(S01E02) Even if Private Practice had fair ratings for its premiere, the reviews for the first official installment of the Grey's Anatomy spin-off were not stellar. Actually, at the time I write these lines, out of the 733 readers who voted in our "Will Private Practice be part of your weekly watch list?" poll only 146 (19.9%) said they would definitely watch the series while 398 (54.2%) said they would give it a few more weeks but weren't sure about the show yet. The remainder, that's 25.7%, said they would not watch more episodes. I fall in the second category. So did this week's episode of Practice delivered the goods to have some of the undecided stick with the show?
When compared to last week's episode, "In Which Sam Receives an Unexpected Visitor" was quite good. On its own though, it wasn't bad. I still see a few flaws in the series but at least it's getting more watchable and may stand a chance if it keeps improving.
This week's episode focused on three cases: the switch babies, the sick dad, and Ginger, the "entertainer." The switched babies storyline was not that original (I think every medical show had at least one case like this) but it was touching and the ending (the fact that one of the father did the switch) was a tad original. It was somewhat predictable but at least it had us think and try to piece the puzzle together.
The actresses playing the mothers gave a heartfelt and touching performance. I was really feeling for them, especially when they made the switch. I cannot begin to imagine what those families, especially the mothers, went through.
What was also good about this storyline is that it had most of the doctors work as a team. Cooper, Naomi, Addison and Violet all had a part to play to help solve the case. Charlotte even had to cooperate and let her guards down for once. Sam had a case of his own. When doing a house call, he found one of his patients unconscious on the floor. After doing some investigating and a blood test, and after seeing the son be as sick as his father, Sam discovered that Dave's mother was poisoning him so he would stop drinking. Sam was confronted with an ethics dilemma: should he turn Dave's mother in or not? The woman needs to be punished for what she did but Sam wanted to find a way to save the situation without resorting to cops. Luckily for all, he did. This may not have been a really compelling case, but it showed a side of Private Practice that most medical shows don't have: some doctors do make house calls! This feature of the clinic will surely help expand the storylines, especially since some of them will see one patient a day! Most medical shows keep all their cases inside the hospital, so it's nice to see them get out once in a while and practice medicine elsewhere.
And now we move to the filler storyline: Ginger. If last week's episode and this week's are an example of what all episodes will look like, it seems that each week we'll be treated to one case that has Naomi be pissed off at Sam. Ginger was it. Last week, I said "She did let go of Sam at the end, thanks to the "wacky" case of the episode, but somehow I don't think she will let him be so easily (and Sam will probably not help her either)." This week proved me right. The woman needs to accept that they are not together anymore. If Sam wants the next woman to be a stripper, so be it! It's HIS life! As you can see, I'm still not liking Naomi much because of her too-angry attitude and the fact that she can't smile. I know what she is going through is rough but we need her to lighten up a bit to enjoy the character. If she is always angry and makes the world know and feel it, fans won't get attached to her.
After watching the premiere, I thought that Violet was the weakest player. I still think that statement is accurate. Was she that useful tonight? Yes, she helped the mothers cope with what they were going through, but those scenes could have easily been removed (or at least feature another doctor) and the storyline wouldn't have been hurt much. The bike scenes continued to highlight the fact that she needs help as much as her own patients do. At least, the Cooper/Violet moments are cute. I wonder if they'll end up hooking up...
I really enjoyed the scenes where all the doctors were interacting together. They each have their own persona and know how to push each other's buttons. Those scenes could turn out to be really fun! Let's hope the writers see it too.
Thanks to a better episode, I'll tune again next week but I'm not 100% sold yet. Will you watch next week?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-04-2007 @ 12:27AM
terre said...
I like Private Practice, but am adopting a TAKE it or LEAVE it attitude because it isn't compelling enough, at this point!!! If I wanted hospital drama, every week I'd watch Grey's. Stick to the office, patients there and the chemistry between the doctors in the practice and it'll entice us back.
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10-04-2007 @ 2:12AM
Squirrelspitz said...
Tim Daly's character is the weak link here -- one face too many around the office, and his "acting" doesn't mesh with the other characters. I assume TPTB wanted to "assure" viewers that Addison & Sam wouldn't be getting together, but having Daly stand around wearing his smug "She wants to bang me, but then who wouldn't?" expression is just tedious. The Alternative-Medicine-Eye-Candy slot has just about enough weight for Chris Lowell -- we don't need two copies of that stereotype in the same show.
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10-04-2007 @ 1:51AM
Paul said...
The show isn't anywhere near perfect, nor anywhere near my Top 10 or 20 favourite shows. But that scene where the mothers gave the babies back was one of the most heart-wrenching scenes I've ever seen on TV. I do *not* get emotional for television shows, but I definitely shed a few there. And I suppose being moved by a TV show is a big feat for a show trying to find its voice.
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10-04-2007 @ 9:08AM
Jimmy said...
This was certainly an improvement over the first episode, but this series still has a long way to go. If ABC was hoping to have a Grey's Anatomy here they're going to disappointed, but how can anyone expect to recreate the original. In every instance where a series has been spun off it's never been like the original. In some cases that's worked to great success (Fraiser) in other cases it's been a great failure (Joey!). While I don't think Private Practice is a great failure, it's certainly nothing like Grey's Anatomy. Now, if the writers can embrace that we just might get a good show to watch.
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10-04-2007 @ 10:02AM
BC said...
Pephaps I am nitpicking, but...why would the doctors of a private practice be investigating a "baby switch".
As for the baby story, my point is:
A) seems like they should have reported it then it was a matter for the hospital and the police. Why would they "investigate" it?
B) The return of the babies would be done by social services or some type of court appointed children welfare worker -- not by doctors.
C) Where was the lawyers? This has "law-suit" written all over it so someone would have had lawyers present for a suit (even if the one father did the switch, the other couples would sue him and the hospital for negligence).
D) And how does a private practice get paid in that situation? If they on see 1 patient a day, this clogged up several doctors and there is no one to bill?
Like I said I am nitpicking, but this was totally a situation for the police to investigate and the hospitals responsibility -- not a group of private doctors.
How hard is it for tv shows, especially dramas, in general to at least how semi-believable story lines?
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10-04-2007 @ 10:52AM
Andrea said...
So far my assessment of the show is that it's mediocre. It doesn't have the witty dialogue or the substance. I'm not liking Audra McDonald and Chris Lowell could be used in a better way.
I liked last week's episode better.
I don't know if I'll keep watching. If another TV show that's on at the same time captures my attention I'll switch over to that one instead.
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10-04-2007 @ 10:37AM
KateGee said...
Naomi really needs to lighten up. And Sam was just basically staring at the icky rash on the woman's butt cheek. And why was alternative therapy needed for that? Give the woman some ointment and say goodbye.
And I really want Violet to stop being a pathetic stalker.
So far my favourite character is Cooper.
I might give this show one more viewing but that's it.
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10-04-2007 @ 10:55AM
Andrea said...
Also-
There needs to be more character development. I'm not emotionally invested in them and that's important.
Lots of shows have a slow start and become amazing, so maybe this one needs to develop over time.
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10-04-2007 @ 11:30AM
MrsEldubya said...
I hate that they changed actresses for Naomi. I could care less now about her character.
Still Taye Diggs smiles and I smile.... he can boost your spirits with just one smile.
But otherwise, this show is just take it or leave it. I have grown to really like Gossip Girls and I haven't watched Bionic Woman yet... so if I like Bionic Woman, Private Practice is history.
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10-04-2007 @ 2:20PM
Jon said...
The Violet taking the bike apart scene was just ridiculous. She looked like she had stepped out of a coal mine. Seriously, how dirty can you get taking apart a bike?
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10-04-2007 @ 10:56PM
RedheadFangirl said...
I really love Kate Walsh. I think it's usually interesting when she is on screen. However, this ensemble cast is not working so far for me, particularly Tim Daly. I liked his "I like women with real skin, etc" speech, but even McDreamy shows more emotion in this same attractive doctor mold.
I thought the baby switch was a little overcooked.
Not connecting with Audra/Naomi, even with her wishful staring at Taye/Sam.
I really like Cooper and Violet. Watching her breakup pain was more real than the dying and switched babies for me.
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10-04-2007 @ 7:52PM
TomB said...
I love Kate Walsh and I loved the Addison character on Grey's, but this show is awful.
When this show tanks I hope they have Addison move back to Seattle!!!
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10-05-2007 @ 12:41PM
ORKMommy said...
I really like this show. I don't think they're trying to do a Grey's Anatomy look-a-like...I mean how can they? Grey's is set in a huge teaching hospital while Practice is a small practice with only a few doctors.
I think the show has great potential as long as everyone quits trying to compare it to Grey's. It's only been two weeks, the actors need to connect with each other and the characters have to develop. Grey's wasn't a smash hit in it's first few episodes either...
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10-05-2007 @ 3:49PM
Yulande said...
I really like this show and I agree that people really need to stop comparing it with Grey's. Also, they need to remember that Grey's wasn't a hit right off the bat and took time to become the juggernaught it is now. 'Practice' has great potential once the writers relax a little and start bonding with the characters
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