Spoilers The Pitt Season 2 Discussion

[Umbran]

I think you misunderstand the difference between consciously targeting someone and not being aware that one’s behavior is sexist.

Well, let me ask you a question - do you think is it possible for a man to have a clash with a woman that isn't driven by his sexism?

If you don't feel that's possible, then the discussion ends there, I think.

If you do believe it is possible - what, in these cases, indicates to you that these are driven by his sexism, and not anything else?

 

[VashVet]

Well, let me ask you a question - do you think is it possible for a man to have a clash with a woman that isn't driven by sexism?

If you don't feel that's possible, then the discussion ends there, I think.

If you do believe it is possible - what, in these cases, indicates to you that they are driven by his sexism, and not anything else?

Sure, it’s possible.

Why I think this is not what’s happening here:

He’s already showed he was willing to defend a teenage boy because he felt he was misjudged even though there was evidence that he was thinking of harming girls in his class. I think McKay addressed the implications for women in the show very adeptly; Robby simply disagreed. His need to protect one boy outweighed the danger posed to several girls. So the writers made the case for why women feel unsafe and unheard in situations like this, and chose to write Robby’s character as the counterpoint to it. The point is, however, sexism in medicine and as it relates to people in danger is very much on the table in this show.

He has clashed with Mohan repeatedly despite other characters frequently commending her for the same things he’s criticized her for such as her bedside manner helping catch undiagnosed or misdiagnosed illnesses. He came down on her for her panic attack - no, I don’t think he would’ve just done that to anyone. He came down on her for a misdiagnosis that Ogilvie makes.

And finally, there’s the fight with Al-Hashimi. She has a medical opinion from a neurologist who has said she can continue to practice. Robby disagrees but also ignores his own unhandled suicidal thoughts that can also equally lead to a lack of focus and a bad medical decision. Again, it’s not for nothing that it was part of the actress’s motivation for that scene: In her own words speaking about it: (from the Parade article I linked to earlier)

I’ve heard from countless women in medicine about these sorts of barriers that they have to overcome and the resistance the push down from higher-level men. And kudos to the team for being, you know, willing to explore this real dynamic that’s reflected across our system.

So it’s not just an imagined happenstance. It’s real subtext acted out by Sepideh Moafi in that scene.

 

[Rabulias]

He came down on her for a misdiagnosis that Ogilvie makes.

As a resident, it was part of Mohan's job to double-check Ogilvie's work, and he made a misdiagnosis that should have been caught.

 

[Basic Expert]

I can see Robby's abandonment issues feeding into him snapping at Mohan for having a panic attack due to her mother's excessive involvement. He sees it both as a frivolous reason for a panic attack during a busy day AND something he has probably wished for for years. His over-reaction makes perfect sense.

I wouldn't however peg him as a misogynist in general, given his other interactions on the show. I think his disagree with McKay in season one was more rooted in duty of care to the patient over-riding all other concerns for him. For Robby, it is "see problem, fix problem". This might cause him to de-emphasize other potential problems (such as danger to others). McKay is more adept at seeing the bigger picture. It makes sense why the writers gave each their position on this.

The al-Shimi confrontation at the end of season two was a bit less successful, in my opinion, mostly since it felt a bit too rushed and underwritten. I would have liked a larger peak behind the a-Shimi curtain. Robby has no tolerance for those he doesn't think can't cut it in the ED--that much is very evident--especially as was searching for someone to take over the ED from him.

For what it's worth, Robby might be my least favorite character on the show. I don't think it's a bad or uninteresting character, and Noah Wyle is very good, but I feel that I've seen versions of this character before. He serves as a great lead, but gimme Dana or Mel. And I'm totally down for their tertiary cast: Perlah, Princess, Jesse and the rest of the support staff. That's where the show really shines for me.

 

[billd91]

The al-Shimi confrontation at the end of season two was a bit less successful, in my opinion, mostly since it felt a bit too rushed and underwritten. I would have liked a larger peak behind the a-Shimi curtain. Robby has no tolerance for those he doesn't think can't cut it in the ED--that much is very evident--especially as was searching for someone to take over the ED from him.

Moreover, he was coming right off an emergency case where immediacy and fast reaction was paramount for the survival of the baby and mother and he just found out that the colleague he was supposed to leave the ER to had two seizures that day, possibly provoked by the stress of the job. Hoo boy. That's a pretty heavy revelation.

He takes responsibility for the ER and the people under its care extremely seriously, that's been a major thread throughout the series - from making sure that the doctors are a good fit (like Mohan really isn't) and staying within/not stepping too far outside of their lanes as ER physicians (like with the boy with the hit list of girls in season 1 and the prisoner in season 2).

 

[Stalker0]

Moreover, he was coming right off an emergency case where immediacy and fast reaction was paramount for the survival of the baby and mother and he just found out that the colleague he was supposed to leave the ER to had two seizures that day, possibly provoked by the stress of the job. Hoo boy. That's a pretty heavy revelation.

Yeah this is a point that needs to be doubled down on.

Again even if we ignore all of Robbie's mental issues, imagine how it would feel. Your about to leave work for 3 months, the person you are trusting you to take over "your baby" comes to you at the last damn minute of the day "oh btw I have this terrible condition that might completely invalidate my ability to cover for you....but I have a plan so we are good". And that's just after a crazy stressful and terrible shift (and oh yeah your friend just got a cancer diagnosis you just dealt with).

Again I'll state, Robbie was down right PLEASANT considering that circumstance. I think anyone could have had a "WTF!!!!!" moment at that point, not the least a person going through mental breakdown.