The Pitt’s 10/10 Spiritual Predecessor Hits Netflix Globally Next Month - Should You Binge It?
The Pitt has become one of TV's most celebrated dramas over the last year, and in an exciting development, global viewers are going to get the chance to see its spiritual predecessor on Netflix this February. Throughout the run of The Pitt, it's been clear that the show is a well-oiled machine. Delivering intense medical drama with gritty accuracy, the HBO Max series is a fan-favorite. The Pitt, starring Noah Wyle as Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch, follows the action of Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center's emergency department as they weave their way through a singular shift. Each episode typically represents one hour of a 15-hour shift, making the series a tightly wound, slow-rolling powder keg that reaches the point of explosion toward the end of the season. The creator of The Pitt, R. Scott Gemmill, worked alongside both Wyle and executive producer John Wells on ER, a history-making drama that ran on NBC for 15 seasons. After playing Dr. John Carter for 11 seasons, Wyle's role on the HBO Max series has been shining a different light on the medical world. ER, for those who haven't watched, will be globally accessible this February.
ER's Global Netflix Release Will Bring The Hit To New Audiences
Carter (Noah Wyle) and Benton (Eriq La Salle) in doctor uniforms on ERCredit: MovieStillsDB
This February, Netflix is set to release all 15 seasons of ER to a large group of countries, including Canada, the UK, and Australia. While ER is currently available on HBO Max in the US along with The Pitt, the wave of viewers that the '90s hit may pull into the new series could be massive for the currently airing series.
The Pitt's Root Idea Began As An ER Spin-Off, But Grew Into Something Original
Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) wearing a jacket and sunglasses in The Pitt season 2via MovieStillsDB
Although The Pitt is its own entity, the original idea for the series came from the idea of extending the ER universe. During the pandemic, Wyle, Wells, and Gemmill spoke about the idea of finding Wyle's character from ER, Dr. Carter, in the future and diving back into the medical world with a whole new cast of characters that way. When ER creator Michael Crichton's estate didn't want to move forward with the idea, the trio went back to the drawing board and mapped out a new world that follows Dr. Robby, setting the series in Pittsburgh and moving from there. While the series does often feel similar to ER in tone and style, the characters and storylines are unique to the modern world of The Pitt.
The Pitt's Storytelling Style & Sense Of Realism Make It ER's Spiritual Successor
Dr. Robby (Noah Wyle) and Dr. Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) examining a patient in The Pitt season 2, episode 2via MovieStillsDB
As The Pitt continues its journey with a second season currently airing, ER is still something that viewers look to as a part of the show's history. While medicine has changed in ways, the stylistic choices, gritty style of storytelling, and sense of realism make it ER's spiritual successor. The Pitt is solidifying its place in TV history while paying homage to the show that paved the way.
