The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 Review: ‘6:00 P.M.’

The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 takes everything we’ve said about the series so far and elevates it to the Nth degree. If you thought that the drama was intense, or the stakes high, or the sheer amount of action packed into a single hour was a lot before, all of that seems like child’s play now. And while every single member of the main cast has delivered on exceptional level for the 11 episodes prior to ‘6:00 P.M.,’ this hour not only sees this incredible group of actors upping their game but also increases the number of people exhibiting that high level of performance by an unfathomable amount. It’s impossible to attempt to put this episode’s impact into words, to describe the sheer scope of the creative team’s ambition, or even just explain how difficult it is to breathe while anxiously watching the chaos unfold.

If nothing else, perhaps the only thing fitting to say is it is truly a work of art.

MORE: We’ve come a long way since we first met these doctors in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 1 and Episode 2.

“No frills, combat zone medicine”

It takes not even 15 minutes from the time The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 begins before the first patients from the Pittfest shooting arrive. They’re in the backs of vans, and cars, and trucks — EMS is, as Dr. Robby warned the troops during his all-too-brief briefing, overwhelmed. Just like the hospital — but in that timeframe, the ER transforms from your typical packed ER to a war zone. The many, many patients waiting in Chairs are sent elsewhere; the cafeteria becomes a place for loved ones to wait for news. And the entire department becomes one big, giant trauma room, stocked up on (not enough) supplies, disaster kits, and of orange-vested departmental leads. In those moments of preparation, medical students become combat zone doctors just like their much more experienced colleagues. Patient charts become wrist tags, names become numbers, and second by second, we become more and more anxious.

Robby and Abbot try to prepare the troops, but there’s no way to be prepared because to imagine what will need to be done is to already be in the middle of it. Make no mistake, though: All those doctors, and nurses, and PAs, and students transform into troops preparing for a bloody, seemingly-endless battle right before our very eyes. As everyone rushes to gather supplies and suit (or, in this case, gown) up, we gain that sense of going to war long before Abbot outright calls it “combat zone medicine.” That descriptor puts a certain image in our minds, and everything we hear tells us this is going to be very, very bad. The mounting horror, even during the calm before the impossible storm, is there. We know this is going to be bad because everyone in that hospital can feel it.

As Dr. Mohan, Supriya Ganesh embodies that dread when she freezes and just barely drops her arm after Robby says she’s on the Red Zone. And Shabana Azeez’s wide eyes and nervous swallow tell us all we need to know, and all Javadi can imagine, about how bad Pink is going to get. A terrified Mel, clutching a portable mini ultrasound like it’s Bear the teddy bear from Episode 8, doesn’t know how she’s going to deal with those extremity wounds in Yellow either. All of these people have survived 11 hours of what they, and we, thought was Hell on Earth. Well, that was all just the warmup.

10 seconds per patient, an ambulance bay turned to Triage staffed by a newly-minted attending who’s all-too-casual until reality comes swarming down upon him, 25 ORs up within the hour. As a confident Dr. Walsh tells him they’ll be ready, Robby tells her more than once “we might be buried by then,” and he’s right. We’re already buried long before this hour ends. Literally, one moment there’s nothing. And the next, the bodies just start piling up. There’s the first four, another three, and then…too many to count, much less keep track of.

Often, after a mass shooting — insert “no way to prevent this” post from The Onion here — we focus on the victims and their families. Rightly so. We also hear a little bit from law enforcement, and the media tells us what heroes they are over and over. But rarely do we ever dare to imagine what our everyday heroes in the medical field face during these horrible times. The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 gives us a chilling inside look at the endless stream of blood, at the impossible decisions, and the rushing from patient to patient. Horrifyingly, we’re pretty sure this is just the beginning. Not just for the show, yet also for trying to imagine what it takes from, and takes out of, the people who treat victims.

MORE: The Pitt Season 1 Episode 4 was an unflinching look at grief and loss. Later, The Pitt Season 1 Episode 10 had too many big stories to count.

Unconventional genius

As bad as the situation is in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12, there’s also something almost inspiring — but only almost. As in, it would be inspiring if this totally-preventable type of thing didn’t happen so often, only the record-breakers (that still fail to cause change) seem to even get attention anymore — is how much everyone rises to the occasion. The normally “slow” Dr. Mohan is, mere minutes after that initial hesitation we highlighted above, right in the thick of it. Saving lives. Intubating patients, calling out for help when she knows she needs it, but otherwise “on fire” as Robby puts it at one point. She proves that she is every bit the great doctor we always knew she was, and she’s not at all alone in that.

Student doctor Javadi shows what a creative, quick-thinking genius she is when the ER-turned-disaster-zone runs out of supplies. But, maybe more important since this series has made no mystery of her being a prodigy, she outsmarts her mother, the great Dr. Shamsi. Oh, and no small matter: Javadi stands up to Shamsi and finally goes off on her. We can’t help but applaud, even as we’re holding our breath through…everything, really. “Read the f—ing room” indeed. It gets a shocked reaction out of a recently-returned Dr. Langdon (whose “spidey sense” is as good as ever), a grin and a nod from McKay, and some sort of look of grudging respect underneath all her mom’s being offended.

But Javadi’s reaction to her own frustrated outburst tells an even bigger story: Shabana Azeez takes us on a journey in barely seconds. Glared daggers at her mom’s retreating back, before her expression falls, then a little smile, then that glance over her shoulder toward McKay for her reaction, and finally something that looks like pride and relief. It’s like however much she surprises all the other hospital staff, and whatever our response as viewers may be, this young doctor may just be even more shocked at what just happened than we all are. Combined.

And, as Javadi’s remarkable genius continues to save the day with limited to no supplies, she asserts herself in a way she basically hasn’t all day long (even when she kinda snapped on Baseball Kid’s dad). That brilliant smile when Mateo tells her she’s a genius following her mom’s frustrated, “this is all very unconventional” also leaves quite the lasting impression.

Then, there’s Mel donating her own blood before ripping out her IV and taking the bag over to her patient to frantically squeeze it in. Her grit is only outweighed by Dr. Abbot’s as he literally works on patients with a line in his leg. These people in this hospital are doing whatever it takes to save as many lives as possible. No matter the cost. And even while facing the most impossible of situations, space for humanity remains. Maybe that’s the biggest genius of all, both of this series and of these characters. In the endless swarm of bodies, so many nameless faces, a few stories — a few names — manage to stick. Grayson Cooper, Sylvia and her son Omar who Mel rushes to help by writing the note about ASL on his wrist tag, Patricia Gregory.

The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 is by no means a normal episode of television, yet when the hour closes, it’s pretty clear that this is going to become our normal for a while. That it still gives us breakthroughs for so many characters, that it continues the series’ tradition of delivering on so much humanity in the middle of chaos, is a gift. This series, these performances, and even the hardest to watch, bloodiest images are a gift. Yes, (nearly) everything can change in an instant, but we get to cling to what doesn’t change just the same.

At the worst of times, we see who some of these characters are deep, deep down. And they are all superstars. Same goes for this cast and crew.

MORE: Read our Gerran Howell interview to learn more about Whitaker’s ER crash course (or splash course, if you will). We also got to chat with Taylor Dearden about Mel, and Isa Briones filled us in on what was, at the time, Dr. Santos’ nightmare scenario.

More on The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12

• “They’ll get better care in an upstairs hallway than anywhere down here.” Just…oof.
• No but Robby and Gloria being on the same page and getting along is about as clear a sign of the upcoming apocalypse as anything.
• “What else do you need?” “Prayers wouldn’t hurt.” From the guy who just said he stopped talking to God a long time ago in Episode 11. Another clear indicator that things are bad-bad.
• That hug between Robby and Abbot.
• “This is an emergency room. It’s f—ing stupid.” Mateo and the security guard are better than me because I would’ve made that jerk watch what happened next.
• It’s the right decision for the hospital and the hundreds of shooting victims for Robby to ask Dana to call Dr. Collins. But no, I don’t blame him for having to force himself to cough out the request either. Noah Wyle does a wonderful job of portraying that internal struggle to make the correct professional decision, no matter how much he hates to do it.
• Fiona Dourif and Henry Samiri are perfectly cast as mother and son. Kid’s sly, little smile before he asks if he can watch a movie, and his look after she says “nothing scary,” had me cracking up.
• “We’re not going to have time or space for anything but gurneys.” It’s like they’re telling us all of this, and yet it’s still not enough to grasp until we see it.
• Is that an orange straw from Dunkin, Dr. Shen?
• Ok but the way Wyle slaps those slap bands would be hilarious if not for *gestures at the whole episode and what those slap bands mean*.
• “Peds is now our morgue.” FML. How do you even say something like that without wanting to die?
• “You run out of room, write on the patient’s forehead.” Tag yourself. I’m Javadi’s shocked face. WTAF. Meanwhile, Abbot’s like…not only not joking but also completely unfazed. Guess a mass shooting is nothing compared to the early days of COVID? Or do we just have to do this WAY TOO FREAKING OFTEN.
• No but really. Hatosy and Wyle together. That little bit of non-verbal “anything else” kinda communication at the end of the briefing, plus the fist bump, plus the hug earlier, plus the rhythm throughout the hour. Fantastic.
• When we take that quick detour to see Myrna’s empty chair and Dana totally freaking out over her being missing, The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 really, really is trying to warn us. Our comic relief? Gone. “Thank God for Myrna” has become “oh, GOD, even Myrna isn’t safe.” We will not be getting those little breaks in the tension anymore.
• Wyle takes every spare fraction of a second to show Robby looking around, desperate for news of Jake. More pain.
• WHERE IS JAKE.
• “David wouldn’t do this.” “I really hope you’re right.”
• Of the “new” doctors who come in to help, Ellis is easily my favorite. There’s something to be said for her only being the senior resident while Shen’s the attending, too. Between the two of them, she’s the one who takes things appropriately seriously from the second she shows up. Meanwhile, he’s…runnin’ on Dunkin’. (I’m assuming it’s Dunkin, at least. Eh.)
• Love that “help” under Ellis’ breath as she’s walking away from Robby to get to work after she has “Coach” put her in
• The screaming, the drilling (???) that IO in, the mom in only her bra, the blood. So. Much. Blood. WHERE DID IT ALL COME FROM ALREADY???
• Mel just…freezing and looking around when she rushes into Red to get those notes on Omar’s tag. Like, as bad as what she’s dealing with is…this still bothers her. Already.
• PROTECT MEL
• Oh, wow. That anger rolling off Wyle when Robby spots Langdon…
• “What the f— are you doing?” “I’m saving lives.” “You should not be here.” “None of these people should be here.” My dude has a point. Welcome back, Doc. We need you…but legit, go get clean after this.
• “Trust me.” “Ohhhhhhh, we’re a little late for that.” People are dying, Sir.
• “Sir, are you taking any medication?” “Just medicinal marijuana.” “Yeah. What do you take that for?” “…everything.” 
• Trampled.
• If The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 is “heads above water so far,” no, I do not want to see more. (I do.)
• It’s the way Robby whisper-screams about telling Collins to turn her phone off for me.
• Mel slipped IN A PUDDLE OF BLOOD.
• Absolutely started crying over Mel’s “you’re here!” when she noticed Langdon. (Still thinking about their scene in Episode 9? Because same.)
• The “good catch, you two” to Mel and Whitaker, Mel’s pleased grin. Once again, PROTECT HER.
• Really feared for a second there that CHAD was coming down to, essentially, kidnap Harrison. He might have, actually, if he hadn’t witnessed the horrors Cassie was expertly managing. A moment.
• “I’d rather go home with Mom, if that’s ok.” And he listens!
• I need more on Garcia and Langdon’s work dynamic. She knows and doesn’t let on, just keeps ribbing him like they always have. Like, it’s contentious? But friendly and still supportive…I-N-T-E-R-E-S-T-I-N-G. (But not remotely in a Robby/Collins kind of way.)
• “Guess you don’t need me here…don’t even say it.”
• “Do you feel anything, Grayson?” “No pain. Just a lot of sadness for the world we live in.” Tag yourself. I’m Santos’ “I hear ya” line.
• Sure, there’s no time to stop and fight it out or whatever, but props to Patrick Ball and Isa Briones for layering their performances with just how uncomfortable both Langdon and Santos are when they first see each other again.
• I need an ER reference to cool my nerves here, so: 1) Remember when Carter handled that chemical spill? Similar shades as Robby directs everything at the beginning — except this time, he knows what to do. 2) He totally learned that bubble intubation at County. Don’t @ me.
• Loved Langdon and Santos being 100% on the same page re: the guy who snuck in just so he could record the action. It’s like nothing else matters right now. Super.
• I support Santos’ rights and wrongs, for what it’s worth. Kinda like that time in Episode 7 when she went off on that patient for what he was doing to his daughter, actually.
• “Oops! My bad!” Queen.
• …did not need to see the splash of all that bloody mop water, though.
• “Ok. [Clap.] Let’s do this.” If you don’t absolutely adore Dana, I don’t trust you.
• That cafeteria scene in The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12 might’ve broken me, too. It’s slower, but it’s somehow…worse? To live the perspective of the family/friends with no news than to be with the doctors?
• That woman crying. As hard as it is to watch, just like everything else about this hour, I appreciate that The Pitt is kinda shoving viewers’ noses in the very human cost of the way we live in this country. Death and physical injury aren’t the only ways to destroy a person.
• You really know you’ve watched too much ER when your first thought after Robby sends Javadi and Whitaker up to the roof is “dear God. No. Not this, too.” Luckily, crisis averted.
• THE BLOODY HANDPRINTS FROM THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED A LIFT TO THE HOSPITAL IN THE PACKED AMBULANCE.
• The cop’s EXIT wound?
• “We may not even be halfway through yet.” Kill me now. That ambulance bay looks like the worst Beltway traffic of all time. BUT WITH WOUNDED BODIES IN ALL THOSE VEHICLES.
• And we end with David’s phone near the shooting site…and a text to Jake that won’t go through.
• Terrified of what comes next. Kinda need to find out right away anyway.
• What an episode.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of The Pitt Season 1 Episode 12? Leave us a comment!

New episodes of The Pitt stream Thursdays at 9/8c on Max.