SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for The Pitt Season 2, Episode 2.

The second episode of The Pitt Season 2 brings the season’s ideas into greater focus, which is exactly what it needs to do. The premiere of the HBO Max series had to introduce new characters and answer questions about a few returning players. Now The Pitt can look entirely forward, and for the most part it succeeds.

“8:00 P.M.” has highs and lows across the hour. The dynamic between Dr. Robby and recent arrival Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi still feels a little like the new kid trying to impress, especially when she follows him outside to keep talking about her proposals to improve the hospital. However, her support of generative AI gets deservedly scrutinized when the AI misidentifies a patient’s medication. The mistake is immediately caught, yet this one scene is very effective in highlighting the point that The Pitt (and other medical dramas) are trying to make when discussing the use of AI in healthcare. It can be helpful in one way, but it’s also not ever going to be a substitute for human discretion.

Dr. Cassie McKay’s story also touches on another issue within the business of medicine. McKay is shocked when Dr. Robby and the hospital’s case manager, Noelle (portrayed by Rabbit Hole‘s Meta Golding), tell her that a patient has to be transferred to another facility in order for his insurance to cover his care. It’s one of those frustrating moments of bureaucracy that’s worth criticizing. One could even argue the scene ends too soon, because it’s an issue that deserves to be talked about more. But kudos to The Pitt for including it, as the show has never shied away from the harsh realities of the system.

Another highlight is the subplot for Dr. Melissa King, even if it feels a little familiar. Mel starts to bond with Liam, a patient who’s been brought in after a bicycle accident—only for him to take off running when the police show up. It turns out that he’s a robbery suspect. This plot point may remind viewers of Dana Evans being injured by a patient in The Pitt Season 1, except Mel’s injury is accidental; she falls and hits her head when Liam flees the scene. The subplot might not be entirely novel, but it allows for a further exploration of both Mel herself and her friendship with Dr. Frank Langdon. Because for all his faults, Langdon is the person most trying to take care of Mel afterward. This is another reminder that Langdon is more than his struggle with addiction, and it’s also a little heartbreaking for Mel. Even though her interaction with Liam is short-lived, fans can’t help but be happy that she might be connecting with someone, because she is such a sweet and genuine character.

The Pitt Season 2, Episode 2 does have its stumbles, however. The subplot about a patient who presents with priapism is another one of those that feels like the writers just did it for comic relief—and didn’t do it well. Meanwhile, the implied reveal that Dr. Robby is in a romantic relationship with Noelle falls flat, at least for now. Because of the real-time element, it’s entirely possible this becomes more relevant in a later episode. Yet in this hour, without much context, it seems like adding a romantic subplot simply to have one.

“8:00 A.M.” clearly sets up some of the lines that The Pitt Season 2 wants to follow. Robby’s personal life is apparently one. The differing perspectives between Robby and Al-Hashimi, especially when it comes to AI, is another. Plus, there’s still the abandoned baby as the ongoing medical mystery. The show is moving forward efficiently and it has a greater sense of character than it did in Season 1. It still has moments where it doesn’t quite come together, but there are plenty of hours left in the shift to play things out.

The Pitt streams Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT on HBO Max. Photo Credit: Courtesy of HBO Max.

Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.