Stroudsburg students have been captured by HBO’s THE PITT, but why? Despite being a medical drama, it seems to have piqued the interest of everyone who watches it.
THE PITT has made itself stand out in the sea of medical dramas out there, sweeping the genre like a breath of fresh air. Its plot points, well-developed characters, and unique dynamics set the show apart from its competitors.
The show portrays the complexities and nitty-gritty details of a single shift at the Pittsburgh hospital emergency room, where the show takes place.
One season of THE PITT is the equivalent of one shift at the hospital, with each episode showing each hour of the shift in order. Despite its slow pacing, the show does not neglect the fast reality of a busy emergency room. Nurses work hard to save lives every day, and THE PITT shows every second of it.
What sets the show apart from other medical shows is its brutal reality in both a medical and emotional sense. Doctor Mike, a certified specialist in family medicine and YouTuber, released a video titled, “The Most Accurate Medical Drama Of All Time? | The Pitt.” In the video, Doctor Mike explains that the show is “a little too real”. He confirms the many medical procedures and processes that are portrayed as very accurate to real life. Testimonials as such have gone viral all over social media.
Not only are the procedures real, but so are the social issues that are discussed in the show. This show tries its hardest to pack in as many current event themes as it can throughout its episodes. Topics like the emergence of ICE, mass shootings, and inefficient healthcare insurance are shown with the utmost accuracy. While watching THE PITT, it’s easy to forget that you’re watching fiction. The show pulls off America’s patriotic mask and reveals the ugly, guilty face that lies underneath. It also does a good job at honestly displaying the not-so-well-known but just as important issues like racism within the healthcare system, violence against nurses, and increasing burnout rates among nurses.
Burnout is a big topic of discussion in the show. The first episode of the show begins as Doctor Jack Abbot, an attending physician, is standing on the ledge of the hospital building where he works, when Doctor Michael Robinavitch finds him and talks him down. The National Library of Medicine writes that nurses are 18% more likely to die from suicide than the general population. Clinical nurses work in a place of high stress by nature, constantly put under pressure, making quick decisions, working long hours, and working with patients. The effects of burnout can include reduced quality of care, increased turnover, and, for some, it’s fatal.
THE PITT’s lovability could be attributed to its characters and writing, but the strongest rope between the viewer and the show is its relatability. Whether they realize it or not, the portrayal of so many real situations and concepts resonates with people on a different level. Realistic racial demographics among patients and nurses in the show help to make people feel seen.
By showing the Emergency room in third person, we see the struggles of patients and nurses alike. While packing in so many complex characters, the audience is put in an intense state of sonder. This fosters the idea that, as different as every individual person is, we are similar in the way that we all struggle with something. THE PITT not only entertains, but teaches extreme empathy and consideration for not only your own struggles, but other people’s struggles as well.