The Pitt, Season 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I loved Whitaker's reaction to Robby asking him to "house sit"

What was with the warning about Whitaker helping out the widow? Even if he does end up dating her, Robby went full Santos, overstepping his bounds.

I disagree that it was overstepping his bounds to tell Whitaker that he needs to be careful about boundaries with patients and their families. I would argue that is within his job description as an attending, and that part of the conversation was appropriate.

Whitaker's relationship with the widow is not just a private matter because her husband was a patient in the ED. That makes it Robby's business. If Whitaker were in the exact same relationship but the woman had no connection to the ED, Robby would say nothing.

I do think asking Whitaker to house sit while he's out of town, and especially doing this specifically as a way to discourage Whitaker's relationship with the widow (the whole "no babies" thing) was overstepping. It could turn out fine but it could also backfire horribly. It's similar to why Mel should not have been treating her sister. You are too close and can't be objective, and are mixing your professional and personal roles in ways that could get messy later on.

I occasionally watch some "actually doctors react to the Pitt" videos in the background and the doctor actually said Robby should talk to Whitaker about boundaries. Of course Robby turning around and offering Whitaker his home is another professional boundary violation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well I for one am excited that it's Pitt day. Whatever people might think about this show and the timeline stuff or weird inconsistencies, I look forward to it every week and am heavily invested in the characters.

This week I'm hoping Abbott comes back with the overweight patient, because I love Abbott and also like that patient and am rooting for him. Also hoping we get more of a focus on Robby this week. I feel like his story has been kind of on the fringes of everything all season, with indications that his mental health is bad and that people are concerned about him but also walking on eggshells a bit, and it seems like it's time to start focusing a bit more on that.

Also hoping for progress on Baby Jane Doe.

I agree with all of this (although I tend to agree with the Jul 4th-ers - it's a holiday!)

I like how they are weaving in the backgrounds and pasts of almost all of the characters to move the plot forward. The seen with Robby and Whitaker was soooo interesting and clearly reflects something from Robby's past.

I'm also rooting for Abbott and the overweight patient - I'd like to see that turn into a longer story. I feel like they are going to have to branch out beyond the ER for this show to continue working, but a slow and steady pace is probably right for that.

[Anonymous]

Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

[Anonymous]

I really liked Dr. McKay in this episode. She is becoming one of my favorites.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

I might just quit the show if that happens. Too often writers use SA as a cheap trick to crank up the drama. Mel has been one of the best characters, destroy her and they destroy the show.

I still see nothing wrong with Whitaker being in a relationship with the widow of a patient. He has no professional relationship with her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

It's just a mechanism to have us understand Mel better and their relationship. That's what drives this particular story; there doesn't need to be another major story line there and not SA, since they just did that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really liked Dr. McKay in this episode. She is becoming one of my favorites.

Yes, and I found her kind of annoying in the first season. But I feel like we are seeing a more mature, nuanced version of her this year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

I might just quit the show if that happens. Too often writers use SA as a cheap trick to crank up the drama. Mel has been one of the best characters, destroy her and they destroy the show.

I still see nothing wrong with Whitaker being in a relationship with the widow of a patient. He has no professional relationship with her.

It's that he was doing it as a reaction of needing to help her because the ER couldn't save her husband. And Robby's point was that you can't help everyone like that, b/c they see it so often.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

I might just quit the show if that happens. Too often writers use SA as a cheap trick to crank up the drama. Mel has been one of the best characters, destroy her and they destroy the show.

I still see nothing wrong with Whitaker being in a relationship with the widow of a patient. He has no professional relationship with her.

A doctor definitely has a professional relationship with the widow of a patient who died while under his care. And Robby explains how Whitaker's involvement with her is based on his feelings of empathy (and likely guilt) over this woman's husband's death. That's not healthy for Whitaker, who is a brand new doctor and needs to be developing the kind of professional distance that will enable him to provide good, empathetic care while also keeping some separation with his patients.

You also really get the sense in the conversation with Robby that Robby has violated that specific professional distance in his own career (we know of two cases where that is true -- him treating his mentor during Covid, and him treating his stepson's GF last season, both of whom died) and Robby is now clearly in a state of mental crisis. Obviously Whitaker's situation is not nearly as dramatic or dire as that, but it does serve as a cautionary tale. Medical professionals, especially working in life or death specialties (emergency medicine, many kinds of surgery, oncology, etc.), generally do best when they can have a private life that is separate and protected from the challenges of their job. Mentally and emotionally, they need that escape. Think of Princess going home at the end of the day and watching Love Island. You can't take work like they do home with you. And that is exactly what Whitaker is doing. It's risky.

[Anonymous]

I think I enjoy the analysis of this show on dcum as much as I enjoy the show!

So many good observations and analysis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I enjoy the analysis of this show on dcum as much as I enjoy the show!

So many good observations and analysis.

It's good, but if you find this interesting, you would love The Prestige TV Podcast (Ringer Network) who are currently doing weekly recaps and Joanna & Rob are excellent. There's also a lot of good discussion on reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/ThePittTVShow/

[Anonymous]

I think Robby is going to attempt suicide. The foreshadowing is there. The motorcycle is just another symptom of being suicidal. He could even be planning to use that in his attempt.

They have been showing other characters mental health issues to prepare us for how this will impact them. They brought Abbott back to reinforce how close they are because it will be relevant when Abbott is the attending when he is brought back in that same night. I don’t think Robby ever planned to actually go on a trip. That’s why Duke isn’t showing up. Robby wanted 30 days of nobody checking on him.

I think they decided to set this on July 4 because they are planning to go straight to the night shift in season 3. The date will make the ER and even more hectic with what you expect to see on the holiday: firework injuries, alcohol poisoning, drug overdoses, car accidents, heat strokes. The doctors and nurses on the night shift will have to deal with an already crazy holiday night while treating a beloved member of their staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks like Mel’s sister has a urinary tract infection. But they didn’t show her anymore later in the episode.

I think they might have been forshadowing sexual assault.

I might just quit the show if that happens. Too often writers use SA as a cheap trick to crank up the drama. Mel has been one of the best characters, destroy her and they destroy the show.

I still see nothing wrong with Whitaker being in a relationship with the widow of a patient. He has no professional relationship with her.

A doctor definitely has a professional relationship with the widow of a patient who died while under his care. And Robby explains how Whitaker's involvement with her is based on his feelings of empathy (and likely guilt) over this woman's husband's death. That's not healthy for Whitaker, who is a brand new doctor and needs to be developing the kind of professional distance that will enable him to provide good, empathetic care while also keeping some separation with his patients.

You also really get the sense in the conversation with Robby that Robby has violated that specific professional distance in his own career (we know of two cases where that is true -- him treating his mentor during Covid, and him treating his stepson's GF last season, both of whom died) and Robby is now clearly in a state of mental crisis. Obviously Whitaker's situation is not nearly as dramatic or dire as that, but it does serve as a cautionary tale. Medical professionals, especially working in life or death specialties (emergency medicine, many kinds of surgery, oncology, etc.), generally do best when they can have a private life that is separate and protected from the challenges of their job. Mentally and emotionally, they need that escape. Think of Princess going home at the end of the day and watching Love Island. You can't take work like they do home with you. And that is exactly what Whitaker is doing. It's risky.

He was the guy's ER doctor, not someone providing on going care. The professional relationship didn't last half a day. The guy died, it's in the past, Whitaker is doing nothing wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think I enjoy the analysis of this show on dcum as much as I enjoy the show!

So many good observations and analysis.

Yes- me too! If you like this, check out the TV reviews on AV Club. They are similarly in-depth and include stray observations/asides/funny stuff at the end.

https://www.avclub.com/the-pitt-recap-season-2-episode-9