“The Pitt” is no “ER” reboot, even though both shows star Noah Wyle. In fact, R. Scott Gemmill’s series might be one of the most accurate medical dramas ever made, especially in the eyes of real-life doctors who’ve discussed the show with Wyle. “I’ve met a lot of veteran doctors and this show hits hard — too hard — with some of them,” Wyle told Radio Times. “It’s a rare thing for a doctor to have the courage to be self-analytical and really take stock of the toll their career has taken on them.”
Wyle added that he grew up in a medical family, as his mom was a nurse who experienced similar situations to certain events depicted in the show. She was especially bothered by Season 1’s mass casualty storyline, which brought back horrifying memories of her career.
Wyle also revealed that his mom never disclosed any of that information until after she’d seen “The Pitt,” which reflects the experiences of other real-life medical professionals who need to quickly move on after witnessing tragedies. With that in mind, what have doctors had to say about the show?
The Pitt doesn’t shy away from the realities of the job
Noah Wyle isn’t exaggerating when he says “The Pitt” resonates with real doctors, and others agree. There are many great medical dramas out there, but pediatrician (and co-host of “The Pitt Podcast”) Dr. Alok Patel believes that the HBO Max series is the most realistic of the bunch. Speaking to NPR, Patel noted that it highlights the everyday challenges doctors face that don’t often get covered in TV shows.
“There are so many topics that affect patient care that are not glorified. And so ‘The Pitt’ did this really artful job of inserting these topics with the right characters and the right relatable scenarios. I don’t want to give anything away, but there’s a pretty relatable issue in Season 2 with medical bills.”
“The Pitt” is also authentic in its portrayal of people’s sickness having an emotional impact on their loved ones. One heartbreaking storyline from “The Pitt” Season 1 felt real for an ER doctor, as it portrays children facing the reality of saying goodbye to their dying parents. “The Pitt” is an emotional series — but working in health care isn’t easy at the best of times.