Minor spoilers for “The Pitt” season 2, episode 2 forward.
“The Pitt” has returned for its long-awaited second season, and whereas there’s nonetheless loads of drama and tragedy within the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Middle ER, there’s additionally numerous kindness and empathy. A scene in episode 2 not solely demonstrates that reality, it even calls again to a second from season 1 during which Taylor Dearden’s Dr. Melissa King teaches Patrick Ball’s Dr. Frank Langdon tips on how to put an autistic affected person comfortable.
“The Pitt” got here out of creator R. Scott Gemmill and his fellow producer/writers Noah Wyle and John Wells wanting to inform the story of an more and more exasperated and beleaguered medical workforce in a post-COVID-19 quarantine world. However there was extra to the present than that. After the success of the primary season, Gemmill stated that he hopes “The Pitt” accomplishes one factor: individuals being kinder to 1 one other. No character exemplifies that ethos greater than Dr. King, who all through the primary season was a shining instance of empathy and selflessness, each within the ER and in her private life, the place she takes care of her autistic sister, Becca (Tal Anderson).
Dr. King additionally managed to unfold her compassionate nature amongst her friends in season 1, significantly with Dr. Langdon, who returns to the ER for season 2 of “The Pitt” (the place he awkwardly reunites with Wyle’s Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch). Regardless of Ball’s character being a extra senior physician than Dr. King, he discovered tips on how to finest deal with an autistic affected person from Dearden’s second-year resident, and in season 2, he demonstrates that he took that lesson to coronary heart in a quick however surprisingly touching second.
It seems Dr. Langdon was really listening to Dr. King in The Pitt season 1
“The Pitt” is one of the best new medical collection in years, a lot of which has to do with the interpersonal relationships and the drama that arises in that regard. However there’s additionally been a whole lot of empathy and understanding, equivalent to in season 1, episode 7, “1:00 P.M..” When an autistic affected person named Terrance (Coby Hen) was admitted to Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Middle with an ankle harm. Dr. Frank Langdon tried to deal with him. However Terrance clearly wanted a unique talent set as a way to really feel comfy. As soon as Dr. Melissa King, who’s neurodivergent herself, stepped in, issues began to enhance, with the junior physician shutting the door to the remedy room and turning off the lights. “It is somewhat vivid in right here,” she remarked as she made the room a extra calming surroundings, sat subsequent to Terrance, and added, “The ER might be very noisy.”
After Dr. Langdon witnessed Dr. King talk with Terrance so effectively, he requested, “How did you do this?” She promptly replied that “the ER is usually a very, very overwhelming place for autistic individuals, so it simply takes a unique strategy.” Quickly after, nevertheless, Langdon lower her off and left her standing by herself. In episode 2, season 2, although, we be taught that he was really paying shut consideration.
After Dr. King is pushed off her stool by a affected person and hits her head, Langdon involves verify on her in one of many remedy rooms. When he is known as away, he shuts the door behind him however not earlier than he turns off the sunshine within the room and says, “The ER is usually a little vivid and noisy.” It is a very fast second, however it’s extra important than it could appear.
Dr. Langdon’s small act of kindness bodes effectively for his future
Taylor Dearden has spoken about eager to keep away from clichés and stereotypes in her portrayal of Dr. Melissa King, and this scene was significantly memorable for exhibiting how a neurodivergent individual is completely able to demonstrating compassion and connecting with others — one thing that is not all the time showcased on-screen. That makes the truth that Dr. Frank Langdon clearly discovered from his expertise in season 1 all of the extra significant, because it demonstrates that he, too, takes neurodivergence severely and acknowledges Dr. King’s wants.
What makes his turning off the sunshine much more important is that Dr. Langdon is returning to Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Middle after a stint in rehab. Noah Wyle’s Dr. Michael Robinavitch clearly hasn’t forgiven him for stealing painkillers whereas on the job, however in any other case, Langdon appears to have turned issues round, and little doubt followers will probably be rooting for him to beat his demons and stay man this season. As such, his interplay with Dr. King in episode 2 bodes effectively for his ongoing redemption and exhibits that he by no means was fairly the villain that Isa Briones’ Dr. Trinity Santos suspected him of being.
Whether or not issues will change as this season goes on stays to be seen, however for now we a minimum of know that Langdon took Dr King’s recommendation to coronary heart. “The Pitt” season 2 continues to show empathy and competency into nice TV, and this temporary interplay between Langdon and King is the right instance. Now, we await the inevitable onslaught of drama and tragedy that characterised the primary season and is definitely simply across the nook in season 2.
New episodes of “The Pitt” premiere Thursdays on HBO Max.
