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Episode Recap: "In Which Charlotte Goes Down the Rabbit Hole"
Guest blogger Matt Mitovich here, and this is your Private Practice recap!
I know, some of you are like, "But Matt disses PP on the weekly podcast. Infidel!" But those who truly listen to the podcast know that I give the show props where they are due — and this week's episode was one of the best yet. Really.
I heart Paul Adelstein as much as a guy with a wife and kids can. I'm about 90 percent there in forgetting what a louse he played on Prison Break, and it's all due to his great work here. Such layers and pathos. Having been an ER fan since Day 1 (and also a Grey's enthusiast), I have seen more than my share of "Is the child being abused?" mysteries, but this one still rang fresh (and threw in a hint of dimension to Chris Lowell's character, to boot). I wasn't wild about the young girl actress at first, but damn if she didn't sell me on the "Why can't Mom's pain be mine?" thinking. In the end, Coop did what was right, and then washed away any guilt by getting "very drunk" at Addison's.
Coop's storyline also pushed along his "thing" with Violet, which can only be good in my book. Oh, how I am 'shipping them. (Do they have a couple name yet? "Coopet"?) I actually just got done editing TVGuide.com's November Sweeps Preview special, and there is goooood stuff ahead for... Vooper. From where I sit, they are PP's big root-for couple.
OK, here's a PP weakness: shoe-horning Charlotte into the Oceanside orbit by any means possible. If she loathes this group of quacks so much, no matter how bad her insomnia is, would she seek treatment there? Methinks the end game here is to make her the obstacle for Addison-Pete. Pete wants fun, Addison wants A Ring and Children, but Charlotte could use a bedmate — and she did like Pete's hands on her. I could be wrong, but that Paddison kiss last night seemed too much too soon to not get waylaid by an interloper.
The other case-of-the-week, with the wife lying to her husband about her motherhood plans, took some interesting turns — and was a great excuse to see The Closer's Corey Reynolds and Close to Home's Kimberly Elise — though I was suspecting, when the wife revealed her disease to Naomi and Addison, that she was snowing 'em to get them on board the big lie. That would have been a nice, dark twist. But I suspect the show feels it's too early on to get too cynical with its stories. I also fear that every single week will present a "want to be pregnant" case that will further wind Addison's biological clock. Not that I begrudge her want, but realistically, will the show make her a mom anytime soon in its existence? Maybe three seasons in, when it needs the boost. But to keep hinting at it and playing that card and having Ad' yammer on about it to every passing acquaintance... just seems a bit odd.
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Nov 1, 2007 8:02 AM
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How about "Viper"? And I so LOVE Paul Adelstein, after really hating him for the last couple years on PB. And it's nice to see you guest blogging, Matt. 
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Nov 1, 2007 8:16 AM
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Viper is a good one! I also love Vooper, which might be a little more appropriate since Violet is Loopy as all get out. Yes, Matt, this is the couple to root for and while they have great, understated, below the surface chemistry, Kate Walsh and Tim Daly steam up the screen.
They really need to do something with Taye Diggs. He's been pretty much relegated to interrupting moments and, while he plays the befuddled and embarassed well, I think he can do more.
This show is really growing on me.
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Nov 1, 2007 9:03 AM
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I'm not sure what their couple name should be, but if in the far off, distant future they should have a baby together, it would be their little Cooplet for sure.
Taye Diggs does need more to do. When given the right material, he can do really good work. They're just not giving him anything! I feel the same about Amy Brenneman, whose Violet has so much potential to be an incredible character if only for AB's talents. Thank goodness they seem to be getting her (finally!) past Alan. That got old real fast.
I also have issue with throwing Charlotte in any way conceivable. When I first saw her as chief of staff at the local hospital my thought went to Dr. Cuddy on House. On that show Cuddy made a comment about how only three hospitals in the country have female administrators -- basically saying that it's EXTREMELY rare to see a woman heading a hospital. Apparently not on primetime. I also don't buy it that Charlotte can head the hospital, not because she's a woman, but because she's too young! On the mothership (GA), Dr. Webber has a good 20 years on Charlotte and he's only the chief of surgery, not the entire hospital.
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Nov 1, 2007 9:59 AM
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I SO wanted a scene last night between the abusive mom and her "JoeyBear".....I remember Valerie Mahaffey as the stalker from 'Wings' who harbored a secret crush on Joe (Tim Daley) - she let him know how much she was obsessed but played it cool in front of everyone else and no one believed him - too funny!
This show keeps getting better and better!
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Nov 1, 2007 10:05 AM
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I love this show and great blog Matt.
To me this show is just the perfect show after a long day when you just want to have some fun. They have the serious storylines going which keep it interesting and then add in the fun that the partners seem to have in their lives.
I also watch and enjoy GA but the big difference here is that after I watch Private Practice I come away with a smile on my face.
I had totally forgot about that stalker on Wings, so thanks tvforever for bringing that up again, that would have been funny to see them have a scene together.
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Nov 1, 2007 10:57 AM
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This show is getting much better...so glad I stuck with it. I was happy (not in the happy that someone has a disease sense, but in the happy that there isn't always a "happily ever after") that the Kimberly Elise character had the gene for Huntington's Disease. In my opinion, anything else would have been a copout. I also loved seeing Corey Reynolds, which made me miss The Closer even more!
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Nov 1, 2007 11:25 AM
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I love and adore Violet/Cooper (I think I'm just calling them that for now). Can't wait to see what's in store for them--or at least what's in the Sweeps Preview.
Not quite as on board with Pete/Addison yet, but they're fun to watch. I'm really glad I stuck with this show. It's become one of my favorites.
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Nov 1, 2007 11:39 AM
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I'm liking the bond between Chris Lowell and Audra McDonald's characters as well. This was the first PP I have watched and it was a good one.
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Nov 1, 2007 11:40 AM
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This is the episode that turned it around for me. Still not must-see TV, but top of my Tivo viewing. Before I left it until there was nothing new left to watch. They seem to be finding their stride, toning down the things that were most annoying (Addison continually haranguing Pete for no reason I could fathom, Violet whining about Allen) and brought more depth to many of the players. Now if the Old Addison would show up for work....
Love Corey Reynolds, IMHO he should be a guest star on many, many shows while we wait for a new Closer.
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Nov 1, 2007 12:34 PM
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Cooplet?
Oh well, I thought I would give it a shot.
Good episode. Second one in a row.
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Nov 1, 2007 1:26 PM
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I love this show -- it's so quirky fun, serious but not too much and just plain fun! Addison & Pete are YOWZA!! LOVE them! Vi/Coop are just so cute. She's completely oblivious to his drooling over her. How romantic! LOL!
I just love Audra McDonald. I think she walks on water -- she's so good! LOL! But either give her more scenes with Taye or give the man something more to do than interrupt people. I really like Taye and I think he could do so much more. Why don't they ever show him being a parent? He seems to do awkward moments quite well -- have him tongue tied when Maya asks him a teenage girl question. Have him do SOMETHING.
Like most I'm not digging the hospital administrator chick either! I'm all for tough women but this girl is just plain annoying!
Also the girl who was being abused guest starred on ER a few years ago as well. If I remember correctly, she was the little girl who shot her dad b/c he wouldn't let her watch TV and had already threatened to kill her. There was a nice scene between her (she was about 10 then) and Dr. Weaver.
The receptionist is growing on me too, but the crush on Naomi's gotta stop. At least stop being so obvious about it. That annoys me a little, but otherwise he's growing on me.
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Nov 1, 2007 1:29 PM
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The show seems to be finding it's legs. It's now having the characters address adult issues (and their repercussions) while still keeping the humorous camaraderie alive.
I loved that Charlotte had to come to Pete to get some sleep - that was deliciously ironic. I was secretly hoping Pete might actually have to use more of a 'personal touch' to succeed, but it was still a funny story-line. Really cracked me up when she walked out of the office with magnets all over her face and loved Pete's smirk as she did.
I agree with everyone else that the writers need to give Taye something to do, really do, not just be there as window dressing.
I also like that Addison's turning the tables on Pete a little bit but I won't be surprised if Charlotte doesn't get in the way a little bit since both she and Pete 'just want to have fun...'
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Nov 1, 2007 2:07 PM
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tvforever & peggyk~you two have said everything I've been thinking. That episode on Wings was absolutely hilarious. Good to see Wings fans!!
I find this show relaxing and just right. I always had a feeling it would be, even when so many disliked it. I think most people just had to realize it was a totally different show from GA and was meant to be.
As for Taye....well I thought it would be perfect if HE was the reason Charlotte couldn't sleep. Cuz c'mon, we all know what she needs.....Yep, that's right..THAT'S what she needs!!
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Nov 1, 2007 3:00 PM
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The mother also played Joy Abbot on ER, the mom who's son led to Dr. Ross's exit from the show.
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Nov 1, 2007 3:39 PM
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