The Fourth Of July setting promises plenty of literal fireworks and presumably at least some of the blown-off fingers Dr. Shen (Ken Kirby) jokes about. But the real fireworks factory is once again the repressed tension bubbling underneath the surface for our heroic doctors and nurses. Part of the thesis of the show is that no one who works in an ER is ever fully okay. And though Robby’s decision to take a sabbatical seems like a good thing, that lack of a helmet suggests he hasn’t fully turned over a less self-destructive leaf either.
For now, however, we’re just one hour into this season’s shift, and this episode is largely about laying some of the groundwork for the storylines we’ll be following for the next 14: a deaf patient waiting in the lobby, a nine-year-old who may be being abused, an unhoused man in desperate need of a shower before his cast removal, a surly patient with strange memory gaps, the return of lovable drunk Louie Cloverfield (Ernest Harden Jr.), and, most notably, an abandoned baby found in the hospital bathroom.
It’s also about reintroducing us to our main characters through a series of incredibly charming vignettes, like Mel King (Taylor Dearden) almost-hugging Langdon in excitement or Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif) freaking out Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) by talking about her sex life or Dana taking new nursing-school grad Emma Nolan (Laëtitia Hollard) under her wing or Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) getting excited about Javadi’s upcoming 21st birthday or Whitaker repeating Robby’s moment of silence speech from last season. There’s enough to catch up on that there’s at least some of that sense of discovery as we reorient ourselves to the new status quo of the time jump. Although, even more than I was expecting, “7:00 AM” also feels like one-fifteenth of a story rather than a particularly splashy or even thematically cohesive premiere—something those of us who fell in love with the first season on a binge-watch are just going to have to get used to.
If there’s a central hook to this episode, it’s Robby’s lightly adversarial relationship with Al-Hashimi, a.k.a. “Dr. Al.” Where he’s a bit of a medical cowboy, she’s an algorithm-loving rule-follower who’s more eager to meet the hospital’s statistical demands. What’s great about their dynamic is that you can at least kind of see both sides. The fact that she shows up early and basically takes over Robby’s ER isn’t a great start and her love of paperwork and packets marks her as a dweeb. But the idea of a “patient passport” that helps give those in the waiting room more information is a good one. As is the fact that she’s willing to adjust her approach as she comes to understand Dr. Robby’s vibe better.
But probably the biggest thing in Al-Hashimi’s favor is that she comes from the same VA that produced Samira and Mel—two of the most empathetic characters on the show. She may be a “clinical informatics” expert with a passion for AI and efficiency, but she’s not exactly heartless. And given that Robby can be prickly in his own way too, she’s an interesting foil through which to challenge “the way things are done” at the Pitt (which she thinks needs a rebrand). At the very least, she seems like she’s committed to the idea of direct communication, which is probably better than the passive aggressive cold shoulder Robby gives Langdon all episode.
Given all that, it’s a shame the episode doesn’t find a way to circle back around to Robby and Al-Hashimi’s dynamic in its closing moments, which would have given this premiere a little more thematic cohesion. Instead, we end with Dr. Al discovering…something about the abandoned baby. It’s certainly a hook to take us into next week but more in a “I’m not sure what’s happening” way than an “I can’t wait to see where this goes” way.
Still, despite that concern, it’s so fun to be back in the world of The Pitt (and only one year after the season-one premiere!) that I’m mostly inclined to let it slide for now. The premise of the show may be a little less novel in its second season. But that also means it’s even more comforting too. I’m so emotionally invested in these hyper-competent characters that simply clocking in with them for another shift is a joy. And as one of the first big shows to return in 2026, “elevated comfort food” isn’t a bad way to kick off the new year—or the Fourth Of July.
Stray observations
- • Welcome to The A.V. Club’s coverage of The Pitt season two! I’m excited to delve into this season with all of you. The baby storyline is probably the one I’m most interested in following for now, but mostly I can’t wait until we get an extended Mel/Langdon reunion.
- • As he walks into the ER for his shift, Robbie briefly pauses in front of a plaque from the city, thanking the PTMC staff for their “extraordinary service” during the Pittfest shooting.
- • The Pitt opted not to bring back Tracy Ifeachor (a.k.a. Dr. Heather Collins) this season, but given the show’s one-day-only structure, I’m not sure that’s something that even needs to be addressed. This could just be Dr. Collins’ day off.
- • Some future things to expect this season: Robby personally calls a patient named Duke to tell him to come in before 3 p.m., and Mel reveals she has a deposition for a malpractice lawsuit later in the day.
- • I’m predicting McKay’s confused patient has Dissociative Identity Disorder, which would explain both the memory gaps and the shifts in his personality.
- • There are times when The Pitt seems to struggle to give equal emotional through-lines to its massive cast, and I’m a little worried that Samira’s only real storyline here is about her mom getting married and taking a year-long cruise.
- • The nurses’ safe word is “hula hoop.” How long until that’s deployed this season?
- • “Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.” / “Captain Crunch flying squirrel socks. Are we talking in code or are you having a stroke?”
- • Gnarliest moment of the week: The lung surgery takes the cake here, but I was also a little freaked out watching Mel suture that leg wound on the guy she doesn’t realize is flirting with her.
Caroline Siede is a contributor to The A.V. Club.
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