The Pitt is seriously one of the best shows on HBO Max right now, thanks to its realistic portrayal of the trauma that comes from working a 15-hour shift in the ER. So, it’s no wonder that the medical drama got renewed for Season 2. However, things are about to change a bit on the series, as Tracy Ifeachor, who played the beloved character Dr. Collins, will not be returning. And, after learning why she won't be back, fans are “devastated.”
We know The Pitt’s second season will take place on the 4th of July. It will also jump forward ten months after the events of the first season and dig deeper into Dr. Robby’s mental health. While lead actor/co-executive producer/co-writer Noah Wyle said everyone from Season 1 will be coming back “for the most part,” Dr. Heather Collins unfortunately won’t be one of them.
Why Dr. Collins Won’t Be Back For Season 2
After suffering a miscarriage earlier in their shift together, Episode 11 of The Pitt showed Dr. Collins confiding in Dr. Robby. To help her better cope, the ER doctor gave Dr. Collins permission to clock out early and turn off her phone, and that was the last time we saw her.
Then, yesterday, Dr. Collins' actress Tracy Ifeachor said on Instagram what a “blessing” it was to be a part of the successful first season of The Pitt. However, a day later, sources told TVLine that the fan-favorite character would not be returning for Season 2, allegedly due to a “creative” decision and not through the choice of the actress.
Before it was confirmed that Dr. Collins would not be around for Season 2, Noah Wyle said on The Watch that his character had Dr. Collins clock out before everyone else in Episode 11 so Dr. Robby could be isolated. With Season 2 having a stronger focus on Dr. Robby’s trauma, I wonder if the writers felt that further isolating the lead character without Dr. Collins there would create a more intense emotional arc.
However, the full reason why she's leaving is unknown, and fans are upset about it.
Fan's Are Devastated By Dr. Collins’ Season 2 Exit
News of Dr. Heather Collins not returning for Season 2 was a “devastating” blow to fans. Naturally, social media users took to X to express their sorrow at the character's exit, posting things like:
- i…. am…. devastated -@KathleenNB
- You guys won’t believe how dramatically I gasped. -@michaelcollado
- ….how many more horrors must I endure? -@hiimbobbi
I was in shock, too, after learning Dr. Collins’ Episode 11 appearance would be her last. Tracy Ifeachor really brought her A game to the character and a lot of emotional depth to her scenes. On top of that, @TheHolyGoofs mentioned a good reason why it’s a shame we won’t see the lovable ER doctor again:
NO THERE IS AN UNFINISHED STORYLINE!!
That’s very true, as Dr. Heather Collins still had some trauma of her own to get through. I would have liked to see her and Dr. Robby treat their mental health together, as there’s strength in numbers.
@Maxisnttheree also raised a good point about how nonsensical Ifeachor's character's exit feels:
This is like if daenerys didn’t return for got s2. Like carmela not coming back for sopranos s2.
Yes! It's hard to imagine those shows without them, and I'm having a hard time doing that with The Pitt.
Plus, iconic characters leaving, especially after a show’s first season, is gut-punching. I got to experience that disappointment after LOST’s Ian Somerhalder and Bridgerton's Regé-Jean Page didn't come back after Season 1. It's never a nice feeling when a staple actor leaves, and I'm bummed we have to go through it again.
On the bright yet dim side, @boners revealed that while we won’t be seeing Dr. Collins again, it won’t be the last we see of Tracy Ifeachor:
Finding out the diva Tracy Ifeachor is going to be in the new M. Night Shyamalan joink then 5 mins later finding out she won't be on The Pitt season 2.......
So, at least fans of the Dr. Collins actress will get to see her in M. Night Shyamalan’s next project. Based on an idea the filmmaker had with author Nicholas Sparks, the supernatural romance thriller Remain stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an architect who meets a young woman who brings trouble. Tracy Ifeachor's casting in this movie was also announced yesterday, via Deadline.
However, there's no question that we'll feel a hole in The Pitt. It’s natural for fans to be “devastated” by big shake-ups like this, especially when it reportedly wasn’t the actress’s choice to leave. But I’m still confident the upcoming season has the potential to deliver a powerful story that we'll be very invested in.
Now, the new season of The Pitt will hit the streaming schedule in January. Until then, you can relive your favorite episodes that include Tracy Ifeachor with an HBO Max subscription.
