The first season of Private Practices does an excellent job of taking Kate Walsh’s Dr. Addison Montgomery out of Seattle and into a new life as a member of California’s Oceanside Wellness Group.
The new series is a spin-off of ABC’s hit Grey’s Anatomy from Shonda Rhimes, but it quickly shows that it can stand on its own. The strength of the show doesn’t rest on Walsh’s shoulders, but on the brilliant cast that have as much chemistry as the doctors of Grey’s Anatomy.
The short nine episode season is more than enough to get you hooked on the new series and leaves you wanting season two (which just premiered).
The first season focuses on Addison moving to California in an attempt to reinvent herself and escape the emotional drama that is Grey’s Anatomy. She quickly learns the Oceanside Wellness Center has just as much drama as Seattle Grace Hospital thanks to its group of quirky doctors.
Although it is a small clinic, it is filled with romance triangles, marriage issues, and doctor’s struggling to find their footing in the midst of their own personal mid-life crisis. They also see a patient from time to time – which causes a few bumps to the day.
The doctors also have constant run-ins with Dr. Charlotte King (KaDee Strickland) - who could give Chandra Wilson's Dr. Miranda Bailey a run for her money for the "Nazi" nickname.
It doesn’t take long for Addison to strike up a “will they, won’t they” romance with Pete (mostly thanks to a kiss shared on Grey’s Anatomy), but the two actors handle the familiar plot device with enough chemistry to keep you interested.
The same can be said for the divorced docs Naomi and Sam. The divorce and fallout happened before the series kicks off, but the tension is still there. As the season gets going, the tension leads to a rekindling of romance, but Dell’s pursuit of Naomi could throw a wrench into Sam’s plans.
Private Practice might have been conceived as a spin-off for Addison, but it is truly an ensemble show with the entire cast making it worth watching. The chemistry between the actors (such as when the boys are in one office spying on the girls in another office while the two groups are talking about each other) is what make the series work.
The DVD comes with some decent special features including Kate Walsh: Practice Makes Perfect; Alternative Ensemble: Behind the Scenes of Private Practice; two extended episodes; deleted scenes; bloopers, and audio commentaries.
Television is filled with medical series, but Private Practice takes a fresh approach to the genre, and fills the series with interesting characters that make it impossible to dismiss as just an attempt to cash in on Grey’s success.
Private Practice: The Complete First Season is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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