Ksenia Samotiy: For a long time, the US has been a benchmark – but ‘The Pitt’ is a sobering look at its issues beneath the surface

HBO medical drama shows an America grappling with societal crises like addiction, poverty, reproductive rights and gun violence

Noah Wyle and Patrick Ball in ‘The Pitt’

You’ve probably heard people talking about The Pitt. It’s been out in the US for ages, but for some reason it has only just found its way onto Irish screens.

Set almost entirely within the confines of a US emergency department, each episode rolls out more or less in real time – covering an hour of a shift. It’s sort of like 24 in a hospital, with each season covering one day.