Private Practice: The Complete Second Season

Created by Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy), Private Practice spun off with surgeon Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) moving to Los Angeles to join Oceanside Wellness Group, a clinic owned by one of her college friends. The 2008-09 second season premiere pivots on the fate of the practice, which suffers from declining revenues. Founder Naomi (Audra McDonald) reveals the situation to Addison, who, in turn, tells Naomi's ex-husband, Sam (Taye Diggs), who then assumes control. In the process, office manager/midwife trainee Dell (Chris Lowell) leaves to work at St. Ambrose, where Charlotte (KaDee Strickland), the love of pediatrician Cooper (Paul Adelstein), acts as chief of staff (but Naomi ultimately wins Dell back). The tension between Naomi and Sam leads the staff to hand the reins to Addison, but then Charlotte moves into the same building, creating new complications. Meanwhile, Addison and alternative-medicine practitioner Pete (Tim Daly)—clearly meant for each other—play the field; she dates a cop and lusts after a married cardiologist, and he reconnects with an old flame (Jayne Brook). Adding to the romantic melodrama, therapist Violet (Amy Brenneman) alternates between two men, and Naomi has a fling with Addison's brother, Archer (Grant Show). Of course, the doctors also have patients who present ethical dilemmas, including Joel Grey as a dying man and Diane Venora as a menopausal mother. The balance between soap and medical drama improves as the season progresses, although the move into thriller territory in the finale is a misstep. Compiling all 22 episodes, DVD extras include a crossover episode with Grey's Anatomy, two extended episodes, a first season overview, a pair of behind-the-scenes featurettes, deleted scenes, and bloopers. Recommended, overall. (K. Fennessy)