What I Watched In A Week: The Pitt Hype & The White Lotus So Far (TV Edition)
There’s something for every TV taste.
What I Eat in a Day/Week videos have become a common phenomenon in today’s social media-driven society. Whenever I think of these types of videos, I remember Don Draper’s quote from Mad Men: "People want to be told what to do so badly that they'll listen to anyone." I believe this sentiment is entirely accurate. Since my diet isn't exactly worth recommending, I thought I could provide some valuable insights on what to effectively spend time on in front of our screens.
Not all the content I watch is worthwhile. What doesn't resonate with me might be perfect for someone else, so I’ll strive to offer my thoughts in a respectful and balanced manner. Let’s watch what we love and share it with others!
Discoveries Of The Week
The Pitt (HBO Max) - mini-review
2025 - present
Before jumping into The Pitt, I had heard sporadic praise for this TV show from a few outlets I sincerely respect. It seemed strange to me that everyone was singing the praises of a medical show, especially since I’ve never been an avid fan of that TV genre. While I acknowledged their undeniable entertainment power, they always struck me as overly melodramatic. However, I was entirely wrong for dismissing The Pitt. Even if you think you don’t love medical TV shows, you will love this new HBO Max series.
First of all, I absolutely love its fresh concept. The Pitt portrays the events of a single 15-hour shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Hospital across 15 episodes, with each episode focusing on one hour of that shift. I’m not sure I could handle more than that! The show absolutely delivers! It’s action-packed, emotionally charged, dramatic, hilarious, devastating, and more. I can't fathom how real ER medics endure such chaos every day. If I ever complain about how hard my day was, I want someone to give me a light slap in the face—just enough to remind me but not hard enough to add more work for these incredible professionals.
What’s striking about the show is its exploration of humanity at its core. Every episode of The Pitt reminds us that we can’t predict life. As hard as we try to stay safe - there’s always room for the unexpected. We’ve probably made countless stupid or serious mistakes similar to those of the patients in The Pitt. Most of us are just lucky enough to avoid the consequences.
The show's true strength lies in the patient cases and the intricate dynamics between the main characters. They are not perfect, saint-like medical professionals; instead, they have complex backgrounds, daily struggles, and flawed personalities. Because they are so different, they strive to find common ground and learn from one another in their mission to save lives. The arrival of new interns that day disrupts the usual work dynamic, adding to the chaos of an already unpredictable environment.
I particularly appreciate that the cast features fresh faces rather than well-known actors. Television provides a unique opportunity to develop long-term, deep relationships with characters, which can be challenging to achieve with big stars like Nicole Kidman. While Noah Wyle is cherished for his role as John Carter in ER, his comeback narrative effectively drives the entire show. His character in The Pitt, Robby, has an intriguing backstory, a dynamic personality, and a strong—perhaps even complex—relationship with other characters. He reminds me of Jack from Lost, as he is an undeniable leader who always strives to do good. However, I think Robby has a bit more charisma than Jack.
I powered through 10 episodes in just two days and haven’t felt this happy in a long time. The one-hour episodes never drag; there’s always another crisis to keep us glued to the screen. I can’t wait to watch the rest of the season!
Running Point (Netflix)
2025 - present
If you enjoyed Kelly Kapoor’s humor in The Office, you’ll love the new Netflix comedy show Running Point. It’s created by Mindy Kaling, who was both a star and staff writer on The Office. While she has produced many great shows since then, I think Running Point is my favorite to date.
Running Point is loosely based on the life of Jeanie Buss, the controlling owner and president of the Los Angeles Lakers, who also serves as a co-executive producer on the show. The incredibly charming Kate Hudson takes on the role of Isla Gordon, who is based on Jeanie.
Running Point is a perfect weekend watch, with only 10 half-hour episodes in the first season. It’s a light, worry-free, and genuinely funny show with a fantastic cast and a dynamic plot. Running Point is like Netflix's version of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, and it’s not a bad imitation of it by any means.
Episode Of The Week
The White Lotus (HBO) - Season 3 So Far
2021-present
I love The White Lotus. The show's first two seasons were fantastic, but season one will probably always be my favorite.
Season three of The White Lotus takes us on a vacation to Thailand, creating a more culture-shocking experience than the locations explored in previous seasons. Right from the start, we see monkeys swinging in the trees, big lizards running around, and poisonous fruit hanging right outside the patio. Danger is everywhere. Additionally, the retreat has a wellness focus with a voluntary "No Electronics" policy that they try to impose on every guest. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone!
Things get even more intense when we learn that there’s a significant gun and theft problem that directly affects the hotel's guests and staff. We also know that the pivotal death of the season is connected to the shooting shown at the start of season three.
So far, it’s pretty stressful. The guests try to make the most of their trips, although not all of them prioritize relaxation. By episode four, many plot threads are in play, and things finally start gaining momentum. The “Full-Moon Party” is likely to be reminiscent of the “Bull Elephants” episode from season two.
The party girls are likely drunk and in action, which may lead to some scandalous moments. The Ratliff horny boys find themselves alone on a yacht with a group of young girls who are miserable from their relationships with old men. Meanwhile, Rick Hatchett is on his way to Bangkok, and the challenges that await him remain to be seen. Belinda is getting closer to deciding what to do about Greg, although she needs to hurry if she wants to make it out of Thailand in one piece. Gaitok will have to face the unfortunate consequences of a gun stolen by Timothy Ratliff, who has lost all sense of his identity. “Full-Moon Party” promises to be quite an eventful one!
Not My Cup of Coffee
Paradise (Hulu)
2025-present
I don’t have much to say about Paradise. Much like with The Pitt, I’ve heard a lot of praise for it, but in this situation, I wanted to give up on it right from the start. Paradise feels like a poorly lit show that takes itself too seriously, addressing issues that are too distant from the viewer. Despite the actors' attempts to infuse their characters with charisma, they can't overcome the poor writing and lack of character development.
I don't know; maybe coming off a binge of The West Wing, another political show, has made engaging with this one difficult. But perhaps it’s simply another mediocre show that receives undeserved praise for its subject matter, mystery elements, and talented actors.
