
This show ended last season by leaving Pete on the floor after a heart attack (stroke? aneurysm? I'm not a doctor, so what do I know?), while his infant son looked on helplessly and his self-involved wife went off on her book tour. The finale also featured Sam and Addison getting back together for some sexy times, ignoring the fact that the bigger issues in their life are still totally unresolved, and Little Shepherd (not quite as awesome as Little Grey) heading to a bar because drinking is a totally great idea for a former drug addict.

This show is not, nor will it ever be, Grey's Anatomy. However, last night's episode, which I primarily watched because it featured the return of Xander the rapist, delivered a major shock that I totally didn't see coming. And that's saying something because when visiting Shondaland, I almost always have a hunch of what's coming (except for Dell's demise, because that was just mishandled and I still can't really talk about that). Anyway, this twist threw me for a loop... and in a good way. [Warning: Spoilers ahead if you haven't watched.]

To say I was biased going into the watching of the bonus features on Private Practice's DVD set (available today)... would be fair. I love the character of Addison from Grey's Anatomy, in fact, she was probably one of my favorite characters on that show, so I happily/blindly followed her to sunnier pastures in LA. I wasn't impressed. It's not the worst show in the world. But this has an amazing cast, and good creators, so I just expected it to be better somehow. That said, I didn't love the first mini-season of Grey's either, but I keep watching it... so maybe there is hope.
Anyway, if you live under a rock, Addison (Kate Walsh) ditched Seattle Grace and moved to LA to join the Oceanside Wellness Group, which is primarily run by her college BFF Naomi (the amazing Broadway actress Audra McDonald). The joint is hopping with hottie docs (or midwives in training), including Tim Daly, Chris Lowell (of Veronica Mars fame), Paul Edelstein, Amy Brenneman and Taye Diggs, who all look very pretty and work together to solve medical cases.

The force will be with them. Always.

The man in the hat is coming back.