TV Review: House - "Half-Wit"
Published March 08, 2007
House had to know there would have to be an end game strategy. At some point, he'd have to explain why he wasn't dead yet. But that could wait until he got that great new drug. However, the team had sent the happy results to the Boston hospital, so House wasn't getting on that plane in the morning.
Later, Wilson confronts him to clarify the inner workings of House's brain, as is his lot in life.
Wilson: How depressed are you?House: I'm not depressed.
Wilson: You faked cancer!
House: It was an outpatient procedure. I was curious.
Wilson claims depression in terminal cancer patients isn't that common, not in people with friends and family, anyway. It's not the dying that gets to people, it's the dying alone that does. So he points out the irony: "You don't have cancer. You do have people who give a crap. You fake cancer, then push the people who care away."
"Because they're boring," is House's reply.
"Half-Wit" was written by Lawrence Kaplow, who seems to think he's moving on at the end of this season. Hmm, and I seem to think I have anything to say about that. It echoes some of the themes of season two's "Distractions," which Kaplow also wrote, and which showed us the lengths House would go to in order to avoid dealing with unpleasant emotions - now, even boredom falls under that - and how his drug use is tied to that. And again in "Half-Wit," Wilson pleads with House to take up a non-self-destructive pastime, like going for pizza with a friend.
The episode ends on the kind of shocking scene the promotions people wouldn't think was nearly dramatic enough to deserve that word. "Next, on the most shocking House yet: he thinks about joining people for dinner!"
Passing by a restaurant, House sees his minions gathered together, pauses, and reaches for the door handle. While more cynical viewers could imagine him changing his mind, just the impulse to reach for the handle is a buttoning-his-own-shirt step for House. I imagine him joining them, insulting them all, ruining their friendly dinner, but also, secretly thrilling them all with the knowledge that he's willingly there.
Okay, maybe I am sentimental. So I'll refrain from calling FOX any names related to the episode title for forcing us to wait until March 27 for another new episode.
Diane is a publications manager who's addicted to television, movies, and books and justifies her pop culture obsessions by writing about them for Blogcritics. She also runs the TV, Eh? website, a compilation of news and information about Canadian television series.
- TV Review: House - "Half-Wit"
- Published: March 08, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Drama, Video: TV Recap, Video: Television
- Part of a feature: House
- Writer: Diane Kristine
- Diane Kristine's BC Writer page
- Diane Kristine's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
I enjoyed your recap. I don't think House will go through that door....do you?
I think he goes in the door, freaks out his crew, hates every moment of it, insults everybody and makes a scene, and leaves.
Thanks guys. Yup, what Phillip said is pretty much what I said too. And I think they'd be left completely annoyed and a tiny bit secretly pleased.
Pretty good, the writers resolved the problems inherent in having a TV series that relies on one person. But lack of refreshing outsiders, like Tritter, say, will handicap this program. As protagonist House needs an antagonist worthy of him and the piano player was a zero.
I always love your reviews, and I'm not usually a nitpicker, but you misquoted my favorite line, which I loved specifically for how it was worded! After the kiss, House said, "No woman should die without experiencing that."Preceded by something like, "I didn't think you should die without experiencing that" but that half of it concerned me less. :-)
I didn't realize Patrick's father was a doctor? Did he say what sort, or was it just in the character listings?
They're rarely *exact* quotes in my reviews, actually - I watch the show, not transcribe it ;-)
I don't know if they mentioned that he was a Dr. in the episode, but it was in the media release - I assume he was a PhD doctor, though, not a medical doctor.
Great episode. My boyfriend and I howled hysterically when House grabbed Cuddy's butt and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant ASS for mankind."
More and more I am enamored of this wonderful show. Every week they make my heart race and the bottom drop out of my stomach. Where they go, I will follow. Forever!
"Half-Wit" was fun ... every minute of it ... and your interpretation only added to the enjoyment.
Thanks ...
I have a feeling that Chase will fall for Cameron, but she won't return those feelings...at first. They're going to draw out their relationship a few seasons.
Great review. Great medical mystery. Thought the Cuddy moments, House/POTW moments, and the Chase hug were awesome. The HAM kiss was more like a pedphile pukefest. Shades of Michael Jackson. Of course maybe Cameron will start using Vicodin, overdose, and die. Then we'll have two Cameron-free seasons. A girl can hope.
Debbie, I absolutely agree. I loved the Chase hug part more than anything I had ever seen on the show before. Whoo-hoo for father/son House and Chase. As for Cameron - I hope she dies as well. Cuddy? Hmm... maybe she can just stay holed-up in her office.
The Chase hug was very touching. I think he was crying, which is kind of funny and sad at the same time. A bittersweet moment.
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Great recap for a fantastic episode!