Spoiler alert for "The Pitt" finale. We discuss how it ends! Episode now streaming on HBO Max.
Isn't it ironic? A hair-thrashing Alanis Morrisette karaoke session between two fan-favorite TV doctors turns out to be the ultimate way to end a tumultuous Season 2 of "The Pitt."
The disparate ER personalities Dr. Trinity Santos (Isa Briones) and Dr. Melissa King (Taylor Dearden) unite socially onstage at a Tiki karaoke bar, a rare look outside the Pittsburgh ER. The duo belt out Morrisette's 1995 classic, "You Oughta Know."
Santos recommends the primal karaoke-scream therapy to King as a sign of friendship -- and survival amid the emotional trauma of their workplace. King is especially distraught in the season finale after learning that she'll be deposed again in a lawsuit against the ER -- a suit and deposition that has burdened the doctor all season.
Dearden tells USA TODAY that the rowdy late-night scene was actually shot in the morning on a specially made, separate location.
"It was wild to be away from our hospital set," Dearden says. "They had made this Tiki bar and it was just so weird for us, because we're so used to being in our scrubs in the hospital setting."
The duo pumped each other up to raise the required energy and pulled off the scripted hair-whipping moments.
"It was a blast," says Dearden. "We got ourselves hyped up, and then we went in and did it. It took like two takes."
(For her part, actress Briones is a professional singer currently performing on Broadway in "Just in Time.")
The scene shows that the two doctors have the tools to let the steam out in a healthy way.
"It's a coping mechanism," says Dearden. "Two people who have had their worst shifts go to a karaoke bar instead of going to bed."
Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi ends 'The Pitt' in a crisis
"The Pitt" Season 2 shows a trying first day for Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi (Sepideh Moafi), who is meant to take over as attending physician for Dr. Michael "Robby" Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) during his motorcycle sabbatical.
In Hour 15, Robby vows to report Al-Hashimi's absence seizure condition to the hospital if she does not step forward with the condition on her own. In the final shot of the normally composed professional, Al-Hashimi breaks down in her car before leaving the darkened hospital parking lot.
"She's feeling shattered," Moafi tells USA TODAY over email. "She's someone who's built her life around high achievement, control, and precision. And in a single moment, all of that feels under threat, especially after opening up to Dr. Robby in good faith and having that trust weaponized against her. It deeply destabilizes her sense of self and reinforces lifelong trust issues."
Moafi believes Al-Hashimi will be back, after a rebuilding, in Season 3.
"I have no doubt she'll come back stronger -- even more resilient and grounded in herself and her purpose," Moafi says.
Dr. Whittaker rolls out in a pickup truck
Another happy close-out features Dr. Dennis Whitaker (Gerran Howell) sliding into the pickup truck with his girlfriend, Amy Miller (Bailey Gavulic) and lovingly greeting her baby, Theo. Robby had warned about having a relationship with Amy, the widow whose farmer husband died in the ER in Season 1. But it is a source of joy.
"In some ways, Whittaker is the living embodiment of the balance that Robby can't find in his own life," says Wyle. "Robby has told (Whitaker) he needs to draw boundaries. But in that last moment, Robby sees, 'Maybe there's a future there that's elusive to me but rewarding to him.'"
Dr. Langdon shows concern for a past patient on another level
Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) finally gets his talk with his estranged mentor, Dr. Robby -- a talk which is key to Robby's finale development. But Langdon's biggest finale moment is visiting a patient he'd treated earlier in the day, going to a different hospital floor after his shift. The concerned Langdon finds that the patient survived, but had a portion of her leg amputated.
"It's a bittersweet moment," executive producer R. Scott Gemmill said at an April 12 "Pitt" event. "Langdon is on his first day back (from rehab for addiction treatment) and trying to get back into the saddle but having some problems. It's a nice moment to see that he really is invested in his patients."
Dr. Mohan bids Dr. Robby farewell
The final moments between Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) and Dr. Robby are key since Ganesh will not return for Season 3.
The two have a talk outside the hospital, with Mohan saying she might move into geriatrics. "It's a smart choice," says Robby, who had suggested the move earlier in the season.
Mohan admits she had been distracted by personal problems and wishes Robby well on his sabbatical.
"Have a good trip. Be safe," Mohan says. "We need you here. Even if you can be a dick sometimes."
Dr. Robby finds Baby Jane Doe and changes his outlook
We'll address Dr. Robby's final moments in-depth in an upcoming piece. But the troubled doctor has deeply affecting conversations about his mental health with colleagues like Langdon, which seem to derail his plan to potentially end his life at the end of his sabbatical motorcycle trip. Robby changes after entering a hospital room with Baby Jane Doe, embracing the abandoned baby who has been featured since Episode 1.
The trip could still happen, but Robby's dark ending has changed.
"It's delayed," Gemmill tells USA TODAY."But certainly the intent of the trip has changed."
Dana Evans watches fireworks with women of 'The Pitt'
The July 4 weekend shift concludes with the women professionals -- doctors and nurses -- watching the holiday fireworks from the roof. Head nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) hugs Nurse Perlah Alawi (Amielynn Abellera) while watching. It was a spontaneous move, says LaNasa.
"I thought I should wrap my arms around Perlah," says LaNasa."Because, you know,we’re nurses."