'The Pitt' season 2 finale leaves me with one burning question, and it's going to be eating at me till season 3

(L-R) Shawn Hatosy, Noah Wyle and Ken Kirby in episode 215 of "The Pitt." — (Image credit: Warrick Page/HBO Max)

The Tom's Guide Verdict: 'The Pitt' episode 215, '9:00 P.M.'

Rating: ★★★★½ stars
Verdict: While "9:00 P.M." didn't drop the shocking moment many had speculated could come, it still cemented this show as an Emmy contender yet again. It managed to be emotionally manipulative right until the end, and leaves things on a tantalizing cliffhanger that will leave you thinking about it until the season 3 premiere in 2027.
Where to watch: Stream "The Pitt" episode 215, "9:00 P.M." on HBO Max now

Spoiler alert: "The Pitt" season 2 will be an Emmy contender. If it wasn't already a lock, after tonight's season 2 finale, it will be undeniable. This episode managed to deliver emotionally manipulative moments right up until the end, and while it's not the masterpiece that "5:00 P.M." was, it was one of the best episodes of the season.

All season long, something has clearly not been right with Dr. Robby, and both people at home and characters on the show have noticed. There have been fan theories flying about whether Robby would commit suicide on his sabbatical road trip to nowhere, something that's also been speculated by some of Dr. Robby's coworkers. Others have suggested that Dr. Robby, who was seen riding without a helmet in the season 2 premiere, might have an accident and be brought in, giving us a highly desired "night shift" season.

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While those scenarios didn't play out, we did get to witness a potentially major moment in Robby's character arc. But unfortunately for us, we'll have to wait for season 3 to be resolved. And that's left me with one burning question about the season 2 finale.

Spoilers for "The Pitt" season 2, episode 215, "9:00 P.M.," ahead

Dr. Robby and Baby Jane Doe is the pairing I've been waiting on all season

Katherine LaNasa in "The Pitt" episode 215. — (Image credit: Courtesy of HBO Max)

Despite not putting Dr. Robby in a medically-induced coma, as some on the internet theorized might happen, this episode still delivers some emotional hammer blows. There's the reveal that Al Hashimi suffers from a condition that means she probably shouldn't drive, let alone be an attending. It's a truth she denies all the way until the end, when she finally breaks down into tears in the parking garage.

Then, there's a mother who comes in to find out she's not going to be able to have the natural birth she wanted. Instead, she's potentially going to die, and so might her unborn baby. Maybe it's because I'm a dad, but I couldn't believe the show was doing this to us in the final episode, even though it's exactly the sort of thing "The Pitt" does time and time again.

But none of that matters, because finally, we see Robby with Baby Jane Doe. Or is it Baby Jane Robinavitch?

No, Robby isn't secretly the father of the abandoned baby, but he might become her foster father. I've been thinking all season long that Robby, who we've seen showcase paternal instincts on several occasions across two seasons, should take on the task of raising Baby Jane Doe. It feels like such a natural fit, and would help him heal from what happened between him and Jake, the son of his ex-girlfriend, for whom Robby still served as a father figure, in season 1.

At the end of the episode, I was finally vindicated in my instincts, but then the show took things up a level. Not only did we get Robby holding Baby Jane Done, but he revealed that he had been abandoned, and it seems like in this instant, as he starts to break down, Robby is finally having the therapeutic moment of self-realization that he's so desperately needed all season.

Verdict: Give me season 3 right now

The Pitt Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO Max - YouTube

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Of course, we don't know if Dr. Robby is going to become a father for Baby Jane Doe. The show (cruelly) cuts to black and rolls credits as he's holding her, meaning that we'll have to wait until season 3 to answer my burning question: Is Dr. Robby now daddy?

After all, we only get 15 hours of these characters' lives at a time. It's not impossible that as soon as it cuts to black, Dr. Robby puts Baby Jane Doe back and then gets on his motorbike. Maybe he has a cathartic, healing trip. Maybe he never comes back. Maybe he has an accident and "The Pitt" season 3 is a night shift season after all.

If I had to bet, I'd say we come back months down the road and Robby's sabbatical has turned into parental leave. But the thing about "The Pitt" is that all the other scenarios are possible, and, frankly, none of them would totally surprise us. It's one of the reasons this show has been an Emmy contender (and eventual winner) since day one, and season 2's finale just cemented that reputation even further.

Stream "The Pitt" episode 215, "9:00 P.M." right now on HBO Max

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Malcolm has been with Tom's Guide since 2022, and has been covering the latest in streaming shows and movies since 2023. He's not one to shy away from a hot take, including that "John Wick" is one of the four greatest films ever made.

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