Suits Fan-Favorite Returns to The Pitt Season 2 for a Must-See Cameo and Stellar Storyline

Every so often, a show proves it doesn’t need to pack the guest list with big names just for the headlines. The Pitt seems to be one of those rare medical dramas that actually shows some restraint — which is almost shocking given how most shows in this genre love to throw famous faces into the ER just for a bit of buzz. Instead, this series only calls in familiar actors when there's a real story reason. That’s obvious with The Pitt’s latest scene-stealing casting choice: Amanda Schull, best known from Suits, who just showed up for a brief but remarkably effective turn in season 2, episode 3.

The Pitt: Quick Facts

• Creator: R. Scott Gemmill
• Main Cast: Noah Wyle, Tracy Ifeachor, Patrick Ball, Katherine LaNasa, Supriya Ganesh, Fiona Dourif, Taylor Dearden, Isa Briones
• Rotten Tomatoes Score: 97%
• IMDb Rating: 8.9/10
• Network: HBO Max
• Number of Seasons: 2

Amanda Schull as Gretchen Lamden: Not Just Another Cameo

So here’s what happened: Schull popped up as Gretchen Lamden, who, it turns out, is the long-separated wife of a patient named Michael Williams. He lands in the ER at the Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center after taking a nasty fall, and Gretchen gets the call as his emergency contact—even though they haven’t had contact in years. File that awkward reunion under ‘classic hospital drama staging’, but this plot actually goes way deeper than just old flames reuniting.

Turns out, the doctors notice something off during their exams—a small mass in Michael’s frontal lobe. Immediate panic sets in (as it usually does on these shows), but rather than jumping straight to melodrama, The Pitt has Dr. Cassie McKay break things down: more tests, more waiting, and basically, nothing’s certain. It’s then that Gretchen starts to rethink her entire past with Michael, especially all those unexplained bursts of anger that pushed them apart.

The most brutal (and pretty honest) realization for Gretchen? What she thought was bad behavior might have actually been early symptoms of this brain problem—not just Michael being a jerk. Instead of going full soap opera, Schull keeps it seriously subtle. She delivers that gut-punch moment where someone regrets not understanding sooner, all in a way that’s quiet but hits hard.

If You Missed Amanda Schull in Suits, Here’s What You Need to Know

If Amanda Schull’s name rings a bell, you probably remember her as Katrina Bennett, quietly giving Suits some of its more under-appreciated moments for eight whole seasons. She could hold her own in a scene with just about anyone, which is exactly what she does here, too.

In The Pitt, Gretchen’s on screen just long enough to get the audience invested in her side of the story, especially when she opens up to Dr. McKay about the strain on her marriage and her fear that Michael’s illness could be the cause of their fallout. The show could have played this up as a more clichéd explosion, but instead, we get a genuinely heavy, heartfelt exchange. And honestly, it’s that kind of smart casting and writing that makes the guest appearance the strongest one so far this season.

Standout Moment

In a scene that pretty much sums up the tone of this show (and why it hits different from other hospital dramas), Gretchen listens as Michael comes to grips with his diagnosis. When it’s revealed they haven’t seen each other in four years, you expect some standard TV-issue yelling or tears. Instead, Schull gives a performance that’s all about the regret and what-could-have-beens—without a single eye-roll-worthy moment.

To quote one of the show's fans online:

'Amanda Schull just gutted me in ten minutes. Best guest spot this season.'

In other words: sometimes less really is more, at least when it comes to the right kind of guest star.

If you want to watch it for yourself, The Pitt is streaming on HBO Max. And honestly, let me know what you thought about Amanda Schull’s cameo — I still haven’t quite recovered.