This week, it's raining fallout, and it feels like a turning point in Private Practice. Two old relationships are reborn and changed; one for the better, one for the worse, and the one sure thing we thought was coming is seemingly nipped in the bud. And Cooper, Cooper, Cooper. Are you really going to make me start liking you?

Like the turkey in about four days, the spoilers are coming.

It's the women vs. the men as all of our doctors recover from their night of stand-ups and hook-ups. But they can't avoid each other. They're all partnered together for "Safe Surrender", a program for mothers who decide to give up their babies. Unfortunately, Addison and Pete are partnered, and babies, the other side of Addison's ever-tossing coin, is the last thing  needs after an evening of being rejected.

But our girl confronts Pete, and tells him that he's been officially downgraded to acquaintance for his actions. Addison then meets one of Violet's patients, Carl (played by Josh Randall, one of my favorites from "Ed"), who calls her for a date. Violet, in her first big realization of client-patient privilege, looks stricken as Addison accepts. Carl, in the full disclosure mode, admits that he wants to get married and have kids, and he's also a patient of Violet's. Addison comments that she finds that refreshing, and then her phone rings before she can say anything else. It's Pete, with a Safe Surrender call – a little newborn girl has been born to a young woman while her mother slept upstairs.

Once they return to the practice with the baby, Pete tells everyone that Cooper is out on a date, which shakes Violet up, and then Addison says her date went well, which also shakes Violet up. Addison also tells her Carl admitted to being her patient. But Pete asks Violet what Carl is being seen for, and again, Violet cites her ethics, and tells him to look it up. Hooray for Violet!

Our Addison spends the night with someone – the newborn baby. Sensing that they're both alone in the world, she becomes quickly attached to the little girl. But the dreamy baby world of that night is interrupted the next morning, when Carl comes back with flowers for her. A baby and flowers in one day! Addison has it all for about 30 seconds, until Pete tells her he doesn't think Carl is "Addison Montgomery Material." She blows him off. However, in the next scene, we find out what Carl's nickname of "trunk" means, and Pete was right. Let's just say that it involves one of Addison's shoes in a delicate area.

After Carl asks Violet to explain to Addison that he can't see her again, or her shoes, and Addison realizes she's going to have to give up the baby, you'd think she'd have enough to deal with, but he and Pete get another Safe Surrender call, only to have that newborn die. Three lost chances. In the end, the baby girl's mother, and grandmother, come back to collect her, making all things right. Addison heads home, in tears.

Cooper confronts Violet, who plainly states that she doesn't want to talk, and there's a "world wide web out there" for him. He takes that suggestion eagerly, and jumps back into his comfort zone. But guess who is waiting for him at the other end of the DSL line? Our favorite hospital doctor, Charlotte. She walks out on him, telling him that the moment never happens. Cooper the rejecter becomes the rejected in the same 24 hours. In the end, Violet does talk to Cooper about their failed attempt to be Friends With Benefits, but the uncomfortable issues linger. A great friendship ruined. Cooper then meets up with Charlotte, and she retracts the previous rejection. Nudge nudge wink wink.

Sam and Naomi, unlike the other four, keep the news of their rendezvous between themselves. Sam tries to diagnose the evening, asking Naomi what she wants. Naomi reminds him of their previous issues, and tells him she believes it was just a "slip up"… although neither of them seem convinced. After coming to that decision, they make a house call to their priest, who tells them one of their elderly sequestered nuns is sick. Sister Amy (played by Keiko Agena, yet another Gilmore Girls alum! If Lauren Graham is on next week, I'm going to freak out) explains that the nuns do mission trips all over, and since returning from her most recent trip, Sister Helen has been failing. During an examination, Naomi finds small red bumps. As they try and figure out what the rash is, the other nuns start falling ill as well. Sam and Naomi quarantine the convent while they figure out what they're dealing with, which turns out to be typhoid. However, the incubation for typhoid is 2 weeks, and the nuns have been sequestered for more time than that, which means someone is lying about not going out in public. It turns out to be the priest, who has fallen in love with one of the nuns. They've never actually broken any vows, but it's clear to Sam and Naomi that love comes in many forms.

Best Moments:

• Addison's comment that the Safe Surrender baby "should get to feel wanted… for just one night" to Pete was great. It's going to make their eventual hook-up more interesting, once he gets past his grief and she gets past her overwhelming need to be loved.
• Jealousy doesn't sit well on Pete. He can't have it both ways – he either has to jump in with both feet or let it go. But, at least he was right about Carl, and he's got way fewer issues.
• Sam and Naomi belong together. And Naomi's insistence that God is punishing them by throwing them in the middle of an infectious disease party is really just the opposite. They do belong together. Showing them a couple that can't be for reasons bigger than their own proves that.

 

Great episode. Addison's emotional frailty is coming to a head, and Pete's inability to connect with anyone romantically is as well. Sam and Naomi make me happy, although they too will wake up to their reality soon enough. And I can't wait to see what happens once Violet realizes who she threw Cooper to.

And just as we're really starting to cook, we're heading into December, and there's no new episode next week. Bummer.

What about you? What character do you think is becoming the most interesting? Do you like the Charlotte/Cooper thing too? What do you think Violet, Sam and Naomi, or Pete and Addison are going to do?

Comments

Dr. Mike Burton's new nick name is truck?!?!? My heart is breaking. It was great to see Josh Randall back on TV...but, I could have done without the shoe appendage.

Cooper & Charlotte...love it!

Katie | Nov 22, 2007 6:40:35 AM | #

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Trunk (as in a case). not truck. and is that even physically possible?!

Ryan | Nov 22, 2007 7:50:04 AM | #

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It’s far too predictable to have Addison and Pete get together anytime soon. It would be more satisfying to watch them develop a deep and meaningful friendship between them. Not the neurotic kind that Cooper and Violet have but a healthy and emotionally satisfying one. Sometimes this is the best foundation to build a physical relationship on, don’t you think?

MMT | Nov 22, 2007 10:16:12 AM | #

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am i the only person who noticed that the mom who called Safe Surrender was none other than Joy Lauren ,who also gave up her baby..to her mom.. as Danielle Van dekamp on Desperate Housewives?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.

jeff | Nov 22, 2007 11:21:00 AM | #

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When did Charlotte get that Texas twang she had going on and off throughout the episode? That was really annoying to me.

Decent ep.

I'm just wondering when Dell is actually going to be doing something related to the show. He seems to be there just to facilitate other characters' stories.

Rishi | Nov 22, 2007 2:13:02 PM | #

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I noticed Joy Lauren too and found it really distracting! Especially with a story line so close to her Desperate Housewives one, albeit without her mother faking a pregnancy and raising the child as her own.

I wish Cooper would just admit his feelings to Violet! Grrr!

Love Sam and Naomi together - what a stunning couple.

I'm really enjoying this show - I wish they would give Del a little more to do than just giving everyone files and telling them their patients are there (granted, that is his job). I just want to see a little of that Pizness coming through to make me miss VM a little less!!

Dani | Nov 22, 2007 3:07:35 PM | #

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Hey, I noticed Charlotte's new Southern accent too! Another facet to her personality that we hadn't seen before, I suppose.

Kiley | Nov 23, 2007 6:22:15 AM | #

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I think that in previously episodes Charlotte spoke in such clipped tones that you didnt hear the accent.

If you watched the preview for next week I beleive Dell is getting alot more air time because of the Naomi and Sam reunion.

Practice just keeps getting better and better.

ps Watch Journeyman on Monday.

darrpub | Nov 23, 2007 5:09:21 PM | #

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I noticed Charlotte's southern twang in her first scene too. What was up this that?

Great episode. I love how the relationships are developing, but anyone actually thinking that Kate Walsh is being underutilized? I understand the need to develop the other characters, and I think they are developed now. It's time to let her show why she deserved a spinoff and let her flex her acting skills.

graeme | Nov 24, 2007 5:58:09 PM | #

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a good episode finally!! u know i was never into private practice but just used to watch cause of my undying love for Greys Anatomy but this ep got me intreasted. and i dont know some how ive got this feeling that sam has a thing for addison i just think there putting violet and sam back togethar for some time just to justify when voilet decides to hate addison when sam and addison happen!!!

zac | Nov 24, 2007 11:12:05 PM | #

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Is Shonda collecting Gilmore Girls Alumnis? First Grandpa Gilmore appears on Grey's, then Christopher appears on Private Practice last week and this week here's Lane who next? I'd quite like to see Ms Patty, Babette and Emily soon.
I like the twist that Charlotte is seeing Cooper instead of Pete as we all thought.
I agree with other posters that Chris Lowell is being totally wasted here plus he's far too hot to be just wandering around observing the so called "grown ups" messing themselves up!

Sirius | Nov 25, 2007 2:34:28 PM | #

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I like the cooper/texan dr thing, but he should be with violet.
Sam and naomi aare good too, i liked that she came out from hiding at the end to comfort addison
Addisons date was a freak, she should adopt a baby and call mcsteamy

? | Nov 26, 2007 9:12:52 PM | #

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The episode was great! I loved the typhoid story and the story about the priest and the nun cooking was really sweet.

I think if Violet finds out about Charlotte, she will either be really jealous or really mad, or both! I hope she realizes what she is missing at least!

Allie | Nov 28, 2007 1:11:06 PM | #

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Who is Dell's Grandpa? I cannot place what he has played on before......help..

Angel | Dec 5, 2007 9:39:21 PM | #

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I know I'm extremely late in watching this, but I just hafta say...I can't stand Pete. He continually teases at Addison whenever he feels like it, then pulls back when he gets too close. Addison doesn't need a man who treats her so poorly. Plus, I don't see any chemistry between them. Addison has had more chemistry with that cop than with Pete imo.
Charlotte & Cooper are an interesting couple. The show obviously just wanted to try a twist, since these two never had any screen time before. But, they "work" when they have scenes together.
Odd thing is, I find that Charlotte has more chemistry with Sam, Pete, and now Cooper, than I've seen Addison have with Pete. I know it's a weird comparison but I really do feel that the show shouldn't do a Mer-Der thing with Addison & Pete, esp. since Pete's no McDreamy and has no chemistry with Addison. Just my opinions guys.

CL | Jun 1, 2008 6:32:15 PM | #

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