were wearing his distinctive glasses at the time. It seems that despite the positive qualities he possesses, Langdon is being reminded of the need to conduct himself appropriately as a senior figure in this setting.

In simpler terms, Robby points out that Langdon treats Trinity Santos harshly compared to others like Mel King. He finds it easier to be kind and supportive with Mel. Langdon tells Mel that she’s grown on him despite her inexperience, calling her his “least problematic trainee.” When Mel shares that the drowning accident reminds her of a personal tragedy, Langdon shows immense empathy. This contrasts sharply with how he behaves towards Trinity. Although Trinity can be tough, Langdon seems to have an endless patience with her. The question remains, what is Langdon’s motivation? Why does he come off as so kind and understanding in some situations but rude towards Trinity? It leaves many wondering about the enigma that is Langdon.

In the end, he concludes his talk with Mel by granting her an exceptional opportunity: the ability to help remove hundreds of small stones embedded in the leg of a patient suffering from road rash. Needless to say, she was overjoyed. Following her brief rest, Mel resumes her duties. It was long overdue. Each employee at this ER requires occasional breaks, and even Dana, who serves as an example of how to manage the highs and lows in this line of work, understands this need for relief.

He finishes chatting with Mel by giving her a unique chance – helping remove stones from a patient’s leg with road rash. She was thrilled about it. After taking a break, Mel gets back to work. Everyone in the ER needs a breather once in a while, even Dana, who shows how to navigate the good and bad parts of this job.

As a movie-goer, I must admit my shock and dismay as Dana’s tranquil smoke break in the latest flick was abruptly shattered. Alone on her break, she was struck unexpectedly, sending her crashing to the ground. Though the scene is hazy, there’s no mistaking the culprit – Doug Driscoll, who nonchalantly drops an AMA form on top of her before sauntering away, threatening to face these workers again if he escapes unscathed. The encounter left me breathless and still struggling to comprehend its unsettling intensity. This brutal scene serves as a stark reminder of the precarious position these workers find themselves in daily, dealing with volatile individuals. I can’t help but hope that Doug faces some dire consequences, whether it be a heart attack or return to the hospital, so he can face Dana – and justice – once more.

Discharge Papers

It’s intriguing how The Pitt is presenting this postpartum-endometritis case with mixed signals. On one side, Collins criticizes McCay for overlooking Paula’s infection signs and performing an incomplete examination because of potential bias related to her weight. It’s refreshing that the show addresses this genuine concern and has Collins explicitly state, “her size doesn’t automatically imply unhealthiness.” However, it seems unnecessary and insensitive when Paula first arrives after her car accident leading to sepsis, there’s a joke about Robby injuring his back from lifting her off the gurney. Was such a jest really necessary?

McKay’s efforts are hitting a snag: Despite their diligent work trying to get Piper, the woman in the middle of a sex-trafficking predicament, to reach out for help, it seems like all is lost. But could it be? As Piper departed with her superior, Dana observes that she took the pen they provided, which concealed a number for a national crisis hotline within.

Is it possible that Dennis Whitaker exhibits skills or abilities? He manages to gain Nurse Kim’s attention not only by skillfully handling the Kraken, a person who is homeless and struggling with schizophrenia and inconsistent access to medication, but also by taking action. Whitaker collaborates with Kiara to add this individual to the street team’s roster, and he personally goes out once a month to administer medication at his camp.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that Whitaker has another impressive trait: he swiftly and quietly dispatches one of the remaining rats by breaking its neck while covered under a sheet. Although this may seem unsettling, the individual from the farm demonstrates usefulness in the ER. I suggest Nurse Kim consider reaching out to him!

After wrapping up her session with the therapist, Theresa encounters Robby but hasn’t yet received any news from their son David. He requests that she hang out for a bit longer, hoping he might appear. Suddenly, Robby notices some police officers heading towards Theresa. Was it McKay who summoned them?

Witnessing the uncomfortable encounter between Javadi and Mateo, much like observing an unavoidable traffic accident, is how many of us feel, as Earl, unfortunately caught in the crossfire of the mask debate.

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2025-02-28 08:29