(Season 2, Episode 8 – “Crime and Punishment”)
I’m kind of conflicted about the Cooper-Charlotte storyline. On the one hand, I can see why Cooper would be miffed that Charlotte didn’t tell him about her new practice in the building. On the other hand, why should he expect her to tell him anything? She’s a bitch!
But then in this episode, you get the feeling that she actually loves Cooper and is sorry for not telling him. She tries to get back into his good graces, and he tells her to go to hell. Well, she kind of deserves it.
Besides that, as An mentioned in the comments last week, how DOES Charlotte find time to run an ENTIRE HOSPITAL and open a new practice on the side? These TV people are super-human, aren’t they? Unless, as An suggested, the hospital is opening an out-patient clinic.
Meanwhile, Meg is frustrated because she has nothing to do in L.A. Well, here’s an idea, sister – why not get a job?! And that’s exactly what Pete tells her, too, so she ends up taking overflow from a nearby clinic, and seeing patients at Oceanside Wellness.
Here’s where Moral Dilemma #1 comes into play: Meg is performing abortions there, and the staff doesn’t like it. Well, you’ve gotta think they might feel that way, since they’re in the practice of making babies, not killing them. But the storyline gave the writers an opportunity to use “Roe v Wade” in the dialogue, so there’s that.
Anyway, I don’t really care about Meg and Pete, because they have zero chemistry. She can go back to Zimbabwe or wherever, as far as I’m concerned.
On the flip side, Addison and Kevin have chemistry to burn, and that was cute how she wanted to take care of him after the gunshot incident.
Moral Dilemma #2 involved Addison doing the C-section on a comatose patient, but the baby’s father wasn’t married to the woman and so the parents’ gave the a-ok on doing the procedure. Yada yada yada, although that was a nice scene at the end where the baby’s dad takes her in to meet her (dead) mother. Part nice and part creepy.
Moral Dilemma #3 involved Violet’s patient shooting his bitchy-but-dying wife and then getting thrown into the slammer. Was it murder, or was it a mercy killing? And really, aren’t they the same thing when you get right down to it? But geesh with the gun. Why not steal some morphine and do it that way, or something less messy?
Thoughts on this episode? I’m kind of thinking there are too many moral dilemmas every week. I did like the new therapist on the fourth floor, though, the one Violet had impromptu sessions with in the elevator.
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Dec 05, 2008 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
Yay! I got a mention. May I just say this episode was absolutely tear-jerking. I keep writing this each week, but after last year, I’m always surprised at how ‘adult’ the characters are now. Things I liked: the return of the Dell-Naomi friendship, Pete’s support of Naomi, and the candle-burning at the end. Regarding Meg-Pete & C&C, I actually like Meg and considering how they’ve developed Charlotte, I wouldn’t mind if Charlotte & Coop got back together. But, I don’t feel strongly either way.
Yay for the new shrink. I guess new doctors means more dating opportunities. But, don’t most therapists have their own? Considering what Violet’s been through in her past and at the practice she definitely needs one. However, I agree the moral dilemmas are a bit too much now. Yes, the doctors will disagree, but don’t the OW people work together because they share similar ideologies? The one thing I liked was the friendship everyone shared. However, the final 5 seconds implies they might slowly return to that -
P.S. Before Naomi accepted Meg, wouldn’t she have had to ask the out-patient clinic work Meg would do?
Wow… Completely NOT digging Addison and Kevin.
I’m with An… I miss the camaraderie, though I do think we’re slowing getting back to it.
Be careful about that comment about killing babies. Perchance not all of us agree with that assessment of the procedure.
Otherwise, good story. It’s just about the right length for a good (but not great) show that is now so very obvious about its moral dilemmas.
I have to say, I never really watched this last year. But it has become my most anticipated program each week. I don’t know how that happened, but I am loving it!
I have to admit I was surprised that they were all so against abortion. I had no idea they were consevative by nature, as a group. I think that was a flawed plot point.
I like Kevin a lot, so I don’t mind the story, but I’m not buying the relationship. They seem set on forcing relationships in general at the moment, and I’m not sure why. Charlotte and Cooper are only sex. For them to be in love after only about a week of actually speaking seems icky. The character of Meg is kind of a drag; she doesn’t fit well right now and I’m wondering if they brought her in for the long haul or if she’s just a passing thing.
My favorite moment was the introduction of Brian BenBen as Charlotte’s new therapist. I have adored that man since Dream On, and so far I think his character would be absolutely awesome with Violet. I really look forward to seeing more of him, and them! And to see what it will mean for Cooper to see her with someone, if it so happens.
What happened to Addison’s brother? I thought he was sticking around for a few episodes. Did I miss him leaving?
Mod: I think we’ll see more of Addison’s brother the next time Sweeps rolls around, but IIRC, Addison asked him to leave at the end of the episode last week.
Jane: I’m not with you. I love Cooper/Charlotte, more importantly, I love Charlotte. She’s brisk… She’s no more of a ‘bitch’ than Dr. House is an ass, yet we still pull for him to get with Cuddy (Ok, I don’t, because I don’t watch House, but it was the first thing I came up with). What makes Charlotte less deserving of our appreciation? I think she’s proven herself, with some pretty limited screen time since the beginning, to be a character with more than just one dimension. She’s obviously grown because of her relationship with Cooper, and character growth and change are probably my favorite things to see.
Does she deserve Cooper’s reaction? Yeah, I guess to a certain extent, she does… A lie of ommision is still a lie, especially one with this kind of weight. However, Cooper knows who she is. He’s forged this relationship knowing Charlotte and her personality. If I were him, I wouldn’t expect anything different from Charlotte put in this circumstance. What he should appreciate was the fact that she realizes that she was wrong. I don’t think that Charlotte of six months ago would apologize for what she did. Cooper’s got to make the dicision on whether or not he can forgive her, but I think she’s most definitely deserving of it.
*POST AUTHOR*
MarcDom7 – That part about killing babies? Those were their words, not mine. I believe Naomi said it.
Not to be a pest, but that’s why we have the “quote” button. I’m a former newspaper man, and I’ve found that it’s the little things that count. There was nothing in that sentence to distinguish you quoting a character and you expressing your opinion.