Getting Trapped Inside The Pitt

By Sammy Ata

March 20, 2026, 10:00 a.m.

Medical dramas aren’t my cup of tea as long runs and overly melodramatic plots leave a poor taste in my mouth. Still, as spring break was ending, A recommendation from a close friend drew me to The Pitt.. Before finishing the first season, I was trapped inside The Pitt’s stressful, realistic, and captivating grip. ..

The Pitt’s biggest strength is its structure: each season is one shift, with each episode covering an hour of the shift. Episodes are hectic and fast paced, but still divide focus between the main cast. Each character's approach to their job is unique, which strengthens the cast dynamics: everybody gets their time to shine.

The “shift per season” format gives small decisions room to shine, and the show never slows down. Each episode transitions seamlessly, evenly spreading potlines and tension throughout the season. . The season 1 finale is extremely rewarding to watch, as each character grapples with a day’s worth of chaos and a season’s worth of stress. 

As the stakes heighten near the end of the season, many characters begin to break, an underrepresented aspect of the stress of medical professionals. At the same time, it’s miraculous to save so many lives in such a short amount of time, even if not everyone is so lucky. The Pitt, by accurately expressing both the peaks and valleys of doctors, makes every win feel earned.