Warning: SPOILERS ahead for The Pitt episode 4!The Pitt episode 4 continues to explore the hour-by-hour of Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, played by Noah Wyle, and his shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital, as everyone continues to struggle with various circumstances. While many patients had more life-threatening or tragic circumstances in previous episodes, episode 4 lightens the load with some less heavy, but still important, issues for everyone to tackle. However, it’s still compounded by the struggles Robby is experiencing, better illustrating his time in the hospital during Covid-19 and everything he lost during the pandemic.

Robby’s Emotional Arc Is Finally Starting To Take Shape

After Hints In Prior Episodes, The World Is Starting To Weigh On Him

Keeping with the realism of The Pitt, Robby visits several patients throughout the episode, continuing the check on the many groups receiving emergency care at the hospital. However, his primary focus is on the Spencer family, with siblings Jeremy and Helen struggling with the last hour of their father’s life. Moved into the pediatric wing for privacy, it’s revealed Mr. Spencer once worked on Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, making his location of death fitting. However, it brings up powerful emotions, as Helen regrets not spending more time with him, wishing she’d been less embarrassed of his career path.

The room brings the past back for Robby, too, who envisions flashbacks of placing patients in the room during the Covid-19 pandemic, the hospital hopelessly overwhelmed. It brings about a panic attack that shows how difficult it’s been since then, especially with the day being the anniversary of his mentor’s death. Even though this hasn’t been fully explored yet, the effect it’s had is displayed through Wyle’s stellar performance. With the cracks only just starting to show, it seems inevitable today will mark a breaking point in his grief.

But, contrasting Wyle’s character in The Pitt are the Spencer siblings’ arcs, their father’s death bringing them closer together despite the tragic circumstances. It’s a tearful goodbye as the episode pauses on Mr. Spencer’s life ending, yet another death within the trauma ward. However, the show still illustrates that, despite the upsetting circumstances and presentation, his health’s sudden downturn brought his children together. It’s something that appears to go over Robby’s head, however, as he’s still thinking about the pandemic when the episode closes out.

Medical Students Continue Their Important Work With Various Patients

Informative & Important Stories Get Told

Wyle’s Robby might be the star of the show, but other characters in The Pitt still have plenty to do as their hour ticks by. The most harrowing moment comes from Dr. Santos making a call without running it by her superiors, resulting in one patient almost coding. While it’s something that could have happened on its own, her brash decision shows how students still need to rely on more experienced practitioners before making a final decision on a patient’s care. Given how aloof she’s been throughout the show, this event could affect her mood moving forward.

Another key story happens when a transgender patient named Tasha arrives to treat a wound on her arm. Dr. McKay and Victoria are in charge of stitching her up, with the latter changing her name and gender in the system to better reflect her. This ends up being a small yet emotional scene, as it reflects the care the young doctor-in-training has when it comes to details about her patients. But it also reflects the everyday decisions trauma professionals must make, down to the very smallest of details.

But the most heart-rending side story was, undoubtedly, when Jenna is discharged from the hospital, running into Nick’s parents following their confrontation in episode 3. She tells them about how they’d used Xanax to study, carefully explaining what happened while hoping there’s a chance he pulls through. While there’s still tension, it’s laced with a calm sorrow, especially because it seems unlikely Nick is going to live. These smaller stories evolving hour-by-hour make The Pitt a unique medical drama, coupled with how it never shies away from the harsh realities of being an emergency medical professional.

The Pitt Feels Like It’s Finally Starting To Take Shape

There’s A Deeper Intrigue To The Story Now Than Ever Before

Image via Max

Luckily, the series manages to balance its tragedy with levity, such as the woman with a cockroach in her ear or the doctors betting on who stole an ambulance. Dennis gets peed on by the Kraken (a derogatory nickname for a man suffering from meth-induced psychosis), establishing a running gag of him having to change his clothes every few episodes. These balance out the many heavy moments in the show, from the tragedies that unfold to the fear that The Pitt seeing David escape the hospital means the young man’s story will wrap back around in a terrible way.

With a greater focus on the patients in this episode, The Pitt feels like it’s finally found its footing as a glimpse into the day in the life of doctors in a trauma hospital. Because of its multilayered approach, the series feels like it’s starting to become a more unique medical drama. This is especially because of its ability to balance the interpersonal with the patient-oriented, focusing on the job itself more than anything else. It’s something that the next episodes are likely to reflect as Robby keeps soldiering through the day.

New episodes of The Pitt arrive Thursdays at 9 pm ET on Max.