I’ve just experienced an emergency room shift that was relentless, shocking and exhausting. It was a journey through the highs and lows of humanity, witnessed through the eyes of young, newly qualified doctors striving to make a difference. The medical scenarios were varied – from mysterious infections, gunshot wounds, and a drowning to a degloved foot and a blown-up eye. Each scene felt so real that I couldn’t believe the actors could stomach them all.
At my side, guiding me through it all, was Noah Wyle. His presence brought a sense of authenticity and intensity to the show. The Pitt is a TV phenomenon that pulls you from your sofa into the heart of the action in a way no other drama has managed before.
I rarely watch medical programmes, yet I found myself binge-watching The Pitt, episode after episode, well into the early hours. It has given me a deeper understanding of the exhaustion and emotions that come with a long and demanding shift as a medic.
Since its premiere, The Pitt has been praised for bringing back ER star Noah Wyle and is being hailed as a must-watch series. Many people hesitate to commit to a new series, especially when there are so many that fail to live up to their hype. But with The Pitt, there’s no need to worry.
More than a year after its launch in the US, the gripping drama finally arrived in the UK last week on HBO Max, with all of season one available to watch in one go, and season two episodes released weekly.
I don’t often watch medical dramas – they’ve never really been on my radar. I’m not a Holby City fan, and I haven’t even tried Grey’s Anatomy (though with over 20 seasons to get through, you can hardly blame me). I’ve never watched ER either. The first time I remember seeing Noah Wyle on screen was when he and George Clooney made a cameo in the first season of Friends.
When I pressed play on the first episode of The Pitt, I was curious about what I’d think. Then came Dr Michael ‘Robby’ Robinavitch (Wyle), the man who runs the emergency room with cynicism, intensity, and just the right amount of warmth.
The Pitt – which I must clarify is not a sequel to ER – had me hooked within minutes. It’s no wonder that think-pieces have emerged claiming there’s been a surge in popularity of ‘competency porn’ – a term that describes the satisfaction audiences feel from watching capable people thrive in high-pressure situations. Think Idris Elba in Hijack as another example.
The first thing that makes The Pitt stand out is its format. A TV drama set in an emergency room isn’t a new concept, but this series follows an entire 15-hour shift from start to finish, similar to Jack Bauer’s 24. Episode one begins at 7am, episode two starts at 8am, and so on, until the final episode of the season ends in the dead of the night. You feel as though you’re shoulder to shoulder with the doctors, nurses, and students fighting to save as many lives as they can in real time.
Last week, I interviewed Wyle in person in London, and he mentioned that there’s almost no music in the show. This realization hit me like a ton of bricks. I hadn’t even noticed the absence of a soundtrack, but it made perfect sense given how immersive The Pitt feels.
Rather than using music to subtly tell viewers how they should be feeling, the series uses the sounds of beeping monitors, ambulance sirens, and the repeated slapping of disposable gloves. If you’re squeamish, or if you work in A&E and want a break from the chaos, then The Pitt probably isn’t for you. However, for anyone who doesn’t mind gore, especially those like me who don’t usually watch medical dramas, I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best TV shows you’ll watch in a long time. Too few people are talking about it, and they should be.
The Pitt is available to stream on HBO Max.
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