Medical dramas have been a popular and entertaining format for decades. From “Grey’s Anatomy” and “E.R” to “House M.D.” and “The Good Doctor” framing the tried and true, drama and intrigue of a soap opera in a high stakes medical setting has proven to be a successful formula.
The typical medical drama is simply a drama that takes advantage of a high stakes medical setting. The standards are low in terms of medical accuracy because it is the drama that keeps viewers watching.
But the HBO series “The Pitt”, which premiered in 2025, stands out in this genre. The series does not sacrifice dramatic appeal, but it does dive deeper than other medical dramas into the real experiences of medical professionals and patients within the American healthcare system.
The chaos of the emergency room, the pressure of life saving care and the toll of 12 hour shifts are not used as props or plot devices. Instead, “The Pitt” portrays the problems within the American healthcare system with gritty realism. The dramatic elements draw viewers in and allow them to empathize with the characters, while the medical setting and its realism exposes viewers to some of the systemic issues in America’s healthcare system, especially its toll on healthcare workers.
Riley Stocks, a Junior at Hingham High School describes how the show “addresses real life struggles and is not just realistic in its portrayal of medical situations but also its portrayal of the issues of everyday people.” Both the dramatic and medical elements of the show allow it to direct more attention and empathy towards the challenges of the healthcare system.
Riley’s mother is a doctor who Riley says feels that “The Pitt” is a real reflection of how it is to be a doctor. The realism of the show stands out to many including Chloe Mankes ‘27 who was surprised by “how accurate it was about the roles of doctors and nurses in the emergency department and its hourly format is able to include everything involved.”
The unique format alone, of each hour long episode being one hour out of a 12 hour shift, demonstrates the long and labouring experience of healthcare workers and the amount of challenges, crises, and split second decisions one shift can entail.
Season Two of “The Pitt” aired on January 26th this year with each episode released weekly. Riley explains that “This season stood out because it dove even deeper into the mental health of medical professionals.” This season went even further to humanize medical professionals, breaking down the misconception that they are somehow immune to human emotions and hardships.
Viewers are shown doctors who deal with panic attacks, addiction, medical issues of their own, trauma and even suicidal thoughts, revealing that healthcare workers are neither perfect nor robotically capable of their jobs. Riley says, “It’s important to show these real struggles so that the medical system and medical professionals can get the resources they need to become more effective, safe and supportive.
Viewers also come face to face with some of the issues that plague not just the healthcare system, but also society as a whole. The mental health epidemic, the alarming frequency of mass shootings, the inefficiency of the police, the intrusion of ICE agents, the threat of AI and advancing technology on jobs, the lack of safety nets for the poor and vulnerable and the staggering costs of life saving care are just a few of the issues that the show brings to light.
“The Pitt” has proven that even fictitious and dramatic media can be an outlet for shared dissatisfaction with the status quo, and with such high popularity and such a wide audience “The Pitt” can be a potential catalyst not only for awareness but for change.
