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Is Dr. Robby leaving 'The Pitt'? Season 2 Episode 9 signals trouble ahead for the ER chief

'The Pitt' Season 2 sees Dr. Robby gearing up for a three-month motorcycle trip after several stressful months at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center

Dr. Robby desperately needs a break, and it's more obvious than ever in Episode 9 of 'The Pitt' Season 2. The show's latest episode, titled '3:00 P.M.,' aired on March 5 on HBO Max. Season 2 focuses on Dr. Robby's last shift at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center before he leaves for his three-month sabbatical to Canada to deal with the burnout and emotional trauma he has been feeling since the first season. However, instead of feeling happy and excited about his motorcycle trip, Robby seems to be hanging on by a thread, with his mental state getting worse as he nears the end of his shift.

While talking to Whitaker in one of the scenes in this episode, Noah Wyle's character asks the intern to keep an eye on his apartment while he's away on his sabbatical. He adds, almost as an afterthought, "If I don't come back, you've got a swingin' bachelor pad." Audiences have seen the chief spiraling for a while, so his offhanded comment adds to the concern for his well-being, as he's now gearing up for a three-month trip after barely taking even a day off in the past. Of course, this is not the first time that the show has hinted at Robby's troubles. In the Season 1 finale, he was seen seemingly having suicidal thoughts on the hospital's rooftop before Abbot (Shawn Hatosy) arrived, and the duo shared a moment of solidarity.

In the opening scene of Season 2, he is seen riding his motorcycle without wearing a helmet while arriving for his shift. The following episodes then imply that his refusal to wear one could lead to a tragedy. All these moments combined seem to hint at looming trouble for Robby, and 'The Pitt' showrunner, R. Scott Gemmill, agrees that fans should be concerned for their favorite character. "I think there's a part of Robby that has a contingency plan that he might not come back. So when he says that, it may be a cry for help on a certain level, or it may be his own way of confronting it himself by using someone else to bounce it off. But I think it's a legitimate concern. And I think Robby knows that himself. I think he's struggling," he told TVLine about the chief's mental state.

Abbot seems concerned about his friend, too, as in a scene from the episode, he bids Robby goodbye as the latter won't be around when he returns for his night shift. Sensing that something's not right with his friend, Abbot mentions the sabbatical and says, "It's going to be a long time to self-reflect. Are you sure you can handle that?" When Robby doesn't answer, he simply reminds the chief to come back and offers his help, saying, "If it gets dark, you call me." Hatosy mentioned to TVLine that the scene marks the beginning of a series of goodbyes for Robby. With only six hours left before Robby's shift ends, fans can't wait to see what fate has in store for him. To find out, tune in to the remaining episodes of 'The Pitt' Season 2 on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.