Relationships are hard; but breakups are even harder, especially for the "Private Practice" docs. It's tough for Pete and Violet and Sam and Addison to play the role of losers in the game of love. It's even tougher when they have to work side by side at the medical practice by the sea. Their offices are just a whisper away from one another, and if they don't lay out a few ground rules, before long they'll all be boxing it out in the lobby.
Rule #1: When you let someone go, you can't control them
Who knows why Pete decided he no longer wanted Violet for his wife. It could have been her book tour, his heart attack, or simply his playboy nature. Whatever the reason, it didn't take long for him to sleep with another woman; and Pete should have realized Violet needed a little passion too. He should have known that she would kiss "...hot Scott" or do whatever else she pleased to get the love she needed; and he couldn't do a thing about it.
Rule #2: Getting drunk only makes matters worse
When Addison and Jake went to a medical conference out of town, getting drunk wasn't the plan. She was simply downing cocktails and trying to forget her broken heart, and drunk just happened. All that liquor nudged her to Jake's door with a late night offer " ... want to have sex with the Meryl Streep of maternal medicine"? It was pretty sad when he sad no; although Addison was so drunk, she could feel no pain.
Rule #3: Move if you have to
Sam and Addison's right-next-door living arrangement was convenient when they were together, but not so great when one ex started hanging out with someone else. No it wasn't Sam and that twenty-something girl he slept with. It was Addison and Jake. He was just trying to help her with her surrogacy or whatever she needed to do to have the baby she wanted. But that didn't stop Sam from getting a little agitated when he saw them all buddy-buddy and hanging out on the deck. Sam lived there first, so maybe Addison should be the one to move on.
Violet's housing issue was a matter of bad memories: an assault by a psychotic patient, a bad and short marriage, a not quite ex-husband who pops in at will. Then there's that nasty, bloodstain left by a patient who stabbed her husband to death. No more bad memories. Violet already called the real estate agent.
Rule #4: Life is too short
Violet has endured a long stretch of difficulty. If fooling around with a boy toy gives her comfort, she should do just that. Sam is a grandpa; if he can talk a pretty young thing into bed, so be it. Pete should chase down whatever one night stand he needs to soothe his ego. And if Addison still wants a baby, she should work with Jake to get her little bundle of joy. Life is too short to not have what you want. For the "Private Practice" doctors that should be breakup rule number one.
More on "Private Practice" by this Contributor:
What Happened on the Boys Night Out?
Researcher's Blog: Medical and Ethical Back Stories for Each Episode
'Private Practice': Redefining Family
Source:
"Private Practice": Season 5, Episode 13: "The Time Has Come"
