By Kendra Beltran

Private Practice has been my girly show since it came on the air years ago. I wasn’t a Grey’s fan so I wasn’t following Addison Montgomery’s move to Santa Monica to join her medical school chums Naomi and Sam. I was there because of Chris Lowell who played Dell. I say played, because in the finale last season, Dell passed away. Tears fell because after years invested into a show, the characters seem more real to me than people I pass by without one ounce if interest on the street. After a summer of wondering how Oceanside Wellness was going to go on with one of their own dead and gone.

The season started anew with a marriage between Violet and Pete. Making their family official in the eyes of the law. So far this season with those two it’s been an up and down, back and forth between their personal beliefs getting in the way of their medical heresy. Guest star, many should know from Dexter, James Remar, who was an old Doctors Without Borders friend of Pete’s was running a clinic in his home, Violet did not approve with Pete helping out. Well, she got back at him when she snooped in Pete’s past and ruffled some feathers. My bet is this tug-o-war between the two lasts the whole season, especially when Pete’s estranged brother shows up.

What won’t last? Addison and her BFF’s ex-husband, Sam’s romance. It’s all sexy, chocolate and vanilla lovin’ right now, but anyone who knows Addison’s past with men, can see this ending bad. My predictions point to it affecting the practice as a whole. Addison’s plots have all been dependent on her life with Sam, while Sam’s showing his darker side. The episode that reveals why he left surgery was a shocker and if I were Addison, would’ve had me running for the hills.

The couple that I thought would never last, are pulling strong and every week take more and more of my heart; head bitch, Charlotte and sweeter than pixie sticks, Cooper. With a baby and wedding bells for Cooper’s BFF, Violet, his nurturing side takes over and wants that for himself. So far Charlotte is a no go, for the most part. It’s going to be interesting how their relationship pans out after Charlotte was viciously attacked last week. Unbeknownst to everyone but Addison that she was also raped. Over 10 million tuned into what was the hardest thing I’ve watched on TV in a long time.

One other thing that boggles me is the absence of Naomi. Her old man boyfriend died of his terminal disease, her daughter is the latest 16 and Pregnant and her BFF is banging her ex. You’d think she’d be more in the picture, but she’s been away on “business” for a little too long if you ask me. And did I miss where her love interest in the wheelchair went?

This season’s shown growth for my favorite team of doctors outside of House. And the plots have taken up the drama factor, a married man confessing he’s gay and HIV positive to his wife while sitting by his boyfriend, a murderer asking to be left in prison, scared of the outside world and last week’s shocking attack of one of their own, Charlotte King.

It’s graphic, to the point and heartfelt all at the same time. I dare anyone to watch Private Practice without crying at least once at either the heartache of the doctors or their patients. If you are a sucker for a tearjerker, than please tune in to ABC on Thursdays at 10 pm and have a tissue box ready, trust me.