Viewers of HBO’s hit hospital drama The Pitt are full of praise as the show took on Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in its Thursday episode.
The show, which has picked up five Emmy Awards and 13 nominations, featured ICE agents as a crucial plot point in episode, as they bring in a suspiciously injured woman detainee for treatment.
As the agents — one masked — stand in the emergency room, multiple patients and staff members flee in fear. A nurse is then detained as he tries to protect the original detainee.
Dr. Robby, played by Noah Wyle, lashes out. “Patients come in here for help, because they’re either sick or they’re injured,” he angrily tells an agent. “Documented or undocumented, they have a right to emergency care.”
The political episode was applauded by viewers.
One, who claimed to be a student doctor, took to X and wrote, “I created this account to share my perspective on the show as a medical student. The ICE storyline? That’s real.
“I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and that hurt. Inhumane treatment of immigrants. Violence against those who try to help. Fear of being detained. The Pitt got it right.”
Another user suggested that, for non-Americans watching the show, The Pitt only just scratches the surface of public opinion on ICE agents. “For any non-Americans surprised at the behavior of the ICE agents I can assure you they’re worse in real life,” they wrote.
“Like that whole ordeal was harrowing but it’s only a fraction of the things that those monsters are capable of and have done and will continue to do.”
A third fan of the show added, “I haven’t caught up with The Pitt but I feel sick to my stomach seeing that scene.”
Slate writer David Mack suggested the show had referenced Donald Trump’s administration throughout the season, without even mentioning the president’s name. He wrote, “Donald Trump may not be mentioned by name in The Pitt, but throughout this season in particular, it’s clear the show takes place in his shadow.
“Episode 11, though, is where our current politics manifest themselves most undeniably in a scene that directly evokes the chaos and brutality we’ve witnessed from federal agents in states across the country.”
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, show creator R. Scott Gemmill confirmed the episode had been written and recorded shortly before the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
“We looked at what’s going on, and we don’t try to prophesize; we just naturally extrapolate what could happen,” he said. “And that happened with the measles case. It happened with the cyberattack, and it’s happened with ICE. Things unfortunately have gotten much more severe with that than what we had ever imagined.”
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