‘The Pitt’ Season 2’s Dana Evans Return Is Excellent

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Okay, spoiler alert for anyone just catching up! I’m a huge fan of The Pitt, and I was honestly a little worried about how they’d bring a certain character back… but they’ve actually made them even more compelling. We’ve had a lot of great TV lately – things like Ted Lasso to make you feel good, the mind-bending Severance, and the drama of Yellowstone – but I genuinely think The Pitt deserves to be on everyone’s radar. It premiered on HBO Max in January 2025 and follows the intense, real-time action of a single 15-hour shift at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. Seriously, check it out.

Even though only two episodes of The Pitt Season 2 are available, the show remains fantastic. From a patient injured by bacon grease to the mystery of an abandoned newborn, each episode is deeply moving. Now that Dr. Robby Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) and his team are back for a second season, fans are especially thrilled to see one character return.

‘The Pitt’ Season 2’s Dana Evans Return Is Totally Perfect


HBO Max

I was worried after the first season finale of The Pitt that Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) would be written off the HBO Max medical drama. After Doug Driscoll (Drew Powell) hit her, Dana considered quitting, which made sense given how worn out she was. Years of demanding shifts and constantly putting others first had finally taken a toll, and she questioned whether she could continue in her role.

We already knew Dana would be back for the second season of The Pitt, but I was curious about how the show would develop her story. After what happened, would she still be the kind, helpful person we all cared about? It seemed likely the experience would change her, and I wondered if the show could successfully bring her back after a ten-month gap.

After watching the first two episodes of the new season, it’s clear that Dana is an even more interesting character than before. She seems more upbeat and might even be funnier this season. While she still plays an important role at the hospital, she’s now focused on letting the doctors know about the new social worker, Dylan (Becca Blackwell), who will be checking in on Kylie Connors (Annabelle Toomey) to see if she’s being harmed by her father. This is already one of the most emotionally difficult storylines in Season 2 of The Pitt (and it’s likely to get even sadder), and even though Dana isn’t directly involved, she’s still helping to move things forward.

The show is smartly focusing more on Dana’s funny side, which is a great move. Even after just two episodes, the storyline in “The Pitt” delivers a powerful message about dealing with difficult experiences, finding recovery, and navigating life’s challenges. It’s understandably upsetting that Dana was attacked by a patient, and she won’t simply get over it. However, she’s still able to find moments of levity in everyday situations, even when things are tough. The season 2 premiere of “The Pitt” ended with a big mystery – an abandoned baby found in a hospital bathroom – and we still don’t have answers. While the doctors care for the baby, Dana jokes about the challenges of being a pediatric nurse, asking, “What does 12 hours of crying babies do to a person?” When Robby comments on her mood, she replies, “Punchy is just how I am now.”

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Dana often playfully suggests she’d defend herself if someone bothered her, but she’s fundamentally against violence and would never intentionally harm anyone. She is feeling stronger, though, and believes she can continue going to work and working through the recent difficult experience. While it’s important to acknowledge and talk about tough times to heal, finding small pleasures – like a warm drink, a walk, or even a silly joke, as Dana does – is equally valuable.

I had some initial concerns about how The Pitt would portray Dana, but those worries were unfounded. This show is shaping up to be one of the best of 2025, and it continues to present its characters as complex, smart, and people you can actually connect with – which makes me really look forward to future episodes.



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2026-01-18 21:40