The Pitt Season 2 Episode 1 Review: 7:00 AM

On The Pitt Season 2 Episode 1, “7:00 AM,” Dr. Robby begins his final shift before his sabbatical. He’s met with familiar faces returning after some time away as well as some new faces, including his replacement, the efficiency-focused Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi.

“7:00 AM” has a tricky job of not only catching the audience up after a ten month time jump, but also planting seeds for the entirety of the season. 

Despite the fact that ten months passed since we last checked into the Pitt, it feels like no time has passed. The entire ensemble understands their respective characters so deeply, we feel the way the last ten months have shaped them even before exposition is offered. 

The decision to set this season during the Fourth of July kicks off this season at a much higher level of tension than The Pitt Season 1.

The cases and patients increase the friction for these characters who, although they’ve moved forward and grown, still feel the weight of the mass casualty they dealt with. The sheer breadth of cases is also wide given the nature of the holiday.

Robby and Al-Hashimi

Robby and Al-Hashimi’s tension bubbles to the surface immediately. Despite Robby’s excitement for sabbatical, there’s clearly a struggle to relinquish control and have someone else step into his role. On top of this, Al-Hashimi maneuvers the job in a much different way than Robby does.

Robby pushes the students to arrive at the answer themselves, Al-Hashimi directly provides the answers. She values protocol and thinks combating systemic shortcomings comes from working within the system; Robby directly defies the system when need be. Al-Hashimi’s attempt to implement AI into the workplace also breeds early tension.

Despite being dubbed as tough and her push for efficiency, Al-Hashimi, much like Robby, does well with patients. She maintains empathy with them and understands they are people first and foremost.

Both Robby and Al-Hashimi operate in different ways but hold a similar north star. It’s exciting to think about how the push and pull of these two will unfold and evolve over the course of the season. 

Showing the Ropes

Mentorship is a key touchstone of The Pitt. With the introduction of several new students like Ogilvie and Joy, we get the opportunity to watch some beloved characters step into the role of mentor as opposed to mentee.

Dr. Whitaker specifically carries this role with intention and pride. He’s not the same timid student we met in The Pitt Season 1. Whitaker walks these students through the hospital with reverence for the culture of the Pitt and confidence in his own knowledge.

Javadi also eases into the chaotic day-to-day of the Pitt, and, while she is still lower on the ladder, she moves with noticeably more confidence.

Putting both these particular characters in the position to mentor is a brilliant way to capture unseen growth from between seasons but also present new challenges for them to navigate in a way that feels natural.

Dana is also tasked with mentoring a new student. Her approach with Emma feels reflective of the trauma she’s carried since her unfortunate assault last season. Her warmth remains in tact but there’s a wariness present that she’s trying to instill in the timid Emma.

Mother-Daughter Troubles

Speaking of Javadi’s confidence, she’s also clearly established firmer boundaries with her mother, as evidenced by their heated exchange. Dr. Shamsi still has a ways to go with her daughter and it will be interesting to see how she and this more confident version of her daughter clash as the season moves forward.

Dr. Mohan also seems to be navigating tensions with her own mother.

Mohan as a character makes her work her entire world so to see her personal life start to infiltrate that is fascinating for the character. The grace she implements for her patients is not present when interacting with her mother.

Samira’s attempt to relocate to be closer to her mother still feels indicative of a core struggle for the character; she has yet to have something just for herself. Her life is work and she’s trying to move her life around her mother. It feels like a big piece of her arc this year will (hopefully) center her finding something for herself.

Dr. Langdon

The elephant in the hospital this season is Dr. Frank Langdon’s return after his stint in rehab.

Palpable tension coats the air the second he arrives, understandably so, as no one quite knows how to address him or how Robby will receive him. It’s also apparent through Patrick Ball’s subtle physicality that Langdon holds a lot of anxiety about this moment. 

The anxiety is exacerbated by the fact that the hospital is very different than he left it ten months ago.

The Pitt excels in showing rather than telling. Langdon trying to access his old locker out of habit and discovering its been taken is a quietly powerful moment for him; while his insular world stopped, the Pitt moved forward without him.

The most refreshing piece of Langdon’s return is the character’s intentionality. The return is obviously hard for him, but at every turn we see him mustering up the humility and courage to own his mistakes. So often in media, there is little acknowledgement for the daily battle to step back into the world after treatment for addiction.

Langdon’s apology to Louie encapsulates the very thing that keeps The Pitt at the forefront of the television conversation. It’s incredibly honest and uncomfortable, but equally moving and earnest. It does not sensationalize what occurred, but its honesty allows it to have emotional impact.

The myriad reactions to his return provide exciting glimpses into the dynamics he’s going to navigate this season. While some are more forgiving than others, it’s clear Langdon is going to have to put in a lot of work this shift to get back in everyone’s good graces.

Stray Thoughts

• Mel’s anxiety over her deposition affecting her work is so sad to watch. Hopefully, she can lock in and the deposition goes her way.
• It’s tough to watch Santos potentially have to navigate another child suffering abuse but the way she’s going about it feels less impulsive than last season.
• The waiting room is already so crowded…
• The baby found in the restroom is giving me anxiety already.

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The Pitt airs Thursday at 9:00 PM ET on HBO Max.

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