REVIEW: ‘The Pitt’ Episode 6 — “12:00 P.M.”

As is the case with an ER, episodes of The Pitt ebb and flow in terms of big emergencies and smaller ones. The Pitt Episode 6 is more on the ebb side of things. While nothing major happens, the episode still moves things along nicely even if some of the stories are still very much in a holding pattern.

Dr. Santos (Isa Briones) is the standout here. Her confidence intercedes with her cockiness, but that’s what makes her such an interesting character. She finally gets to perform the chest tube insertion she’s been wanting to, but her arogance makes her sloppy, and Dr. Garcia gets a scalpel in her foot as a result.

The back-and-forth between Dr. Santos and Dr. Garcia has been really nice, with the latter often offering words of support. But a scalpel through the foot would be enough to make anyone annoyed. This isn’t the first time she’s been warned about her attitude, but it is the first true humbling moment for her, most likely because it came at the expense of Dr. Garcia’s good graces. But it also gives Dr. Whitaker and Dr. Jivadi a chance to finally have something on Dr. Santos, creating a wonderful little scene of camaraderie between them.

The Pitt Episode 6 teases more of Robby’s (Noah Wyle) PTSD regarding his time working in the ER during COVID-19 and the death of his mentor. It’s in the smaller moments, like when he sits in on the meeting between a family care specialist and Nick’s grieving parents, who finally learn that their son is brain dead. Robby’s discomfort is apparent, though he stays for his patients. But it also shows up in a bigger moment when the doctors receive a delivered free lunch from Robby’s mentor’s sister, who sends lunch every year on the anniversary of her brother’s death. Robby walks out, unable to accept a free lunch.

The Pitt Episode 6 feels like the calm before the storm. 

These moments are teased out well, with the chaos of the ER distracting enough to allow these reveals the time they need. But there’s no doubt something will come to a head sooner rather than later. The Pitt is just about halfway through its first season; in a way, The Pitt Episode 6 feels like the lull before the storm. David, the kid who wrote incel-y stuff about the girls at his school, is brought up again, a reminder that he’s still out there while Robby convinces his mom to talk to a psychologist.

The drama surrounding the teen pregnancy boils over to close the episode out, with Dr. Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) stuck between the two fighting sisters and the teenager locked away in the bathroom, refusing to come out. Considering there are forged medical papers here, too, and the threat of a third-party management firm coming in to run this ER, the tension is tight and threatening.

Things definitely cooled off a bit in The Pitt Episode 6, but it’s clear the storm is on its way. Once again, the show manages to keep a steady balance of drama, levity, and grounded character work, even in an episode that didn’t involve as many significant, flashy cases.

The Pitt airs new episodes every Thursday on Max, formally HBO Max.

Previous Episode | Next Episode