Private Practice Review: "Did You Hear What Happened to Charlotte King?"
Private Practice picked up right where last week's episode terrifyingly left off, and the immediate aftermath of what Charlotte endured was extremely difficult to digest.
The aptly-titled "Did You Hear What Happened to Charlotte King?" did not focus on her long road back from this tragic assault (we're sure that will be shown down the line).
Instead, it focused on the hours that followed, and the characters' different reactions to the events. It was almost like Law & Order: SVU, with events unfolding in real time.
KaDee Strickland was terrific as Charlotte in this powerful episode.
There was both a criminal aspect to the episode, as well as a medical one, but mostly it was about emotion. How the victim responds. How her fiancee, friends and doctors respond.
You might criticize Shonda Rhimes for pushing the envelope with such dramatic story lines, but it was compelling TV, thanks primarily to terrific performances by the entire cast.
We begin just minutes after Charlotte's rape, hearing her gasping breaths. She staggers into a supply room and when Pete finds her, we finally see her face. It's a stunning image.
Pete tends to her injuries, of which there are many. When he steps away, she makes a phone call that you knew would be to Addison. She's going to be her lifeline of sorts here.
It was typical of Pete to protect her, but only Addison can get through to her. Charlotte won't admit she's been raped, she's too strong. She doesn't even want Addison to say it.
Meanwhile, Sheldon is called down to the police station and asked evaluate Lee, a disturbed man who was brought in with blood on his clothes. You know where this is going.
The rest of the doctors are at a bar celebrating Cooper’s engagement. That party comes to the worst possible end when Violet comes by to deliver the news about Charlotte.
Cooper's an emotional guy anyway, but the weight of what happened and his alcohol consumption were a bad combination in this case, and he puts his fast through a wall.
Sheldon interviews a suspect as the police look on.
Typically for these two, Charlotte is somehow the one to comfort Cooper when he sees her. He loves her so much, he can't even bring himself to grasp that someone could do this.
Pete continues to treat his battered colleague and Addison makes little progress in getting her to admit the sexual assault took place. She's thrown up a wall. More like a fortress.
Probably the most intriguing part of the episode was the fact that Sheldon is oblivious to all that’s happened to Charlotte as he interviews Lee, the blood-covered criminal suspect.
Sheldon gets Lee to admit that he attacked and raped a woman, but he attacks Sheldon before he can get a name, and the cops are forced to pry him away. The interview is over.
Sheldon still has no idea that the woman Lee attacked was Charlotte.
Unless the victim comes forward, there will be nothing to charge him with and legally he will have to be set free. It's painful to watch, knowing Charlotte isn't about to come clean.
One thing she was able to do was show her face. Charlotte breaks down and insists she and Cooper go home. With the attack happening at the hospital itself, we can understand.
The stares from everyone as she walks down the hall hurt, but were unavoidable. KaDee was so good, and the pacing of the episode so perfect, it felt like we were there with her.
What will happen next? How will Cooper come to grips with what happened, and how will their relationship be affected going forward? Will the attacker be brought to justice?
Next week, appropriately, is called "What Happens Next." Tell us what you think will, and what you thought of last night's Private Practice, by commenting below.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.
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Charlotte: I am shocked by just how much I genuinely love him. I want to take the pain away, and I know I can't and it just kills me.
May 17th, 2012 4:19 AM
Charlotte stated "the only thing he took from me was my wallet", I can't say I blame her. Victims get pitied and looked at differently, especially from men. I honestly don't blame her for this decision.
March 17th, 2011 9:25 AM
I am really dissappointed in the story line of charlotte not reporting the rape.It makes me really angry.When evidence is lost, thats it. And the writers had an opportunity to show that rape should not be the shame of the victim, but of the rapist.I struggled to watch this episode, thinking, why why why. Report the rape, that is what charlotte should have done.This just perpetuates the idea that why bother reporting the rape?Yes its unfair that she has to think of others, but she SHOULD.I felt quite betrayed by this part of the storyline.
January 9th, 2011 8:00 AM
the should just can this show. absolutely rubbish.
December 21st, 2010 4:02 PM
I know that everyone is focussed on Charlotte and that is wonderful but I'd really just like to put it out there that Addison and Sam should stay together for the long haul. It makes the most sense for this show.
November 9th, 2010 2:36 PM
As a recovering alcoholic and addict in my seventh year of sobriety, I am particularly interested anytime 12-step programs are portrayed onscreen. I read the comments here before I watched the episode on DVR, so was actually pleasantly surprised by the way the the episode played out.
The Serenity Prayer ("God, grant me the serenity...") is indeed a cornerstone of 12-step programs. It's often the first prayer an addict every says. When Amelia said it to Charlotte, it was sort of like she was using code. My perception (which is confirmed by her statement-one I've repeated many times -"Well, it takes one to know one.") is that she knew as soon as Charlotte so determinedly said, "No drugs for me," that they had this in common. It's not difficult to spot another addict in recovery. In addition to abstinence from alcohol and drugs (club soda with lime=the recovering alcoholic's standard drink at a party) there's often a common outlook on life.
As for the alcohol, the basic text of Na
November 8th, 2010 11:35 PM
excellent episode. kadee was magnificent and should put this eppy up for pre emmy nods, if thats how it works. I was mesmorized by the tv screen, hated the commercial breaks, and felt so empathetic and horrible, like it was my own friend/co-worker/neighbor that was going through this. i do think she should have reported it, but we all know how tough charlotte is and how stubborn. great writing, great acting.....5 stars for this show tonight.
November 8th, 2010 4:18 PM
They made me f**king cry! Unbelivable , how they made Chatlottes pain real! That is what I love about this show!
I dont know who to give the Emmy Sandra Oh or KaDee Strickland.
November 8th, 2010 3:45 PM
Pam, The piece played on this weeks was not Ave Marie. It was Bach Prelude No.1 from the well-tempered cavalier.
November 7th, 2010 11:45 PM
Pam it is the Ave Maria that played at the beginning of this episode
November 7th, 2010 6:46 PM
@SerenaVDW
You've missed my point. As a friend, I would hope you had enough smarts to know when to push and when to just be supportive. As a friend, I would hope that a instead of pushing a traumatized friend to confront something she is clearly not ready to confront and to further traumatize this friend - a rape victim, one would have enough sensitivity to know thatyour sense of right and wrong doesn't trump the wishes of your friend. Perhaps Addison could have done more to help Charlotte make the right decision. However, the decision isn't up to Addison, but rather Charlotte... the victim. To take further power away from someone who was powerless to defend herself against an incomprehensible violation would simply be wrong. If you truly disagree with this, then I hope you are never put in the same situation that Addison was put in.
Either way, the story isn't over. This episode was about the aftermath. My understanding is the rape kit needs to be done within 24-48 hours.