REVIEW: The Pitt Episode 14 — “8:00 P.M.”

It’s back to normal operating procedures in The Pitt Episode 14 as things slow down after the mass shooting fallout. Patients are stablized or have been moved upstairs; the medical students, led by Dr. King (Taylor Dearden), make sure all of their patients in the yellow zone are comfortable. This penultimate episode works well to bridge the high stress of the past two episodes with next week’s finale by smoothly letting the night shift take over as the day shift wraps up their work.

While the night shift staff showed up to help out with the mass shooting in the past couple of episodes, The Pitt Episode 14 gives them a bit more focus this episode. Their attitudes and demeanors are just as sharp and tangible as the characters that have been around for 14 episodes. Dr. Shen (Ken Kirby) nonchalance during the triaging returns as he moves inside for his regular shift. He’s got a similar sarcastic energy to Dr. Abbott (Shawn Hatosy), but more carefree to Dr. Abbott’s jaded persona.

Dr. Ellis (Ayesha Harris), the other doctor working triage the past couple of episodes, moves back inside as well. She’s teamed up with Dr. Santos (Isa Briones) and Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball), and easily picks up on the tension between the two. This dynamic was great, especially between Dr. Santos and Dr. Ellis. For a new character to come in at the end of a season and charm the audience as well as Dr. Santos is such a credit to the actress and to the writing for making these dynamics pop on screen.

Despite taking place in real time on one shift, Dr. Santos has a character arc with depth.

It also showcases some growth in Dr. Santos, who doesn’t say anything to Dr. Ellis about Dr. Langdon, instead, focusing on her own work and taking direction from Dr. Ellis. Throughout the season, Dr. Santos has gotten feedback and pushed back on feedback, but here, it feels like she’s finally internalizing what she’s learned today when she listens to Dr. Ellis’ way of providing feedback.

Dr. Whitaker (Gerran Howell) walks in on the last bit of Dr. Robby’s (Noah Wyle) breakdown from last episode. This interaction between mentor and mentee wonderfully showcases the journey these two have been on since The Pitt Episode 1. It’s a testament to Dr. Robby’s steady nature and support of his staff show that Whitaker, when confronted with his boss in the midst of an agonizing grief spiral, offers gentle support in return. Mixed in with that, though, is the reality of the situation; they still have patients out there, and his staff needs him.

This kind of scene is only accomplished through the show’s tight character writing. It’s especially impressive given the show’s real-time format, which doesn’t allow for enough time for deep character work usually found in non-real-time format shows. Characters aren’t leaving work to showcase them in their personal spaces, yet it’s amazing how much the audience knows about them.

Though Dr. Robby makes it out of the morgue room, his temper and grief is still very present in all of his interactions with the staff. He goes off on Gloria (Michael Hyatt), who keeps bringing him administrative grievances. Everyone is noticing his attitude at this point; with the finale coming up, there will likely be an even bigger blowout.

The Pitt Episode 14 doesn’t sensationalize its mass shooter plot; it focuses on the victims instead.

Despite seeding the mass shooting plot in the very first episode with David, The Pitt Episode 14 opts to go the red herring route with David. This is a smart move. During this episode, the doctors and nurses learn that the shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They give no name, and no reason. Because the past few episodes have shown the tragedy of such an event, keeping the shooter an anonymous, unnamed, and offscreen character keeps the victims at the center of the aftermath.

Dr. McKay (Fiona Dourif) ends The Pitt Episode 14 in handcuffs. During the fallout from the mass shooting, she tampered with her ankle monitor, but to the cops who come to arrest her, it doesn’t matter. After the intense past couple of episodes, this was a great ending to lead into the finale, coming full circle on a reveal from early on in The Pitt Season 1. Brad Dourif (Lord of the Rings, The X-Files), guest stars as Dr. McKay’s father, which is fitting considering Fiona Dourif is his real life daughter. Her arrest likely means he’ll be back in the finale as well.

The Pitt Episode 14 did its job as a penultimate episode perfectly, moving from the climactic mass shooting fallout to this more transitional episode heading into the finale, while showcasing the night shift workers.

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