Re: "Forever" - not an easy episode to watch, but a must-see for Jesse Spencer's performance, particularly the scene featuring Chase's autopsy of the baby. Chase is often dismissed as being of selfish or superficial character, but this episode shows a more complex young man who's been hurt by both recent and long-past events, yet he still holds on to some of his faith. I like how this was also reflected at the end of the Season 3 ep "House Training" in his conversation with Foreman.

tourmaline--you are so right about that scene in Forever. Of all the fellows (and arguably all the characters), Chase is really the one who has grown and changed--from the spoiled brat coward/betrayer in season one to the confident and (most House-like) creative thinker he became by the end of season 4. Other than House, I think the writers have done the best job in developing his character.

Some random thoughts :)
-I agree, the way House exposes the evil!wife in Clueless is even intimate.

-I remember hating (a little) "Safe" for everything House did to Wilson. I didn't think for a moment that it was him trying to get Wilson out of his..numbness. Definitely I felt revindicated when Wilson fought back, YES! That felt good.

-I've always felt that Chase is being underestimated and bashed unfairly by the fandom. It's Chase and NOT Foreman who resembles a lot more to House in what diagnosis is about. He's the one who, more than Cameron and Foreman, comes up with the brilliant idea "a lo House". It bugs to no end why the writers keep pursuing the Foreman storyline and his "I don't want to be like House" drama *gags*

-That scene with Cuddy and House and the injections is funny and sensual. That's a favorite blooper of mine. Well, actually I like all bloopers.. :)

Oh! special AND exclusive you say? What about a clue?? small one? I love guessing.

I remember hating (a little) "Safe" for everything House did to Wilson. I didn't think for a moment that it was him trying to get Wilson out of his..numbness. Definitely I felt revindicated when Wilson fought back, YES! That felt good.

The scene where this really hit home was when House had left Wilson for hours on his doorstep (it's not like Wilson couldn't have gone out for dinner or knocked on the door or something :)

Anyway, Wilson just takes it and stalks off to the kitchen. Look at House's face. He looks completely frustrated that Wilson has not "done" anything back. House is completely trying to provoke him, and finally when he pays House back, House is happy. I realize it can be interpreted as House being rather puppy-like in and wanting his brother pup to...(nah...not going to go there. Not into the whole ho-yay thing:)

A clue, you say? Let me think. I can tell you that I'm not boxing up Hugh Laurie and bringing him to this column (I can still keep dreaming, though). I can say that...can I? Something to do with the finale. More to come :)

barbara

I haven't gotten to that episode in my rerun of all seasons, but I do remember that scene of the dishes, House did look frustrated. Lol! I'm telling, you've opened my eyes LOL.. that makes sense now.

For the tiniest moment when you said: Hugh Laurie (never mind that I skipped "I'm not")I went into an anaphilatic shock.. <3 *sighs*

something to do with the finale.. something to do with the finale.. *thinkingthinkingthinking* >.<
HG

Skin Deep, I agree with your high rating for this episode. I love it because it gives us another glimpse of House's home- always very revealing- and of his daily struggle with pain.Most of all because it lets us hear Hugh Laurie playing Bach.I know that House- and Hugh Laurie- like jazz and blues ,but for real consolation he turns to our divine Bach.
The same week that I saw a repeat of Skin Deep on one of our TV channels,I read an article in Newsweek on research into the Placebo Effect.This showed that fake treatments often work as well as genuine ones; thus the fact that Cuddy's saline injection worked does not prove that House's pain is psychosomatic. On the other hand , a deep emotional wound like losing Stacy a second time, might breach his mental defences and make him feel the pain more intensely?

So many great episodes this second season.

My favorite scene in Who's Your Daddy was when Cuddy came up to House's office to thank him for the injections. It was a short scene, but the acting was splendid. Hugh so subtly inviting Cuddy to ask her question. Lisa showing the apprehension about asking House to be the donor. Her facial expression said so much. What if she asked House and he said no? This was her best opportunity to ask him, but she couldn't do it. Hugh showed a great reaction to her answer to his question about whether that was all she came up to his office to say. It left you wondering if House figured out what she really wanted to say to him.

This scene showed that Cuddy does have trust and feelings toward House that she bottles up and never expresses. Regardless of House's antics, she sees the person that lies beneath. Cuddy has an opportunity to "design" a baby with the best genes she can find. House tells her who the person is matters. Cuddy listens to what House said. Of all the people she would want as the baby's father, it is House she desires. I think she considered Wilson first because she thought it would be easier for her if he turned her down. She does not have th emotional commitment to Wilson that she has to House. If Wilson turned her down, it would not be as much of a rejection as if House turned her down.

At the end of Distractions, House arranged for a prostitute that looked exactly like Stacy. He must have requested that. Just any hooker wouldn't do.

Only a great actor like Hugh Laurie could make you think he was in a lot of pain and get away with it. As someone with chronic pain, I can tell you he did a great job.

I think Cameron has displayed the most growth from the pilot until Don't Ever Change. She started as a naive, religious, ethical, character without a lot of confidence. She never wanted to break any rules, monitoring House's actions to keep him in line. Her evolution was greater than Chase's. All we saw with Chase was his attempt to keep his job in the Vogler arc, and at the end of the third season, he is much more aware of how House thinks and works. He had some background in religion, but I did not see much evolution in that part of his character. He was no different with the nun in Damned if You Do, as he was with the baby in Forever.

Omar Epps was incredible in Euphoria. The way he delivered his lines and his facial expressions in the scene where he and House discuss his treatment showed his range as an actor. Omar has brought a great deal of characterization to Foreman. That is something that is missing this season. Foreman has become expressionless and robotic.

The second half of season two showed how dedicated House is to getting the patient better regardless of rules and ethics. He seemed to be more committed to doing what was right.

All In is one of my favorite episodes. There is virtually no snark. We see that the intensity of House's commitment to curing the patient is just as strong as solving the puzzle. We finally get to see the emotion he feels when he saves a life. He didn't make snarky remarks and walk away when the diagnosis was made. He had an immediate physical and emotional reaction that he wasn't timid to display. Having Hugh in a crisp white shirt didn't hurt.

I know that House- and Hugh Laurie- like jazz and blues ,but for real consolation he turns to our divine Bach For all of his Baroquely intricacy (I adore Bach)--his music is the most mathematical of all composers (I've been told, since I'm not a mathemetician). It would appeal to the logical House.
-Ann--
I had read a lot about the placebo effect researching one of my fanfiction stories, so yes, Cuddy's conclusion was faulty---and it really affected House on a deep level.

Sue--You are so right so much to love about the second season! That scene in All In when they confirm the diagnosis and House's visceral reaction (which I'm sure once he realizes it, quickly tries to cover) was heart-rending.

I'm not a big fan of FOreman or the way Epps plays him. I did like the scene you referred to, though. It showed some real potential. I don't think Foreman is in any way a mini-House. I see the way that Chase has come around as a creative and out-of the box thinker (or at least more able to express it). I didn't like Chase at all in season one (he was my least favorite character).

Cameron has absolutely grown over the years from the naive little girl of season one to who she is now--much more confident,etc--more able to deal with death and conflict than she was in season one--or season two.

I loved your comments, Sue--naming your own favorites, and high points!

One thing I forgot to mention.

The piano piece Hugh played at the end of All In was the best of any season. He played it very gently, emphasizing the notes perfectly. It fit beautifully with the changing images of the parents and the kid getting better. He seemed more comfortable playing it than some other more complicated pieces. Sometimes when he plays, it seems like he is a student in a piano class. He doesn't seem to integrate the notes the way a professional player would. I am not putting him down. I am just complimenting him on how beautifully he played the piece in All In. He played it like a professional.

Interesting observation, Sue. Oscar Peterson's "Hymn to Freedom" was a perfect piece for the probably exhausted and wired House to be playing after a sleepless and stressful night. It's a beautiful and evocative piece of gentle jazz. And he plays it soulfully. I've loved the other pieces he's played--the Bach being played as a distraction from the pain when he was very worried about his own physical future, including the duff note was appropriate not performance quality. I also loved the pieces he played in Half-Wit (and especially House's jr. highschool piece.)