Gerran Howell (Image via Getty)
Concern about Dr. Robby’s state of mind grew in The Pitt Season 2, Episode 9. In an interview with TV Insider, actor Gerran Howell explained why his character, Whitaker, began to sense that something was not right.
The episode, released on March 5, showed Robby asking Whitaker to house-sit while he prepared for a sabbatical, a moment that quickly raised questions about Robby’s mindset.
During the scene, Robby also spoke to Whitaker about setting boundaries with Amy, the widow of a burn victim introduced in Season 1 of The Pitt. Whitaker had been helping her with work on her farm, and Robby advised him to be careful about crossing professional lines.
The conversation became more concerning when Robby joked that Whitaker would have a “swinging bachelor pad” if he did not come back. According to Howell, the moment left Whitaker confused and uneasy.
The Pitt season 2 episode 9 hints at Robby’s struggles
In The Pitt Season 2, Episode 9, Whitaker expected Robby to give him direct advice about the situation with Amy. Instead, Robby’s vague response and unusual tone made the moment feel off. Howell explained,
“I think in a way, Whitaker was expecting Robby to be the one to maybe tell him if the situation is correct or not, or is kind of inappropriate, and I think it really surprises him, actually, when Dr. Robby just kind of says, ‘Be careful of boundaries,’ but I think he was almost expecting a real dressing down and to be told off.”
Rather than confronting him, Robby handed Whitaker the keys to his apartment and asked him to stay there while he was away. Howell said,
“So, in a way, it feels weird. I think Whitaker feels a bit weirded out that it’s like, ‘Here’s the keys to my apartment,’ rather than ‘You can’t do [that].’”
That reaction led Whitaker to suspect that Robby might be struggling with something deeper. Howell said,
“It is kind of off. There’s kind a manicness to that scene. I think he was almost reaching out for some advice, some hard advice from Robby, and didn’t get it. So, he’s still kind of in a bit of a limbo there.”
The unusual exchange also made Whitaker wonder whether Robby was distancing himself emotionally. Howell said,
“Yeah, something is definitely going on in Whitaker’s mind. Dr. Robby isn’t the most approachable character. He kind of gives wisdom in this, I don’t know, in a very strange way.”
The characters’ shared history in The Pitt also shaped Whitaker’s reaction. Both men had seen each other at vulnerable moments in Season 1, creating a complicated bond. Howell said,
“Obviously, what happened with Season 1 between them, they’ve kind of seen each other at really low points, both of them.”
Because of that, Whitaker began questioning Robby’s behavior during the conversation. Howell explained,
“So, I think Whitaker feels, maybe Dr. Robby kind of distancing himself from me emotionally? But then I’m getting the keys to the apartment, and it’s like, oh, so he does care about me, and he does trust me. So, I think that all adds to the confusion. There’s something going on here that isn’t right.”
The scene was directed by Shawn Hatosy, who worked with the cast to shape the tone of the moment. Howell said,
“I think when we got to it, the kind of manic pace of it actually kind of really lent to just the weirdness of it in the end.”
The interaction left Whitaker and viewers wondering what Robby might do next as The Pitt continues its second season.
The Pitt season 2 airs Thursdays at 9/8c on HBO Max.
Stay tuned for more updates.