“And if you need anything—.“ Whoever’s trying to argue that The Pitt is devoid of romance watched Robby and Collins’ back-of-the-ambulance scene with their eyes closed because what we have here is not only one of the most important conversations in the show, but we have all the puzzle pieces for an eventual second chance romance.
Throughout the day, the series shows us that there’s history between the two of them by exhibiting all the small ways they check in on each other. Yes, it’s Robby’s job as the attending doctor, but even without verbal confirmation, we’d see the profundity of their past in all the little ways Robby looks at Collins. We see it in all the stolen gazes and the longing that consistently leaps off the screen.
The nuance in each of their exchanges can fill an entire encyclopedia on workplace relationships because there’s so much to deconstruct about how we got here. We know that they’ve dated, but because of their current dynamic, the breakup wasn’t horrible. They’re friends still, playful even at times, and there’s no denying that if she says “Jump,” Robby will say, “How high?” Again, all of the tension is validated when we learn that they have, in fact, dated, and their scene by the ambulance cements how they can be so good together if (hopefully when) they get back together.
The final scene between the two of them in The Pitt Season 1, Episode 11, “5:00 P.M.,” is all about healing for Collins, and it’s an exhibition of how deeply Robby cares for her. There’s something really tender about the fact that she can open up about the perils of IVF with him, and something even more vulnerable about how she then talks about the abortion she had, implying, without a shadow of a doubt, based on Robby’s expression that she’s talking about a pregnancy in which he was the father. Noah Wyle does such a beautiful job of meeting Tracy Ifeachor halfway during her confession that we know every word he’ll say afterward is about to be the most sincere thing he’s uttered all day.
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Robby’s decision to tell her that “he” would not only forgive her but, more importantly, he’d want her to forgive himself is so deeply reflective of who he is as a person and how profoundly he cares for her. We can also be sure of the fact that he would’ve supported her decision back in the day as well, which makes the two of them eventually getting back together that much more gripping because there’s a solid foundation for them to stand on. They’re two people who care tremendously for each other, yet because there are no expectations at this moment, it makes it that much easier for Collins to open up to Robby.
At this moment, he’s there solely to comfort his friend, and she’s giving herself a moment to be truly vulnerable after a long and god-awful day. There’s no judgment here—no form of belittling or looking down at her. Robby sees her strength in a way no one else does, but Robby also knows that she needs time off. And she allows herself that temporary moment of relief when she drops her head to his shoulder, leaning against him in a moment that’s braver than if she’d continued denying how horrible her day has been.
Abortion is a sensitive topic that should always be handled with care, and in The Pitt, so many of these significant conversations occur with respect, understanding, and nuance. I don’t want to dismiss the importance of Collins finally freeing herself from this secret by talking about romance. But I do want to encourage an even bigger discussion here. Love is synonymous with understanding and empathy. Whether platonic or romantic, we exist in a space where the biggest thing we can do for other people is show up for them.
In the case of Robby and Collins, it’s also imperative to acknowledge that they’re each other’s person through all of this. In an interview with The Watch podcast, Noah Wyle states: “The whole end of the season is just removing bearing walls from Robby’s life. He leans so heavily on Collins and Langdon, and then you take them both away from him. He leans so heavily on Dana, and then she becomes compromised.” We get proof of how betrayed he feels by Langdon’s inability to talk to him about his withdrawals in the finale, but we also see evidence of how he keeps looking for Collins when it all crumbles.
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An enormous part of the series’ appeal is the humanity of it all. While information about the characters is limited, and the series primarily focuses on their work shifts, it’s still critical that we understand the people we’re meant to follow. It’s crucial for us to see the people that matter to them after they clock out. And there’s no denying that Collins matters tremendously to Robby in the same way he matters to her. There’s something beautiful about the two of them needing each other in a way that explores how human beings aren’t designed to be alone in this world. And it’s what makes their relationship so profound. There’s something so intimate about how the scene is framed to show them leaning on one another in a way that genuinely exhibits a brief beat of healing, which can also feel cathartic for those watching who’ve experienced similar points in their lives.
The Pitt Season 1 is now streaming on Max.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Photograph by John Johnson/HBO