Ep 5. Step One
- TV14
- October 27, 2011
- 43 min
-
7.9 (192)
Addison and Naomi try to help a patient regain his memory offering Nicole to assist them. Meanwhile, Cooper discovers that Charlotte is secretly meeting with someone they both know very well. With the help of a hypnotherapist, Addison and Naomi try to help a patient who lost his memory in a car accident. The patient, a middle-aged man named Bruce, is struggling to remember his past and even some basic information about himself. As they work with Bruce, Naomi discovers that he is a comedian and tries to incorporate humor into his therapy sessions to help jog his memory. They also enlist the help of Nicole, a woman who claims to be his wife and has been visiting him in the hospital. However, as they dig deeper, they start to uncover some troubling secrets about Nicole and her relationship with Bruce.
Meanwhile, Cooper becomes suspicious when he discovers that Charlotte has been meeting with a man who is well-known to both of them. He starts to investigate and eventually confronts Charlotte about her secret meetings. Charlotte is forced to confess that she has been meeting with a former patient who is struggling with addiction and wants her help to get clean. Cooper is conflicted about what to do, as he wants to support his wife but also knows that it is risky for her to involve herself with a former patient.
Throughout the episode, there are also several ongoing plotlines involving the other characters. Sam helps a pregnant woman who is experiencing complications with her pregnancy, while Violet tries to help a young girl who is struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic event. Meanwhile, Pete and Sheldon continue to disagree about how to handle a patient with a history of drug abuse.
Overall, "Step One" is a character-driven episode that explores some of the complex relationships and ethical dilemmas that arise in the medical field. It also features some excellent performances from the cast, particularly Kate Walsh as Addison and Paul Adelstein as Cooper. Fans of the show will not want to miss this episode.
