Bets are taken on the whereabouts of a stolen ambulance, while Santos learns a hard lesson, and Whitaker helps to tame "The Kraken."
So much information is packed into each episode. Not all of it pays off in the span of each hour either. The narrative focuses on the delicate and intricate work of each story. It creates a complicated web. One where it's difficult to manage and oversee everything going on. At one point, Robby and Dana celebrate the progress they've made in getting people in and out of the Pitt. That stands in sharp contrast to the long wait times. Doug is furious by the prospect of staying in the waiting room even longer. Right now, the doctors and nurses are only monitoring his condition. They don't have a room to spare. He is perfectly capable of waiting and being monitored in the waiting room. He views it as a level of disrespect. The system doesn't care about him. He derides the treatment as being similar to a third-world country. He is perfectly frank in expressing his opinion. The people sitting next to him are all seen by doctors. He has repeat lab work drawn. That's the staff doing their jobs. He came in quickly after experiencing chest pain. If his condition changes, he's surrounded by people capable of alerting those in charge. He isn't urgent. And so, this is the process he must endure. He wants a doctor to talk to him. Instead, he just has to listen to nurses as they explain how everything is going to happen. These details are important. It adds to the atmospheric pressure.
Expectations were set from the previous shift too. Plenty was happening when Robby came into work. He was handed off tons of responsibilities from Abbott. He was told about the military veteran who died. His sister was coming in. Robby provided support for her during that difficult moment. Abbott was also expecting a teenager for a medical abortion. Robby was on the lookout. Yet the case isn't handed to him. Nor does it seem as straightforward as the previous assessment suggested. Collins catches the case. It's not difficult for her because she is pregnant as well. Instead, she simply notices something during the ultrasound. Of course, it's not explicitly stated. That creates tension for the future. The show understands the real-life complexities of healthcare. Reproductive health has become a potent issue in the zeitgeist. People have strong feelings on both sides about fetal life. These doctors and nurses are on the front lines of those decisions. They lead with empathy. They take their patients through their options. They have to follow certain guidelines as well. Sometimes those are based on scientific facts. Other times, it's driven entirely by vibes. That has the potential to cause even more pain even though Collins doesn't share all that she suspects at this point.
Coming into the Pitt is a learning experience for everyone. College students learn the dangers of taking pills without a prescription. That too is a crisis in the country. So many drugs are being cut with fentanyl. They can be poisoned without having any prior addictions. It can become fatal from just one pill. It's not beneficial to distract from that reality either. That's the initial instinct from Santos. She believes her life experience is valuable. However, people don't respond the same way she does. Moreover, she doesn't have the skills to support the confidence. Sure, Garcia takes notice of her. Even when she makes a mistake, Garcia is willing to cut her some slack. Interns are meant to learn based on real applications of medicine. It's the way they grow. That has already been on display with Whitaker. He faced the cold reality of death. He was powerless to stop it. Meanwhile, Santos has the power to make things worse. That's what happens when she prescribes the wrong treatment. It causes complications immediately. Fortunately, she isn't alone in this situation. Langdon and Robby are nearby to correct the mistake. Moreover, Garcia leads with the understanding that this complication may have arisen at some point anyway. It's futile trying to pass the blame. Lessons need to be learned. That requires making mistakes. Santos is just like the other interns and medical students. That's what working at a teaching hospital is all about. It's not trolling for cool procedures to perform. It's about facing the demands of the job and the expertise each individual must bring to it.
The staff take ahold of the moments to find the black humor amongst the chaos too. They laugh at the expense of the paramedic who left the keys in the ambulance. She disagrees with her partner about what the protocol actually is. It's confusing. People have to operate within these systems that seem counterintuitive. It delights others. Everyone bets on the identity of the person who stole the ambulance. No answers are provided in that regard either. That could be frustrating. It certainly may not align with the overall grade listed above. However, this episode showcases that careful balance of this workplace. Dana doesn't encourage the impromptu betting pool. Everyone has the instinct to get involved. Moreover, some of the realities of this job just suck. Expectations were set about the Kraken still lurking in the Pitt. He has finally woken up. He's in a drug-induced mania. He requires near constant sedation. The Pitt isn't equipped to provide timely delivery of medications. They are focused on providing immediate treatment. Yet patients remain boarded in this place. And so, the staff have to do a little bit of everything. It just means Whitaker has to get a change of scrubs all over again. It's brutal but he truly is experiencing everything within this environment on his first shift.
And then, the heartbreak arrives with the family accepting the loss of their father. It hits home with Robby as well because of the location. The patient has to be moved to another room. It's designed for pediatric patients. The Pitt doesn't have any of those right now. Moreover, space needs to be made. It's tragic for Robby because it's the same place where his mentor succumbed to COVID. Every space had to be converted to treat patients from the pandemic. Robby remains haunted by that experience. It's overwhelming because he has to pass along what was taught to him. He provides guidance to grieving loved ones who don't know what to say during the final moments of life. It really doesn't need to be complicated. It's a profession of love. It's appreciation. It's forgiveness. Those are the central tenets. Human existence can be boiled down to them. The family is moved by the insight. They still struggle to reckon with the reality of this happening. They believe they are actively choosing it. Yet the decision belonged to their father when he was capable of making his wishes known. Time has simply come for him to die. His family had complicated relationships with him. He was precisely who he needed to be. That wasn't always appreciated or needed. It provided a lifetime of memories. Robby knew death was coming. He needed to be present as well. He provides the final confirmation. He releases that grief.
