Remember all that lovely character development Private Practice delivered us last week? This week, not so much. When I said I wanted to learn more about the inner workings of these characters beyond Oceanside, I wasn't asking for an episode largely devoted to the topic of self-pleasure. To read more of my thoughts, just read more

Seriously, they based an episode around the fact that Addison doesn't masturbate. You know, Molly and I were talking the other week about Private Practice seems like "a mom show" — no disrespect to our moms, of course, but it's just been very safe. Maybe Shonda Rhimes & co. got wind of that kind of feedback and decided to try to do something edgy? That's the only reason I can think of for this storyline, which also involved discussion of expensive showerheads and Violet's Bill Clinton fantasy (OK, that last part was kind of funny). But really, now — Addison doesn't "do that" because she's "from Connecticut"? I don't believe that for a second. I'm no prude, and I'm all for women taking their sexuality into their own hands, but this just felt forced and fake.

Anyway.

I thought the strongest of this week's medical cases was the return of Naomi's daughter, Maya, who showed up saying she needed a test for gonorrhea. This left Addison in a tricky spot: The 13-year-old Maya and her friend came to Addison in confidence, but Addison wasn't sure if she should let Naomi know what was going on. As it turned out, Maya's friend, not Maya, was the one having sex — and gonorrhea, and a dangerous ectopic pregnancy. (I should have figured it out as soon as Maya, who tested negative, asked for some pills to give the guy.) Naomi was peeved that Addison had seen her daughter without telling her, but I think I'm on Addison's side here.

Pete, meanwhile, had to deal with an elite runner with a breathing ailment who insisted on competing even though running could kill her. I was pretty shocked when Pete punched the coach — it's the angriest we've ever seen Mr. Eastern Medicine get, by far — but something about the storyline felt unfinished.

Other thoughts:

  • Go away, Allen. You're ruining what could be perfectly good Cooper-time.
  • The Addison/Pete hookup is so inevitable at this point, I wish they'd just get on with it. I did laugh when dream-sequence Pete told Addison he wanted her for "your red hair. And your brain."
  • I thought Sam and Violet's storyline with the woman who was attacked in her home was going to have some dramatic twist, but it was pretty straightforward. It was good to see Violet acting like a competent therapist, though.
  • Dell's pap smear sequence was mostly one big eyeroll, but I did like "You cannot say 'gynergy' if you want to work with me."
  • The comparison of Sam and Naomi to a corporation was good, accurate, and a perfect metaphor for the more passionless episodes of this show.

How are you feeling about Private Practice today? Glad it'll be around for the whole season? Disappointed that the show didn't use even more awkward metaphors for "scratching the itch"?

Photos copyright 2007 ABC, Inc.

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