The Pitt isn’t the kind of show to end on a cliffhanger. Told in the style of 24, every season follows a single grueling 15-hour shift in the emergency room of the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center, every episode representing a real-time hour. It sounds like this could be rather boring, but this medical procedural drama is anything but. Leaning away from centering on the personal drama of the staff, as is often the case with shows of this genre, and shifting focus instead to the patients and the jobs, The Pitt is easily one of the best new shows of 2025. With the series returning for a second season on January 8, 2026, and marking a time jump, it’s a good idea to refresh your memory on the key things to remember from Season 1.
The Staff Are in Flux, and Two Have Left (But One Comes Back)
Dr. Collins talking to Dr. Robby with her hand on her hip in The Pitt.Image via HBO
Dr. Robby Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) leads his team on the day shift in The Pitt, one of the best TV shows of 2025. This includes other doctors, nurses, and residents. But there was a bit of a shake-up in Season 1. Most notably, senior resident Heather Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) disappeared after Episode 11, “Quyen Tran,” which took place during the 5 p.m. hour. Devastated by the loss of her early pregnancy and opening up to Robby about a time when she supposedly became pregnant by him and got an abortion, unbeknownst to him, he told her to take some time much needed off. It was after this that they got the call about a mass shooting at a concert. They tried to reach her, but Dr. Collins took Robby’s advice and turned her phone off. She did not appear again in the season, and it was later confirmed that she would not be returning to the show. It’s unclear how her absence will be addressed.
Another character with a shaky future is Dr. Frank Langdon (Patrick Ball), Robby’s right-hand and senior resident, who was exposed by the brash and cocky first-year resident Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) for stealing and taking drugs from the hospital. At first, it appeared like she only had it out for him since he was hard on her, but fans might have been wrong about the character. When Robby takes Trinity’s concerns seriously and checks Frank’s locker and finds drugs, he is gutted, and her suspicions are confirmed. Robby sends Dr. Langdon home and asks for further audits to take place so he can determine the extent of the abuse.
Though Dr. Langdon returns to help amidst the chaos in the aftermath of the shooting, Robby can’t let him off for this. Despite how great a doctor Robby is, how bright his future is, this isn’t something that Robby can let go. He will, however, let Frank attend a 30-day rehab program and undergo years of mandatory drug testing. He must also attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings as well if he wants to keep his job. As Dr. Langdon is sent away, any hope of his getting the ED Medical Education Fellowship is likely dashed. Since there’s a time jump in Season 2, he returns to his position, now having to balance his high-pressure job with maintaining his sobriety and dealing with Robby’s disappointment. This will afford a whole different storyline for the otherwise confident character. Frank doesn’t have to prove he’s a capable doctor; he has to prove he can be relied on.
Other Characters Have Challenges
Isa Briones as Dr. Trinity Santos and Taylor Dearden as Dr. Mel King in The PittImage via HBO Max
There are a few outstanding questions with other staff members as well. After a grueling day that involved getting punched by an irate patient who was tired of waiting to be seen, Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) was ready to pack up her things and retire. As the charge nurse who keeps everything together, her decades of experience make her invaluable to the team. Based on the Season 2 trailer, she does decide to come back. But her thought process about wanting to hang up her scrubs for good and the revelations she had during her time off will be insightful.
There’s also Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif), who came close to being arrested after cutting away her ankle monitor so she could do her job and save lives. Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) was on the verge of burnout, pushing herself beyond healthy limits to ensure she could do her job well but also efficiently. Fourth-year med student Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) was discovered to be living in an unused wing of the hospital, invited by Trinity to stay with her when she learned about his situation. It could mark an entirely new friendship dynamic. Dr. Mel, meanwhile, was trying to balance the pressures of her job with caring for her autistic sister.
The Poetic End of a Tough Work Day
Dr Robby and Abbott in The PittMax
At the end of the final episode, Robby, one of the most likable characters on the show, had nothing left to give. Not only did he have to make difficult decisions all day, some of which saved lives, some that didn’t, but he also dealt with complicated patients. There was the anti-vaccination mother who refused to give her son treatment, citing, as he put it, “Dr. Google.” There were the siblings with whom he talked through making the difficult decision to pull the plug on their dying father, who was in severe discomfort. There was the overarching grief of losing his friend and fellow doctor during the COVID-19 pandemic, something Robby has clearly not yet dealt with properly. Most notably by the end, there was the loss of Leah (Sloan Mannino), the girlfriend of Jake Malloy (Taj Speights), Robby’s ex-girlfriend’s son, with whom he remained close after their break-up. Jake’s anger and hatred towards Robby for not being able to save her cut deep.
It’s not surprising, then, that Robby’s workday came full circle, ending up with him at the edge of the roof where he started his shift. He’s found by Dr. Jack Abbot (Shawn Hatosy), whom we met at the same spot at the beginning of his shift. Dr. Abbot, who showed up to help during the onslaught of injured patients from the concert, shares some encouraging words, just as Robby had done for him. They both head downstairs and outside the building, where they meet the residents in the park. They unwind with beers in what seems to be a ritual for them, finally being able to exhale until it’s time to do it all over again.
The Pitt
Release Date
January 9, 2025
Network
Max
Showrunner
R. Scott Gemmill
Directors
Amanda Marsalis
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Noah Wyle
Dr. Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch
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Tracy Ifeachor
Dr. Heather Collins
