The Pitt kicked off its second season on HBO Max just last week, revealing new facets of the beloved Dr. Mel King, portrayed by Taylor Dearden. Within just a couple of episodes, viewers have discovered her fondness for boba tea, her aversion to depositions, and her unexpected persona at Renaissance Faires.

**Caution: Spoilers ahead for The Pitt Season 2 Episode 2, “8 AM,” available now on HBO Max**

The season premiere introduced us to Liam Sanders, played by Jesse Lambright, a charming patient who immediately strikes up a rapport with Mel. He showers her with compliments on her hair and eyewear before slyly inquiring about her coffee preferences, hinting at a potential coffee meet-up. Mel admits that coffee makes her anxious, but Liam soon uncovers her true beverage of choice: boba tea.

This week’s episode sees Liam continuing his playful banter with Dr. King, probing into her leisure activities. This prompts Mel to confront the reality that her hobbies mirror those of her twin sister, Becca, played by Tap Anderson.

“Mel has always followed in her twin sister’s footsteps, essentially doing whatever Becca does, and that’s been their dynamic for as long as she can remember,” Taylor Dearden shared with DECIDER last month. “The prospect of Mel developing her own interests feels quite intimidating to her.”

“I don’t know how to start that idea of like, ‘What do I like?’ And I think it it becomes an interesting thing that plays throughout the season, too,” Dearden teased.

One interest that Dr. Mel King does have all for herself is going to Ren Faires. When Liam counters that they’re kind of dorky because it’s just people dressing up, Mel insists it’s the alter ego element that is so fun.

Just as Dr. King begins to exuberantly describe her Renaissance Faire character, cops enter the ED and Liam bolts. It turns out that Mel’s flirty patient was actually a criminal on the run, stamping out any chance of them fostering a connection. To make matters worse, Mel is knocked down in the chaos and injured.

But what about Mel’s Ren Faire alter ego? Who does Dr. Mel King fancy herself to be in this fantasy world of kings, knights, fools, and fair maidens?

“The line that’s cut off is, it’s like a 17th century French milkmaid or something like that?” Dearden said, giggling.

“It’s like, ‘Interesting,’” she continued. “I’m seeing a uniform [in my mind] and I’m like, ‘Mel does not know how kinky that could be.’”

Dearden explained that the whole point of this scene is to further explore “new sides of Mel.”

“The big thing with those scenes is the question of what do you like to do? And having Mel not know,” she said.

Well, Mel doesn’t know what she likes outside of Ren Faires, but that’s a start.

The Pitt Season 2 Episode 3 “9 AM” will premiere on HBO Max on Thursday, January 22 at 9 PM ET.