Private Practice Series Finale: Did Addison Get Her Happy Ending?
[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from the series finale of Private Practice. Read at your own risk!]
When Addison (Kate Walsh) showed up at Seattle Grace in the Season 1 finale of Grey's Anatomy, we hated her. She was the salmon-scrub wearing wife of Derek, and darn it, we wanted McDreamy and Mer to get their happy ending. But by the time executive producer Shonda Rhimes sent Addison packing for the Private Practice spin-off, we truly loved her. We hoped she'd find a way to have a child. We hoped she'd find love. We'd hope she'd find happiness. In Tuesday's Private Practice series finale, Addison had finally found it all.
But it was the supporting cast who really shined in the final hour — seriously, Addison and Jake (Benjamin Bratt) got married within the first five minutes and from there, it was about saying goodbye to everyone else. Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) and James (Matt Long) have their relationship destined for marriage. Violet (Amy Brenneman) has come to love herself without being in a relationship. Sheldon (Brian Benben) found the love of his life in Miranda (Diane Farr), despite the fact that her life will be cut short because of cancer. Cooper (Paul Adelstein) and Charlotte (KaDee Strickland) found a good balance in being parents so Coop is not a miserable stay-at-home father. What Rhimes was trying to say with these stories is that life goes on. Our favorite Seaside Wellness doctors are still out there living their lives.
The cast of Private Practice says farewell after six seasons
With Naomi (Audra McDonald) and Sam (Taye Diggs), however, Rhimes certainly hoped to bring Private full circle. When we first met them, the longtime sweethearts had broken up. They both went out into the world and tried to find other relationships that may make them happy. But in the end, they were always meant to be. It seemed only fitting that they would walk down the aisle and eventually have another child together, despite the fact that Sam was against more children.
It was Violet's story line, however, that spoke directly to the audience. It was Rhimes, through Violet, telling her longtime patient of six years — aka six seasons — that it was time to move on. Everything will be OK. We will be OK. And on the bright side, like the patient (played brilliantly by Parenthood's Sarah Ramos) who had Le Cordon Bleu in Paris to look forward to, we have Grey's Anatomy and Scandal to give us our weekly Shondaland fix. It also seemed apt for Violet to then share with the group her next book about joy and life and a journey that would be called... Private Practice.
Did you enjoy the journey of Private Practice? Will you miss the series? Hit the comments with your thoughts!
Related Articles on TVGuide.com
