The season finale of HBO’s medical drama “The Pit” left viewers divisive, with the show’s gritty medical realism at odds with a vocal online fan base criticizing the latest plot points as discriminatory.
The show has tackled controversial storylines in previous episodes, but is now facing criticism from viewers on social media, who claim the show’s focus on realism is inconsistent with expectations around diversity and inclusion.
At the center of the controversy is Hollywood veteran Noah Wyle, with some viewers calling his patient-safety character discriminatory and others directing criticism at the actor himself.
In the season two finale, months of tension culminated in a confrontation between Dr. Robbie, played by Weill, and a female colleague who revealed that she had been hiding a severe seizure disorder.
Some social media critics accused the show of ableism when they argued that Wiley’s character was unfit to run the high-pressure ER.
“I don’t understand why he is so opposed to people with disabilities being able to work with permits,” read one online post.
However, other viewers defended the show by pointing out the high risks of medical emergencies.
One post, which has been viewed more than 1.2 million times, warned of the risk of doctors having seizures while patients are paralyzed by intubation.
Another viral post added: “It’s so funny to see fans of ‘The Pit’ ironically say things like, ‘It’s actually okay for an ER doctor to have an uncontrollable seizure. If he wakes up while he’s in someone’s chest cavity or intubates him, he’s awake, so it’s okay.'”
Criticism of Wiley has increased since then, in part because he is an executive producer and helps write the show.
Some viewers have blurred the line between Wyle and his character following a recent interview with GQ.
“This season, I made a joke[on set]where I’d yell at someone and then I’d say, ‘Somebody bring in another woman to yell at!'” Wyle said of his character’s sour relationship with female staff members.
He clarified that his character only pushes his colleagues to be better, and that the actors come to his set “to do the job, not to be comfortable.”
This comment upset some X users.
“Honestly, I think Noah Wyle should quit showbiz and become a Manosphere streamer,” one X user wrote, while another user called the comment “misogynistic and a last-minute insult joke towards women on set.”
The backlash also extended to the resignation of actress Supriya Ganesh, who played Dr. Mohan. Some fans accused Wiley of scripting a woman of color while keeping a white male lead, despite the character portraying burnout throughout the season.
Wiley said the show aims to reflect the reality of high turnover in the medical field.
Wiley’s team did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
