Stars discuss emotional challenges of portraying mass shooting

In Episode 12 of "The Pitt," titled "6 PM," the series explores the chaos of an emergency room faced with a mass casualty event. Following a tragic shooter incident at PittFest, Dr. Robby and his team must act quickly to treat numerous critical patients. Supriya Ganesh, one of the stars, described the filming as “insane.” She mentioned needing time to recover after each shoot, often lying under a weighted blanket. The episode features a dramatic shift in the hospital's operations, converting it into a makeshift wartime facility to handle the influx of victims. The ER is depicted as overwhelmed, with medical staff treating multiple patients simultaneously. Ganesh emphasized the high level of accuracy in their portrayals, noting that the procedures depicted were choreographed to mirror real medical practices. Ganesh also shared insights from her research, revealing the emotional toll on real doctors in similar situations. She quoted a doctor who expressed frustration over the ongoing need to treat victims of preventable violence. The show aims to address the impact of such incidents on health care teams. Co-star Shabana Azeez found the research surrounding mass shootings particularly intense. Being from Australia, she noted how different their response to gun violence has been. She praised "The Pitt" for its sensitive portrayal, avoiding glorification of the shooter while addressing the real issues. Both actresses hope viewers grasp the message about the importance of change. The new episode will be available for streaming on MAX on March 27.