Acute Nostalgia Alert! 'The Pitt' & 'Doctor Odyssey'
Hi WNVM-ers,
Welcome to our improbably medical-themed issue. We’re ready to see you in the exam room now!
This week, we were inspired by a post on Bluesky which read: “I love that we have the most realistic and least realistic medical dramas airing at the same time.” Turns out that each of us was watching — and loving — one of them: Fawnia “Doctor Odyssey” and Cheryl “The Pitt.” (This is very, very on-brand for us individually.) These shows are actually perfect for our mission statement, because there is a whole lot of déjà vu and Gen X juju informing them, while also being very much of our current time. Plus, we had so much fun doing one of our most popular posts, the Pedro Pascal story, that we really wanted to co-write something again.
Then, new ‘80s/’90s remakes and sequels, and Will Smith is all over social media.
You may need to view this in your browser so it doesn’t cut off, plus there are spoilers ahead!
Bad Medicine Is What I Need
‘The Pitt’ and ‘Doctor Odyssey’ have infected us with delight.
By Fawnia and Cheryl
“Doctor Odyssey” and “The Pitt” couldn’t be more different from each other. But their throwback influences and casting, as well as a legacy of age-old medical show tropes, make them both comfortably familiar. It’s really soothing to recognize people and situations you’ve been watching for 40+ years.
That being said, they’re also thoroughly modern, as evidenced by COVID storylines, gun violence, and a few new classic situations that hopefully 30 years from now someone will be writing about: “Hey, remember when medical shows started showing influencers getting poisoned?”
We identified some common themes and blogged our hearts out. Sorry in advance for all the medical puns:
Why These Shows Are a Balm
Doc O/FSH: My god, this Ryan Murphy show is like a “Mad Libs” of all the things that bring me joy, and let me tell you, I need some serious escapism and comfort watching right now. There's “The Love Boat” format (a cruise-ship setting with a regular rotation of A to C-list guest stars), the obvious “Miami Vice”-ness of a silver foxy Don Johnson as the benevolent leader, Captain Massey, and objectively ridiculous medical mysteries of the week. The series raged back midseason with a SHARK ATTACK two-parter, that's also a low-key “Friday Night Lights” and “Dawson’s Creek” crossover. (Joshua “Pacey” Jackson plays Dr. Max Bankman, the titular healthcare provider on the luxury cruise ship, The Odyssey.) Never mind the all-around hotness, to be further discussed below. All aboard!
The Pitt/CW: Coming off consecutive viewings of “Severance,” “Squid Game,” and “The Last of Us,” I was ready for something lighter. Haaaaaa. This is not it. When I heard about “The Pitt,” helmed by a tired-looking Noah Wyle, I had a visceral reaction. He had been the fresh-faced medical student on “ER” 30 years ago — and now? He has clearly seen some shit. Same, Dr. Carter-slash-Dr. Robby. Same. I was all in. For 17 years, before I changed careers at 40 to write about fashion and eventually the beauty industry, I was a nurse and then a nurse practitioner. In 1994, “ER” started when I was a newbie working the night shift in Chicago. I was hooked right away. Ditto now. The medical chatter on “The Pitt” is like hearing a language I’m rusty at, but comprehension came rushing back. Most importantly, the show is just really good! Moving, thought-provoking, funny (in between the gut-wrenching tragedies), realistic, and with great character development.
Relapsing Into Nostalgia
The Pitt/CW: This show is basically “ER 2: Electric Boogaloo.” It’s not, really, but Michael Crichton’s widow thinks it might be and is suing the producers. She claims the team pitched her an “ER” reboot and then launched it, without Crichton’s estate being involved, as “The Pitt.” The costume designer is Lyn Paolo, who also worked on all 15 seasons of “ER.”
Doc O/FSH: The show clearly nods to the romance-comedy series, “The Love Boat,” which ran from 1977 to 1986 — but from the creative visionary behind the absolutely unhinged and ultra-gory “American Horror Story” and “Monsters” franchises. There’s even a literal shout-out to the show I’d watch every Saturday night as a kid. To win the annual Halloween contest, dreamy nurse Tristan (Sean Teale) borrows Massey’s maritime thirst-trap uniform to dress up as “the adorable Captain Stubing from ‘The Love Boat!’” (Kudos to costume designer, Rudy Mance.)
Long-Term Memory
The Pitt/CW: Noah Wyle, as Dr. Robby, slips on his scrubs once again, along with the weight of the world. He is just so great in this: grieving, wise, kind, fucked up. It shows in his small facial expressions, and in bouts of simmering anger. Also: he really looks good in what I’m going to assume is the COVID beard he never bothered to shave off, like the PTSD he still harbors from that time.
Doc O/FSH: Captain Massey could actually be speedboat-dwelling Detective Sonny Crockett 40 years later. Like he burnt out, left the force, found Buddhism, like Johnson, himself, and dedicated his life to the sea. Fun fact: St. Vitus Dance, the name of Crockett’s speedboat, is an informal name for a neurological disorder that The Odyssey crack medical team could diagnose! The guests are Gen X nostalgia city, too, like John Stamos as Massey’s gay alcoholic baby brother, Shania Twain as a sweet, hot widow who’s understandably drawn to the captain, Gina Gershon, as the Odyssey owner’s wife, who’s also horny for Cap, and Angela Bassett in a Murphy-verse “911” crossover.
Exposed to COVID
Doc O/FSH: Well, Dr. Max happens to be SARS-CoV-2 Patient Zero. Beat that, The Pitt!
The Pitt/CW: Alas, I cannot. Dr. Robby has never really recovered from watching his colleague and mentor die in his own ER during COVID, shown in a series of distressing flashbacks during which I have to take a very deep breath.
Fever-Inducing Docs and Nurses
Doc O/FSH: If I was a guest on the Odyssey, I’d ingest obscene amounts of shrimp from the seafood buffet to cause iodine poisoning — just so this smoking hot medical trio could give me a full-body exam. Like my childhood crush, Cap Crockett, Jackson continues to age like a Château Margaux 1787. But I really love Teale, who previously played a hot nurse on that enjoyably-mid Netflix show, “Who Is Erin Carter.” (But he’ll always be swoony Prince Condé from The Old CW’s Mary Queen of Scots soap, “Reign,” to me.) Tristan has it bad for fellow hot nurse Avery (Hamilton’s Phillipa Soo), who, of course, was enamored with Dr. Max at first. But post-shark/orca attack, it's now “complicated.”
The Pitt/CW: This is TV, so most of the cast is hot, but more quietly. I’ll give this one to nurse Mateo (Jalen Thomas Brooks). The hair, the swagger, the cringey “rom-com” moment with poor Javadi (Shabana Azeez), his blank expression when that racist, belligerent patient calls him Erik Estrada. “Who’s Erik Estrada?” he muses to nurse Dana (Katherine LaNasa), who gives him the same look I give my kids when they tell me they didn’t really like Star Wars.
Doctor/Nurse Rounds
Doc O/FSH: Dr. Max initially clashes with The Odyssey vets, Tristan and Avery. And, in a rare true-to-life portrayal on this outrageous show, nurses are the essential MVPs in healthcare situations — as we’ve all experienced. But this is “The Love Boat” on psychedelics. So inevitably, Tristan and Dr. Max find themselves competing for Avery’s attention and reach middle ground after an awkward beach-party dance-off (beach-off?). The trio ultimately collaborate a little too well together — resulting in a drunken threesome. Teamwork!
The Pitt/CW: There is nothing but (mostly) respect between the doctors and nurses here, and wow, I hope that’s how it is in hospitals IRL. It definitely didn’t used to be that way. I once had an oncology fellow tell me I was “too pretty to be such a bitch.”
Out-of-Pocket Injuries
Doc O/FSH: Broken penis, anyone? Just 16 minutes into the premiere, a honeymooner’s fractured phallus really, erm, raised the bar for the emergen-seas aboard the Odyssey. Not to be outdone during the nuptials-themed episode six, Avery deftly wields a catheter to extract the best man’s engorged peen that, mid-hookup, becomes stuck in a wedding guest’s vag. “Penis captivus” is a legit sitch, btw.
The Pitt/CW: Once again, I cannot beat that. Because this is cable, we did get some full frontal man-action (not funny) and some minor ball jokes when a teen came in with his mom for testicular torsion.
Unexpected Complications
Doc O/FSH: A tumultuous hurricane threatens The Odyssey — and Tristan and Dr. Max from performing a life-saving emergency appendectomy on Avery. But Captain Massey commandeers the colossal ship through this version of The Perfect Storm, while miraculously conjuring increments of calm water for the surgery. Then, if a shark attack wasn’t enough, a vengeful orca pod wreaks havoc, as the team starts amputating and exploratory surgery-ing willy nilly — all sans power, lights, and sufficient medical supplies.
The Pitt/CW: The frat boys stealing the ambulance — and the ensuing staff bets on who did it — made for a welcome reprieve from drowned children and sudden heart attacks. I am really not loving this whole “Pitt Fest” situation that just dropped last week, though!
Progressive Symptoms
The Pitt/CW: “ER” showcased an HIV+ physician assistant character, Jeanie Boulet (Gloria Reuben), which was pretty groundbreaking at the time. In “The Pitt,” we get a doctor apologizing to a transgender patient because the chart misgendered her, another doctor apologizing to a Black sickle cell patient for the terrible treatment she received by EMTs who assumed she was just drug-seeking (it’s a condition that causes excruciating pain), and lots of talk about how medical staff are in danger and hospitals should protect them better. We love to see it.
Doc O/FSH: Tristan earnestly espouses women’s reproductive healthcare rights in a monologue that clobbers you pretty hard on the head with that signature Murphy-an clunky exposition. And, on more than one occasion, Massey points to climate change for the severity of storms, longer hurricane seasons, and those pissed-off orcas venturing into unusually warm waters.
Nurses: ‘Condition Stable’
Doc O/FSH: Compared to impulsive Tristan and cocky Dr. Max, Avery remains the level-headed and relatively pragmatic one in the throuple. She’s just as, if not more, capable of doctoring — which is why Captain Massey finagled funds from The Odyssey for her med school tuition.
The Pitt/CW: Nurse Dana got punched in the face and came back to work an hour later. She swears like a truck driver and smokes like a chimney. She comforts or gives pep talks to pretty much the entire staff at some point. I also appreciate that the writers showcase the burnout that comes with being a medical provider. She has so much empathy you can see it oozing from her pores. Give her a pension and let her retire.
Toxic Influence
The Pitt/CW: Speaking of pores, I was thrilled by the storyline featuring a beauty influencer who gets mercury poisoning from her skin care. The perfect intersection of all my interests. (Always buy your K-beauty from reputable retailers!)
Doc O/FSH: Amy Sedaris’ wellness influencer-mogul gets copper poisoning from her raw meat-only diet. Go figure. She also almost Titanic-ed The Odyssey after giving Captain Massey and his officers magic mushroom-laden saltwater taffy right before the aforementioned hurricane. (He did not partake.) Meanwhile, Margaret Cho’s supplement powder-shiller gives Kate Berlant’s acupuncturist kidney failure with an accidentally tainted smoothie. Post-dialysis, a recovered Kate then inadvertently punctures Margs’ lung during an acupuncture sesh. This show …
Providing (Comic) Relief
Doc O/FSH: Um, the entire show? The absurd storylines and character arcs even compelled Drinks With Broads to posit that the Odyssey is actually a death ship traversing the underworld.
The Pitt/CW: Is there anything funnier than people getting drenched with bodily fluids? Not after you’ve seen a brain-dead college student and desperately need relief!!! Poor Whitaker aka Huckleberry (Gerran Howell) and his scrubs covered with urine, arterial blood, and Mylanta. May the scrub dispenser never run out of his size ever again.
Diagnosis: Midlife Anxiety
Doc O/FSH: After his bout as Covid Patient Zero, Yale alum and former head of pediatric medicine at John Hopkins, Dr. Max decides to devote his life to hedonism — and joins The Odyssey. Fast-forward to Avery’s post-threesome pregnancy — and TBD on who’s the dad — Dr. Max realizes that he actually wants conventional monogamy and a family. But amidst the murderous marine mammal onslaught, he becomes distracted by “hot shark doctor” Brooke Lane (Adrienne Palicki, aka Tyra from “Friday Night Lights); thus causing friction with an already-skeptical Avery. Just buy a cigarette boat, like Crockett, Max!
The Pitt/CW: This is about my midlife anxiety. The storyline of the college kid who took a sleeping pill laced with fentanyl and then became brain-dead nearly caused me to stop watching. The anguish of his parents was too much for this mom of two still-frontal-lobe-challenged college-age sons to handle. They have been home for spring break and every time they walk out the front door, I shout at them, “WATCH OUT FOR FENTANYL PILLS!”
Random Thoughts
Doc O/FSH: I feel the need to say that I do balance out my programming intake with shows like “Dark Winds,” a riveting, suspenseful mystery set on the Navajo Nation in the ‘70s — with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Season three is A+++ with Gen X-er Zahn McClarnon absolutely killing it in the lead role he’s long deserved, and with guest stars, A. Martinez (Cruz Castillo from “Santa Barbara” — icon) and Jenna Elfman. (Robert Redford and George R.R. Martin are executive producers, and seasons one and two are quick, excellent binges on Netflix.)
The Pitt/CW: Listen, I watched every single terrible episode of “Cobra Kai,” so there is no TV viewing judgment here. Re: “The Pitt,” there are so many things I didn’t mention, like Dr. Langdon’s (Patrick Ball) swoopy hair (dude, lay off the benzos) and how similar it is to Dr. Luka Kovač’s (Goran Višnjić) in “ER.” And then there is the romantic history between Robby and the absolutely incredible Dr. Collins (Tracy Ifeachor), my favorite character. George Clooney could never have the emotional maturity.
This concludes our medical show coverage. Please don’t forget to pay your deductible on the way out.
We are two Gen X journalists who celebrate people of our generation doing cool things, as well as analyze all the '80s and '90s nostalgia in current pop culture, fashion, and beauty. Read more stories like this one here!
You Oughta Know
Gird your loins because Young Guns 3: Dead or Alive is happening. Emilio Estevez, who’s directing, reprises his role as Billy the Kid, along with Lou Diamond Phillips as outlaw Chavez and Christian Slater, who joined the 1990 sequel as "Arkansas" Dave. Hoping Jon Bon Jovi will write another hit theme song, and maybe his lookalike son Jake can join the gang as a young Young Gun. -FSH, who LOVED this franchise and cannot believe Cheryl did not know Young Guns 2 existed. [AP News]
Forgot to add this one last week, but it’s a timely combination of “The Pitt” and “Doctor Odyssey”: Kimberly Burch, the fianceé of Faster Pussycat singer Taime Downe (this name), went overboard on a themed ‘80s cruise which featured a ton of nostalgia acts like Squeeze and Tiffany. Downe was performing on it. Burch is presumed dead. Gah. -CW [The Hollywood Reporter]
Will Smith, whose first album in 20 years, “Based on a True Story,” drops on March 28, joined “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” cousin Tatyana Ali — and Doechii — to recreate the viral “Anxiety” dance. TikTok Zoomers recently rediscovered the moves that originated in the hit comedy’s 1990 pilot. “Waited 35 years for this dance to trend,” quipped Smith. Now, can someone make the Carlton Dance happen? -FSH [Instagram/TikTok]
Jenna Ortega (Winona Ryder’s on-screen daughter in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice) and Taylor Russell are in talks to do a Single White Female remake. (Related, is it weird how often I think about Bridget Fonda and her hat in Singles?) -CW [Variety]
I WAS ON THE 80S CRUISE! It was my upcoming 60th birthday gift to myself (I dragged my husband along). It was our first cruise in about 30 years and we woke up the first morning to the captain on the loudspeaker saying we were late pulling in to Nassau, but all excursions would still have their full times, etc. Followed by a different captain coming on and saying someone went overboard but details were private. I texted my family and good friends to let them know we were ok, and a friend found an article to send me with the story. I am assuming the band didn't perform (we were not planning to see them) and I of course feel awful for the woman and her family.
That said, the 80s cruise was AWESOME, and people go all out. We brought along a few band t shirts and called it a day, but people dressed in theme every night, complete with amazing costumes (there is a contest) and prom regalia (the theme was Mardi Gras) door decor and more. My ranking of concerts: Squeeze (they had a wan female backup singer who was so low energy it was distracting, though), Sheila E, Christopher Cross, Tiffany (so personable), Men at Work (Colin Hay is a raconteur), Adam Ant, Erasure (I said this one was for the girls and the gays) and Naked Eyes. Also Kurtis Blow and Musical Youth! If they have acts you want to see, I would recommend.
"Related, is it weird how often I think about Bridget Fonda and her hat in Singles?" I believe the limit does not exist.