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Tonight on Private Practice, it was a night of motherhood. I mean, on a show about an OBGYN surgeon that's pretty par for the course, but even moreso tonight.
Addison
Addison kissed Wyatt and is still lying about it to Kevin about what she was doing that night. Addison does come clean about the kiss with Naomi, who isn't as convinced as Addison that it wasn't cheating. A kiss is still cheating, ADDISON.
That night at the hospital, Kevin comes looking for her and "jokes" about her cheating some more. It's petty and passive-aggressive. He may have something to be suspicious of, but he still doesn't need to behave like a child.
The next day at home, Addison confesses to kissing Wyatt and Kevin spits, "I knew it." She tells him that the one hour when she kissed Wyatt was the one hour this past month that she hasn't had a knot in her stomach. Kevin leaves. Good riddance. Kind of a jerk.
Addison goes to see Wyatt and instead finds her brother Archer having sex with Naomi. Oh dear.
The Baby
Judy has to deliver her baby via c-section but the baby is still having trouble breathing. Judy doesn't want to make any decisions regarding the surgery on the baby, she insists that the Sinclaires make the decisions. There are two surgeries to choose from. One that is more permanent and higher-risk and one that won't solve the problem but less risky. Mr. Sinclaire freaks and suddenly there is NO ONE making a decision.
They inform Judy that they need her consent about the surgery because the Sinclaires might not go through with the adoption. Judy goes with Addison's suggestion of the more aggressive approach. The surgery goes well and the baby is okay. The Sinclaires come back to apologize and say that they are ready to adopt the baby, but Judy says no way. They abandoned him in his hour of need and they can't have him anymore. She wants to keep him. They realize how badly they screwed up but they understand.
Judy finally decides to let the Sinclaires have him and gives them tearful instructions, like make sure he studies, as she says goodbye.
Charlotte/Cooper
Charlotte makes a post-coital proposal to Cooper. He seems less than thrilled at first, but then he shows up that night and she's dressed in white lingerie and a veil. It's creepy. She wants to go to Vegas the next day and he is understandably hesitant. He finally tells her that he wants to marry her, but under a hopa in front of all his friends and family. She says she won't go down the aisle without her father and now that he's dead she won't do it. He tells her she needs time to grieve and that their wedding day should be the happiest day of their lives. She silently stalks off.
Violet
Violet chose Sheldon over Pete and now things are kind of weird between her and Pete. She's also treating an agoraphobic, Nora, whose daughter, Tina, wants her mother at her wedding. Nora locks herself in a closet. She tells Violet that she's consumed by her fear of everything and Violet couldn't possibly understand. Violet starts crying and confides in Nora that she's terrified right now because she's pregnant. Nora very sweetly holds Violet's hand under the crack below the door and then comes out.
At Tina's wedding, Nora won't get out of the car. They call Violet, who talks to Nora about how she started staying at home in case her husband came back (after he left her). It's how her agoraphobia started. Violet observes that she's mad at her husband for leaving and getting a life and now she's a little bit mad at her daughter for the same thing (getting married). Violet helps her out of the car and down the aisle of the church. When Tina sees Nora standing there, she is overcome with emotion. It's very sweet. Nora can't believe she almost missed this.
Back at the office, Violet goes into Nora's closet and Cooper finds her there crying. He tells her about his pending nuptials. Violet cannot stop laughing and spews out that she's pregnant and that she doesn't know who the father is. They wonder what they're going to do and then decide to stay in the safe, comfortable closet for awhile longer.
Pete
He's treating Joel Grey!!! I love him! Cabaret AND Buffy. Woot woot! Sam informs Alexander that because of the pancreatic cancer he only has a few weeks left and Alexander asks if they'll help him die. They argue about assisted suicide, telling Cooper that Alexander wants morphine to help him die. Sam puts his foot down and says no.
Alexander makes a darn good case about being able to kill himself but then it turns out he doesn't need Pete's help because he has a damn pharmacy in his house. He's eating bowls of pudding mixed with ground up pills. Pete hangs out with him while he dies and Alexander advises Pete not to live alone, because he'll die alone, like Alexander is.
Sam shows up at Alexander's house and wants to call an ambulance but Pete tells him not to. Sam finally settles in to stay with them while it happens. The next morning, Alexander tells Sam that he doesn't want to die. If he could live the way he always lived, he'd be great. But he can't live that way anymore and he doesn't want to live as a broken shell. He advises Sam not to die alone either. As Alexander writhes in pain, Pete goes for a walk. But he really goes and steals some drugs from the clinic. Oh, Pete.
He comes back and gives a nice speech about being a doctor, which means he helps people manager pain, beat illness and be well. Sam then takes the syringe of morphine and hands it to Alexander, telling him that he and Pete are going to sit and talk and not pay attention to him. Alexander gives himself the morphine but when he starts to die, he starts to have second thoughts. Joel Grey is fabulous in crying and begging for it all to stop and lamenting dying alone. He dies in Pete's arms as Pete assures him that he was in this world. After he's gone, Pete and Sam cry for him. It's nice work by Tim Daly too.
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Zap2it Twitter Talk 
Andrea, I like how you set up your recap. I say this cause I didn't know if you ignored to include Dell cause he didn't really do much or because when he does do something, he becomes increasingly annoying. I am hoping for the latter. He's too black and white for me and he wonders why Addison and Naomi insist to be with him when he counsels. And is it me or did the ABC promo department totally ruin the big crossover event between 'Grey's' and 'Practice'?
This episode was incredible. I feel like every character (maybe except Dell, who's the only one I'm not really invested in) has so much at stake in their lives right now, and it all feels very real and very hard and they're doing a great job of acting it.
I totally disagree that kissing is cheating, though. It's still something she needed to fess up to and explain, but it's hardly equivalent to sleeping with someone. And frankly, I was thrilled Addison did walk out after the kiss because even though I happen to be one of the people who likes Wyatt, that "take off your clothes" bit reminded me way too much of her men in Seattle. It's good she was able to leave and not give in to temptation fully.
And I definitely will not miss Kevin. I hope we've seen the very last of him.
The Joel Grey piece was by far the most heartbreaking on a very emotional episode. He was wonderful, and watching Pete break down as his friend and patient died really got me.
But the hell with Archer taking a job with folks who are trying to hurt his big sister financially? Really? And Naomi knows? I can't imagine Addie is going to take that well.
So excited for next week to see her reaction!
Another tear-jerker on ABC last night! I cried my way through "Grey's" and the scenes with Pete holding Alexander while he died, and the scenes leading up to his last moments were totally tear inducing for me - sigh...I love a show that can do that : )
I want Pete to be the father of Violet's baby - I think they have great chemistry whereas the other guy with her just does nothing for me. This will be an interesting story line, I'm sure.
And Violet was really good with her patient - liked the hand-holding scene and then when Violet walked her down the aisle in the church. I found Susan Ruttan annoying on "LA Law" but I liked her in this role last night.
Good-bye and good riddance finally to Kevin! I didn't like him with Addison AT ALL and his whole attitude last night was so annoying to watch. But I have to say that in my opinion, a kiss isthisclose to cheating, and with Addison's history, in this instance, yes, she cheated on Kevin.
Can't wait for the "Private Practice"/"Grey's" crossover!!!
Gee, I wish I had known Joel Grey was on last night ... I would have watched it instead of "er." I ADORE Grey and am sure his peformance was wonderful. Was lucky enough to meet him several years; he's a very nice man.
Good episode except for the Alexander segment. I'm pretty sure he was on House a couple years ago playing another doctor dying in agony while asking for euthanasia. Couldn't he have tried ho****e care first?
And on the sing Joel Grey's praises note... don't forget Wicked! :D
Good stuff. Every character seeems to be clicking, and you can't help but like any of them. Some more than others, but there's plenty of story available on any given episode for the characters to really come alive and emotionally touch you.
Man, I can't believe Addison was so giddy to see Wyatt. I hate that guy. Thought her walking in on her brother in relations, again, was amusing.
Good stuff. Every character seeems to be clicking, and you can't help but like any of them. Some more than others, but there's plenty of story available on any given episode for the characters to really come alive and emotionally touch you.
Man, I can't believe Addison was so giddy to see Wyatt. I hate that guy. Thought her walking in on her brother in relations, again, was amusing.
So, let me get this straight. Addison has:
- Mistrusted Kevin to the point of stalking
- A snob who's too good to go to his place
- Scolded him like a child for trying to rush his recovery
- Pulls a fantastic double standard by refusing Kevin's expertise
- Once the tension starts, she basically treats him like crap.
- Leaves the house in the middle of the night to go meet another man.
- Lies about her whereabouts
- Comes clean with the truth after witnessing a young, scared single mother have the strength to do the right thing
Did I miss anything? So, after all this and what was a pretty mild p***ive aggressive comment at the hospital...KEVIN IS THE JERK?!? Wow...seriously Andrea?!?
Wow. Joel Grey hit the cover off the ball in this episode and Tim Daly really held his own. Grey's performance was so pitch perfect, so totally authentic and nuanced, I was blown away by it. Talk about a master cl*** in acting. I didn't feel like I was watching two actors but two real-life very close friends, one dying and the other racked by grief. Their acting was flawless.
I watch an episode like this and wonder how come this show isn't doing better in the ratings?
I'll admit that I was one of the many viewers who watched the pilot episode from Season 1 and was bored stiff. I also felt like the characters seemed like silly, immature (but older) versions of the Grey's Anatomy gang, so I didn't give the show another chance until I started reading the show recaps here on Zap2it. So I started watching Season 2 and now I'm really into the show. I haven't had time to go back to watch Season 1 but I have the feeling that the show has matured and is probably better this season.
My only gripe with the show now is how Addison Montgomery has turned into a fundamentally unlikable character. Every time she does something that redeems herself, she then does something hypocritical and selfish. She's devastated when Kevin gets shot, acts like the love of her life is about to die, realizes she doesn't want to lose him, goes out of her way to nurse him back to health and to re***ure him that their social cl*** differences (cop vs heiress) can be overcome. Kevin gives her another chance after she whines to him about missing him. Once she has him back, then what does she do? She flings herself at Dr. McSwarmy, an arrogant, too slick to be trusted colleague who acts like he beds chicks for kicks. In other words, McSteamy version 2.0. And she acts like this just from Dr. McSwarmy asking her out on a date. Geez, talk about an easy lay.
I know that these shows thrive on so-called melodramatic romantic tension that occurs when people are single, but I'd really like to see this show, populated with doctors in the late 30s-early 40s, to have at least one couple in the show who is in a serious committed long-term relationship (either married or living together) and showing that dynamic in the plot. Charlotte and Cooper don't count since they keep rebooting their relationship and can't seem to get in sync for longer than 24 hours. Enough already with the bed hopping and high school "he loves me, he loves me not" antics. Maybe Violet/Sheldon or Violet/Pete will be that couple. I'd like to see the show at least explore a committed relationship over the course of one season, not over the course of one episode.