
Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud The Pitt is back, and A$AP Rocky too
Jan 19, 2026
Nicholas Quah, a sharp culture critic from Vulture, and Sophie Gilbert, a staff writer at The Atlantic, dive into HBO's The Pitt, exploring its return and the contrast between seasons. They discuss the show's blend of social commentary and moral clarity, raising questions about character-driven storytelling. Joining them, Rollie Pemberton, aka Cadence Weapon, critiques A$AP Rocky’s new album, Don't Be Dumb, highlighting his fashion influence and the stylistic range of the record. It's a rich discussion on TV and music that spans genres and cultural commentary.
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Hybrid Medical Drama And Character Soap
- The Pit blends a hyper-realistic medical procedural with soapier character drama to create a novel TV hybrid.
- Season two leans more confident and explicit in its messaging, reducing subtlety compared with season one.
Moral Clarity Can Become Heavy-Handed
- Season two foregrounds moral clarity and explicit viewpoints, especially around tech like generative AI.
- That clarity can feel heavy-handed compared to the first season's quieter, observational storytelling.
Old-School TV Moralizing Returns
- The Pit intentionally embraces didactic storytelling familiar from older TV eras, openly taking moral stances.
- Sophie Gilbert sees this as refreshing in a modern landscape that often avoids direct moralizing.
