PRIVATE PRACTICE “To Change the Things I Can” Season 4, Episode 23 (Season Finale) – Naturally, because it was the season finale, a lot of things happened this episode. Rather than start with the big, jaw dropping very last moment, I have to start with the thing (and person) that bothers me most. Violet. What on earth are the writers doing to this character? They have made her a complete and utter mess. Neurotic through and through and almost scatterbrained and without feeling. I get it. She went through a horrific ordeal. That accounts for why she left Lucas and Pete the first time. But hasn’t she moved past that? Yes, now she is under investigation as is the practice, but again it is part her doing because of her book. Now she uses that as a weak reason to leave again. I know it is supposedly only for a few weeks, but she is leaving her child and it is against Pete’s wishes. Is she so blind she could not see what that was doing to him? He looked awful. As for the last scene, maybe his heart attack was a long time coming and then with the added stress of the procedure that did not go well on that little girl, that was the day. However, it is going to be hard for me to believe that Violet’s conduct did not play a large part as well.
Let’s talk about that little girl for a moment. I love how the doctors try every avenue to help their patients, but isn’t part of their deal to do what is best for the patient? I feel as if they lost sight of that in that case. At first, two additional years of life sounds like it is in her best interest, but then you look at the toll it is taking on her parents and even her and you wonder if she shouldn’t just be able to live her life out as it is. All she wanted was to go home to her own bed. Now she is practically comatose and it is to the point that the father is asking Cooper to help euthanize her. What a disaster.
Speaking of disasters, enter Amelia. She has been blowing off Charlotte’s requests, and at times pleas, to go to a meeting. Now she is back to drinking. Not only drinking, but drinking and cutting. Yes, she performed surgery after drinking, but don’t worry, she wasn’t drunk. Don’t all alcoholics think that all the time? At least Charlotte had the good sense to revoke her hospital privileges, but as the last scene with her was in a bar playing pool and drunk, it does not appear that she will be attending a meeting anytime soon. I guess we can look forward to her downward spiral next season. Maybe she can take the place of Violet.
I am also a little disappointed in Addison. I am pretty sure that when her therapist told her to change and do something new, he did not mean go to Fiji with a total stranger. Luckily, her sense got the better of her although she lost it again ending up back in bed with Sam even though they both want different things and he even admitted he did not know if he could give her what she wants in the meantime, saying he would try. Why does Addison’s life have to revolve around a man? She loves her job. She wants to have a child. Do those things. Have fun with a man. Just don’t center yourself around them. It was refreshing that at the end, it was Addison who pulled herself together and gave the practice a viable plan to survive. Can we have more of that?
There were other bright spots in the episode. Namoi has Betsy and now Fife, although they are moving to New York and she won’t be on the show anymore. Charlotte is doing well. Not only did she have the guts to pull Amelia’s privileges, but she handled a rape case relatively well and without hitting the bottle or completely falling apart. She even gave Cooper some much needed advice.
I thought this finale of Private Practice was well done. It had the usual flair for dramatic, some nice eye candy (Hi Benjamin Bratt), serious issues involving Violet and the practice, and the cliffhanger involving Pete. Although it was a little light on the actual medical case aspect, I don’t mind it every once in a while. What did you think? Too much drama or a way to tie up some loose ends? What do you think Season 5 has in store for the doctors at Oceanside or whatever it will be called in the future (with Addison owning it which should cause at least some conflict). Tell us in the comments below!
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