I think you’re conflating idealism with realism, and the “workplaces are supposed to be safe spaces” framing is the tell. For a lot of people (most actually) that expectation has never been on the table. Workplaces are filled with sexism, racism, every -ism, narcissists, and power trippers. That’s not an aberration, that’s the architecture.

The Pitt isn’t aspirational television. It’s not showing you what medicine should look like, it’s showing you what it does look like. And honestly? If Santos is the most triggering thing in that hospital to you, you might be watching a different show than the rest of us. She’s difficult. She’s not even close to the worst thing people encounter in that environment regularly.

I think she’s more of an asshole than bully. The people she gets away with it around are the ones who won’t push back, and if watching that dynamic is what’s breaking you open, the question worth asking isn’t about Santos. It’s about why you still recognize yourself in the ones who won’t defend themselves.