Rewatching ‘Private Practice’: “Nothing to Talk About”

As a new segment on WhatSamWatches, I will now be doing more informal reviews/commentaries on what I’m watching. And it’ll include shows I’ll be rewatching just because I feel like it. I know I just did a review on Private Practice not that long ago but I’m not ready for it to be over. So I’m binging the show from the beginning all over again. So since I rewatched the second episode of season two last time, we’re now onto the third episode of season two of Private Practice.

Nothing to Talk About

• So, not only does Sam take over the practice but he has the audacity to ask for Naomi’s feedback? Something had to be done but it just wasn’t handed correctly.
• I will say that Naomi sleeping with Sam doesn’t help the situation either. If she wants to be angry at both Sam and Addison, fine. But if you don’t want to help Sam figure out what to do to keep this business afloat, stop sleeping with him.
• Not gonna lie, it would’ve been cool to see Pete and Addison work out together more. I know there’s a couple scenes of Addison and Naomi in some kind of fitness class at some point. And there are plenty of Sam and Addison clips of them hiking or going on a run. But I think Pete and Addison are better matched to work out together. Pete’s got the whole wellness thing going for him and Addison, well, she just knows how to keep in shape.
• Of course Jodie the temp thought Pete was old. But in comparison to Addison, it’s not much of a problem.
• As much as I love Dell, St. Ambrose is probably a better learning experience for him, in my opinion. And Naomi honestly took advantage of him at Oceanside Wellness. Plus, Sam’s not any better later when he comes back.

Charlotte Woos Addison with Surgery

• How does Charlotte not recognize Dell? Especially since she’s Chief of Staff. She should at least know the name because isn’t she the one in charge of hiring people?
• I wouldn’t want to stick around where everyone’s avoiding me either.
• Charlotte has no shame in admitting she’s actively trying to woo Addison. And I’m all here for it.
• I know the overall point of this episode was not talking, but I still don’t think Addison would just go from surgery to surgery without talking to any of her patients.
• It would’ve been interesting if Addison said yes to Charlotte’s offer. Hear me out. As much as I love Oceanside Wellness, I think the story would’ve been more interesting if Addison went to work at St. Ambrose with Charlotte for a while. And then, at some point, the practice would figure stuff out and beg for Addison to come back. I think Addison’s just too forgiving sometimes, especially when it comes to Naomi. It would’ve made for a more interesting story if we saw Addison say enough was enough just once.

Addison at St. Ambrose

• As much as I love Addison in Private Practice, I do miss seeing her surgery scenes. Too bad we didn’t really get to see much of it. We just saw her go back and forth between ORs.
• What did Naomi think was gonna happen? She’d show up and Dell would just be happy to see her after what she did? A little naive, in my opinion.
• It’s about time Dell finally realized how impressive Addison really is. I never understood why Dell thought Naomi was so great. But Addison’s double board certified and one of the best surgeons in the country.
• This patient’s wife didn’t have some post-op complication because Addison ran off to do another surgery. She did her job and had someone else close her up but she did the work. It had nothing to do with the fact that she had another surgery to go to afterwards. Addison just brushes that comment off, but it bugged me.
• I find it hard to believe that Addison wouldn’t know who she operated on. I know it’s supposed to show how different it is from working at a hospital but I just refuse to believe she didn’t know. Especially after she’s probably the attending that probably got the most involved with her patients in Grey’s Anatomy.
• I wish we got to see more of Addison and Dell’s friendship. The last scene between them at the hospital was sweet. But I’m glad Dell came back. I just wish Sam wasn’t an ass about hiring him back.

Violet’s Patient and Her Son

• Violet’s right. I know Sam’s concerned about making money but the last thing they need is to be slapped with a malpractice suit.
• I’m glad Violet picked up on what Naomi was really doing early on. What Addison did was for the good of the practice. And Violet’s there but she’s not Addison.
• It’s big step for anyone to admit to someone that you’re afraid of your own son. Even more so to get her son to see Violet. Kudos to Linda.
• I love that Violet telling Sam to cancel the rest of the scheduled consults for the day was like a cathartic screw you to him. Again, I know the practice needs money, but he’s really taking it all away from what this practice stands for.
• If Linda’s son, Jesse, had just talked with Violet, the whole situation could’ve been resolved so quickly.
• There it is: Cooper said exactly what we all thought when Linda said Jesse (possibly) killed their dog.
• There’s no way a true/false questionnaire is really gonna tell her anything.
• Knowing how this story plays out, Linda really assumes a lot about her son.
• I admire Violet for sticking to her guns. Sam may be trying to rush her and focus on money isn’t phasing her. She cares about trying to actually help the patient, which is what Oceanside’s supposed to be all about.
• Jesse sneaking up to Violet holding a bat did not help him look any better. I’m glad he finally talked though.

Kevin Woos Addison

• Kevin’s great, but he definitely should’ve called. At least he tries to fix it in this episode.
• Is it weird that Kevin came with donuts? I mean, it’s a very stereotypical trope when it comes to cops but writers continue to use it.
• I really wish Addison kept that red convertible Porsche she drove when she first came to LA. It might not be as practical but it was cute.
• Date or not, it’s sweet that Kevin stuck around to get her lunch.
• It would’ve been interesting if we learned more about Kevin. You know, other than the fact that he’s a cop. Or I guess S.W.A.T. technically. We never even find out what kind of police work he did before or if he had any family.
• Does Kevin really need to wear the S.W.A.T. shirt every time we see him? I know we see him wear other shirts later after he and Addison are actually together but did the writers just think we’d forget that he’s a cop? It’s a little redundant to always see him wearing a black S.W.A.T. shirt.
• I’ve gotta admit, Kevin and Addison’s date at the shooting range was cute.

The Cross-Dressing Fire Chief

• This case with Captain Frank. I feel like this storyline would’ve never made it if Private Practice tried to air this today. The whole stigma around cross-dressing is controversial as it is (which, to be fair, is definitely Private Practice‘s MO). But the way the doctors gossip about it (sans Violet, who’s all for it) is definitely outdated.
• I still don’t get how Frank initially got into bras and panties. It’s not very well explained, in my opinion.
• Frank definitely should’ve gone to see Violet. Pete should’ve pushed harder for him to see her. I know there’s the stigma around therapy (less so now), but he has PTSD.
• It would’ve been interesting to know more about how cross-dressing as a coping mechanism is more common than we think. Violet just says it once offhandedly, but I would’ve liked to know more.
• Cooper’s infant patient and his big head is such a random case. Compared to other cases, this felt a bit like a wasted plot. I will say that I loved Charlotte’s commentary later on though.
• Wearing a bra isn’t a big enough issue to resign, in my opinion. But I’m glad Pete not only talked him out of it but also encouraged him to go to therapy.
• I’d just like to give a round of applause to Pete for finally telling Addison that she did the right thing. Because he’s right.