Private Practice – Recap & Review – In Which We Say Goodbye (Series Finale)

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Private Practice
In Which We Say Goodbye (Series Finale)

Original Air Date: Jan 22, 2013

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

After six seasons, tonight we bid adieu to Private Practice and all its highs and lows. We’ve been with the show through love, death, marriage, babies, sex, and more medical jargon than we’ll ever remember. But the show that started as a spin-off vehicle for Kate Walsh brought us an eclectic family of characters that won’t soon be forgotten.

Everyone has favorite stories, least favorite moments, so please take to the comments section below and share your fondest memories. The strongest storyline for me was the rape of Charlotte King and its aftermath. It will stay with me long after the show has become, to some, a footnote on Shonda Rhimes’ resume. But before we say goodbye, let’s take a moment to reflect on the final hour.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Full Release

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Private Practice
Full Release

Original Air Date: Jan 15, 2013

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

Next we say goodbye to our doctors, but before that happens we have to get through the very powerful penultimate episode. We did say goodbye to one thing though… This was no one-character episode. All of our characters had, at least, a moment this week. And what’s most important is… babies!

Before we get to the recap/review portion, I’d like to ask you all to take a moment and share your wish list. What would you like to see happen next week? And, after next week’s finale, I’ll ask you to share what your dreams are for the characters. Yes, we all know they’re not real, but it doesn’t hurt to imagine their happily-ever-afters, does it?

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Good Fries Are Hard To Come By

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Private Practice
Good Fries Are Hard To Come By

Original Air Date: Jan 8, 2013

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

With two episodes remaining, my fingers are crossed that Shonda’s experiment of character-centric episodes has ended. Because while I like Amelia, and James has a pretty torso, tonight’s episode was a pretty big letdown after all of the Cooper/Charlotte drama we left off with before the holidays.

I’d give the character episodes a mostly passing grade, as I liked more (Charlotte, Cooper, Sheldon) than I openly disliked (Sam!). But tonight didn’t feel like an episode of Private Practice, it felt like a Kate Hudson romantic comedy (with very little comedy) movie. And with the series winding down, it felt like an hour squandered.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Georgia on My Mind

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Private Practice
Georgia on My Mind

Original Air Date: Dec 18, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

With only three episodes left after this hour, Private Practice is working up to its series finale. And while it will be difficult to say goodbye to some of our favorite doctors, we can at least be thankful for this hour and consider it a love letter to many fans. And it also serves as a holiday present… a full hour of Charlotte King.

The character-focused episodes have been largely hit (Jake) and miss (Sam), but I’m curious if there are any viewers out there that didn’t find this episode to be everything they hoped for. It had tears, snark, happiness, and even dance! Some people may have found the dance sequences odd, but as the hour went on it became clear to me that the dance styles also served to represent Charlotte’s emotions.

Private Practice Finale Date Revealed

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Private Practice will be closing its doors on January 22, 2013.

The series finale episode, titled “In Which We Say Goodbye,” will bring the conclusion of its six seasons on ABC. Earlier this season, it was announced that the 13-episode six season would be the last for Private Practice.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – I’m Fine

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Private Practice
I’m Fine

Original Air Date: Dec 11, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

This hour we were treated to Private Practice: SVU. We were also given an hour of Private Practice: Nicholas Sparks. Yes, that’s right, two episodes in one! And the lead character in both was Sheldon Wallace.

We’re continuing with Shonda Rhimes’ experiment of character-focused episodes. And while the hour wasn’t horrible, I think it lacked a bit of oomph following Cooper’s hour and the anticipation of next week’s Charlotte hour. Because what it all boils down to is… Sheldon is a supporting character.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Life Support

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Private Practice
Life Support

Original Air Date: Dec 4, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

This hour will probably prove to be quite polarizing. I have a feeling viewers will either fully embrace it or completely hate it. Because no matter how much viewers love Cooper and Charlotte, many people simply cannot stand it when characters talk directly to the camera.

And this hour was almost entirely the Cooper-show. He narrated the hour by speaking his inner thoughts allowed to the camera. Other shows would have used voice-overs or simply let the characters actions speak for their thoughts. I’m not a huge fan of the broken fourth wall, but I am a Charlotte-Cooper fan. It’s quite the conundrum!

Private Practice – Recap & Review – The World According To Jake

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Private Practice
The World According To Jake

Original Air Date: Nov 21, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

Welcome to night two of the two-night Private Practice Event! Otherwise known as “the show was preempted for a few weeks so we need to air two episodes this week in order to keep our finale schedule.” But you know what… I liked both episodes this week.

In fact, I think this hour might have even been stronger than the Addison-centric episode. While Jake is newer to the Private Practice family, we know enough of his character’s history to be invested in his feelings. But unlike, say Violet, we’re not sick of his dramatics and character nuances. And better yet, the episode wasn’t crowded with a bunch of characters we’ve never seen before, so it felt like old home night.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – Apron Strings

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Private Practice
Apron Strings

Original Air Date: Nov 20, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

After last week’s subpar episode, this episode felt like an immense improvement. I’m still not sold on the character centric hours, but I’ll gladly take an hour of our leading lady over an hour about a character that is barely tolerable most weeks. So I would definitely rate the Addison episode a step in the right direction.

And with Addison as the focus, the central theme was all about motherhood. Be it by birth, by adoption, by mentor, all of the different ways someone can play a maternal role in our lives came to life tonight. And with a somewhat, but not really, surprise ending, the Addison hour worked on almost every level.

Private Practice – Recap & Review – The Next Episode

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Private Practice
The Next Episode

Original Air Date: Nov 13, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

Did you ever wonder what would happen if Private Practice was the “Sam Bennett” show and all other characters had minimal air time? If yes, then you’re in luck, because this was the episode for you!

I’d heard that Shonda Rhimes was going to be trying something new this (last!) season and tonight was the first airing of her experiment. From what I’ve heard, the next batch of episodes will focus largely on a single character with the others basically existing in their orbit. So how do you think this first outing went?