9:00AM is when many are full up and about, so it makes sense that this episode of HBO Max’s The Pitt is where everything starts to pick up. Our third episode of this season ties up a few storylines from the first episodes, but also introduces a few more. Our Russian burn victim Yana (Irina Dubova) is finally wheeled back and our deaf patient finally gets an ASL interpreter to address her issue, and though the Hansen family has seen one injury treated, it looks like there is another one.

Episode 2 ended with a screaming college patient being brought to PTMC. Along with him was the security guard who had tased him. It’s evident that there is more going on than it seems even before the arrival of the two police officers the guard called to make a statement to.

Working in a trauma center means seeing grief at every turn, and this episode shows us the aftereffects of a car accident involving a motorcycle. An interesting tie-in for sure, given Robby’s (Noah Wyle) upcoming sabbatical and the motorcycle currently parked outside (for which he does not use his helmet).

Weaponized Anger

Earlier in the morning, Santos (Isa Briones) had been looking after a nine-year-old patient brought in by her father’s girlfriend. Initially, all signs pointed to some sort of abuse. The father did not take this well. However, when the real cause was determined, the father was quick to continue blaming his girlfriend. Ultimately, after a fight, she left and broke it off with him.

I can see where The Pitt was going with this particular ending. I grew up with a father who weaponized anger rather than admitting fault or listening to other sides of a story. Though he should have been grateful that his girlfriend brought his daughter to the ER, he ultimately could not handle being perceived as an abuser. To him, the misunderstanding was her fault, and not a routine checkup any doctor would perform.

Trauma And PTSD Come In Many Forms

Another facet of grief ties in to our Russian patient. A survivor of the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting, she is in the ER due to burns she suffered when being triggered by the sound of firecrackers. Pittsburgh is “the firework capital of America” thanks to the Zambelli Fireworks company. With the PittFest shooting being less than a year ago, that trauma is still fresh in the minds of those who worked the ER that day.

We also have seen how Robby struggled in the first season with COVID flashbacks. Though he seems to be handling it better this season, that does not mean that he can’t get triggered again. The same can be said for Yana; though nearly a decade has passed since the shooting, she is still dealing with it.

Moments like this allow the show to slow down and settle, showcasing that it isn’t just about the medical issues. In a setting like a hospital, you never know who you’re going to see, or what their experiences have been. When Yana and Robby discuss the shooting and the lasting trauma, it is in such a way that it doesn’t feel sensationalized for television. It is the gritty, real truth of two people who are still grieving.

New Beginnings

The episode ends on a rather poignant note, one of regret more than grief. After McKay (Fiona Dourif) discovers that her patient Dr. Williams (Derek Cecil) has a brain tumor, his ex-wife Lena (Lesley Boone) shows up. She remains his emergency contact, even though they haven’t spoken in years. When she asks McKay about her ex-husband’s actions and whether they could have influenced the demise of their marriage, McKay agrees that it’s possible.

There is a certain way of looking back on your life, and we see it here. It is clear that she still feels something for her former husband, and now she is aware of the possibility that the way he changed wasn’t his fault. It’s a crumbling sort of grief, like trying to climb back up a ledge that has already deteriorated.

When Dana (Katherine LaNasa) takes a call from Westbridge, we know something is coming up at 10:00AM. Sure enough, after she hangs up she delivers the news that Westbridge is closing and directing all ambulance traffic to PTMC.

Security guard Ahmad (Johnath Davis) comes in clutch with our favorite activity from last season: Setting up a new betting grid. Why did Westbridge close, and how long will they be closed? Just how many new patients will PTMC see because of it, and can they handle it?

Looks like 10:00AM is going to be quite the ride.

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