My contribution to the Santos/Langdon discourse:
I think part of the reason people are so unforgiving is because of the format of the show as well. We’re used to shows being set over days/weeks. The Pitt doesn’t give us that. It seems as though when people don’t see Santos face on-screen backlash, or Langdon face on-screen consequences, it’s easy to forget that we have seen ONE AND A HALF DAYS, not months or a year like seasons are normally set. Santos went through TEN MONTHS of feeling othered and experiencing blame for reporting someone who was endangering patients at the time, and Langdon went through TEN MONTHS of withdrawal, therapy, recovery programs, and countless interpersonal consequences.
As for Santos’ perceived pariah status: there is such a HEAVY focus on the character’s mental health this season that I wouldn’t be surprised if she is heading fast toward a breaking point, and this is a self-fulfilling prophecy that allows her to validate her own self-esteem issues and isolate further. In one day, her trauma has been triggered MULTIPLE TIMES, and we see her switching between stress, apathy, and self-sabotage. So I do think that while she most likely faced backlash, she pushed that to allow herself to isolate. I am CONCERNED for her.
People are struggling SO HARD with concurrent truths. Langdon can absolutely have abused his power and endangered patients. He can ALSO be a very different person after seeking the proper treatment and therapy. People are not taking into account SUD, and are only thinking “he’s either a good or a bad person”. He is flawed and absolutely responsible for his actions while in that place, but he is also seeking recovery. He is reaping the benefits of his privilege as a white man in a system that benefits him, and he also didn’t set up that system (cough cough ROBBY). Santos has been abused by people on her life, by people in the Pitt, and she is trying her best to keep that from happening to others. She is also STILL RESPONSIBLE for her responses being rash and significantly impacting others’ lives (talking more about her DV/SA assumptions). It doesn’t make her a BAD PERSON. She is doing the best with what she has and desperately needs support and safety to learn and grow.
I am concerned about what this says for our society’s emotional intelligence, and how people would react with others nearer to their circle should nuanced issues arise. I am concerned. Media is a sandbox where people can learn lessons and empathy, and instead, this conversation is IMPOSSIBLY black and white for some people. Learn the lesson THE SHOW IS TRYING SO HARD TO TEACH YOU.












