"Between shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Resident, Chicago Med, and ER, it’s safe to say that medical dramas are a staple of modern-day television. Something about getting a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes at a medical institution makes these shows utterly captivating. So when my husband—a medical worker at a psychiatric hospital—told me his coworkers were raving about Max’s newest medical drama, The Pitt, I had to see what all the hype was about.
+ how I did Scotland in a week without losing my mind in the planning process
Created by R. Scott Gemmill and executive produced by ER collaborators John Wells and Noah Wyle, The Pitt gets up close and personal with the challenges faced by healthcare workers in America. Throughout its 15 episodes, viewers follow frontline workers through a 15-hour shift at a fictional level-one trauma hospital located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, naturally. Each episode essentially depicts one hour of that shift.
Since its premiere, The Pitt has garnered critical acclaim. What’s more, it’s arguably the most accurate medical drama of all time, according to the healthcare community. After binge-watching the series, I can confidently say that The Pitt’s razor-sharp, vulnerable storytelling, unparalleled character building, and real-life scenarios blew me out of the water. To put it simply, The Pitt is one of the most engrossing shows I’ve ever seen. Here’s why:
My review of The Pitt
It highlights the challenges ER workers face
Hospitals need funding to stay afloat, so upper management and shareholders make decisions that benefit the monetary bottom line. They don’t consider how getting more “heads in beds,” closing down sections of the hospital, or operating with fewer staff affects employees in the trenches. In The Pitt, this short-sightedness unfolds as patients grow increasingly agitated by long wait times, and the ER staff is forced to take on more cases than they can handle. So when the chief medical officer (Michael Hyatt) inquires about long wait times and low patient satisfaction scores, Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) aptly points out that providing adequate care is impossible when you’re operating with fewer employees and hospital wings; the patient-to-doctor ratio is highly disproportionate.
Sadly, this lack of resources and staff support is plaguing medical institutions across America. As patients, it’s easy to get caught up in the frustrations of our healthcare system, and The Pitt shows viewers what those frustrations look like through the lens of a medical worker. On top of widespread staff shortages and insurance companies that love to delay and deny care, high stress levels come with the territory of the job. At the end of the day, all healthcare workers are simply trying to do their best with what they have.
The cast and characters are rich and diverse
Every hospital is filled with people from all walks of life, and The Pitt exemplifies this through its rich and diverse cast of characters. Somehow, The Pitt perfects the art of character building in just 15 episodes, and every character has a distinctly unique backstory that makes them stand out. Plus, the female characters embody the indomitable strength women in the medical field possess. From the overzealous intern (Isa Briones) to the resilient senior resident (Tracy Ifeachor) and no-nonsense charge nurse (Katherine LaNassa), women in the show are championed through female characters of different skin tones and body types. It’s a true reflection of reality.
“Ultimately, The Pitt is a fast-paced and highly engrossing thrill ride that is deeply human-centered. Watching it makes you feel like you’re not alone in this crazy world.”
It breaks the traditional medical drama mold
Medical dramas traditionally have a soapy vibe and use workplace romances to move the story along (looking at you, Grey’s Anatomy). But The Pitt doesn’t do that. Instead, it uses the chaos of an emergency room to propel the plot. Sure, burgeoning crushes and past flings are hinted at, but they play a supporting role; the characters, like real ER staff, have to compartmentalize to do their job. This makes each episode undeniably engrossing, thrilling, and fast-paced—there is absolutely no way you can be bored watching this show.
Each episode humanizes workers in the medical field
Medical workers, especially doctors and nurses, are often placed on a pedestal. And while they absolutely deserve reverence and recognition, we often forget that they’re still human at the end of the day. This means that they’re as flawed and complex as the rest of us, and I love how The Pitt works tirelessly to remind viewers of that fact. When a patient comes along that can’t be saved, the facade of each character cracks ever-so-slightly. By the end of the 15-hour shift, the emotional toll of working as a first responder is apparent in everyone.
Should you watch The Pitt?
It doesn’t matter if you ride hard for a good medical drama or stay far away from them—The Pitt is a show everyone can appreciate. The show’s unique format is a masterclass in storytelling, and each character is relatable in their own way. Plus, it does the raw realities of humanity justice. Topics like addiction, mental health, and abortion are given the care they deserve and shown through opposing viewpoints. While it’s impossible to know whether this is done to avoid alienating viewers, it affords these sensitive topics the right amount of gravity.
Ultimately, The Pitt is a fast-paced and highly engrossing thrill ride that is deeply human-centered. Watching it makes you feel like you’re not alone in this crazy world. My one and only complaint is that I have to wait until season two comes out to join this wonderful cast on another shift.
Arianna Reardon, Contributing Writer
Arianna is a Rhode Island native, professional blogger, and freelance writer. She’s passionate about helping women develop healthy relationships with money, become financially independent, and invest in themselves for the future. Arianna is a firm believer in going after what you want, taking time to stop and smell the roses, and the importance of a good cocktail.