The medical drama is a hallmark of television, and HBO's new TV show, The Pitt, has quickly proven itself to be the next evolution of the genre. Unfolding in real time over the course of a 15-hour shift, The Pitt is the spiritual successor to ER, the landmark series that features the star of The Pitt, Noah Wyle. However, The Pitt is unlike anything audiences have ever seen in of realism and the perfect balance between the personal, medical, and social conflicts that unfold onscreen, making it a uniquely distinct series.

However, if you think The Pitt ruined other medical dramas for you, the good news is, there are some underrated gems that are just as committed to realism. While there are obvious choices for shows to chase The Pitt with, like Grey's Anatomy, ER, or House, the genre is much more expansive than viewers might realize. Looking beyond the U.S. and searching for shows that play with form and break the structure of a typical medical show might lead to unexpected discoveries that scratch the same itch as The Pitt​​​​​​.

This Is Going To Hurt Paved The Way For Modern Medical Shows Like The Pitt

Ben Whishaw & Ambika Mob Lead The Terrific Cast

The miniseries, This Is Going To Hurt​​​​​, was released only a few years ago in 2022, and it isn't too late to get sucked into this testament to doctors and what they go through. Based on creator Adam Kay's memoir of the same name, This Is Going To Hurt stars Ben Whishaw and Ambika Mob, known for her starring role in Netflix's One Day, as their characters, Adam and Shruti, navigate their lives in the hospital. Unlike The Pitt, This Is Going To Hurt follows an OBGYN ward rather than an ER, but it's no less high stakes.

This Is Going To Hurt is an underrated medical drama TV show, as it is an early example of a series that intentionally took a more cynical and hyperrealistic approach. Both Adam and Shruti are vivid characters who face personal obstacles alongside their daily tasks as doctors. One of the distinguishing qualities of This Is Going To Hurt is the fact that junior doctors within the OBGYN sector of the hospital are often overlooked and unappreciated, which ties into the feelings of many characters on The Pitt.

This Is Going To Hurt Prioritizes Realism Without Losing The Character Drama Like The Pitt

The Emotional Honesty Of This Is Going To Hurt

Throughout The Pitt, the series slowly introduces exposition and background about the characters that help inform their actions and emotional journey in the ER. The same is true for This Is Going To Hurt, even if the show unfolds over a longer period and employs some more overt filmmaking tactics, like breaking the fourth wall. Adam and Shruti are flawed characters who make missteps in their personal lives and while practicing medicine, making them human and empathetic, even when they're imperfect.

Every episode is just as action-packed and full of shocking reveals that bring the viewer deeper into the story's world.

This Is Going To Hurt touches upon larger issues that healthcare workers face, like understaffing and under-funding, as well as poor treatment from patients. However, the series is also full of empathy for everyone who es through the hospital, understanding how high the stakes are for every person they see during their shifts. Even though This Is Going To Hurt doesn't use the real-time formula of The Pitt, every episode is just as action-packed and full of shocking reveals that bring the viewer deeper into the story's world.

This Is Going To Hurt Is The Perfect Show To Watch While Waiting For The Pitt Season 2

Before The Pitt Season 2 Hits Screens, Discover This Is Going To Hurt

Only seven episodes long, This Is Going To Hurt is a quick, bingeable series that will fill the void left by The Pitt. In fact, by the end of This Is Going To Hurt​​​​​​, viewers might find themselves wishing there were more episodes and read the book. It would be fantastic if the popularity that The Pitt has garnered could translate to This Is Going To Hurt, which deserves to be much more widely recognized than it has been. There's no reason why This Is Going To Hurt shouldn't be ed as a groundbreaking addition to the medical drama genre.

The Pitt season 2 is confirmed, and it's likely that fans will see the next installments released within the next year, breaking the frustrating streaming trend of making us wait multiple years between seasons. However, The Pitt is a uniquely compelling series that's impossible to turn off, and leaves a hole when the story concludes. For audiences looking to find a TV show that scratches the same itch, This Is Going To Hurt is the perfect follow-up to The Pitt. This Is Going To Hurt is just different enough to be unique, while providing the distinct tonal balance that makes The Pitt unforgettable.