The Pitt is undoubtedly one of the most popular shows on television right now. Its season two finale, which aired last Thursday, gained almost 10 million views in its first weekend, the highest in the show’s history, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. The show’s average viewership improved by 50% since its first season. Despite its success, The Pitt’s second season did not come without controversy.
Fans will always compare new seasons of beloved shows to its original form. The Pitt is absolutely not immune to this comparison amongst fans. Many fans online have hailed season two as “boring” because of its lack of a central issue. In season one, this central issue comes in episode 12 “6:00 PM” when it is revealed there was a mass shooting at the music festival, PittFest. The final four episodes of season one are pure chaos as the already overstuffed and understaffed hospital receives a massive influx of trauma patients from the shooting.
In comparison, season two has no defining central issue. The only comparison would be the technology shutdown which spans the majority of the season. In episode three, “9:00 AM”, the staff gets a call from Medic Command that a neighboring hospital, Westbridge Medical, is shutting down and all of their patients are being redirected to the Pitt. This shutdown has a gradual but substantial impact on the rest of the season. It’s already a busy day as season two takes place on the fourth of July. The addition of the extra patients from Westbridge swamps the hospital with patients.
In episode seven, it’s revealed the cause of the Westbridge shutdown is a cyberattack and the Pitt might be next. Preemptively, hospital shutdowns all of their technology and goes totally analogue. The result is confusion and misunderstandings as the majority of the staff has no experience working with no technology. The staff ultimately steps up to the plate and proves their resilience in unpredictable situations.
Season two is an average, yet exhausting and anarchic day for hospital staff. While season one, highlighted the strength and heroism of hospital workers in traumatic circumstances, which are only increasing over time; season two succeeds at portraying the difficulties healthcare professions have to deal with on a daily basis.
It’s understandable why fans are disappointed by season two. The reveal of the PittFest shooting fills both the staff and audience with dread as this kind of traumatic event is rarely shown on television with this level of reality. However, the same can be said for the everyday perils one faces when working in emergency medicine. The light season two sheds light on the lives of healthcare workers more than makes up for its perceived lack of entertainment value.
