‘The Pitt’ season 2, episode 4 recap: where is Dr Collins?
We get answers to the whereabouts of Dr Collins; we find out what's going on at Casa Santos y Whitaker; McKay goes on a date, and more
This recap contains spoilers for The Pitt season 2, episode 4.
THE WRITERS OF The Pitt have been burying two ledes up until now. One, what are the living situations like over at Casa Santos y Whitaker? We got a little glimpse of their dynamic seeping into the workplace this episode. But glaringly, where is Dr Heather Collins? We were introduced to nurse Hastings, Robby’s new love-interest, before we got an answer to Collins’ whereabouts. A part from that, episode four reveals the identity of the mysterious local celebrity ‘Dr J’. McKay plans on going on a date after her shift. The realities of health insurance come to light, and more.
If you haven’t already, read our recap on last week’s episode of The Pitt here.
What happened to Dr Collins in The Pitt?
We finally have our answer to Dr Collins’ absence. It comes up this episode when Louis is wondering if “a sister” can help him out. Robby walks in right as Whitaker says she moved to Portland, where she’s now an attending physician; has since adopted a baby; and moved back to her hometown to be closer to family. Despite Robby having a new love-interest, he still misses her.
Now for the real reason (British actress) Tracy Ifeachor, who plays Collins, hasn’t reappeared in The Pitt season two: she left not of her own accord. Turns out, the show’s creative team decided to not write her into season two. We first met Collins in season one as she found out she was pregnant, before shortly miscarrying on the same day (or season). It’s a moment for her and Robby to have a heart-to-heart, despite their relationship ending years prior. Although it seems avoidant to write out her arc, for the purposes of Collins, moving back to adopt and be with family seems within the scope of reality.
Place your bets
After Dana received the Code Black call last episode (or moments ago in Pitt time) that Westbridge was shutting down, PTMC is preparing for a deluge of diverted trauma patients. That and the doctors and attendings are placing their bets with how many hours Westbridge will shut for, how many patients they’ll get, and the reason for their Code Black. Al-Hashimi says wagering on a Code Black isn’t something they did at VA, but takes part in it here, who, with Robby, puts her money down for a flooding.
Dr J to the rescue
Upskilling is important in any profession; if everyone knows the same thing, what else can you bring to the table? We saw a bit of that last season when Javadi was able to kiki with a young patient about a cosmetic trauma. Seems like she took it to heart, as Javadi started a TikTok medical advice page under the, admittedly uncreative, pseudonym ‘Dr J’.
So when Langdon encounters a young woman who’s super-glued an eyelid shut, he’s mystified as to who this Dr J is. “[Dr J] is the best doctor in Pittsburgh,” she said. Dr J’s influence must be far-reaching, considering a patient specifically requested to see her (I’d say Javadi would’ve omitted the exact hospital she works at – so stalker?). When Dr J arrives on the scene, the patient gushes about how much of a fan she is; she loved her video on how to deal with difficult coworkers. “I’ll have to watch that one,” said Langdon.
Once the patient’s closed eyelid is released, she looks at Javadi like she can turn anything to gold. This could bode well for Javadi earning a permanent spot since Santos and Whitaker have earned their titles. Cosmetic trauma could very well be her niche. But it’s unsure if she’ll want her side quest getting out beyond Langdon.
Dr McKay gets intimate with two patients
McKay has caught the attention of two men in the ER. One is the old romantic who keeps spinning her into a dance as she laughs it off. Turns out his diagnosis in a fractured tail bone, which means he’ll have to rest for about six weeks. He’s crestfallen to hear that he’ll have to halt his social calendar, the joy of his life. Later in the episode, she sticks a gloved finger up his butt to alleviate the pressure; this man isn’t as adventurous with his sex life as he seemed.
Anyway, the other gent wearing a Three Lions jersey is an actual potential romantic interest. He’s been sitting up in his bed for the past two episodes flirting with McKay: admiring her witch cackle and how she should save him a dance. His time in the ER has come up, which McKay carefully words as this will be the last time they’ll be seeing each other here. He’s a little saddened that his discharge is the end of it. But she walks back saying that she intends on seeing some galleries around the city after her shift at 9 pm, should he join her. An indirect invitation, we’ll be seeing him again at the end of the season, weeks from now!
Battle of the student doctors
Nothing beats the friction between a know-it-all and a cynic. James Ogilvie and Joy Kwon have been going at each other for three episode now, which means their conflict could reach a tipping point sometime soon. Though I remain steadfastly on team Kwon, who gets the best jabs in. When McKay specifically asked her a question, Ogilvie was only too eager to answer. “I didn’t know your name was Joy,” she said. “I’ll have to tell my parents they were really trendy,” getting a laugh out of Robby and McKay.
But Ogilvie means well. He does have his learning curve this episode when a motorbike accident patient comes in, and Ogilvie pulls an icicle sized glass shard out of his back, causing an artery to pool. Pulling out an object from a wound is a big no-no, even laypeople know that. Robby lays it gently though, and Ogilvie reassures that it’ll never happen again.
No insurance in the Pitt
This recapper is watching The Pitt from the very safe distance of being in Australia, where healthcare is free and private health insurance is largely affordable. Though I did start to wonder by the end of last season, does everyone in the US have health insurance? My question was answered when Mohan gets a patient this episode whose family can’t afford his medical bills, which has already accrued to the six figure range. Nurse Noelle Hastings tells Dr Mohan that the family should apply for the affordability plan, but it still isn’t enough. The daughter of the patient, though, started a GoFundMe, the appeal already reaching its goal in just a few hours. But her stubbornly proud Latino dad tells her to take it down; he doesn’t want to accept hand-outs.
Casa Santos y Whitaker
Something to admire about The Pitt is its ability to bring under-researched medical topics to light. One this episode is when Santos gets a patient who at first seems ill; the patient doesn’t want to become a hassle, so she asks if she can just go home with a prescription. But Dr King’s read is different, who recognises that the patient might have an eating disorder. Her diagnosis was correct, as the patient revealed she grew up in a household with a big appetite, and then went to college where she started vomiting up her food. The worst compliment of all would insinuate this was a good thing: “You look great!” King says eating disorders for Black women is common, but largely goes under the radar.
So, if you’ve been wondering how the living situation has been over at Casa Santos y Whitaker, the former always seems on edge with her housemate. After the season one finale saw Santos take her fellow student doctor in after she found him slumming it in the abandoned part of the hospital, it seems she’s constantly irritated by him. (The writers really buried the lede here for three full episodes.) But if there’s something for Whitaker to be pissed about, what’s happening with Santos and Garcia at their place? (Remember, Garcia said, “Reminds me of someone I know,” before the camera cut to Santos.)
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