Sunday 5 July, 9.30pm
Private Practice’s exhilarating second season continues on its roller coaster of emotions and tensions tonight on TV2. The paternity of Violet’s baby is still in question, and the heat in Addison and Noah’s relationship takes a turn as they are brought together to save a patient.
In Violet's (Amy Brenneman) most prominent storyline presence since Private Practice began, she grapples with the woes of who the father of her unborn child is - Sheldon or Pete? Violet's character has a certain ambivalence about her as she coasts through life with a clumsy, off-beat air and continues in search of happiness.
"At the beginning of the season I think she was terribly lonely. But that was something I got sort of interested in. You know, there kept being these story lines that left Violet isolated. I think she'll find a man. I think that the baby is a completely left field thing," confirms Brenneman.
Brenneman, who found fame with the series Judging Amy, says her character has not been portrayed as being overtly maternal in the series, which adds an element of irony to the plot. "We created Violet as somebody who didn't want to have children. She terminated a couple pregnancies in her life, and didn't have a lot of big regrets about that. And so I think all along we've built in this person for whom motherhood was a very iffy thing."
Tim Daly who plays Pete is equally as perplexed with the paternity. "Well, knowing this show I kind of feel like if I'm the father, I don't get the girl. And if I get the girl, I'm probably not the father because our writer's like to complicate things as much as possible," says Daly.
The love triangle saga continues as Pete's relationship with Lisa becomes complicated by Violet's pregnancy, and Sheldon decides it's time to take a stand with his and Violet's future. Violet's pregnancy has also highlighted her and Cooper's at times floundering relationship. The ever positive Cooper has been a rock in Violet's pregnancy, which has been plagued with uncertainty. From tying her shoes to making sure her craving needs are met, even the usually snappy Charlotte, girlfriend of Cooper, has also been helpful to Violet.
"I'm always talking about Violet's relationship with Cooper and just how it might stymie her ability to really forge a relationship with a man," says Brenneman. "It's interesting because I do think in many ways they're just very, very dear platonic friends, but I think at a certain point as Charlotte has expressed, 'What's the difference? Your main bond is with this other person.'"
Tonight also sees a pregnant woman start to show signs of heart complications, and Addison rushes her to St. Ambrose where Noah is standing by to help. Meanwhile at Oceanside Wellness, Sam notices Naomi frequently sneaking away from the clinic, and her elusiveness causes him to rethink their friendship.
If you have missed an episode, full episodes of Private Practice will be available free online 12 hours after the show has aired on TV2. Go to tvnz.co.nz and click the 'on demand' button.
