The new Max medical drama chronicles a 15-hour shift at a fictional Pittsburgh emergency room. The second episode of The Pitt — the new Max medical drama starring Noah Wyle as the chief attending doctor in an overwhelmed emergency room in Pittsburgh — ends with the grimmest four minutes I've seen on TV in a while.

"The Pitt" is a medical drama from the studio behind "ER," the producer behind "ER," and centered on one of the signature stars of "ER." But it's not "ER." Sure, it may or may not have begun its life as an attempt to reboot "ER,

The Pitt,” on HBO’s streaming platform Max, is a weekly medical drama that emulates the kind of shows that have long been — and remain — a staple on network TV. It’s an instructive blueprint for other streamers to follow suit.