Private Practice Season Finale Review: Starting (Mostly) Fresh
I'm feeling a bit underwhelmed with last night’s Private Practice season finale.
While "...To Change the Things I Can" had all the ingredients - with its hookups, break ups and farewells - I just wasn’t feeling it. Then again, maybe it’s because I didn’t like several of the end results. Let's dig in...
First off, I was thrilled to hear that Benjamin Bratt would make an appearance. For weeks, I thought just maybe he's the one to make Addie happy. And it seemed that way when his character, Conner, and Addison totally hit it off at the grocery store.
I loved the pineapple scene and thought they definitely had chemistry. So, then can somebody please tell me why on earth Sam and Addison are back together?!
They’ve already been down this road. It’s honestly time to try a different route.
I was almost certain that Addie was starting afresh and am a bit disappointed that she’s back with Sam. I’m not quite sure what to think will happen to these two next season.
At least Addison told Sam that she had every intention of having a baby whether she was with him or not. Anyhow, I’m not so sure that I could have passed up a 14-day vacation in Fiji.
When Violet found out that her license was being suspended by the medical board, I’ll admit I was a little happy. I’ve grown tiresome of her character and was ridiculously glad Pete told her: “This is not just about you!”
I have been thinking this for quite some time now.
I was even happier when Violet finally left for her book tour, but understood how frustrated Pete was with her.
At first, I found it hard to believe that she would just run away like that with the way things were going with the practice, but I quickly remembered this was Violet. She’s become extremely selfish and self-centered and has stressed Pete out repeatedly.
Poor Pete, though! It looked as though he was suffering a serious heart attack. Do you think he’ll make it? Here’s Violet’s chance to redeem herself and make it in the nick of time to save Pete’s life. I really hope that he will be all right.
While Amelia was taking a few steps backwards from her sobriety, Charlotte tried to get her to AA meetings throughout the installment. Although I am pleased that Amelia finally has a storyline, I felt that it was slightly rushed. Surely, there will be a long road of struggle and recovery, but I just wish we had seen more of it as the season is now already over.
It was nice to see Betsey and Naomi together, but I couldn’t help but wonder how Betsey was so quick to call Naomi her mother right away like that. I was surprised that Fife proposed, and am excited that they are all moving to New York where Mia and Olivia will also join them.
Hopefully, this leaves room for guest visits by Audra McDonald and company. By the way, I loved seeing Naomi and Addison as BFFs again!
Cooper and Charlotte were amazing as always. As doctors and newlyweds, they work incredibly well together. It took much courage for Charlotte to help her patient, and she came through like always. As for Cooper, he seemingly did the right thing by helping a father with the struggle of letting a child go.
As for season five, I look forward to more controversial topics, Sheldon getting his own storyline, and seeing Addison get her long-awaited baby. One more thing, I am glad that Addie came up with the brilliant idea to dissolve Oceanside Wellness and to start anew with a fresh, clean slate.
So, what did you think of “…To Change the Things I Can”? What would you like to see happen on the next season? As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you again in the fall!








Addison: Then slowly, over time, everything changes. And you're no longer this young thing, and you don't believe in fairytales and "perfect" isn't in your v...




March 21st, 2013 11:27 PM
I live in Australia and i seem to have seen a whole series pete was alive last time i watched and i would like to catch up how can i do this?
May 16th, 2012 6:04 PM
I thought you did a great job of bringing dignity to the birth of Amelia's child in having her in the end hold him and mother him. The world needs to see every life is precious. I thought you did the organ donation rightly for there needs to be more understanding for such and you named where each organ was to bless someone. I wish there could have been time for a short sweet service and a name for her son to show every life has meaning and purpose and value.
The show would be more dignified if it cut the sex it boarders on silly and the show has more meat than that and there is a right place for sex, you give a wrong message for sure and it takes from your show.
November 5th, 2011 11:46 AM
Having lived with someone having had heart surgery, I know it is difficult. However, Pete and Violet belong together. If the writers split them up, I will be tempted to stop watching. Why not have a story line about Coop, Charlotte and his son. Keep some happiness in the show. There are a lot of good marriages in this world. Keep Pete and Violet.
August 22nd, 2011 4:11 PM
Wow! Davia, I have to say I agree with just about everything you said. You hit is right on the nose! It is just a show. People get so hyped up about what happens and if things don't go they way they want it, then people start threatening to stop watching the show. It's kinda funny. Things happen that you don't want to happy all the time. This is just a case of Art imitating Life. So relax and enjoy the ride and be thankful it ain't happening to you.
Now that that is done. I have a few things to add. I too felt the season was more grown up. After all the characters can't stay horny teenagers forever. They have to mature and grow. With that being said Charlotte and Coop...well done guys! I'm glad that she has finally let him in a little more. I will say that they both still have some growing to do but they are off to a tremendous start.
Addi- Do your thing girl! If she wants a baby, then she should be able to have one. Man be d@*%$d! If Sam loves her and wants to be with her then
Rank: Guest Star
August 12th, 2011 6:39 PM
I love Charlotte and Cooper, they're so amazing together :)
Rank: Guest Star
August 12th, 2011 6:38 PM
Violet is soooo selfish. She annoys me because she keeps up this act as this caring person, but her only concern is herself
Rank: Recurring Character
July 12th, 2011 4:05 PM
Benjamin Bratt is soooo much hotter then his Julia Roberts days, :P him and Addy should hook up:)I'm totally over Sam :)
an Ney and Fife are one hot couple:)
June 15th, 2011 4:04 AM
Violet has become very selfish and I'm also over her. Good-bye. I hope she is completely guilt ridden for ditching Pete and him having a stroke. Please transform her by getting her to have to nurse a paralized Pete back to health and sacrifice her career for her family- anything to do a sacrifice for someone else where she takes a back seat or else let Pete move on. AddiSam- NOOOOOOO! I was happy they were done. Why start that over again? URGH! I would rather have PeteAddison re-dux then AddiSam. Sam did kiss Naomi and did bad talk Addison. Pete has been better to Addison. While Pete did ditch Addison for Violet I think he's learned his lesson with how well that turned out. What if they make a blended family together with Addison having her own child finally (artificial insemination or whatever) and have Addison raising her baby as a single mom and Pete being a single dad for a while, and them just being a good support system to each other before falling back in love for real? Charlott
June 9th, 2011 2:12 PM
so, it was an ok season, i hate to think pete might die all alone as lucas watches because violet, up and left, again! i agree she is selfish and need. i was a little disappointed in addy because she went back to sam, he clearly doesn't care about her(he kissed nay, kept making unpleasant commens to nay about addy) she can do better. amelia will be ok, though i feel her story was rushed. her struggles should be given more time to unfold.charlotte and cooper are fabulous.
June 2nd, 2011 11:25 PM
I actually took the time out and real all of the comments and I've come to this conclusion: if Private Practice isn't what you think it should be then don't watch it-plain and simple, but hey that's just me. I completely agree with the whole express your opinions and all but some of this stuff really? Its not real life, its television. With television shows, you're never gonna be completely satisfied with everything that happens and we are not Shonda Rhimes, we are not the writers or producers of this show; we can post how we feel about the show but it still doesn't mean that Shonda, Kate, Tim, Audra, Amy, Taye, Caterina, KaDee, Paul or Brian have to take anything we say seriously nor do they have to take into consideration. At the end of the day,Private Practice will still be on air (until ABC or Shonda Rhimes says different) and the cast and crew will still get paid...now that I've gotten that off of my chest:
I totally enjoyed Private Practice this season. Honestly to me, it was