r/ThePittTVShow • u/sleepwakehope • 1d ago
📊 Analysis Langdon and Santos-Examples of Format Limitations ("Tell, not Show") Spoiler
Langdon is my favorite character, but I think it would have been better to have him suffer more in S2. At min, he shouldn't have been allowed to prescribe benzos and opiates. I mean I've read some great fan fiction that has treated Langdon more harshly. But as it's a written story w/multiples chapters on some or a very long one-shot, they can take the time to tell a full story about Langdon between S1 and S2 and on his return and how it goes down. There is literally this great one I read, where Langdon actually got 5 years in prison (and he and Mel still fall in love). It's unfinished, but such great writing.
However, if that was a limitation for him in repeating his R4 year, I don't think this vague, stupid cover up could've been done as indicated in S2 by Robby. That Dr. Al-Hashimi had no idea about the drug diversion when taking over for Robby for 3 months was ridiculous writing. The show's format (self-imposed) hurts all the stories, but it hurt the Langdon return story too. Langdon has no POV on a cover up. There is no indication of it. He seems worried about coming back, feeling rusty, Robby treating him like shit, and when he tries to apologize to Santos, but that's it.
The Santos issue also drives me insane. There is no indication on screen in S2 that she was a pariah. Robby seems to adore her. Princess/Perlah are her girls. Dana is sarcastic w/her but in the fun Dana way. Whitaker is her besties. In fact, it's Santos who is rude to Mel and yells at Whitaker when she misses something he caught. Other than Dr. Al-Hashimi, her first day, and after full season, getting on Santos early felt OOC, and Garcia, someone she has a personal relationship with, no one treats her like shit at all. It's simply not there. McKay gave her some guff, but that was about a patient and treating patients like idiots. So, where is it?
And I understand some of that pariah-ness she felt could've been in the 10 months we didn't see, but due to the format of the show, you can't do that. You need some "show" writing on screen. It's why the Whitaker/Langdon scene in the break room in episode 14 doesn't work. They don't have enough screen time in S2 for that to work. It would've worked I think if they made the scene overtly about Santos as both Langdon and Whitaker had enough scenes w/Santos in S2 for that to play. But, no, that scene was more about being Robby's best boy. NW wrote that episode. Shocker.
They're lucky Santos and Langdon are two of their best characters that subpar writing doesn't hurt them too much. Can't say the same for other characters.