The Pitt Season 2 Episode 14 Review: 8:00 PM

On The Pitt Season 2 Episode 14, “8:00 PM,” an ambulance damages Robby’s bike, leading to an honest moment with Duke. Meanwhile, Langdon performs a dangerous procedure.

Langdon

Langdon has a major victory with a patient suffering from a dislocation of their vertebrate. The scene itself is quite fast, but it’s an agonizing watch. The balance between the procedure itself and the stakes at play only enhance Langdon’s personal stakes hovering over the room.

Despite the risky decision in the moment, it pays off immensely for both the patient and Langdon’s standing with Robby.

Patrick Ball eagerly receives Robby’s “Nice job” with the wide-eyed wonder of a child getting recognition from their parent. You can’t help but feel bad for him, especially after how he and Robby have collided on previous procedures throughout the day. Robby’s approval still satiates something in him even though he’s been so hard on him.

Langdon’s moment alone afterward is a lovely display of honesty as well as Ball unleashes genuine joy for maybe the first time all season. Not only is this a win with Robby, but, after doubting whether or not he was ready to be back, this is an affirmation of his abilities as a doctor.

The irony of Robby allowing Langdon back in his good graces after he successfully pulls off a risky move is not lost, though. Robby simultaneously hates seeing himself in his mentees (as we’ve seen with how he treats Samira) but loves when they emulate him. Langdon doing what Robby would wipes the slate cleaner than when we started while also adding another complicated layer to Robby.

Robby

The cracks in Robby’s veneer are too big to ignore at this point. Dana asks Abbot to intervene, Caleb stops him for a quick word before he leaves, even Duke lingers to help fix up his bike just to have a conversation with him.

As Noah Wyle makes Robby more and more volatile and erratic, the environment around him shifts into a more timid territory. “8:00 PM” does an excellent job in making the audience feel like they’re walking on eggshells alongside the staff.

Wyle manages to suck the air out of every room he enters while the ensemble shrinks themselves to stay out of his way. The physicality of each character is built out subtly but manifests with a larger impact as this leader completely transforms in the eyes of his staff.

It all comes spilling out when Robby and Duke have a conversation in what will go down as one of the most memorable scenes of The Pitt Season 2. 

Robby’s purpose comes from the very thing that is breaking him, bringing the thesis of the series back into focus from a slightly different angle. The healthcare profession is so demanding and difficult with little in place to support the people who answer the call. When your calling is also tied up in a recurring experience that is so emotionally and physically taxing, how do you sustain that?

This also adds quite an interesting layer to Robby’s inability to let go. He’s hidden behind the excuse that he doesn’t trust that the hospital will be in good hands if he leaves, and, while that may be partially true, his reluctance to let go also stems from not wanting to relinquish the only thing in his life that fulfills him.

Robby doesn’t have anything outside the walls of the Pitt. His relationship with his parents are non-existent, he can’t maintain a romantic relationship, and he doesn’t have kids. The Pitt is all he has; without it, he doesn’t feel important to anyone.

It echoes several characters’ realities where they put everything into the job and don’t cultivate a life outside of it. However, Robby represents an opposition to someone like Mohan who is still at the beginning of their journey and has time. He’s reached his limit but he’s not sure what could possibly pull him back from the ledge.

As we barrel toward the final hour of this shift, everything feels like it’s on the table. Yet, in the best possible way, no clear resolution remains in sight. “8:00 PM” leaves us in a precarious state of anxiety where anything and everything could happen.

Stray Thoughts

• Isa Briones’ delivery of “Cow in labor?” is comedy gold.
• The biases and assumptions about Javadi and her internet presence are fascinating and I’m glad McKay stands up for Javadi!
• We need to discuss Robby’s TikTok account being suspended for erotically seditious content…
• Al-Hashimi showing Robby her chart is a remarkable display of trust; however, I don’t know that Robby is going to react the way she wants and this may blow up in her face during the finale.
• Monica’s farewell to Dana is interesting to say the least.

 

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

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