Private Practice
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Private Practice (2007) is a medical drama television series that follows Dr. Addison Montgomery as she leaves Seattle Grace Hospital to join a private practice in Los Angeles, alongside her medical school friends. The show explores the professional and personal lives of the doctors at Oceanside Wellness Center (later Seaside Health & Wellness Center), delving into complex medical cases and their intricate relationships. It is a spin-off of Grey's Anatomy and ran for six seasons. The series addresses mature themes common in medical dramas, including romance, ethical dilemmas, and personal struggles. Given its mature subject matter, it is generally intended for older adolescent and adult audiences.
Things to Consider
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
The series features significant LGBTQ+ themes and characters. Dr. Addison Montgomery's mother, Bizzy Forbes, is revealed to be a lesbian, leading to her divorce and subsequent marriage to her girlfriend, Susan. Susan later dies, and Bizzy commits suicide. Another storyline involves a baby with ambiguous genitalia, where Dr. Montgomery advocates for the child to decide their gender later in life rather than performing immediate gender assignment surgery. Additionally, an episode features a gay man dying of liver cancer, reflecting on a 'party gay' life.
Addison's mother, Bizzy Forbes, comes out as a lesbian in Season 3, divorces her husband, and later marries her girlfriend, Susan. Susan's subsequent death leads to Bizzy's suicide. Season 2, episode 17, 'Wait and See,' involves Addison being asked to perform gender assignment surgery on a baby with gender ambiguity; she ultimately declines to allow the child to choose later. Season 2, episode 13 features a gay man regretting his 'party gay' life as he dies of liver cancer.
Violence
The show contains high levels of violence, including graphic depictions of assault and its aftermath. Instances include a character being brutally raped, another undergoing a C-section performed by a mentally unstable patient, and a character being beaten in prison. There are also mentions of deaths due to violent circumstances, such as an explosion.
Romance and Sexual Content
As a medical drama, 'Private Practice' features extensive romance and sexual content, including implied sexual activity, extramarital affairs, and discussions of intimate relationships. The show often focuses on the complex personal lives of the doctors, leading to various romantic entanglements and sexual themes.
Substance Use
Substance use, particularly drug addiction, is a significant theme in the series. Dr. Amelia Shepherd's storyline heavily features her struggle with drug addiction, including relapses. Her boyfriend, Ryan, is also an addict, and his death is a consequence of their shared struggles, which causes Amelia to consider rehab.
Scary & Intense Content
The show contains high levels of intense content due to its medical drama nature and the graphic or traumatic experiences of its characters. This includes scenes of violent assaults, deaths, and characters dealing with severe psychological trauma and addiction.
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Additional Context
Best For Ages
Private Practice is recommended for ages 16+ due to its mature themes, including graphic violence, explicit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity, depictions of drug addiction and relapse, and complex romantic and sexual relationships.
Good to Know
Parents should be aware that 'Private Practice' is a mature medical drama that tackles complex and often graphic medical, ethical, and personal issues. The show is not suitable for younger viewers due to its themes of sexual content, violence, drug addiction, and difficult family dynamics.
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