Do not keep reading if you haven’t watched all of season 1 of “The Pitt” — spoilers for the entire season lie ahead. Season 1 of “The Pitt” has wrapped up with a compelling and satisfying finale, but one lingering question among fans is: what happened to Tracy Ifeachor’s character, Dr. Heather Collins, the senior ER resident? In the 11th episode titled “5:00 P.M.,” which follows a real-time format similar to “24,” Collins experiences a profound personal loss. Following this event, she is consoled by Noah Wyle’s lead character, Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch, who advises her to go home, switch off her phone, and rest. After that moment, Ifeachor’s character doesn’t reappear for the remainder of the season, leaving viewers curious about her fate. Wyle recently appeared on The Ringer’s podcast “The Watch” with Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald, where he provided insight into the decision to keep Collins absent from the subsequent episodes. This includes the harrowing mass casualty incident triggered by an active shooter at an event called PittFest. In the season finale, “9:00 P.M.,” Robby informs his team that their ER treated 112 individuals, successfully saving 106 of them.

When Greenwald humorously commented on Collins’ particularly effective “do not disturb” setting on her phone, Wyle explained that Robby’s relationship with Collins would have allowed her to be a supportive presence during his emotional breakdown in the show’s most challenging episode, “7:00 P.M.” However, Wyle emphasized that Robby needed to undergo this breakdown alone. Greenwald remarked on the significance of Collins’ character and her impactful performance, noting her strong connections with Robby and others. He pointed out that it was surprising she disappeared from the story without returning. Wyle acknowledged this narrative choice, stating, “The whole end of the season is just removing bearing walls from Robby’s life. He leans so heavily on Collins and Langdon [a resident portrayed by Patrick Ball], and then you take them both away from him.” Ultimately, the season finale intentionally strips away crucial support structures from Robby’s character to highlight his struggles. “The Pitt” is available for streaming on [streaming platform].