In some ways the pitt is Dr. Robby's show, but it woudl be nothing without the rest of it's cast. The first season was focused on Robby's trauma and grappling with langdon's betrayal, the second season is branching out to focus on the rest of the cast and robby having to contront langdon.
Dr Mohan, Al-Hashimi, and Santos have thier own narratives that serve to parallel and contrast Robby. However they are the driving force, Robby is in the back seat. He's leaving for sabbatical, the other charactesr have to return to work.
this episode Dr. Mohan is overwhelmed from her personal life, exactly what happned to Robby in s1. But while robby has grown cold and is practiced at hiding his emotions, Samira is not. She's always open and empathetic, she dedicates time to each patient. This season she is breaking at the seams, and this episode is her tipping point. What does robby do? Yells at her, tells her to suck it up. However Robby knows that isn't sustainable, it's what he has done his entire career and it has finally caught up to him.
Dr. Santos is the most robby-like. She is sarcastic and can come off as rude. She is upfront and honest, completely direct. However she has a strong sense of justice, and is incredibly empathetic. She cares deeply for her patients, but she witholds her empathy for the most vulnerable. She and Robby refuse to accept Langdon's return. robby had his trust as a mentor betrayed, Santos was belitted and disrespcted. Robby is able to avoid him, but Santos is forced to work beside him. That first day has influenced the entirety of her residency; her first day was langdon's last. Santos doesn't forgive people and she doesn't forget, Robby is the same. But that also means she doesn't forgive herself. Santos is drained, exhausted, and lonely. She wants to be around people, but she pushes them away.
At first, Dr. Al-Hashimi seems like the perfectly selected anti-Robby. She has a vision for the ED, hand selected by the hospital administration. She already knows mel and samira, she instantly forms a raport with most of the staff. Al-Hashimi is idealistic, a complete contrast to Robby's cynicism. however Robby is correct that the system is broken, Al-Hashimi has good intentions but she is effectively another cog in the machine. The ai tool is a good representation of her: she wants to make things better, but the system is corrupt and exploitative. The ai would only make things easier if it was co-ordinated with other changes. Instead, as Robby immediately points out, the hospital administration would not. There's also the fact the ai is imperfect: it hallucinates, it might gravely harm patients.
But while Al-Hashimi seems composed, she is not. She feels powerless in the new environment, her ideals are already being challenged. She is overwhelmed. Like Robby in s1, Al-Hashimi has to take refuge in the bathroom. She is likely having dissociative seizures (hence calling the neurologist). In episode 10, we see her fully come into the role of robby, she does a risky procedure to save a boy's life. She has adapted quickly to the chaos.
there's much more i could have said, there's so much depth to this show. I'm eagerly waiting for this season to end so I can rewatch the whole series. It's nice to have a modern tv show that trusts the audeince's intelligence and doesn't spoon feed us. If you don't pay attention to the pitt, you miss everything.
(dr. ellis please be in the next episode i am DYING. dr. shen too there hasn't been enough iced coffee)
