One year after The Pitt is back on HBO Max for another intense 15-episode shift. While it's nice to see fan-favorite characters such as Robby, Mel, and Langdon, there's someone notably absent: Dr. Heather Collins.
Played by Tracy Ifeachor, Dr. Collins went through one of the most heartfelt character arcs in The Pitt season 1. In a single shift, she stood in the way of a controlling mother, reminisced about her past relationship with Dr. Robby, contemplated motherhood, and then suffered a miscarriage. She left the hospital just before the Pittfest shooting broke out, and did not return for season 2.
Dr. Collins' exit from The Pitt was a creative choice
Shortly after The Pitt season 1 ended, Ifeachor thanked HBO and her fans for supporting the show
on an Instagram post, describing Dr. Collins as a blessing and hinting that she would not be coming back for season 2. When an actor leaves a TV show abruptly like that, it usually has to do with on-set tensions or personal issues. In this case, however, The Pitt showrunners claim that Dr. Collins' exit was a creative choice.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, The Pitt producer John Wells went into detail about Ifeachor's departure: "Look, the show is set at a teaching hospital. And if you’re a fourth-year resident in a teaching hospital, your time there is done at the end of that year. Not to scare any of the other castmembers, but people don’t stay at these hospitals forever."
The problem with this claim is that Dr. Collins' absence isn't even mentioned by the characters in The Pitt season 2. She doesn't even appear in HBO Max's season 1 recap, even though she was of paramount importance for most of the season. It's like Collins never existed in The Pitt.
The Pitt season 2 introduces a new roster of characters
According to Wells' comments, it's safe to assume that Dr. Collins completed her residency and found a job in another hospital. There's a 10-month time jump between seasons 1 and 2 of
The Pitt, and a lot could have happened in the meantime, perhaps a farewell party for Collins — there's always room for speculation.
Dr. Collins' absence will definitely be felt, but The Pitt season 2 introduces new compelling characters to fill in the gaps. Among them is Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, who will assume Dr. Robby's position while he is away on some kind of spiritual journey.
There are also two new medical students joining the Pitt's staff, Joy Kwon and James Ogilvie. Finally, there's Emma Nolan, a nurse fresh out of college and one of the sweetest additions to The Pitt season 2.
The Pitt is streaming now on HBO Max.