The Pitt Season 2 newcomer, Sepideh Moafi, revealed that the abandoned baby, "Baby Jane Doe," is tied to a major spoiler in the latter half of the HBO Max series. The baby in Season 2, Episode 1 was found alone in the waiting room bathroom during the Fourth of July weekend shift of the doctors and nurses at Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. The doctors, led by Dr. Samira Mohan (Supriya Ganesh) and Dr. Al-Hashimi, took the responsibility of taking care of the baby.
After they ran several tests, the doctors confirmed that the baby appears to be older than 28 days, meaning that the situation they are facing is a crime rather than a legal "Safe Haven" surrender (deemed as protected under law). The episode ended with Dr. Al-Hashimi freezing in shock for an unknown reason while staring at the baby before Episode 1 cuts to black.
Speaking with Decider, Sepidah Moafi, who plays Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi in The Pitt Season 2, confirmed that her odd reaction to the abandoned baby in Episode 1's ending is tied to "a huge spoiler" in the latter half of the season:
"Yeah, I think it ends on a big question mark and a big teaser of like, ’What’s going on for her? Yes, we will definitely learn more, and we’ll understand the context for that moment throughout the season, later on in the season. But yeah, the answer to that, it’s kind of tentacled and it’s rooted in a huge spoiler."
In the same interview, The Pitt star Shawn Hatosy, who plays Dr. Jack Abbott, admitted that he was also confused about Al-Hashimi's reaction, but he did admit that it was "beautifully done:"
"When I saw it, I was like, ‘What? Is there something, is it connected to infant care?’ It was so beautifully done. You know, you really go, ‘What is going on?"
A report from Deadline confirmed that the baby storyline will span the entire Season 2, indicating that this is not a one-off medical case. While The Pitt Season 2, Episode 1 didn't reveal who the parents of the baby are, some have theorized that she might be related to Dr. Al-Hashimi, but there's a strong chance that this isn't the case.
In a separate interview with TV Line, Moafi confirmed that it is the first visible crack for Al-Hashimi in Season 2, teasing that it might be tied to her personal emotional baggage:
"Every physician, every person — but every physician in particular — carries their baggage. Trauma, experiences. And it weighs on them and affects them in different ways."
At this stage, it's possible that Dr. Al-Hashimi had a traumatic experience in the past involving a baby, such as a personal child loss or a failed adoption. She could have PTSD that might be triggered after seeing the baby up close. Whatever the case, it humanizes the new attending of the Pittsburgh General Emergency Department.
Why The Baby Is Crucial in The Pitt Season 2's Ongoing Story
Aside from its many accolades, The Pitt is best known for exploring what the chaos in the Emergency Department looks like, and an abandoned baby is the perfect example of its unpredictability.
For many, the baby represents vulnerability and innocence as it forces the core doctors to confront what saving someone truly means. Moreover, the baby storyline adds another layer of mystery and intrigue to the show's sophomore season.
Dr. Al-Hashimi's unusual reaction to seeing the baby not only humanizes the new attending but also shows that she is no different from Dr. Robby in terms of vulnerability. In Season 1, Dr. Robby's breakdown amid treating the patients of the Pittfest shooting showed how much it took a toll on him, and Al-Hashimi's sudden freeze could be the first hint that she may go down a similar path in the latter part of the July 4th shift.
All in all, the abandoned baby storyline further solidifies that no doctor is perfect, and trauma still lingers within them no matter how strong they are in their exterior.
