The Pitt

[Muse]

I read a couple of articles in The New York Times about this show that hit this year and was real curious. I signed up for one month at MAX to watch the Final Four and saw that I could watch The Pitt, and yesterday started watching it. I'm almost 1/2 way into this, Season One (has 15 episodes), I heard that the season had just ended maybe a couple weeks ago. I watched 3 episodes yesterday, 4 today, figure I'll have no trouble finishing before my one month runs out.

Just did a search and hit this, a piece that hit today on NPR. It's 37 minute podcast, I guess, but I read the text workup of it. It's based on an interview of Noah Wyles, the lead actor who did that also for the show ER that went 11 seasons, which I never watched. I have never been into any TV medical drama, never watch any TV drama these days, but wanted to try this.

This thing is amazing. Here's the story I just read at NPR's website:

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/21/nx-s1-5352332/noah-wyle-the-pitt-er#:~:text='The%20Pitt'%20is%20a%20medical%20drama%20worth%20watching.&text=Each%20of%20the%20show's%2015,doctor%20Michael%20%22Robby%22%20Rabinovitch.

 

[Muse]

This is the 1st TV medical show that doctors actually watch. They say it's accurate and makes them feel and remember their own experiences. It doesn't come off as a soap opera although the emotions of the doctors, interns, nurses are featured. The range if issues, medical, emotional is to me staggering. The pace is fast, the jargon is genuine, the sets realistic. Casting is tremendous, acting virtually flawless. I'm just 1/2 way in Season One, Season Two is being written right now and will launch next January.

They are digging into medical issues, many of which I've some knowledge of but they go deeper. It's dramatic, pretty hard hitting sometimes. They have generally a 1/2 dozen cases/situations going on simultaneously and the weave them, come back during the same episode and ensuing episodes until resolved. I've never seen anything like this. I have watched Code Black, not the TV show but the documentary, several times. It's great, I recommend it. I recommend this as well. It's more penetrating than the ER documentaries I've seen because they tackle so many scenarios and get into the issues and ramifications.

I am watching it with captions on, partly because my hearing isn't great, partly because the medical jargon is difficult to track without seeing it written on the screen.

 

[IBMJunkman]

Doctor Mike has done 4 vids on The Pitt.

 

[KLin]

Isn't there a thread for discussing tv shows, movies and stuff?

 

[nakedfrog]

Isn't there a thread for discussing tv shows, movies and stuff?

 

[KLin]

 

[MrSquished]

I have seen glowing praise for this show from everywhere online, whether social media accounts I follow for hobbyist or political reasons, to actual reviews, to personal acquaintances.

 

[Muse]

I have seen glowing praise for this show from everywhere online, whether social media accounts I follow for hobbyist or political reasons, to actual reviews, to personal acquaintances.

To use an overused phrase (kinda worn out), I have to say (it's true), it's blowing my mind!

I'm learning things about things I thought I knew about but in a lot of respects did not! And not just the medical stuff. Social ramifications, a bunch of stuff that is personal to me too.

Personal disclosure: I'm of a medical family. My father was one of the first wave of anesthesiologists and the first M.D. and AFAIK 1st to be university educated in his family. My father's younger brother followed in my father's footsteps (they became partners). My brother became a surgeon, my sister eventually a P.T. , and 3 other men in my father's family became M.D.s after him. Myself, I haven't even taken a biology course! IOW, I went in other directions. Watching this is like taking a deep dive into the world I avoided by not pursuing the tradition my father started.

I have 12 days left on my 1 month ad-free MAX subscription, will have no trouble making it through the remaining episodes (8-15) of Season One and figure I'll be back for Season Two next year. I did a one month Ultra HD (4K) MAX sub during the Olympics but I'm finding normal plenty sharp on my 43" 4K TV. Maybe if I was closer the difference would be discernable, but I'm around 8 feet from the screen. I suspect I'd find the difference negligible.

 

[nakedfrog]

I have seen glowing praise for this show from everywhere online, whether social media accounts I follow for hobbyist or political reasons, to actual reviews, to personal acquaintances.

Before this thread the only thing I'd heard about it was someone talking about how much they appreciated the way an autistic character was portrayed. Then I saw it was a medical drama and lost all interest.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I have to sign up for MAX to watch The Last of Us S2 so I'll add this to the list and try to catch before we cancel. There's some other show the wife wants to watch on MAX so that works out.

 

[Muse]

Before this thread the only thing I'd heard about it was someone talking about how much they appreciated the way an autistic character was portrayed. Then I saw it was a medical drama and lost all interest.

I saw that episode. That was extraordinary.

There's tons to choose from (I should rewatch it, for sure). To me, a most amazing scene is the one just before the last one of Episode 7. A female doctor puts a male patient in his place in a most extraordinary fashion. It's just OMG, they went for it completely and nailed it!

To call it a "medical drama" is misleading. I have never watched any medical dramas because of my aversion to that genre. Just saying. This is not soap opera and I would not call this "medical drama."

 

[Muse]

Isn't there a thread for discussing tv shows, movies and stuff?

I wanted not so much to call attention to this very extraordinary show as spark discussion of it and did not want to semi-hijack that thread, where the discussion would no-doubt get watered down. Understand?

 

[KLin]

Well in that case...

Twas a great show, except for the gory scenes and also the

Spoiler: SPOILER

up close shot of a baby crowning FFS.

 

[nakedfrog]

I saw that episode. That was extraordinary.

There's tons to choose from (I should rewatch it, for sure). To me, a most amazing scene is the one just before the last one of Episode 7. A female doctor puts a male patient in his place in a most extraordinary fashion. It's just OMG, they went for it completely and nailed it!

To call it a "medical drama" is misleading. I have never watched any medical dramas because of my aversion to that genre. Just saying. This is not soap opera and I would not call this "medical drama."

Literally everything I can find about it on the internet describes it as a medical drama ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You have an aversion to an entire genre, yet you've never watched the genre? I suspect you're classifying it as "not a medical drama" because you're watching and enjoying it, and you've already decided you don't like that genre. Regardless, it appears to be both a drama, and a heavily medical show, so I still find myself with no interest in it. I get enough reality from reality, I prefer shows that are less reality-based.

 

[MrSquished]

Before this thread the only thing I'd heard about it was someone talking about how much they appreciated the way an autistic character was portrayed. Then I saw it was a medical drama and lost all interest.

I think what the show has going for it from everything I've seen, is that it is not like all the other medical dramas and their soap opera ways, which are what turn a lot of people off, such as myself, and probably you.

 

[repoman0]

It’s a great show with excellent characters. No silly medical mysteries.

Spoiler

Escalates quickly.

 

[Muse]

Literally everything I can find about it on the internet describes it as a medical drama ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
You have an aversion to an entire genre, yet you've never watched the genre? I suspect you're classifying it as "not a medical drama" because you're watching and enjoying it, and you've already decided you don't like that genre. Regardless, it appears to be both a drama, and a heavily medical show, so I still find myself with no interest in it. I get enough reality from reality, I prefer shows that are less reality-based.

To each his own. It may not be for you, you do you. Yeah, cliches, some are better than others. I've seen a bit of some medical dramas and was turned off totally and never interested. Pieces (articles) on this one got my interest. This show is realistic. I like realism. I prefer documentaries to enactments. I almost never like docudramas. IMO this isn't one at all. I don't know what you mean by reality-based. You prefer fantasy? I like The Princess Bride, that's tongue in cheek wink wink fantasy, but usually I lean to realism. Honestly, in recent years (and not so recent) I have watched very limited TV content. A lot of news, some about the news (e.g. 60 minutes and a few other specials), sports (I pick and chose). I have stayed away from scripted shows. This is very much the exception. I jumped in, was not repelled, quite the opposite. I have a bunch of DVD sets. One is The West Wing, recommended me by my brother, and I did watch it end to end, pretty much loved it. Most of the TV DVD sets I have I've never finished. Just wasn't drawn in, at least not enough to continue. Even Breaking Bad! They are on my shelf, beckoning me. So much to do so little time...

 

[KLin]

It's definitely a medical drama IMO. not like Grey's anatomy though. It's much more similar to ER.

Which is why Michael Crichton's estate (his widow) is suing.

 

[Muse]

It's definitely a medical drama IMO. not like Grey's anatomy though. It's much more similar to ER.

Which is why Michael Crichton's estate (his widow) is suing.

I never watched any of that, read Jurassic Park. It's good. Liked the movie. Just why she's suing is not my concern at all. Most likely her lawyer's a big reason.

It's definitely a medical drama IMO.

You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant. - Harlan Ellison

 

[nakedfrog]

To each his own. It may not be for you, you do you. Yeah, cliches, some are better than others. I've seen a bit of some medical dramas and was turned off totally and never interested. Pieces (articles) on this one got my interest. This show is realistic. I like realism. I prefer documentaries to enactments. I almost never like docudramas. IMO this isn't one at all. I don't know what you mean by reality-based. You prefer fantasy? I like The Princess Bride, that's tongue in cheek wink wink fantasy, but usually I lean to realism. Honestly, in recent years (and not so recent) I have watched very limited TV content. A lot of news, some about the news (e.g. 60 minutes and a few other specials), sports (I pick and chose). I have stayed away from scripted shows. This is very much the exception. I jumped in, was not repelled, quite the opposite. I have a bunch of DVD sets. One is The West Wing, recommended me by my brother, and I did watch it end to end, pretty much loved it. Most of the TV DVD sets I have I've never finished. Just wasn't drawn in, at least not enough to continue. Even Breaking Bad! They are on my shelf, beckoning me. So much to do so little time...

Right now I'm watching What We Do in the Shadows. I liked Our Flag Means Death, and Sandman. I don't watch a lot of TV shows myself. Once we finish WWDitS in a few months, probably going to give The Orville a try. Prior to this we watched Torchwood, and before that, Dr Who.

 

[MrSquished]

Right now I'm watching What We Do in the Shadows. I liked Our Flag Means Death, and Sandman. I don't watch a lot of TV shows myself. Once we finish WWDitS in a few months, probably going to give The Orville a try. Prior to this we watched Torchwood, and before that, Dr Who.

WWDitS movie is genius. THe show is good too, although I haven't seen all the seasons, but it was a tough adjustment from the movie at first for me because the movie characters were just so fucking perfect.

 

[nakedfrog]

WWDitS movie is genius. THe show is good too, although I haven't seen all the seasons, but it was a tough adjustment from the movie at first for me because the movie characters were just so fucking perfect.

We just wrapped up season 3, we did start out with the movie, and I didn't know much about the series at that time, but we knew my partner's siblings had enjoyed it and we have a lot of similar tastes. I hadn't even realized Matt Berry was in it, we also watched Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (hilarious self-aware parody of a low budget 80s BBC show) last year, he's in that too (and of course, The IT Crowd).

 

[Muse]

Here are links to a couple of good New York Times articles on The Pitt (there are about 6 of them to date, I have read maybe 1/2 of them).

These links will work for 14 days, i.e. until May 8, 2025.

What’s So Great About ‘The Pitt’?

The series, which wrapped up its first season, has built up a rabid following, with social media memes and fan crushes on its star, Noah Wyle.

www.nytimes.com

Concerning the following link:

If you haven't watched the series and there's any chance you will, you should really just skim plot details so you aren't spoiled for them. There's a lot of that. I have 6 episodes to go, so I did that in reading the article. Now I have a sense of some of the new things coming but don't know the specifics.

‘The Pitt’ Is Concerned About Your Health, America

The Max hospital drama, which just concluded its first season, is a TV throwback with an of-the-moment message about systems pushed to the breaking point.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Brainonska511]

Definitely a good show.

Per my spouse who is going into OBgyn, the only part that was grossly inaccurate was the child birth emergency. The shoulder dystosia is considered an extreme medical emergency and L&D would be taking charge over an ER doctor, and moving with far more urgency than was portrayed.

 

[IBMJunkman]

Gen Z and doctors.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/trust-health-advice-gen-z-edelman?utm_campaign=mb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew