The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 Review: ‘4:00 P.M.’

The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 is, as has become the pattern, an episode that has so many strong storylines and performances, any effort to pick out the highlights is going to be difficult. At best. To put it another way, there is simply no weak performance, no moment that we just want to get past to get to the “real” plot. So, what stands out most? Probably the biggest stories here are the immediate followup to Dana’s assault, the layers of drama provided by Dr. McKay’s ex being brought in as a patient, and the explosion that results from Dr. Santos finally making her suspicions about Dr. Langdon known.

But that doesn’t mean Whitaker’s very sweet moment with the wife of his doomed burn patient, or Mel and Dr. Mohan’s “special sauce,” McKay and Robby’s disagreement over Theresa Saunders, or even Javadi telling off the baseball prodigy’s dad are, in any way, unimportant. Because they’re not. They’re not even necessarily weaker plot points than those mentioned above. It’s just that every part of this episode — just like pretty much every part of this show — is so good, it’s too good. What a terrible problem to have.

MORE: Read and/or watch our Gerran Howell interview to learn more about Whitaker and how, maybe, his “farm boy” persona is something we could use a lot more of around here. Then, visit our Isa Briones interview to learn more about why Dr. Santos is like…that.

“It’s gonna take more than a punch to the face to keep that woman down”

The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 could easily only be about what happens in the aftermath of Doug Driscoll attacking Dana, and it would still be an excellent hour — especially for Katherine LaNasa and Noah Wyle. Right from the moment Dr. Robby spots Dana trying to walk back in and rushes to her, even in the middle of everything going on, these two actors just hook us. And there’s something to be said for how Dana initially tries to turn down care, but everyone who happens to be outside of a trauma or exam room at the time refuses to listen. Instead, they circle around her and join Robby in fussing over her. As they should! These people care about one of their own, especially when it’s someone who’s very much at the center of everything they do.

Just like Perlah, who does a great job managing after ~~being volun-told~~ (reluctantly) stepping up to do Dana’s job while she’s unable, we…don’t know how Dana does it every day. Actually, we don’t know how nurses do it in general. They’ve been the beating heart and soul of medicine while getting treated as “less” than doctors forever, and as a later scene in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 makes clear, things have gotten worse in recent years. The nurses are alarmingly casual when they tell Javadi how they’ve “all been assaulted” and mention their injuries. But when they confront Robby later in the episode, they’re a lot more open about their safety concerns being actual, well, concerns.

If the conversation happens to come across as a bit of a “The More You Know™” bit, that’s honestly fine. Especially since it quickly devolves into Robby telling off Gloria…and the nurses taking over when he has to move on to the next thing.

Outside of the obvious commentary about what a disaster understaffed hospitals can be, or how much nurses tend to suffer the most of disgruntled patients’ abuse as a result, though, ‘4:00 P.M.’ drives home what we’ve known all along: Dana is this ER’s glue. Everyone knows how bad things are and how often nurses get abused. But as each character finds out about Mr. Angry Male Entitlement punching Dana, they’re all just shocked in a way that doesn’t fit the reality of working in healthcare these days. Because this is extraordinary — it’s Dana. So, that’s why Ahmad demands names and makes sure others are on the lookout for Doug. And that’s why folks’ reactions wind up being the backdrop — a thread that, no matter what else happens, connects it all — in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10.

Dr. Collins has a great moment with Dana in that hospital bed — always a fan of gallows humor, so that “yeah, been a pretty F—ed up day” bit with the dark laughter works especially well. But the surprising emotional beat comes from none other than Myrna. That character always provides great comedic relief for this series, but when Dana is bracing herself, getting her armor on to go back to her station, it’s Myrna, of all people, who softens her. In a way, it’s more of that dark gallows humor that works so well in the scene with Dr. Collins.

Then again, Myrna and Dana’s little chat and embrace brings with it a whole new layer entirely. It’s an unexpectedly sweet moment that drives home how everyone who sees Dana adores her and recognizes her importance. And because the moment is both unexpected while still including a very Myrna sort of offer, it has far more of an impact than a similar interaction with nearly any other character would. Not to mention, that fond hug from Dana…may or may not be a tearjerker for some of us.

…and uh. Just saying, if Myrna ever needs help taking care of that promise…

MORE: This series is full of emotional moments, but they’re usually more conventional. Like Mr. Spencer’s death in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 4, for example.

In The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10, we finally meet Dr. McKay’s son…and awful ex

So, we’ve known for a while that Dr. McKay’s past is complicated. One of the biggest insights we’ve gotten into what motherhood has been like for her came in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 5, but we’ve still never quite gotten the whole story on that ankle monitor of hers. The series has instead sprinkled little nuggets throughout these 10 episodes, and The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 fills in some pretty big pieces of the puzzle.

First of all, her ex is awful. He’s all “boohoo, what about me” while simultaneously trying to rush through his care. (Kinda proud of Santos and Collins for not completely going off on him for that “hot goss” comment. Like, they’re literally talking about a nurse being punched in the face but ok! Although, uh…Collins most definitely makes her disapproval known.) But even if he wasn’t an obnoxious person, Chad — of course that’s his name. Of course — would still clearly not be the best parent for Harrison.

For one thing, he’s not Dr. Mckay. So, that’s already a mark against him. But the bigger deal is how he tries to relate to their son like they’re pals or something. And, apparently, the whole incident that brings him to the ER in the first place is all about his male ego. Like, he just has to show he can be like Mateo after Harrison told him they went skateboarding last weekend? Wild. See also: “Your dad’s gonna have a cool cast.” Seriously? In that moment, we are one hundred percent McKay’s totally-unimpressed side-eye.

But let’s move past the “which parent should have custody” debate here. Because, to get back to the latest bit of insight into McKay’s past, it’s the exchange when Mateo takes Harrison to the break room that’s really interesting. Chloe makes Chad eat a healthy breakfast now — something we learn when Dr. McKay’s grumbling about him being “the man who eats Cap’n Crunch for breakfast” — and that is what actually gives us some news. Chloe, “the gift that keeps on giving,” has something to do with McKay’s monitor…but, hey! Chad apologized, so that makes a record and all that good stuff fine!

Putting all of that aside, though — and we really wish we could toss Chad aside — it’s painfully obvious that Dr. McKay worries she’s not good enough for this kid. But she shouldn’t worry, and maybe — just maybe — she realizes that here. Just look at the way Harrison throws himself into his mom’s arms after she asks how he feels about coming to stay with her while his dad gets better. That little boy wants to be with his mom just as much as she can’t wait to have him back, and as we see during that same embrace, some part of her is beyond relieved to have that confirmed.

Fiona Dourif gets a lot of heavy emotional work to do in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10. Pretty much every interaction between mother and son requires multiple beats at once, and she nails all of it. At the same time, she has to express exactly how McKay feels about the ex. And um. Mission accomplished there, too, to say the least. One of the best moments is when she’s, like, glaring daggers and jerking that pants leg up, using that forced calm tone of voice after the Chloe mention. And watching Dourif juggle both the super loving mom with being very much “ugh” over Chad (same) — often within the same breath — is a true treat.

Throw in how fiercely McKay advocates for those girls on ~~incel kid’s~~ David’s list and getting why Javadi blows up at Everett’s dad. And, well. This one’s really Dourif’s episode…as much as any episode of this series can be a single actor’s hour, at least.

MORE: We’ve been looking forward to learning this character’s backstory, while also kind of afraid it would break us, since at least The Pitt Season 1 Episode 3.

Dr. Langdon loses it all

The end of The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 sees Dr. Robby kicking Dr. Langdon out of the hospital. Unfortunately, it’s completely warranted. The setup has been there all along, with Langdon being increasingly tough on Dr. Santos — who first noticed there was something weird about that one vial of medication and has never really let the issue go — as the day has gone on. Now, because Santos is…who she is, it’s easy to spend most of the season like “oh, well. Ok. Langdon just can’t stand her because, well, look at how she is with people.” But again. The vials.

And if it wasn’t obvious before this hour, specifically, that Langdon’s problem with the intern isn’t only because of her attitude, it is now. Well before Santos actually shares her concerns with Robby and well before Robby asks him, point blank, if he’s been stealing benzos. Just look at his response to the first time Santos talks to Robby or even the way he reacts to Dr. Collins calling him an “adrenaline junkie” as a joke. Totally unrelated to being, you know, an actual junkie-junkie…which isn’t really a word we should be using to describe people with the disease of addiction anyway. But. Well.

Patrick Ball and Noah Wyle utterly slay that end scene, and the way Ball plays his character’s escalating denial — from that initial sarcasm about also stealing blood, to the lashing out about Santos’ B.S., right up to that anxious bargaining and pleading in Robby’s face — is very on point. Here’s everything he’s worked for, slipping away because of a drug problem. One that he won’t even admit to having, either to himself or to his mentor.

And speaking of the mentor…wow. Yeah, Robby’s exploding with anger when Langdon refuses to open his locker and all, but can we talk about the pain? Wyle’s performance here is a killer. Absolutely can’t forget the way he shakes his head and looks like he’s on the verge of tears before the “go home, Frank” line, or how Robby looks more and more pained as Langdon just keeps trying to talk his way out of it. Again going to just say wow.

Well. And also: LOL, Dr. Carter, how does it feel to be on the other side of this conversation? Remember when your mentors at County had to do an intervention? Hmmmmm??? (Ok. Enough ER references — for now!)

The one piece of all of this that sticks out the most, though, is Langdon’s “could a drug addict do what I do.” Because, yeah. Like Robby tells him, “apparently.” Often, addicts are depicted in a very stereotypical, destructive way. The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 — the whole season so far, really — is much more realistic. There are the cracks in the behavior, like when Langdon blew up on Santos in Episode 9, but an addict can, in fact, be functioning. Usually, the downward spiral doesn’t get all the way to so-called rock bottom until that person has really, truly spiraled. And even then, a successful doctor who has everything going for him and doesn’t have to maybe get into the more “street” version of things isn’t always going to fit the stereotype. At all. But yes, this is addiction, too.

Which. Well. Another ER reference: Chase. Carter’s cousin Chase. Super rich, heroin addict…didn’t get bad-bad until it was too late.

Ok. Really done with those references for this post. Moving on!

MORE: Dr. Langdon really is a good doctor, and a good person, in spite of all of this. Remember how he was able to learn from Mel and apologized to his patient in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 7? Or what about how kind he was in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 2? For more on how those two characters work so well together, check out our Taylor Dearden interview.

More on The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10

That JFC from Robby when he sees Dana walking through those doors. Real.
“I don’t want that job.” “Better you than me.” “B—ch.” This would be hilarious if it weren’t for the fact that Dana’s face is covered in blood.
“You know the difference between surgeons and serial killers? Serial killers don’t bill their victims.” I mean. Points were made.
“…her teammate in Dubai called another teammate in Houston who called 911 here.” And y’all say internet friends aren’t real friends. Please.
“Where should we put him?” “On the curb?” And that head tilt. Oh, she hates-hates this man.
“Nice to finally put a face to a name.” Now, with the way Tracy Ifeachor plays that, you know Collins has heard some stories — and also hates-hates this man.
On the other hand, if you don’t adore Dr. Mehta and his medical dad jokes, what’s the point?
“Medical glue should do the trick.” “If you have any extra, do you want to maybe apply some to his lips?” An icon.
“And what about the girls on his list? Are you telling me their safety, their lives, are worth less than his? I can live with this one. Now, you can too.” OMG GET HIM. McKay can do no wrong in this episode. I said what I said.
Also: WTF, Robby? Boohoo, you might ruin the poor, precious boy’s life when he’s out here making threats????? Forever would like to know why are men.
“Whatever. Just knock me out.” “Wiiiiith pleasure.” Collins is not having it!
That awkward moment when you have to explain what a Sisyphean task is to the guy who’s telling you someone else’s job, which you are doing temporarily, is a Sisyphean task.
“Our hard-working nurses were just asking me what steps the hospital plans to take to ensure their safety in the future. Maybe you’d like to explain to them why you denied my request for additional security measures three times in the last four months. If nurses don’t feel safe, they’re not going to come to work.” It’s the stage whispering on “they’re not going to come to work” for me.
“PTMC is a family. Come on…” Girl. Bye.
“Is she having sex with him?” “Well, if she isn’t, she probably should.”
Javadi, having her Temperance Brennan (“I don’t know what that means”) moment.
Imagine being all, “he’s not throwing away his shot at the majors” while your son is literally laying there with an IOP of 58. Can confirm that the symptoms of being about half that can be scary!
Absolutely love everything about Whitaker’s conversation with his burn patient’s wife. A pure, human moment outside of all the horrors. And it’s just so sweet? Nothing inappropriate — just two people who are away from the familiar seeing what they have in common and being endearingly kind to one another. And notably, Whitaker doesn’t make promises he can’t keep. He says they’re doing everything they can to give Teddy “the best treatment possible.” Of course, that’s what makes Langdon’s comment later, about how that man’s probably not going to survive, that much more devastating. Not just for Whitaker, who argues with him and fights so desperately for some hope that Teddy will be part of the 10% who survives, but uh. Also for me, personally.
“Am I still pi—ed that you went behind my back? Absolutely. And if you ever do it again, you can bet your a— that I will bench you. But this is a teaching hospital. And teachers can still learn stuff. I…saw a sad, confused boy. And that’s all I thought about. I did not think enough about those girls.” I do love a man who can admit he’s wrong. That little smile as Dr. McKay looks down says she does, too.
“Oh, my God, I can’t wait for this shift to be over.” Very much want to say same, but like. That would mean the season is over. So, no. Sorry! (Not sorry.)
“Well done. And very well taught, Dr. Langdon.” Yeah, this makes the ending hit harder, huh.
“What, I touch a nerve?” Uh, yeah. Just not about the dog.
Perlah and Princess asking each other if Collins and Langdon have ever had sex (“ew” indeed), then talking about Collins/Robby as a “definitely.” Comedy! No, but seriously, love them. And Perlah’s a rockstar for doing Dana’s job, even if reluctantly.
“If she wants to be in surgery, what’s she doing in the ER?” If John Truman Carter III wanted to be in the ER, what was he doing in surgery? (Sorry. Last ER reference in this review. For real this time.)
See how Langdon tried to cover himself and get Robby on his “side” against Santos before she even spoke up, though? Classic move for someone who knows there’s suspicion a-brewin’.
Dana lets down that wall and shows Dr. Collins a much, much more realistic image of how much she’s hurt after that punch. Just another great moment for this relationship, which I love. It’s been there since Episode 1, and seeing what these two together in that hospital bed is a standout among so many powerful moments here. Just beautiful. Truly. Ifeachor and LaNasa show us what true friendship looks like in those godawful times when you’re both down but still always, always there for each other.
“You can take the girl out of the ER, but you can’t take the ER out of the girl.” My excuse for all these references to that other show.
Did y’all know that we love Mel and Mohan in this house? They both have so much “special sauce.” We need to bottle it so others can learn to care the way they do.
That inside “student doctor” thing, though.
“With seven nieces and nephews, I’m a diaper genie. So.” “You know you just called yourself a trashcan, right?”
“No, no. Forget baseball! And just be his dad. God, it can’t be that fu—ing hard.” Victoria Javadi for President…in about 20 years.
MEL IS SO EXCITED TO COME UP WITH THE ANSWER TO DR. MEHTA’S JOKE. PROTECT HER.
“Um. Dr. Mohan. What if I don’t have a special sauce?” “Of course you do. Just be yourself. It’ll come.” Editor’s note: That last sentence is unnecessary. Mel is her own special sauce. Just be Mel!
“You and that baseball kid are two pressure-cooker prodigies in a pod.” Mother is mothering.
Soooooo, there’s an obvious thing with Dr. McKay and Mateo…kinda cruddy of him to lie to Victoria about not dating work folks, actually. Just say you’re seeing someone! And how humiliating and, frankly awful for her to be the babysitter that’s closer to Harrison’s age or whatever. Gutting.
“Well, when they do…send him to me! I could make it look like an accident.” No but really. Myrna is the best for this.
That hug with Perlah? Help.
Frank. He calls him Frank. First name for this — because it’s personal.
Wyle’s physicality in that last scene. Dear God.
Imagine it being the anniversary of the day you lost your mentor and now, on the same day, being the disappointed mentor who has to end his protégé’s dreams.
Pain.