The Pitt review: Noah Wyle medical drama is part ER, part 24, and all compelling

Medical dramas don't tend to be my primary choice of TV show. But I'd be a liar if I said The Pitt didn't hook me right away. SEE ALSO: 2025 TV preview: All the TV shows you need to know, and where to stream them The Pitt immerses us in the high-stress environment of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department, headed up by Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (ER's Noah Wyle, no stranger to on-screen medical emergencies). If all that sounds like a soft ER reboot to you, you wouldn't be the only one. In August 2024, the estate of ER creator Michael Crichton even filed a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television, claiming the series to be an unauthorized ER reboot. But while The Pitt certainly stands on ER's shoulders — it's created by longtime ER writer and producer R. Scott Gemmill, and produced by ER showrunner John Wells — it also works hard to set itself apart. From exploring issues with modern-day healthcare systems to employing a real-time conceit in the vein of 24, The Pitt establishes itself as its own beast, one that's harrowing, compulsively watchable, and just the right mix of soapy and grounded. What's The Pitt about? Isa Briones, Tracy Ifeachor, and Noah Wyle in "The Pitt." Credit: Warrick Page / Max Each of The Pitt's 15 episodes (an almost unheard-of number in today's streaming landscape) covers about one hour in Robby's 15-hour shift in the ED. That means we clock in with him at 7 a.m. and stay with him until his work day is done. SEE ALSO: 'Severance' Season 2 may already be the best show of the year: Review And what a work day it is. It's the anniversary of Robby's mentor Dr. Adamson's death from COVID complications. It's also the first day on the job for several interns and residents, all of whom need guidance from Robby and his colleagues, including senior residents Dr. Collins (Tracy Ifeachor) and Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball). After a prolonged intro to the large staff of the ED — colloquially known as "the pit" — The Pitt jumps into high gea