The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 Review: Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop Praising This Cast

In The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, day shift is supposed to be in “the final sprint,” but the story of this 4th of July shift is far from over. This hour features personal moment after personal moment, all of which are as expertly written as they are brilliantly performed. It’s about as strong as any episode this season, as much a work of art as last season’s 12th hour which kicked off the mass casualty arc in style. But, aside from a disturbing head injury—I’ve seen quite a bit of horror in my day, yet Dr. McKay peeling back the skin from that patient’s head gave me nightmares no slasher ever could—this one’s not about a bloodbath or a race against time to save lives so much as its strength comes from an emotional, more character-driven place.

So, how does “6:00 P.M.” find the healthcare workers of PTMC? As some of the night shift staff starts to trickle in, student doctor Joy Kwon smartly sets a boundary for herself and leaves when her time is up. But even though Robby wants his people to start preparing for handoff, the hits just keep on coming. Nurse Jesse’s whereabouts are still unknown after the ICE encounter in the previous hour. Additionally, although Dana’s able to free Emma from Curtis Larson’s chokehold in time for the young nurse to get away relatively unscathed, the emotional fallout for Dana herself is intense. She’s far from the only one who’s battling personal demons, and the series continues to do an impressive job of illustrating all the ways this type of work, under the conditions our sociopolitical moment has created, damages people.

Furthermore, the newest patient arrivals continue to remind us that policy decisions affect real families, real people, and should therefore be driven by concern for humanity instead of only worrying about numbers or buzzwords on a screen. A father in renal failure with pulmonary edema is rushed in by his son. They live an hour and a half away. PTMC is the closest hospital because Medicare cuts caused what used to be a closer option to shut down. In life or death situations, every single second can count. At least Oliver survives the trip, but The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 should encourage us to consider how many other fathers might not, how many other drivers might be too afraid to break speed limits to get there.

That same Medicare also provides life-saving, or at least quality of life saving, care for seniors. As we see with Dr. Mohan’s patient, grappling with getting older is difficult enough without having to worry about what things like home care and other assistance might cost. And in case we forgot that the cost of healthcare is prohibitive for too many people no matter how hard they work, Orlando Diaz returns at the end of this hour—in far worse shape than when we first met him this morning. Imagine if he’d been able to stay. Or, better yet, imagine if he’d simply been able to continue taking his insulin in the first place.

If only.

MORE: The Pitt Season 2 Episode 5 did a good job of showing some of the systemic obstacles our healthcare workers face when they’re just trying to do their jobs.

Dr. Al-Hashimi learns the full truth about Dr. Langdon

For most of Dr. Langdon’s first day back, Dr. Robby has been, uh, less than welcoming. Yes, that’s an understatement. As we know, there’s more to him not wanting Langdon in his department than concerns over what the resident actually did while in addictive addiction. Because it’s personal—very, very personal. Dr. Al-Hashimi, on the other hand, hasn’t had that problem. So, whenever and wherever necessary, she’s welcomed and supported him. Now, though, once she knows the full truth of why Langdon’s in the physicians’ wellness program and why he was away for 10 months, Dr. Al starts to undermine and question his treatment plans. So, maybe Robby’s behavior has been a smidgeon less about pettiness than we might have thought.

(Eh, who am I kidding? The man is Petty—capital P.)

So, how does Dr. Al learn about Langdon stealing medication from the hospital? The truth comes out as Robby reassures her there’s nothing for her to worry about with Dr. Santos, in what becomes their billionth confrontation over these 12 hours. This particular fight begins because she wants to recommend that two attendings should be on every shift going forward. As part of the series’ ongoing exploration of how over-extended and strained healthcare workers are, Dr. Al just comes out and says what we’re all probably thinking: “This department is clearly too much for one person to handle. It’s not healthy for you or the patients.”

As soon as Sepideh Moafi gets out the “too much for one person” line, Noah Wyle starts that unwell grimace of Robby’s. (I have no idea what else to call it at this point.) The longer he stands there, the more dismissive he seems, which leads to Moafi rising to meet his level of IDGAF with more and more passion. On screen, Dr. Al tells Robby “I’m…very concerned by what I’ve witnessed today with some of the staff. What is going on with Langdon and Santos? I saw them having it out like it was Fight Night. Dr. Langdon hasn’t even been here for 10 months, and you told me this morning there was nothing to worry about with Dr. Santos.” And it is. A moment.

Throughout, even as she increases the intensity of her performance, Moafi plays an Al-Hashimi who is clearly pi**ed Robby’s been keeping her in the dark. But she keeps herself under control and professional in a way Robby doesn’t have to and has never had to. When Robby snaps, Wyle gets to snap. When Al-Hashimi does, Moafi…has to walk a tightrope. This character can’t afford to just completely go off. But she does to the extent that society “allows,” while making it clear she’d love to do more.

And, as a reminder, Dr. Al’s…right. This place is too much for one person. Although, the odds of anyone pouring more money into the department to make sure two attendings are always on shift are about zero. So, she’s still maybe a little bit out of touch with the hospital’s problems. But, still, she’s not wrong about what this place needs and why. Robby can not stand that she sees that he hasn’t been able to play ER Superman and make a system in disarray function smoothly.

By the time Dr. Al-Hashimi gets to the part about Santos, Robby starts trying to cut in to tell her (again) that “there isn’t” any reason to worry about Trinity. But she doesn’t back down and makes sure she finishes saying what she has to say. Once she finishes up, Robby tries again with a more emphatic “there isn’t.” And…that’s where he explains, “Santos and Langdon have beef because she’s the one who turned him in for taking meds.” The way Moafi plays Dr. Al’s reaction to that news is totally priceless.

First, her jaw just…drops. Those raised brows, the way Moafi widens her eyes, even her own version of the “Robby’s unwell” smile—only with a Dr. Al twist—create a vivid depiction of shock and disbelief. If the overall reaction is totally priceless, her line reading on “I’m sorry, WHAT?!” is totally EFFING priceless. And then, there’s the way she pulls back like the force of the news has actually, physically hit her. While Robby’s busy avoiding eye contact and guiltily explaining things, Al-Hashimi’s utterly and completely reeling. Not to mention, that pause she takes for effect, as the full weight of what Robby’s saying hits her, is a killer.

This is one of the most important scenes in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12. For starters, there’s everything I’ve already discussed—Moafi’s excellent performance as she commands the scene, the way it changes Dr. Al’s behavior toward Langdon, the way it contributes to the overall theme of “this department is messing everyone, especially Robinavitch, up”—but it’s also fascinating in how Robby defends his people. He may have treated Langdon like hot garbage all day; he may be avoiding Frank, and second-guessing him, and choosing any available doctor—even student doctor Ogilvie—over him at every turn. Later in the hour, he may even absolutely explode with how he doesn’t want Langdon here.

But when faced with another attending, someone clear-eyed and very by-the-book who’s scandalized by it all, he doesn’t stand for the judgement. When a horrified Dr. Al-Hashimi asks if Langdon was “stealing drugs from this ED,” Robby reminds her that “this ED is the best of the best, and [he] would put it up against any emergency department in the country.” Based on the way Wyle plays it, with that emphasis on the “this ED” part right there at the beginning and the fire in his eyes, he’s not only defending his department. It’s all of his people, himself and Langdon included—flaws and all.

I’d say it’s a moment of Robby being some kind of brilliant leader, confident in his own decision-making and taking responsibility for his people’s mistakes or whatever—a family guy, refusing to hear anything negative about any of his loved ones, even. In some sense, it is. But, well. Unfortunately, as the leader, he’s more f***ed up than anyone else on his staff.

So, of course, he has to go and be a total jerk about it at the end. He acts like it’s some kind of foregone conclusion that Dr. Al will mess it all up. And, she likely will! How could she not—how could anyone not??? But that’s…obviously not Robby’s thought process there. He needs to get a dig in on someone who can see through the BS, someone who will be here when he’s gone. And, uh. He’s also totally projecting because he blames himself for everything that goes wrong, even when the broad majority of…everything happens because what these people witness every day is just way too much for anyone.

MORE: Dr. Robby came into his last shift looking to hate his temporary replacement from the start.

“Thank you for listening.”

After seeing Dr. Mohan in crisis, then spending an hour with her struggling to be as FINE as she wanted everyone to believe she was, The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 brings her back to her best. Right from the start, the way she treats her elderly patient Frida—who either her husband accidentally hit while driving or who walked into the car, depending on which spouse you ask—is proactive, detail-oriented, and focused fully on the best overall outcome. Instead of an X-ray, she wants a CT to get a better view of Frida’s hip and check for bleeding. This is probably partially about making sure nothing gets overlooked after what happened with Mr. Green. But, above all, she obviously understands that the standard of care for younger patients in low speed accidents isn’t always sufficient past a certain age and/or while taking certain medications.

Then, despite him not technically being her patient, she also checks on the husband. Not many doctors would take that step. (Especially while in the awkward, yet admittedly amusing, situation of having to stand there and listen to the bickering about who hit whom.) And it’s not just about making sure Eddie’s ok—it’s about how she does it. Dr. Mohan earns his trust. She reassures him when he starts to protest and say he’s fine. Most doctors would give up. Or, at best, they’d come across as demanding and/or simply looking to make more cash for the hospital. Not Mohan. Also, she gets on her knees to help Ed take off his shoes when he seems embarrassed to tell her “back’s not what it used to be.”

You can’t teach this level of humility, much less the lack of judgement involved in offering that warm smile and the genuine “you and me both” when, once again, Eddie’s ashamed—this time about how his feet look—and makes a self-deprecating comment about needing a pedicure. I literally wrote “THERE SHE IS” in my notes the second that smile bloomed across Supriya Ganesh’s face. Because, seriously, that’s it. That’s our Dr. Mohan—just the thoughtful, patient, caregiver who’s there to help in a way that most others wouldn’t even consider, much less follow through on during a day like this.

Thankfully, most of her time working with Frida and Eddie is spent with Mel, who’s right up there with her in terms of empathy and knowing a thing or two that even some of the most capable physicians don’t. So, when they need to address the harsh reality that it might not be safe for Frida to return home—as the couple’s daughter Carrie puts it, “half their house is inaccessible to them”—both doctors approach the conversation as respectfully as possible.

When Carrie arrives, it’s obvious there’s a lot of love between both her and her parents. That warm embrace between Ed and his “Care Bear” is one of many, many great moments for guest star Dann Florek in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12. And the way Ed positively frets over his wife (after the initial bickering) is just lovely. But it’s also painfully easy to see that Carrie can’t convince them to leave the house she grew up in—their longtime home— to live where their needs are better met. It frustrates to her, to the point where it seems like she’s at the end of her rope with this. I think anyone who’s ever been in a similar position with a loved one will be able to relate.

But Carrie’s not the only one who’s struggling here. Her parents in agony. It’s painful to even think about getting to a place where they need to have this conversation. So, they’re not ready to do consider that they’re, well, old people now. Much less actually do something about it.

There’s a very delicate needle to thread here, and The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 does a very strong job of doing so. It’s another one of those complicated, “nobody’s fully right or fully wrong” situations. The Cohens do need help. Everyone understands that. But this is absolutely their choice to make and their home, and freedom, and general sense of feeling like they’re in control of their lives to have to grapple with. Thankfully, The Pitt shows them as full people, not lost causes. Not just “the olds” that society loves to look down on and discard.

Instead of just throwing more pills at the problem, which is the norm—literally, when my grandmother was in her 70s and 80s, a call to her doctor about just about anything would result in yet another prescription without her even being seen—or infantilizing their patients (both official and unofficial), Mohan and Mel do the exact opposite. They listen. Mohan asks permission to see a medication list, and she does a consults with an expert confirm her suspicions. Then, she comes up with a plan. For better focus and balance, she actually suggests Eddie takes fewer pills. There’s a very real chance that he has gait and balance problems because he’s on too many things that, when combined, would cause difficulties in anybody—regardless of age.

So, the Cohens can go home. This time, at least. As an absolutely delighted Mel explains, the plan includes PT, a nurse coming over a few times a week, and even personal shoppers. Is it a temporary reprieve? Possibly, possibly not. Everyone ages a little differently. As Eddie puts it in one of The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12’s most beautiful moments, “you know, every old person knows what it is to be young, but no young person can know what it is to be old.” We might not be able to fully get it until we reach that age, but the right thing to do is try. Listen. In healthcare, it’s the job. Ganesh and Florek are both absolutely golden here, and it’s just nice to see someone actually appreciate Dr. Mohan for being who she is.

I also don’t want to take away from the role Mel plays here, much less Taylor Dearden’s work. For one thing, Dearden does an excellent job of playing Mel’s little confused reactions to some of Mohan’s choices early on. That actually does a lot to drive home just how extraordinary Mohan’s approach is, which is a really important piece of the puzzle. Additionally, as Mel tries to put a positive spin on assisted living, she mentions Becca. But, because of how things have gone so far today, Dearden makes the correct (and gutting) choice to bring that ever so slight tightness—hurt—into her voice. That “she just loves it” is difficult to hear because we know that’s bittersweet. Here’s hoping that seeing this family’s relief over maintaining their independence will help her see her sister’s side of things a little better. (Totally different situation, I know. But similar themes.)

It’s a job well done for all involved. Honestly, I kind of wish I could bottle those pleased, little grins Mohan and Mel share right at the end after Mr. Cohen thanks them. Through this story, The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 shows the importance of thorough, empathy-based elder care. It shouldn’t be about treating only one injury or illness in isolation, but about treating the whole patient. Really, that’s something that needs to happen at any age. But it’s much more vital here.

In the process—and this is the reason most of my analysis has been more about Samira than Mel—the hour shows that Dr. Al-Hashimi was onto something when she suggested Dr. Mohan look into Geriatrics. With her Plan A in the dumps, thanks to some choices her own parent has made about her independence, Dr. Mohan has been struggling to figure out what’s next all season. The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 shows that she might be exactly the right kind of doctor for the job. In fact, Robby seems to think it’s a good idea, too. (A rare case of him agreeing with Al-Hashimi! …just not to her face.)

…but he quickly ruins rare moment of complimenting Dr. Mohan and playing the same type of “Dad” figure to her that he’s so good at with most of his other residents. It’s all starts out so well, too! “It’s as much of an art as a science,” he tells Mohan. Which, like, that’s good! A compliment, if I ever heard one—Samira Mohan is both an artist and a scientist! He also tells her that “there’s usually an opening,” which is exactly the type of reassurance she needs right now. It’s a real option, not a dead end before she even tries! But then…this sh**: “…and you seem to have a…predisposition to the pace.”

Coming from anyone else, it may be easy to see that comment about the pace of Geriatrics as yet another selling point for the specialty and how Dr. Mohan might fit. She likes to take her time and get it right. To be clear, that is a good thing—the best! However. Coming from the attending who called her “Slow Mo” in Season 1 and constantly made her feel like she was getting it all wrong because she didn’t move through patients quickly enough, who has also made her doubt herself today, that’s…ouch. Whether it’s an intentional insult or not is kind of a gray area, but outcome matters a lot more than intent at this point. Because, seriously, the way Ganesh reacts there—stiffening and straightening up, swallowing, and turning away—it’s just crushing.

I don’t know how anyone could take anything other than “he really doesn’t think I can do this” or “he really doesn’t want me here” from that, given the history. And even though Robby’s not saying it and the way Wyle plays the moment actually seems like he’s aiming for choosing his words more carefully, what Dr. Mohan hears is probably something along the lines of “sure, you just did a great job. But nothing you do will ever be good enough. Go over there and do the thing nobody else wants.” I’m not sure how, if at all, Robby can possibly make things right before he leaves for three months.

Still, The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 sets up a possible future for Dr. Mohan that could play to her strengths and keep her at the hospital—therefore on our screens—just in a different capacity. Which, honestly, that would be more realistic than every single resident sticking around forever. But whatever she wants to do, she should do. If it’s not this, which knowledge of her previous clerkship combined with her reaction to Dr. Al’s recommendation earlier this season says it might not be, that’s ok too. I stand by my initial assessment that she’ll be good at just about anything she chooses.

MORE: Fangirlish writers positively gushed over Dr. Mohan in our The Pitt characters roundtable.

“I’m worried about you. You are not yourself today.”

Anytime we see Dana doing anything, even just looking down her nose over the top of her glasses as she pretends to study a chart but is really keeping an eye on the department, Katherine LaNasa totally steals the scene. So, when a scene fully focuses on her—as several important ones have this season, especially those showing her in her role as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner—it’s sure to be a standout. What LaNasa does in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, often paired with Wyle but almost as often totally on her own, continues the tradition of her just getting better and better with every outing. What a limitless talent. Top to bottom, every fraction of a second, she is utterly brilliant here.

This has been a particularly tough shift for Dana. She’s had to clean up Louie’s body after his death, spend hours with a rape victim, and oversee a department in chaos without the computer systems. And that’s not even the half of it. Now, there’s the Code Hula Hoop with Emma, who she’s supposed to be looking out for today—less than a year after Doug Driscoll came out of nowhere and punched her. It’s triggering, to say the least. After the initial adrenaline rush wears off, even, an obviously-shaken Emma looks like she’s going to survive this better than Dana does. Especially when Robby, of all people, starts to question her actions. These two are usually thick as thieves. Yet, suddenly, Robby’s trying to tell her where she can assign her nurses and question her about the attacker’s bloody nose.

LaNasa plays that initial confrontation between Dana and Robby with a breathlessness and wild-eyed sort of panic as she explains how she ran in and gave the patient a shot of Versed. It’s very much as if Dana is simultaneously back in that moment, desperate to save Emma, and right back where she was 10 months ago when Doug attacked her. But then, when Robby points out that the man is now “altered” from the Versed, the alcohol, and whatever else, she gives him about the most betrayed “I can’t believe this sh**” look possible without going too over the top and becoming comedic.

When the right moment hits, though, that initial breathlessness completely disappears. She’s ready for a fight when she asks Robby if he’d “rather it be Emma with a head injury or worse.” And she doesn’t back down. Not once. Because it’s about protecting someone else, one of her nurses, which she takes very seriously.

That’s only the beginning.

Later in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, when Robby comments on Dana’s “guy” bumping his friend Duke for CT, that starts another fight. After a “tell it to someone who cares” gets her a lecture about how she should care, this makes her turn to actually face Robby. And the expression on LaNasa’s face is one of pure pain, just begging him to understand. Her entire being is agony, voice full of emotion, as Dana reminds Robby, “anyone else uses force to stop an assault, they’re a hero, but a nurse does it, and we’re punished.” This is the reality of nursing in our crumbling healthcare system: a seemingly endless stream of Doug Driscolls and Curtis Larsons, lumped in with an endless stream of Louies and Ilana Millers, and nurses are neither to defend themselves against the former nor take time to process how the latter gets to them.

Dana can’t pretend none of this affects her anymore, but she also kind of has to do exactly that. So, she storms off to the bathroom—totally done with Robby—and after the quickest series of glances to make sure she’s alone, Dana breaks. Those three F-bombs are going to be used as reaction clips and gifs, and they absolutely should be. Aside from just hearing Dana let it all out, and aside from most of us having been there at some point or another, the performance is just too good not to spread far and wide.

I’m just so impressed by how LaNasa engages every muscle in her body there. Just…even her fingertips are completely tense, like those hands are just trying to grasp and claw at anything. Every bit of movement, including how she leans against that wall, comes with intention. Just outstanding.

When she comes back out, Dana tries very hard to be just…Dana again. But LaNasa makes it easy to see right through her. It’s again about intention in movement. She carries herself not with the usual Dana swagger, but more like she’s bracing herself as she struggles to get that armor back on. Despite that wary look Robby shoots in her direction, obviously recognizing how she’s faking it until she makes it, he insists on finishing their conversation. He tries to tell her he’s worried about her, earning him the LOOK. Head tilted, shoulders slumped, pain still visible in her eyes, it’s like Dana’s whole presence is screaming “pot, meet kettle. I can’t believe you just said that sh** to me.”

The only reason Robby gets to mostly avoid Dana’s very real concerns about the way he’s been acting today is because duty calls. But for the brief time she’s able, Dana makes him hear her. She anticipates his every evasive move, forcing herself in his line of sight every time he tries to look away. It’s a beautiful, if combative, dance between LaNasa and Wyle. And although they take a brief intermission, The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 delivers on the grand finale later in the hour.

Or, well. Before that intermission, LaNasa gets herself another solo. The way she collapses against that sharps container and uses it for support is another excellently done physical moment. As the camera shifts focus to Robby watching Dana, there should be no doubt that what he sees from behind her—only her posture and the tension in her body, gripping that container, head bowed—makes him even more concerned. He sees her in a way she won’t let others, even if it means sneaking those glances when she thinks no one’s looking.

And what we, as viewers, see is the full force of LaNasa’s performance. Not just the movement but the expression on her face, the tears Dana has to straighten up and tilt her head back to fight, only to bow her head again and squeeze those eyes shut tight. There’s a reason LaNasa’s received awards and nominations for this role.

…if she doesn’t get tons more, go ahead and roll the “F—, F—, F—” clip.

MORE: Last season’s 10th episode could’ve been great if it was about nothing other than the immediate reaction to Dana’s attack, but it was about so much more.

“It’s not just about the motorcycle.”

The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 features one final, stunning showdown between Robby and Dana. This time, they’re outside. Robby spends most of his time slumped on the ground, using the wall for support right by his bike—his escape that he can’t quite make but can’t not make either—and whenever the camera shoots through the parked motorcycles, it’s a statement. I’ve already said a lot about how utterly brilliant every single one of these two characters’ interactions is in this episode is. So, we’ll try to keep this more brief.

Suffice it to say that Wyle and LaNasa continue to kill it. Here, Wyle’s totally unleashed as he plays Robby simply unraveling while he unloads about everything going wrong today. I love how he gestures on the “loaded syringe” part and fires through the entire reason Robby’s been so insistent and judgy with Dana this hour. “Because you’re the person who’s supposed to be here keeping this running while I’m gone, not roaming the halls like a vigilante with a loaded syringe and a vendetta!” He needs this place to be ok if he leaves, and he depends on Dana to be the one to do it.

Is it too much to put on her? Of course! Just like it’s too much on him, or on Dr. Mohan, or anyone else. But he knows he can count on Dana. And he allows himself to be vulnerable with Dana in a way that he can’t with others.

That’s not the only confession here—Robby circles back to the Frank fiasco. He’s not sure if he did the right thing, and he worries that Langdon could’ve hurt patients. But, as Dana reminds him, LaNasa’s expression pleading with her scene partner to hear her and believe her here: “And he saved a lot of lives that we do know of.” Then, there’s one of my favorite lines of all of The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, which has many lines I love: “Our kids disappoint us sometimes.” Dana, as no-nonsense as always, doesn’t let Robby get away with the technicality of Langdon not actually being their kid either. In the process, she reminds him that he’s not responsible for Langdon’s mistakes. No matter how much he takes them personally—they’re actually Langdon’s problem.

Finally, maybe most importantly, Robby’s can’t stand to leave when he doesn’t know if people will be ok without him. He’s so used to holding so many broken pieces of this place together with his bare hands and force of will, he just worries about everyone. (Terrible way of showing it, especially with Samira.) But…Dana won’t let him beat himself up there either. “First you can’t stay? Now, you can’t go? What is it, Robinavitch?” And Wyle takes that long, conflicted look back toward the hospital before Robby says, “no, I’m going. I just thought I could leave it a little better when I did.”

Impossible…but a nice thought.

It’s hard to quantify just how good both Wyle and LaNasa are in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, much less how important their characters’ relationship is. And then, there’s how much these rough parts say about how badly this job has hurt them both. But let’s just say this is some good TV.

MORE: Here are our overall thoughts on The Pitt Season 2.

More The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 reactions

• “Do we even know where these ICE a—holes took him?” “No, but the hospital attorneys are all over it.”
• I feel so out of shape watching LaNasa and Wyle both take off running like that.
• Does…does nobody understand why a young Black woman might not want to talk to the police? Especially after something technically less-than-legal likely went down in that room, regardless of whether Emma saw it or not? Breonna Taylor comes to mind, among far too many others…
• The red marks on her neck.
• “How did he get a bloody nose?” And exactly zero things about Dana are sincere for this next part—not her movement, not he expression on her face, not the way she says it. “He slipped.” (Which, like, good. He can slip into her fist a few more times, for all I care.)
• “Oh, great, on the one day med students might actually be useful in the ED.” Really expected better of you there, Huckleberry.
• Joy got his a**, though. Such a fun moment for her, just grinning away as the selfie smile just vanishes from Whitaker’s face.
• “And did he slip before or after the shot?” Dana, nodding on that “before.” She’s fooling no one, but oh, is she trying.
• I’m a little bit uncomfortable with the aftermath of Emma’s attack being mostly about how Dana and Robby handle it, but I also think that’s kind of inevitable given the history of everything both characters have already been through. Emma doesn’t have anywhere near the existing baggage (that we know of), so she spends a lot of The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 just trying to reassure everyone she’s ok and doesn’t need all the extra care or time away from work.
• “And these are my nurses, and I choose what cases they work. And if you think for one minute, I’m putting anyone else from my staff at risk with that a—hole, you better give your f—ing head a shake.” GET HIM. It’s the way she can keep her voice down for the sake of the hospital but still put so much power behind it, all while her face is screaming “I DARE you to deny me” for me.
• Once again have to hand it to Cathryn Dylan Ortiz for how much she pours every ounce of emotion possible into this Brenda character.
• “Can I have a word?” “Shoot.” “In…private.” “People are gonna start to talk.” The way Dr. Al, like, scoffs and turns away after that comment is a mood. I love how Sepideh Moafi plays this. That little grin and side-eye are very much giving “OMFG can you believe this guy.”
• …and this yenta making a “people are gonna start to talk” joke is ironic AF. Robby’s constantly being messy and listening/watching others having personal conversations and is really about to spill Langdon’s private business in just a few minutes.
• “And it is gonna be yours to F— up, so don’t F— it up.” If this was on Paramount+ instead of HBO Max, he could’ve borrowed RuPaul’s “good luck, and don’t F— it up,” huh. But also, like. Everyone’s already F—ed up! Things will probably get worse over the next three months, and it won’t at all be Dr. Al-Hashimi’s fault when they do!
• The way Shabana Azeez plays Javadi just silently begging the video of Jesse’s arrest to upload and the comments to come through for him…
• I liked Monica at first, but now, I just think she can go. The friendly chat with the ICE guy, calling Millennials “bruise easy” and then labeling Javadi a “snowflake” are all massive red flags. Blah, blah, “when I was your age” this. Yadda, yadda “when I was your age” that. People like her lied to us about hard work actually leading to success because they basically got theirs and then destroyed everything. So. She can STFU. Millennials have been through it since we came into adulthood, and the Zs…have not exactly had it better. Also, you just do not come for Victoria Javadi.
• “Good timing, I guess.” Dana’s insistent glare says. it. all. (Rough translation: She wants Robby to just drop it already and go with her story.)
• “Anything else, Nancy Drew?” Check out how she just throws those arms out to the side.
• “Taking a pee. Do I need your permission to do that too, now?” GET. HIM.
• “…makes two of us then.” INDEED.
• Not this man saying he can take it when he hasn’t been able to take concern from anyone all GD day.
• “All right, then, yeah. Sometimes, it’s like you’re just tempting death ‘cause you don’t give a sh— anymore.”
• SVU LIED TO US ABOUT CAPTAIN CRAGEN’S DEATH. HE’S ALIVE AND WELL (ish) AND CLEARLY UNDERCOVER TO DEAL WITH THESE COPS WHO DIDN’T PICK UP THE RAPE KIT ON TIME.
• …if only. Great to see Dann Florek here, though. I’m not remotely surprised at how good he is in this hour at all.
• “Well, you’re both in very good hands now.” This is correct. You should act like it more often, b**ch.
• Super work from Supriya Ganesh right there. Mohan’s smile falters the second Robby gives her that warning look on the “yes?” She knows Robby’s trying to make sure her head’s in the game. He is not at all subtle there, and it is not at all ok. He’s fine to check in on his resident after she had a panic attack. But he’s not fine to do it so obviously in front of patients. Especially not with how he behaved toward her when it first happened.
• “This place is always crazy. I don’t know when I’m gonna get back. Can you just sit the fu** down and wait a little bit longer? It won’t kill ya, but leaving might.” I love how Wyle rushes through this. Robby is totally in panic mode, desperate to keep Duke here. And, well. At least we see that he doesn’t quite lead gently with his friends, huh. It puts him being worse to Dr. Mohan and Dr. Langdon than everyone else in a certain context…Insert something about hurting the ones you love the most here. (But no, it’s not ok. And neither is Robby.)
• I do like him in his little glasses, though. I’m human, ok.
• “I got way worse from my older brothers.” “I bet.” HER SMILE FOR HER KID.
• “If it’s all right with you, I’d rather stay…I’m not a quitter.” First of all, Emma is the best. Period. Second, it’s really ok to not be ok and to take a break, though. It’s not quitting, but I admire the grit and determination to finish the job she set out to do today just the same.
• “If we don’t stand up for ourselves, no one else will. We’re here to help, not to be punching bags.” <333 GO OFF DANA.
• “Thank you for saving me.” “I got you, girl.” In that moment, I melted.
• “This place sucks!” “Tell me about it. Try working here.” Good on Dr. Santos for not doing the toxic positivity thing. Or maybe I’m just a huge fan of how well Isa Briones does moments like that one. Either way.
• “They’re gonna break through the doors like zombies if we don’t start moving more of the meat back there.” Annnnnnd Dana’s back!
• “Fuuuuuuuu** me.” Same.
• “Dr. Santos for 800.” “What are Raney clips, Alex?” “Ding, ding, ding!”
• Once Dr. Al-Hashimi starts shooting down all of Dr. Langdon’s suggestions and insisting that Javadi takes the lead instead of him, he notices. Patrick Ball spends a lot of time in The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12, showcasing every time he clocks something being off—every confused moment, every little hit to the ego. But I think the most interesting one is when he almost helplessly looks over to Robby for reassurance. After the day those two have had, the fact that there’s still that moment speaks volumes. And for all the times Robby has practically been gleeful about rubbing it in that he doesn’t care for or trust this kid anymore, Wyle plays his answer here very diplomatically and…not quite gentle but far from harsh. Fascinating.
• Again, Robby cares about his people and wants to back them…even when he can’t.
• …or, he does when he’s not too busy being a butt.
• “One of the attendings always said you can learn a lot about your patients just by looking at their feet.”
• LET MEL RING THE BELL SOME MORE.
• “Do you…believe it was just an accident?” “Does it matter?” “As a doctor, no. But as a mom…?” “Sometimes, I can’t tell if motherhood has made me more understanding or more judgmental.” I need more Dr. McKay and Dr. Al-Hashimi together, honestly.
• “Don’t you got some crazy luau pig roast barbecue thing to get to?” “It’s lechón, but yes, I do. I’m gonna sneak out in a few.”
• Langdon and McKay are quickly becoming yet another favorite duo. First, there’s the rawness of McKay talking about Roxie after just absolutely freezing when she sees that blanket. “Seeing those two young boys say goodbye to their mother was brutal. Just…makes you want to cry.” Fiona Dourif does a beautiful job of mixing the vulnerability and emotion with a certain sense of exhaustion and resignation here. And there’s something special about how she….just…gently folds that blanket.
• Langdon’s right here, by the way: “You should cry. You’ll feel better.” Letting it out is better than bottling. But also: Ouch. “I wish I could. No, I don’t even remember the last time I cried. I’m not even sure I can anymore. Is that what this place does to you?”
• Ball’s wary expression before the “do you want a hug?” Dourif’s glare as McKay pulls away before Langdon even finishes asking. The disgusted “God, no.” A comedy!
• “Nooo, I’m feeling dumb.” The high pitch on that “no” makes it 10 times more pitiful.
• “Ok, well, kill me now.” Relatable.
• “When the dog dies, we can talk.” See above. As in, kill me now.
• BREAKING: Bearded Man Who Lashes Out When People Suggest Therapy Sternly Demands Favorite Daughter Sees Counselor While He’s Away
• “Nothing less for my favorite butcher.” “Awww. You’re gonna make a great ex-husband one day, Robinavitch.”
• “Hospital’s got a defense attorney looking for Jesse. Probably took him to an ICE detention center. Said we shouldn’t hold our breath, though. Whatever happened to ‘we the people,’ huh?” I’m so glad The Pitt isn’t just letting this go.
• “How you doing?” Dana, barely getting it out and not even looking the part either: “Peachy.” It’s like her eyes just…totally give her away. She’s screaming “I need help” at him without saying a word.
• “You did what you had to do with that guy.”
• “If you’re hungry, we’ve got a pretty good cafeteria.” “Don’t lie to him.” “…we have a cafeteria.”
• “God, I hope there are still some hospitals left for you to work at.” First off, of course the farm boy wants to do rural medicine and help his people. Second…yeah. That part.
• Can we talk about how Javadi and “human Utah” are, like, so casual now? She’s much more confident around him—like, she can actually speak!—and he’s…encouraging? Oh, our baby is grown.
• I would’ve hurt my hand if I slammed something against glass/plastic/whatever as hard and as sharply as LaNasa does there. Iconic.
• The forced calm from McKay.
• Frank Langdon: History fanboy. Confirmed. How delightful. Ball’s like a kid in a candy store there. Or, like, Langdon meeting these guys from the museum is how I’d feel if I met Buffy or something.
• “We’re—we’re fine.” SO MUCH EMOTION from Florek.
• “It’s tough to find the balance between respecting your loved ones’ need for agency and doing what’s best for their safety.” Mel and Becca have entered the chat.
• “You’re worried if you don’t leave tonight, you won’t leave at all. Look, I get it. I can feel it in the air here. This place is like quicksand.”
• “Nice save, Robby…you, too, Trinity.”
• “Sometimes, just affirming a patient’s…independence, autonomy, can do a world of good.” Love the way Wyle gestures as Robby struggles to find the words.
• “It’s always ‘do as I say, not as I do’ with you, isn’t it? What is wrong with you today?” In which Dana is all of us.
• “He made a mistake, and he paid for it.” “Did he; did he go to jail? Because I let him get away with a crime. So, what does that make me?” “Human! Are you angry at him, or are you angry at you?”
• “Oh, don’t be such a martyr. This place is always teetering on the brink of disaster, with or without you. We do it every night, every day off. This place is bigger than one person. It survived without Adamson, it survived without me, and it’ll survive without you.”
• Um. Someone please help Santos?!
• Ah. Thank GOD for Whitaker.
• The roommates! Gerran Howell and Isa Briones are so much fun together, and Whitaker really, really just gets Santos enough to know all her complaining and being extra bit**y is actually her trying not to let on that she likes having him around. I love it. They’re the best.
• “Admit that you like having me as your roommate.” “You are such a fuckleberry. Have fun with Robby’s plants.” 10/10, no notes. And Javadi got to be messy and live for the whole thing!
• Yet another great moment for Fiona Dourif: McKay is, like, such a mom with this Curtis guy at first. Like, there’s a place where she stops, takes in what he says and just…she’s a mom. That’s a mom look! And then, the more he rages at her, the more she enjoys herself, just laughing through that line about “our nation’s big, beautiful birthday.” So much fun. Our girl absolutely would have signed off on anything Dana needed, huh.
• On a more serious note, the pause before McKay begins to (once again) express her concern about Robby is super timing. She’s so patient and cautious with how she shares. But Robby just can not handle it and fidgets, and plays innocent, and ultimately makes his escape.
• “You know 62% of ED docs report suffering from burnout?” 99.9% at this hospital, thanks.
• OH NO.
• The emotion on “oh, my God. Orlando.”
• Kill me now.

Agree? Disagree? What did you think of The Pitt Season 2 Episode 12 “6:00 P.M.”? Leave us a comment!

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