The Pitt Recap: A Moment to Process

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At 9 o’clock, Dr. Langdon expresses his displeasure to charge nurse Dana, saying she’s already managing to bring him down, given her reprimand and attempt to instill empathy after his harsh words regarding a patient situation. However, the phrase could also be used to address The Pitt, as it saddens or discourages me deeply in an emotionally impactful way, which is actually a compliment for me since I tend to find pleasure in pain when it comes to television; this isn’t unusual. To put it simply, I’m crying again!

After three episodes, I’m still amazed at how this show manages to evoke such strong emotions amidst all the turmoil. The “9:00 a.m.” hour seems even more chaotic than the previous ones, which is quite something. When a patient comes in with a nail to their heart and there’s humor – let’s remind those med students about melee again, Hank the construction worker! – as well as danger, it’s hard not to be amused…and concerned. Yet, by the end of the episode, that patient becomes almost insignificant, leading one to wonder if there might be too much happening? I’m immersed in the intense realism The Pitt is aiming for, but with so many patients coming and going quickly, it’s becoming challenging to connect with them all. We may not be Dr. Robby, the Master of Multitasking, but we appreciate having a few long-term patients to help ground the narrative. I understand why it’s done this way, but I’m also grateful for these recurring characters that anchor our story.

Among the numerous patients, a particular case that stands out, despite the brief span of time, is 18-year-old Nick Bradley, a college student who unknowingly overdosed on fentanyl, according to his parents who vehemently deny any history of drug use. The narrative becomes even more poignant as you might expect, but events took an unexpected turn at 9:00 a.m., adding another layer of sorrow. Nick is now brain-dead, and while this fact is clear to both the medical staff and us, his parents are struggling to come to terms with it. Some colleagues find Dr. Robby’s approach overly compassionate rather than professional, but he remains steadfast in his plan. He understands that Lily and John need time to grasp the magnitude of their loss and he intends to provide them that space. He explains that he will conduct two final tests on Nick – an apnea test to check if his brain stem is still instructing his body to breathe, and a cerebral perfusion study to determine if any blood is still circulating to the brain. However, he emphasizes that neither test is expected to yield new information and these are the last two tests to be performed. In essence, this is their final hope.

In another part of the hospital, a college student who had overdosed on fentanyl is brought in by her roommate to the ER. As soon as she arrives, unconscious, Dr. McKay administers NARCAN. It doesn’t take long before Jenna wakes up. She confesses to McKay and Javadi that she took half an unprescribed Xanax to help her sleep after a long study session. However, it turns out that this isn’t just a coincidence – two college students are rushed to the ER in the same morning due to fentanyl overdoses. As Mr. Bradley grapples with the news of his son Nick’s failure in the apnea test, he recognizes one of the visitors coming to see Jenna as one of Nick’s friends. He rushes over to Jenna’s bed and shouts at her, “Where did you get the drugs? Did you give my son drugs?” When she retorts that it was actually Nick who gave her the fentanyl-laced Xanax, he tells her that Nick is dead, leaving her speechless. “You killed my son!” he screams before being restrained by hospital staff to prevent further escalation.

If the image of a father deeply grieving his son doesn’t stir any emotions within you (are you a machine?), then perhaps witnessing the Bradleys again may move you. John expresses remorse to Robby for his outburst, yet he fails to comprehend why that girl is still alive and his son has passed away. “It’s all so unfair,” Lily mutters, utterly devastated. When Robby tells the Bradleys he wishes he could have done more for their son, it’s clear that this event will weigh heavily on him for a long time.

For the first time during his shift, Robby – who usually keeps his emotions under control – appears overwhelmed and takes a short break. This happens after Jack Abbott’s patient’s sister arrives, unable to read the heartfelt letter that Jack wrote for the family. Since she can’t do it herself, she asks Robby to do it. Overwhelmed, he steps out of the room, needing a moment to compose himself before continuing with his duties. Although this break only lasts six seconds, it’s significant because Robby rarely stops – not even to use the restroom – in order to care for his patients, so let’s appreciate that he took a brief pause for self-care.

Additionally, it’s important to recall the predicament involving the Spencer family. It is unsurprising that no one but Helen is taken aback as her father struggles with intubation. Overwhelmed by Mr. Spencer’s side, she seeks guidance on the next course of action to keep him alive. Robby delivers somber news: Every alternative measure will be increasingly invasive, painful, and ineffective for Mr. Spencer’s recovery, which, unfortunately, Robby predicts will not be favorable. Even when Jeremy appears to apologize for Helen, who persists in maintaining life-saving treatment against their father’s wishes – she states that she hasn’t had enough of her father, while Jeremy has – Robby consoles him, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation. “This is tough,” he confides. It’s comforting to know they made Robby a ‘Sad Boy,’ or else his perfection might seem implausible. He excels at his job, and it’s a sight to behold! Over the years, he has learned that sometimes families or patients may oppose medical decisions, but he also understands that often all they need is time to come to terms with their circumstances. This is the case for both the Bradleys and Helen Spencer. Robby reassures her once more that the kindest action for her father would be to remove the tube and make him comfortable until he passes. Whether she’s prepared or not, this outcome is imminent, and she should consider how she wants her father’s final moments to transpire. In tears, Helen eventually agrees to have the tube removed.

Let’s remember this: Robby isn’t just managing his own feelings alongside those of the patients; he also has several young doctors to supervise during this shift. How are the newcomers faring three hours in? I must admit, I’m starting to worry about two of them. We left off with our farm-turned-medical student Whitaker refusing to stop CPR on Mr. Milton, a patient he had diagnosed with gallstones. Unfortunately, Mr. Milton suffered a massive heart attack while waiting for cardiac test results. Although Mr. Milton’s death isn’t Whitaker’s fault, the doctors have assured him, it has taken a heavy toll on him. After paying tribute to Mr. Milton, Robby talks to Whitaker, emphasizing that no doctor could have foreseen Mr. Milton’s heart attack and that dealing with patient deaths is an inevitable part of being a doctor. He needs to find a way to cope. It’s Dr. Mohan who encourages Whitaker to get back to treating patients… however, her attempt to get him back on track results in Whitaker accidentally spilling Mylanta all over his scrubs and causing confusion with the scrub machine, which isn’t great for one’s spirits. Despite this setback, I still believe in our farm-turned-doctor!

A more straightforward rephrasing could be:

Trinity Santos, the intern, appears to be a character of concern. We’ve observed that she has a tough exterior hiding underlying vulnerabilities, but in this episode, she joked about her defense mechanism, leaving me unsure if she will avoid or embrace the common trope. It seems she might follow the familiar “arrogant newcomer who learns a hard lesson” plotline. Her colleagues aren’t particularly fond of her, except for Mel who likes everyone, and Langdon is giving her suspicious looks. Even Collins, a favorite character on The Pitt, scolds Trinity for swearing during a trauma, hinting that she might have won my favor with this action. Collins also warns Trinity about letting her ambition and confidence overstep boundaries, urging her to show more respect and humility. Robby is also irritated by Trinity’s boldness in suggesting unnecessary procedures on recently deceased patients. This could indicate that Robby is already feeling overwhelmed by this grave shift, or perhaps he simply finds Trinity annoying. Only time will reveal the truth!

Discharge Papers

Dr. McKay is urging Robby to prioritize the well-being of “the ‘incel’ boy” David, who hasn’t been seen at school or in contact yet. Robby is hesitant about reporting this to the police as it might unnecessarily complicate things if David reappears or there’s a chance for dialogue. McKay, having experienced being on the receiving end of misogyny, encourages Robby to consider the safety of girls who may be targeted by David based on his list. This difference in perspective is likely to escalate their disagreement further.

A shocking incident took place where an ambulance was stolen, right in front of its two paramedics and Dana. Instead of being fun, this incident infuriated the paramedics. Yet, from our perspective as viewers, it might create exciting tension or drama!

Sure thing!

“I’m definitely keeping an eye on this, but it seems like Robby may not have had a chance to use the restroom yet. I’ll keep you updated on this.

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2025-01-17 07:54