The chaotic end to the shift in The Pitt season 1 means there are still some lingering questions for season 2 to address, including the bigger mystery about Dr. Cassie McKay (Fiona Dourif). From the time McKay was introduced in The Pitt’s season 1 ensemble cast of characters, she was established as one of the doctors with the most fascinating personal and career backstories. As a single mother, recovering addict, and the oldest of her fellow second-year residents, McKay brings a unique perspective to the titular emergency department, with plenty more still left to explore in upcoming episodes.
The intrigue surrounding McKay’s backstory was only enhanced by her family members showing up in The Pitt season 1. After her ex, Chad, injured himself skateboarding, he and their young son, Harrison, spent a few hours in the hospital amid the Pitt Fest crisis. When Chad’s new girlfriend arrived, more of McKay’s complex personal life was disclosed, including hints about her role in McKay needing to wear an ankle monitor. Even with some important gaps being filled in, there are crucial details that still need to be revealed about McKay’s history with her ex and what led to her arrest.
The Pitt Season 2 Has To Reveal Why Exactly McKay Was Originally Arrested
The Reason For McKay & Chloe’s Incident Isn’t Revealed
One question that hasn’t been fully answered about McKay is why she was arrested and needed the ankle monitor in the first place. The only information that’s revealed in The Pitt season 1 about the reason for McKay’s ankle monitor is that it was tied to an altercation with Chad’s girlfriend, Chloe. When she shows up at the hospital, we learn that Chloe obtained a restraining order against McKay, suggesting that there was some sort of fight that occurred between them that led to the police being called.
Dr. McKay had one of the most entertaining lines in The Pitt’s season finale, but it was a very subtle reference that viewers may not have noticed.
There are no clear details about the context of the fight between McKay and Chad’s girlfriend, but their interactions at the hospital hint at what might have led to it. We learn that Chloe is intent on Harrison living with her and Chad, as he has primary custody of McKay’s son due to her history of substance abuse. It’s possible that while McKay was trying to pick up, drop off, or see Harrison at some point, Chloe tried to keep her from seeing him and the two got into an argument.
If the police were called about a domestic dispute and it led to a restraining order, then McKay’s substance-abuse history likely led to her receiving more severe charges. McKay was then placed under house arrest for a certain amount of time, with Harrison still being able to visit, and it appears she’s only allowed to leave to go to work at The Pitt’s emergency department during this period of her probation. Still, without knowing exactly what happened during McKay and Chloe’s fight before her arrest, it’s difficult to get a read on the legal troubles she’s still facing.
Additionally, it’s unclear what consequences McKay will face after tampering with the ankle monitor during the Pitt Fest chaos. The police ended up arriving to arrest McKay in The Pitt season 1, episode 14’s ending, but ultimately let her stay at the hospital under the promise that she would get it fixed after her shift. She might just get off with a warning after getting it replaced, but there’s no telling how that misunderstanding will factor into the other legal proceedings she may have with Chad over Harrison’s custody.
Will McKay’s Son & Ex Return In The Pitt Season 2?
Harrison & Chad Could Make Another Appearance
Though the mystery around why McKay got the ankle monitor can be addressed regardless in The Pitt season 2’s story, the show might benefit from hearing the perspectives of Chad and Harrison on the situation. It will have been about nine or ten months since The Pitt season 1’s ending by the time the next installment picks up, so McKay’s custodial and legal situation will likely have changed significantly in season 2. However, she could still be dealing with the legal aftermath of the restraining order and her probation.
The Pitt season 2 is expected to premiere on Max as early as January 2026.
McKay probably won’t be wearing an ankle monitor anymore in The Pitt season 2, but it’s likely that she’ll still have a tense subplot related to Chad and Harrison. Since The Pitt season 2 takes place over the Fourth of July weekend, we could end up seeing Chad bring Harrison to the hospital to visit McKay on the holiday, or perhaps land in the emergency department again due to some fireworks-related incident. Hopefully, though, McKay won’t have to deal with too much familial strife at the hospital again in The Pitt season 2.