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This Fourth of July, Pittsburgh’s most buzzworthy spot is the Emergency Department at PTMC. It’s a scene of chaos and intensity, featuring new patients injured by boat propellers, diversions from Westbridge lining the halls on gurneys, and a mix of people—from high school athletes to those washing cars in driveways—seeking relief from heat exhaustion. The waiting area is packed with patients fanning themselves with Dr. Al-Hashimi’s patient passports. Meanwhile, Season 2 Episode 7 of The Pitt (“1:00PM”) sees the return of a certain charismatic nightshift attending, sparking intrigue among the staff. But first, we’re diving into some Langdon Watch™, where tensions remain high between the resident and Robby, leading to a heated confrontation.
On the rooftop helipad, amidst the deafening noise of an arriving chopper, Langdon makes a vulnerable apology to Robby for betraying his trust and that of their patients. Robby’s calm demeanor is unsettling for Frank Langdon fans, as it suggests he’s already moved past his former mentee. “I’m really glad you got the help that you need,” Robby states, “But I don’t know if I want you working in my ER.” Downstairs, during an intense emergency situation, Langdon struggles to maintain his composure, needing support from Dr. King, who steps in to assist her colleague. Robby’s words have clearly rattled Frank.
Langdon seems genuinely remorseful and committed to his work, but Robby remains firm in his stance. Their conflict is both personal and professional, highlighted when Robby reassures Mel that her deposition will go smoothly, calling her one of the best residents he’s ever trained. This indicates that Robby’s issue with Langdon stems from a sense of personal failure, feeling he should have recognized the signs earlier instead of blindly supporting him.
Making a dramatic return to our screens is Dr. Jack Abbot (Shawn Hatosy), sporting camo gear. Besides being a nighttime attending, he serves as a field medic for Pittsburgh SWAT. Abbot’s quick thinking saved a teammate during a July 4th robbery, intubating the officer under gunfire. Santos remarks, “Are you serious? That’s badass.” Later, Abbot and Robby tackle a challenging tracheal transection together, during which Abbot notices Dr. Al-Hashimi observing him. After stabilizing the patient, the two doctors exchange stories, revealing Al-Hashimi’s past with Médecins Sans Frontières in Kabul. “She seems cool,” Abbot comments to Robby, who remains silent.
This episode of The Pitt also delves deeper into Trinity Santos’ character. Her frustration grows due to the lack of effective ASL assistance while treating hearing-impaired patient Harlow Graham (Jessica “Limer” Flores). However, she shines as she soothes a mystery infant in the ED with a Tagalog lullaby, earning her the nickname “baby whisperer.” Additionally, Santos updates Robby on her roommate Whitaker’s bustling “farm benefits” personal life. Despite her usual cynicism, she shows genuine concern, not wanting Whitaker to be exploited. Robby smiles, acknowledging, “Yeah, he’s our Huckleberry.” In a poignant moment, we see Santos in a restroom stall, revealing scar lines on her legs, hinting at past struggles with self-harm.
A sexual assault victim has also arrived in the ED, Ilana Miller (Tina Ivlev), and the sequence of her examination, which runs throughout this busy episode, is shot with as much as care and respect as Dana Evans shows Ilana. The charge nurse is a trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), and assisted again by Nurse Emma, she conscientiously catalogs their new patient’s clothing for forensic investigation. But only if Ilana wants that. “You are in control now.” When the young woman becomes too emotional to continue, it hits Dana and Emma just as hard.
As if we couldn’t have more going on around the Pitt on this hottest of overcrowded Fourth of July days. But we do. With the Westbridge patients piling up so quickly Princess has worked out a “battleplan” to place them along the hallway walls, Robby is startled to see PTMC CEO Trent Norris (Victor Rivas Rivers) appear in the ED. “Gather your staff, please,” Norris orders, and with Al-Hashimi beside him, the big boss makes an announcement. The “internal disaster” at Westbridge is due to cyberattack, other Pittsburgh-area hospitals have already been hit, and the decision has been made – without consulting Robby – to preemptively shut down all of the Pitt’s computer and medical technology systems. A sharp look passes between the two-headed attendings, but there is no time for protest. While Whitaker grabs a screen shot of the patient board before it all goes black, Robby pivots to managing this newest crisis. Everybody get ready, he says; “We’re going analog.” The ED at PTMC has everything. Except for modern technology.
Nurse’s Desk for Season 2 Episode 7 of The Pitt (“1:00PM”):
- It’s loud, hot, and crazy in the ED, and going analog will make it louder, hotter, and crazier. But Roxie Hamler wants to stay. “I don’t want you living with my ghost,” she tells Paul, and if that wasn’t sad enough, he brought their two young sons from home, who tuck in next to Mom on her hospital bed.
- Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi’s “freeze” moments have returned, with additional concerning context. When she gets that dazed look again, and becomes short of breath, Dr. Al places an urgent call for an appointment with her neurosurgeon.
- Evidently Victoria Javadi’s medical professional parents are in competition over her future. We know Dr. Shamsi wants her brilliant daughter to go into surgery. But Ep 7 introduces Usman Ally as Victoria’s internist dad from upstairs, who visits the ED with a dermatologist colleague. “I’m just trying to present you with options for your residency…”
- Dr. Abbot really made an entrance, with his SWAT guys and sidearm and emergency medicine swagger. Then he had that professionally flirty chat with Dr. Al-Hashimi. And THEN he’s shirtless in a trauma bay, self-treating a bullet graze, when Samira Mohan conducts her own close-quarters examination of the charming attending. Welcome back to The Pitt, Shawn Hatosy!
Johnny Loftus (@johnnyloftus.bsky.social) is a Chicago-based writer. A veteran of the alternative weekly trenches, his work has also appeared in Entertainment Weekly, Pitchfork, The All Music Guide, and The Village Voice.