The Pitt Season 1 Episodes 1-4 Review: A Refreshing New Take on the Medical Drama

The Pitt, Max’s new medical drama, has brought back a format that had been thought long gone: the 24-hour real-time format. That format hasn’t been attempted since Fox’s 24, starring Kiefer Sutherland.

The Pitt takes place during a 15-hour emergency department shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital. It follows the staff as they try to get through the day and the rising tensions among them.

The series premiered with two episodes on January 9th, 2025, and will consist of 15 episodes airing weekly. As of now, four episodes have aired, which means we have only covered four hours of what is going to be a long shift.

Leading the titular “Pitt” is Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who is still reeling from the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. On The Pitt Season 1 Episode 1, which takes place at the beginning of Dr. Robby’s shift at 7am, everyone is surprised that he is at the hospital since he was not meant to be working that day.

The medical profession is filled with immense pressure and no time to breathe. The Pitt perfectly encapsulates that from the moment the audience sees the emergency room. It’s a packed waiting room, with doctors and nurses running from one end of the room to another, and a patient board that never clears.

That is the environment created from the moment Dr. Robby walks through the doors. He and the audience barely have time to meet the three new players of the ER, medical students Dennis Whitaker and Victoria Javadi, and first-year resident Dr. Trinity Santos.

He can only pronounce the first syllable of his name before being informed that the hospital is losing even more funding.

The ambulance doors open, and the time for formal introductions and catch-ups is over. However, despite there being a sense that everything could fall apart in an instant, Dr. Robby runs the pitt like a well-oiled machine, surely the day is about to go smoothly thanks to him deciding to work that day. Wrong.

On The Pitt Season 1 Episode 1, we meet what will seem to be key patients for the duration of the 15-hour shift and fifteen-episode season: Theresa, who comes in with stomach problems with her son David, the “Kraken,” and Mr. Spencer, an old man whose children clash over treatment options.

As he is asked to take charge in the demanding cases, Dr. Robby delegates the newcomers to the rest of the doctors. This was the perfect opportunity for both them and the audience to know who runs the place when Dr. Robby isn’t there.

There is also Dr. Heather Collins, a senior resident who clashes with Robby, Dr. Samira Mohan, third year resident nicknamed “Slo Mo” for spending too much time with her patients, Dr. Cassie McKay, a second-year resident, Dr. Frank Langdon, a senior resident who is also Robby’s right-hand, Dr. Melissa King, an awkward second-year resident, and Dana Evans the charge nurse from the ER, to whom Robby attributes the successes they have.

Each of them takes a liking for one of the newcomers, and they all divide and conquer. That is the only way that they will be able to survive the long shift.

By hour four (The Pitt Season 1 Episode 4), everyone is exhausted. On top of that, as Dana points out, Dr. Robby is on his fourth coffee, the waiting room is not even close to being cleared, there are no beds to admit patients upstairs, and an ambulance has been stolen.

Dr. Robby’s confident facade is starting to break, as the reason why everyone was surprised he came to work is revealed: it is the anniversary of the death of his friend and mentor Dr. Adamson.

As he helps a family say goodbye, he is reminded of the events of the pandemic. He tries to hide his emotions from his peers, but his efforts are failing, and they are starting to notice.

Despite Dr. Robby’s early signs of crumbling, the newcomers are starting to get the hang of things and have already learned valuable lessons. Safe to say, they will be remembering this day for the duration of their careers.

There are plenty of medical dramas airing today, but The Pitt stands out not only because of the 24-hour format but also because of the decision not to allow a world beyond the Pitt to exist; the audience is just as confined as the characters are.

Past and present medical dramas showcase doctors’ lives outside the hospital. We tend to see other locations, but in The Pitt, we’re in for the duration of the shift, be it in the room trying to save lives or in the waiting room trying not to die.

That is also the reason why this format also benefits The Pitt. The sense of relief of the time jump to not have to see patients’ fate in real-time is nonexistent, and the ability to have space to breathe with doctors as they leave is also gone.

Utilizing that format in a medical drama is genius. After all, what is more stressful than a hospital, especially an emergency room?

It’s difficult not to compare it to ER, which also starred Wyle. But The Pitt is not afraid to get dark and delve into relevant matters that are tormenting the medical field, like the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the physician shortage, and the constant threats of budget cuts.

The characters all feel real, too. They all have to be on high alert constantly, but also be empathetic.

That is the first thing that stands out from the moment we meet Dr. Robby. He is clearly experienced but doesn’t let the years of experience get in the way of being a kind person.

He listens to his patients and offers any advice he can, but could this be a facade he puts on for his patients? Most likely, but his interactions are genuine despite the pressure he is under.

Another standout is Isa Briones, who plays Dr. Trinity Santos. She is the newest resident and thinks she is on top of the world.

She is confident and talks down to her peers. She thinks she knows it all despite it being her first day, and the nurses suspect that she will crash quickly if she keeps up that demeanor.

They were right because by The Pitt Season 1 Episode 4, she is humbled by a massive mistake she makes that almost kills someone; that is the moment she needs to take a long look at how she was behaving. Hopefully, that remains for the rest of the season.

It feels like what a medical drama is supposed to be: confinement in a hospital, a world that is not known to many people.

This has created the ideal scenario for actors to play with the wave of emotions that come with such a profession. We can only keep watching to see what new challenges await.

So far, it is refreshing to see a new take in the medical drama, proving that despite there being plenty of them airing, there is always something new to say in the genre.

As a patient pointed out at the end of the latest episode, “Miracle someone hasn’t died here yet.” Based on what we have seen so far, we know that statement will not remain true.

What did you think of The Pitt so far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Pitt airs Thursdays at 9/8c on Max.

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