Ah, episode three of Private Practice, and Addison has hit the wall of realization: you can run from your life but you can't hide. It will catch up with you. It's almost like a tease of the old Addison coming out. She's still smart! No more naked dancing! This is an honest Addison, ready to deal with the life she's planted for herself.

As a pouring rain falls on L.A., Addison confesses to Naomi that the dream, the magic, just isn't coming true, basically. Moving to a new city, changing your professional focus, and dismissing the past usually means that the new city becomes the old city, the job becomes frustrating and the past isn't that far away. Naomi says that she just needs to dig in, and make friends… and that it's really raining everywhere.

Pete, meantime, is out in that rain, at the cemetery, talking to his dead wife. He tells the headstone, engraved with "Anna Wilder, Beloved Wife" that Violet is making him come out to talk, and it's all Violet's idea that he be there, because he won't heal unless he says "this thing" to her. He then says that she was a lousy wife, and he hated her. Well, hello, deep seated pain and guilt! Sam the Zen master is hiding some demons!

Violet sees a long-time client, Doug, and seems to convince him, after years of therapy, that it's time to leave his wife. Again, I question her professionalism but I digress. After crowing to Pete that she's a "kick ass" therapist, the elevator opens to find Doug, and a very irate wife, Karen, who is bleeding profusely from her nose. It seems her nose started spontaneously bleeding when Doug demanded a divorce. Later, Violet tries to explain that their work hasn't been about him leaving his wife, it's been about getting him to say what he wants. The next day, Karen is back to confront Violet. During the heated conversation, the bleeding starts again, and she collapses. Sam diagnoses her with a blood vessel disease that affects the nose, throat, ears, and kidneys. Doug and Karen have a moment over her bed, reconnecting. However, we soon find out that she was diagnosed with the disease six months prior. Sam and Violet confront the couple, where Karen tells Doug she did, in fact, know about the disease. Doug, once and for all, tells Karen he's staying. Yes, staying. Doug comes back, once more, and tells Violet that she needs to be the therapist, and he needs to be the patient, and that it's his choice, no matter what. Projecting much, Violet?

Kathleen and Jeffery, married for three weeks, see Addison, and confess that they've not yet consummated their marriage. In fact, Kathleen says her "hoohaw" is broken. Yes! Her hoohaw. When talking with Kathleen, Addison finds out that she is a virgin (she uses the word "hoohaw", so no big shocker), who just wanted to wait for the "magic" to happen. Addison can't actually exam her either – the gates are "closed, locked, welded shut." Addison diagnoses her with basically, a severe case of muscle spasms. She prescribes a muscle relaxer, but that doesn't seem to work either. Violet recommends Kathleen see Pete. Addison shuts that idea down. Oh, the more you deny...

Addison discusses Kathleen's case, and the idea of magic and romance, with Naomi and Violet. Naomi accuses Addison of not finding L.A.'s magic because this time, she hasn't kissed Pete. It all comes around to Pete. On cue, he walks in at that moment, and accuses all of them of talking about sex. Addison freaks out on him, rambling on about needs and wants. Pete, obviously still smarting from the cemetery, coldly shuts her down. Violet says that this week, Pete needs a pass.

Addison continues to work to a diagnosis for Kathleen, and talks with Naomi, who tells her to work with Pete, because that's what the practice is all about. She also tells her that the week's pass is because it's the anniversary of his wife's death. After dealing with Kathleen with medicine, she tucks tail and asks Pete for his alternative medicine help. While trying to thank him for helping her patient, Pete talks about the loss of his wife, but admits that his marriage was flawed from the beginning, and that nothing is ever perfect. More crashing realization that life in L.A. isn't going to all magic… until Violet tells her that Pete has never shared that much information about his wife with anyone.

Cooper sees a young girl who, strangely, has turned blue. The next day, her three sisters have also turned blue. Cooper makes a house call to try and figure out the reason. The mom says that the girls don't talk to anyone but each other, and during the visit, one of the girls has a seizure. While she is hospitalized, Cooper bribes the other sisters with fairy outfits to show him their "secret magic castle" – a shed in the neighbors yard filled with fertilizer. Magic fairy dust indeed.

In the end, we see Pete really giving the headstone the truth… and apologizing, Kathleen and Jeffery running in screaming their thanks to Addison and Pete for giving them their magical first night, and Addison making peace with the L.A.rain. Because no matter what, it's still not Seattle.

Other points:

• I'm starting to like this show! I'm optimistic! It's going to be Grey-ish, but different. Okay. I can accept that. It's brain candy.
• Naomi needs to find a new man, and fast. Violet already has the pathetic, whiny woman function. Give Naomi something else to do.
• Hooray, Sam and Naomi's kid is back!
• I actually really liked the whole cake flirtation thing. I like Dell and his cakes and his surfer take on women.
• Violet erasing her ex's last voicemail was actually a nice way of ending the Doug and Karen storyline. I want Violet to get over the ex. It's boring and shallow. Give her some meat and she could be an interesting character.

Comments

I agree with most of what you said, but I have actually had faith in this show since the beginning. It just needs to establish its own voice outside of Grey's and I think it has been doing that very well.

Also, Violet does need to move on from her past relationship. While I understand that it is probably difficult, she has been hanging on for quite a long time now and needs to get past it. The dude is married, for heaven's sake!

Travis | Oct 10, 2007 8:52:19 PM | #

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No need to recap the show second for second we all watched it.

I did like this episode and the show is growing on me. Gossip Girl is still beating it for me but PP is gaining ground!!! Naomi needs to hook up with surfer dude or someone. I am so sick of Violet's hang up with the ex--seriously!-she needs to move on or be committed. She has issues.

Bo | Oct 11, 2007 4:53:15 AM | #

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I actually stayed with this episode longer than others, or at all. I forgot Kitchen Nightmares was on, unfortunately, and kept watching the same channel after Dancing with the Stars and was entertained by PP. I do agree the character of Violet needs to develop her strength of character and blow out the torch she carries for the ex. It's quite embarrassing and sad and doesn't ring true to me for some reason. Here's to Violet getting a better s/l

Terry | Oct 11, 2007 7:47:49 AM | #

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The show is growing on me too! I'll stick with it even though I miss Addison on Grey's. I've always loved Tim Daly, more of him please!

Jo | Oct 11, 2007 11:06:53 AM | #

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okay this a prediction i made way back when the pilot first aired in mail and i think i should share it. i think the reason Sam left Naiomi is that he was actually in love with Addison when they got married and thats y they r not telling the reason y he filed for a divorce. i think we will find this in this seasons finale and then Naiomi and Addison friendship will be tested in the next season and tahts y they they r showing that Naiomi still has feeling for Sam...ooooooooooo i think so far ahead. wat u think!!!

zac | Oct 11, 2007 12:40:58 PM | #

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and by mail i mean May

zac | Oct 11, 2007 12:42:02 PM | #

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Hey, Bo, enough with the "no need to recap" stuff! I didn't get to watch, because my TiVo messed up, so I loved the recap.

I really like this show. I think it just needs a little room to blossom!

becky | Oct 11, 2007 12:58:03 PM | #

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Nice recap. But you confused Pete with Sam - twice.

Steph | Oct 11, 2007 2:17:51 PM | #

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Gah. I fixed that. Thanks.

Kiley | Oct 11, 2007 2:32:50 PM | #

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I've always liked the show since it premiered, and yes it only needs to find its ground and everything will work out as it has been working out.

Addison was great, Pete was incredible, Cooper was so funny, Naomi and Sam needs a real story line -- they're starting to be a bore. Naomi and Dell - the whole flirtation, cake, and locking of eyes -- LOVED IT!!!

Finally, last but not least, Violet was real good too - her character is flawed and it's hang up on the ex but that is what most of us do. We become professional especially in the field of psychology because we want to analyze ourselves or if you're a psychologist wouldn't you want to analyze yourself too? I think she is just doing that, it will take a little time to move on but she's trying.

We've only been introduced to these characters for 3 weeks (ok 4 weeks, including the grey's episode last season). Change will come but slowly, be patient peeps.

All in all GREAT SHOW last night -- humor was there and the drama of course, perfect mixture of both and you get the rating it deserves.

xoxo

Crissy | Oct 11, 2007 8:04:36 PM | #

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i understand violet but come on! you're a therapist... she should be ashamed of herself... giving wisdom to other people but not taking it for herself.

Besides the point, but Taye Diggs is a great looking guy and yup Addison and Pete have great chemistry( i love that actor when he was on wings!!!)
The thing when he said he hated his wife was so different than what you think. it's usually a widow who had the perfect wife.

leslie | Oct 15, 2007 10:41:09 AM | #

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