photo: abc

Original Air Date: Dec 11, 2012

Karen Belgrad – Senior Editor
karenbelgrad@thetwocentscorp.com

This hour we were treated to Private Practice: SVU. We were also given an hour of Private Practice: Nicholas Sparks. Yes, that’s right, two episodes in one! And the lead character in both was Sheldon Wallace.

We’re continuing with Shonda Rhimes’ experiment of character-focused episodes. And while the hour wasn’t horrible, I think it lacked a bit of oomph following Cooper’s hour and the anticipation of next week’s Charlotte hour. Because what it all boils down to is… Sheldon is a supporting character.

We’ve barely seen any of Sheldon this season, outside of his Nick interaction and brief doctor visits with Sam early in the season. And this episode focuses on his treatment of Nick and Sheldon’s prostate cancer. Yes, we learned early on that he had markers, but now we know (or are reminded) that he has a Gleason Score of six and it has not metastasized.

We see a brief moment with his ex-wife Laura (played by Kari Coleman). They’ve continued the weekend relationship we learned about last season, but once he shares his cancer diagnosis, she admits that’s not what she is on board for. And thus ends the relationship we were never really invested in.

He also meets throughout the hour with his own psychiatrist (played by Kathy Baker). These scenes are really interludes and don’t add much to the hour, other than vocalizing the obvious. Sheldon is fixated on Nick and whether or not he kidnapped Sarah. Sheldon isn’t telling anyone at work about his cancer (he lies that he’s going to the gym). And Sheldon is afraid. And he’s losing faith in humanity. Well… duh.

Private Practice: SVU
So, as I mentioned above, Sheldon is borderline obsessed to find out if Nick took Sarah. We visit the story at 37, 80, 94, and 95 days, and each time Sheldon is more and more certain that Nick did it. It all starts when Nick comes in talking about his girlfriend, Alyssa, and how she’s perfect for him. Sheldon is suspicious, but all he can do is keep seeing Nick to see if his fears are confirmed. Additionally, the police have arrested a suspect, but a body hasn’t been found. Around the 80 day mark, Nick is still talking about Alyssa, but some of his enthusiasm for the relationship has waned. At 94 days, Sheldon (due to an empty chair, see below)goes to see Officer Joe and tells them they have the wrong man. At the same time, Sarah’s parents are again fighting in Violet’s office. Dana is still holding on to hope, but Ron is voicing fears that Sarah is dead. Largely in part, because if she is alive, he’s horrified by what she’s been through.

On day 95, with Nick talking about ending things with Alyssa, Sheldon reaches his breaking point. He interrogates Nick with questions about specifics on Alyssa, but Nick grows defensive and flustered with the questions. Sheldon has Nick placed on a (fake) 5150 hold, by declaring him suicidal and sleep deprived. He lies to Joe that Nick confessed, so they raid his home. In the basement, they find Sarah, terrified and hiding under the bed in a locked basement bedroom. Sheldon comforts her by singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (see below) and she is reunited with her parents. Nothing is addressed of what happens to the police case when it comes out the Sheldon fabricated a confession. Per my viewings of SVU, I’m pretty sure the search of the house is considered “fruit of the poisonous tree”.

Private Practice: Nicholas Sparks
I chose Nicholas Sparks because, let’s face it, there’s a sappy quotient involved in his stories. On the night Sarah goes missing, Sheldon helps a woman obtain a candy bar from the hospital vending machine. We meet her again, as Sheldon is in the hospital waiting room, awaiting radiation treatment. We learn her name is Miranda (played by Diane Farr) and that she has breast cancer. The two initially keep their conversation impersonal, as Miranda has previously befriended and lost (to death) fellow waiting-room-cancer-patient-friends. As their friendship blossoms, she becomes Sheldon’s sole friend in his cancer battle. But he avoids her lunch request. And then she lets him know that she is terminal.

Throughout treatment, and they sure got their use out of the shots of Sheldon in that radiation machine, we start to learn little bits and pieces of information. Miranda is a violin teacher, who starts her students with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. She’s only going through radiation to make her niece’s graduation. Sheldon favors black socks. And then one day, Sheldon arrives and Miranda isn’t there. Believing she has passed is what gives him the motivation to go to the police about Nick. But, lo and behold, she arrives the next day, just having had car issues. Sheldon kisses her, and although she reminds him of her terminal status, the two kiss again.

We’ve only got a handful of episodes left, so do you think we’ll see her again? Or is this it for the Sheldon arc of the season? And be honest, were you really only waiting for that glimpse of Charlotte, just to learn that babies #2 & #3 are still cooking and that baby #1 is still alive?

Oh… and Sam learned Addison was engaged and offered tiny congratulations.

And there you have my TwoCents for this hour. Share your TwoCents, comments, feedback, and wishes for the four final episodes below!