Barbara
It has always bothered me that some think House and Wilson have to have a sexual relationship.

I would give just about everything to have a relationship like theirs. Yes sometimes Wilson is manipulative, but more often than not he has House's best interests in mind.

House and Wilson feel it is safe to share their deepest concerns with each other. Right now I don't feel I have anyone I can trust that much, not even my husband.

When Volger was around I still believe House would have quit so Wilson could have his job back. The same goes for the Tritter arch. I think House would have gone to jail before letting Wilson.

I especially like the "Frat boy" pranks. House with the hand in the water, Wilson and the cane. Right now I think Wilson is ahead with the guitar napping!

House is ahead in the risking it all department with what he did to try and help Amber. Wilson's biggest moment was what he did during the Tritter arch.

Add me as one that does not see a gay relationship between House and Wilson. They are best friends, joined at the hip.

I loved RSL in Season 4 and thought TPTB really captivated this man's talent and brought it to the forefront. I wonder if that was the intent all along or they finally realized what a wonderful actor he is. The chemistry between Hugh and RSL is undeniable. Hugh is the best but I have to give kudos to RSL as he was closely behind him. He was hysterically funny in "Alone" when he kidnapped the guitar and made the squeeking sound of strings being tightened to House and so heartbreaking sad in WH. I also loved his intoxicated walk in the episode (can't remember) where House kept buying him drinks at the bar to keep him from Amber. And that man has some of the funniest facial expressions.

This is definitely the most important relationship on the show from TPTB standpoint. I would love to see RSL get nominated as supporting actor. If William Shatner can land a nomination, and deservingly so, then so can RSL.

Thanks for the lovely article, Barbara. Can't wait for Season 5.

Through the years, I've gone hot and cold on Wilson. I've really disliked him (especially in parts of season two and all of the first half of season three.) It wasn't until I started writing this article that I really saw how special their relationship really is.

Likewise with Robert Sean Leonard. Not until this year have I really felt that he's lived up to the immense talent I knew that he posessed. Like you, Sdemar, as painful as it was for me as a guitar-player to see the carnage of that vintage Flying V, the kidnapping of House's guitar was brilliantly acted and hysterical.

It is one of the pluses of "House" that it dares to show us a close, emotional friendship between men without any suggestion of homosexuality.
It is obviously modelled on Watson and Holmes, but Conan Doyle could only imply what House makes clear ; that this is one of the forms of love.However ,Watson was always in awe of Holmes's genius whereas Wilson dares to call House " lucky". Could it be that he is secretly, perhaps unconsciously, jealous of House ?

They are such disparate characters that I find it hard to imagine how they ever got together-more background, please, House writers.

Until the arrival of Amber, their friendship was more important to Wilson than his marriages, which suggests that he had never been seriously in love.While House , who appears to be so cynical, was so deeply in love with Stacy that he has never really gotten over it.

I try to like Wilson, but his smug , conventional attitudes annoy me as much as they do House. House is so much deeper and more complex that Wilson is always getting him wrong. Perhaps a dose of the suffering that House endures might make him more perceptive ?

Any way, I still think that House's relationship with Cuddy is just as important, as her closeness to him in " Wilson's Heart" shows.I hope season 5 will let us see more of both relationships.

Thanks for this masterful summary, Barbara. I have adored the House-Wilson relationship from the beginning and agree with others that it has never seemed to contain a sexual aspect.

One of my favorite scenes that you did not mention was the one in "Who's Your Daddy" in which Wilson learns about the double betrayal of House's friend Crandall. The scene turns from a gossip session (and struggle over food) into one that ends in Wilson's disgust with House's underhanded method for breaking up Crandall's romance with his dubious girlfriend. I think that this brief account of interference and betrayal presages the fraught interactions of Wilson and House over Amber. Both men are aware of House's previous actions and I think this colors their tension over Amber.

Another key moment for me is the jailhouse scene at the end of "Words and Deeds" in which House reveals to Wilson that he has not given up the Vicodin but has in fact bribed Voldemort the guard to bring him the forbidden drug. Wilson is again disgusted both by the reversion to addiction and by House's cavalier attitude and even pride at being able to deceive both Wilson and Cuddy on the matter.

The moment in "Son of a Coma Guy" in which House states softly that he doesn't want to push their relationship to the breaking point is the closest I think we will get to a clear declaration of their deep affection. Unless you strip off the sarcasm from House's statement "I love you," when Wilson promises to increase his pain meds after the self-electrocution!

As you have written, this relationship is the core nexus of the show and it is brilliantly played by both Laurie and Leonard drawing upon their full talents as both dramatic and comic actors.

As you mention, Blacktop, there are many scenes beyond what I've mentioned that are brilliant House/Wilson moments.

There have been big gaps of time when I've positively loathed Wilson for his attitude towards House, but I understand that Wilson asked House to risk his life for amber out of desperation. And that House understood Wilson's position, to me speaks so many volumes about House as a person.

I only hope that wilson doesn't blame House. I know that grieving people need someone to blame; to be angy with, and I think House will be convenient. But the spoiler fairies tell me that at least for the short-term, Wilson's anger at House might be pretty hurtful. Ah, the angst of it all ;)

Barbara, you had me at "Goofus and Gallant." :)

I did not realize until now that "bromance" referred to two straight males, and I think that is the perfect term for House and Wilson's wonderful, unique relationship.

I love all the examples you listed. For all my intense dislike of Season 4, it was the House/Wilson scenes (and the hope of seeing Chase and Cameron) that kept me coming back each week. You mentioned "Mirror, Mirror," and I'd like to specifically mention a small scene that I adored from that episode. As Wilson was trying to convince House that HE is the dominant person in their relationship, he remarked, "You'd pick up my laundry if I asked you to." House sarcastically replied, "Go ahead, ask," as he OPENED THE DOOR for Wilson! It was very subtle, and so very funny. I love the subtleties of their relationship more than I love the guitar-napping scenes.

Another scene I loved (from an episode I disliked) was in "Ugly" when House and Wilson are letting themselves into the AV room to watch the video. From the Blue/Lou the Janitor gaffe to House's command for Wilson to watch the tape to let him know if he's going crazy, it's pure gold. Wilson's response was equally funny and dry, but I can't find a transcript anywhere to get the actually wording to include in this post.

There has been only one moment in the entire series where I can say that I hated Wilson, and that is in the "Cain and Able" episode. Wilson, knowing that House is hurting, both physically and mentally, taunts him with the "You're not always right, House. You've proven that lately," even though he KNOWS that House was right about the diagnosis for the wheelchair bound patient from the previous episode, and clearly sees the nearly debilitating effect that the "missed" diagnosis is having on him. That statement, with the accompanying dismissive hand gesture was very cruel, and his uncharacteristic insensitivity is the beginning of a series of events that pushes House to the limit with Tritter.

Please add me to the list of those who love these two fine actors.

L. Lilly--

Great scenes. And I, too, love the subtleties of their relationship. Like you, I adored their interaction in "Ugly," (in my mind one of the best of last season's episodes).

Also, like you, the nadir of my disaffection for Wilson came in the very scene you described. It's what I meant when I referred to Wilson's occasional cruelty to House (something that I don't think I've ever seen from House--but of course now someone will prove me wrong about that :)).

Leaving out Season 2 in a discussion about House and Wilson because there were too many meaningful moments is like leaving out Michael Corleone in a discussion about The Godfather because his role was too big.
People tend to bring up the few times that Wilson didn't "understand" House. Yes, he was wrong about why House sent Stacy away. Yes, the "humility lesson" was ridiculous, and out-of-character in my opinion. First of all, it would be very boring if Wilson was right all the time. And do you really think that House would maintain -- nurture, even -- a relationship for 20 years that was difficult? When it comes to relationships, House is not into difficult. Wilson understanding him the majority of the time is one of the reasons it's easy (complicated, yes, but still easy). And my remarks are pre-Amber, because "dying changes everything." :-) One of the many fascinating things about them is that House has always needed Wilson just a bit more than Wilson needs House. That's unique for House, and at times he forces himself to be vulnerable in order to keep Wilson where he needs him ... at the center of his life. And I am grateful to see those glimpses of vulnerability. Wilson gets the "I'm sorry," the "I love you," the "Maybe I don't want to push this till it breaks." They're not all that different; they just put on different faces for the world. Remember Wilson in the poker game fight, adamantly telling House, "Don't tell them my name is Wilson?!" And that fight had a lot more complexity and depth than you mentioned, as did "Safe" and many other episodes and parallels. I'm still trying to figure out the bar scene in NMMNG. Regarding, "Give him back his sweatshirt. Pit stains don't become you" ... that's so deeply territorial; I do believe it transcends any word The Urban Dictionary has to offer. Just like their relationship. :-)
Note: You mentioned that the Emmy Awards are on September 19th. They are actually on September 21st.

I just wanted to add that I think that RSL has matched HL's acting talents scene-for-scene since the Pilot. Robert has deserved an Emmy for as long as Hugh has. You mentioned that Hilsons are in the minority. They certainly were going strong not too long ago, but in April David Shore told another interviewer that he didn't think he was going that route. That will take the wind out of a ship's sails. :-)
By the way, when in MLC do you think Wilson didn't understand House? Whether it was out of self-preservation or deep knowledge of his friend or a combination of both, Wilson leaving House to pick himself up with the only -- and best -- thing he could possibly do for his friend.

Hi OperaHouse (love the name). I agree. And I didn't. As I was writing the summaries of season two, my starting point was the great live-in arc, and I did just give a couple of highlights, but clearly the episodes, in their entirety are one big House-Wilson story.

I noted many, many other moments as well, and as I continued, I realized what a treat season two is for the House-Wilson fans.

You make some great points. And as I said, clearly, beyond the annoyances they give each other, their relationship has endured for however long they've been friends.

The "not understanding" I referred to in MLC was not in leaving House passed out in his living room. It was in finally understanding that House (nearly too late) that House's gift is, indeed, a gift--and not a "flip of the card."

There are so many scenes I could have added to the article, I realize. But it was getting pretty long, so I leave the expansion of themes to this discussion space.

I stand corrected on the Emmy Awards date. (Teaches me not to write and try to watch convention coverage at the same time)

I'm not interested in this article because all you're doing is promoting the mainstream conception of their relationship, which as you so astutely pointed out by calling people who think House and Wilson's friendship is truly romantic or sexual a minority (which is an assumption and not fact), is already likely the majority opinion.

This article is superfluous to a dire degree.

-a lurker from HHoW who is pretty sick of this "platonic bromance" agenda...from EVERYONE

Seeing as many of the writers have admitted that they place homoerotic-- yes, GAY GAY GAY-- subtext and dialogue in teh show intentionally, it's deeply stupid for anyone to be disturbed or offended by the fact that a large group of "House" viewers would like to see House and Wilson's friendship develop into a more romantic one.

Just FYI, they're fictional characters, we don't know their entire (fictional!) sexual histories, and if "Don't Ever Change" wasn't proof enough of House's bisexuality and the way that his feeling towards Wilson go WAY beyond brotherly, this season will be.

Isabelle--I appreciate your differing opinion (and the article is my opinion, even if it is mainstream). I do not see the House-Wilson relationship as gay. I see it as loving, brotherly, close and lots of other things, but I don't see it as sexually-based. But to each his (or her) own.

Emily--I'm not at all offended by the idea that a lot of viewers (and some folks in the fandom I hugely respect and admire) see their relationship as gay. It's as valid a view as mine--they ARE, of course, fictional characters. We don't know their respective histories. We do know that Stacy was the love of House's life, and we know that he fantasizes about Cuddy. And that's pretty much it. And that's why fan fiction was created--to fill in the blanks.

Because commenters seem to be into counting, you can count me among those who think it could be believable and appealing for House and Wilson's relationship to turn romantic, if the writers choose to go in that direction.

If that doesn't occur, I'll still enjoy their compelling, complicated, heartfelt relationship, but adding another aspect would be intriguing and very appealing to me.

But that's the future, and you asked for favorite House-Wilson moments from the past.

Everything you've mentioned, of course. House deleting the message from the realtor so that Wilson wouldn't leave in "Clueless," was sweet, and the "big weekend in the Poconos" conversation from "Fools for Love" was hilarious.

And no discussion of the "bromance" would be complete without including the time House said, "I love you," to Wilson in "97 Seconds."

I've seen some fans claim that statement was made sarcastically. While Wilson seemed to dismiss it, Hugh Laurie's performance to me clearly indicated that House was being sincere. He was expressing his love for his "bromantic" partner, his best friend.

I'm excited to see where Season Five takes us!

The House/Wilson relationship is the most intriguing one on the show. It would not work if not for the incredible acting talent and mutual respect these two talented actors possess. It is not the writing that makes this relationship so special. It is the subtleties and nuance that these actors impart in their performances that makes these two characters and their relationship so irresistible. Regardless of what is happening between them, we feel in the end they really care about and respect each other, so convincingly portrayed by the two best actors on television.

Robert is not given the variety of material Hugh is given, so it is easy to overlook how talented he is in this role. He makes it seem so easy to keep up with Hugh Laurie, and I am sure it is not. He has to be more nuanced in his portrayal, balancing against the more physically dramatic aspect of House. He deserved to at least be nominated for an Emmy this year.

I also see House and Wilson like brothers. House had no siblings, and he retreated from an abusive father. Wilson had and lost a brother around the time he met House (about 8 years ago according to TPTB). Is it always healthy for a friendship to be that close? Can it become intrusive? Do they go over the friendship line into uncharted territory? Where in the limbo between brotherhood and friendship does this relationship reside? Is the limit for one different than the limit for the other?

House calls Wilson his best friend? Has Wilson ever called House his best friend?

Wilson has used outright sabotage to force House to live by his rules and do what he thinks is best for him. House has used playful sabotage to show Wilson the light. Wilson uses coercive tactics to force House to do what he thinks he should do. I can't think of a time when House did that to Wilson.

Who needs this relationship more? Who would be more lost without it? I think it is House. He pushes people away and only lets a privileged few into his private world. Only the ones he trusts. Wilson is more open and inviting to people, though he may not confide in people like he does in House. If the relationship ended, Wilson would find another somebody, but House might not find another somebody the rest of his life. House does not get over failed relationships like Wilson does. House is more committed to the friendship than Wilson is. It is harder for House to be vulnerable than it is for Wilson.

I also see this relationship like Peter Pan and Wendy. House's motto is "I won't grow up," and Wilson is always trying to show him the way and heal him. House needs to have someone who sets limits for him, and Wilson needs to nurture the brother he lost. It works up to a point, and then it becomes abusive. House seems to be more intrusive in Wilson's life, while Wilson seems to be more instructive to House.

I like the playfulness that goes on as displayed in Act Your Age. They can set each other up and let it go as soon as it is over. No grudges or hard feelings. That also happened after the Tritter arc. House and Wilson blamed each other for House's problems, but when it was over, it was over.

In Wilson's Heart, Wilson pulled the floor out from under House when he asked him to risk his life to save Amber. I know Doris Egan didn't see it that way, but I did. House set the parameter for Wilson. How important am I in your life? After weeks or months trying to figure this out, House was finally able to get a concrete answer. The drinking in the bar in House's Head was a test to see if House could drag Wilson away from Amber to rescue him. He was already testing Wilson; he got the answer he never wanted to hear. I don't think House wanted to be a hero for risking his life; he did want Wilson to realize how much he cared for him by doing it. Is risking your life something you do for a best friend or for someone who is more like a brother?

It should be interesting this season as the friendship breaks up and repairs itself. Viewers will compare their ideas about this relationship and what it is based on with the writers' ideas and see if the two are the same.

House deleting the message from the realtor so that Wilson wouldn't leave in "Clueless," was sweet, and the "big weekend in the Poconos" conversation from "Fools for Love" was hilarious.

And no discussion of the "bromance" would be complete without including the time House said, "I love you," to Wilson in "97 Seconds."

Great moments, all! Nice to see ya here, Dee Laundry. I've tossed that "I love you" round my head a lot (well, not that much--because that would just be wrong--and obsessive :)). I saw that "I love you," as not sarcastic, but an automatic pleasure with Wilson upping House's drugs. Someone does something unexpectedly nice for you, it's a common response. That being said, I do think that House loves Wilson--and House needs Wilson.

I view Wilson as House's anchor into the real world. Without Wilson, I think House would retreat into a self-imposed exile. Wilson keeps him playful, and occasionally lets him forget or leave behind his misery.

Sue--I agree that RSL is a terrific actor. During the first couple of seasons, I thought he occasionally overacted--but he's found a good balance for his character and plays really well with HL.

I, too, am very excited to see what happens in season five. I'm doing an email interview with the writer, and hope to have some goodies to share just before the episode airs.

I think I was a bit harsh on Wilson in my first comments - as your article shows, it is a much more nuanced and complex relationship than I implied.Even the closest friendships have their conflicts and misunderstandings and "House" never deals in the obvious or the simple. I would still like to know how they met and why two such different people became friends.

BUT, I still find Wilson's actions in "W.H." unforgivable. Even his desperation over Amber doesn't excuse it and what makes it so exquisitely cruel, is that House EXPECTED it.When Wilson comes back wringing his hands you can see by the look in House's eyes that he knows what Wilson is going to ask and dreads it and also knows that he will not say no. Greater love hath no man.....


That piece of acting alone entitles Hugh to the
Emmy, the BAFTA,the Oscar and a knighthood !

Barbara,

You said you saw the "I love you," as pleasure with Wilson upping House's drugs. It's interesting; I think that's how it was written, but Hugh's delivery (tone of voice, volume, facial expression, pacing) made it come across as heartfelt. Which Wilson missed entirely. : ) Hiding true sentiment in a quip is so very House.

"Wilson keeps him playful, and occasionally lets him forget or leave behind his misery." - Such a good insight, because that's also the role House plays for Wilson. That they find such fun in each other is a joy to watch. When they let us do so! I'm holding Hugh Laurie to his statement that House and Wilson's reuniting in S5 will be "pleasing and satisfying." Of course with Doris Egan writing it, I'd expect no less.

Ann UK: Amen to your wishes for Hugh and his performance in the finale eps! I couldn't agree more (but you knew that!)

DeeLaundry--I loved House's (slightly loopy) delivery. And you're right that hiding his true feelings is a primary trait of the very guarded House.

I love when they find that fun in each other. That's why the season two "live-in" arc was so much fun to watch (even unto its end)--as well as episodes like "All In." Even "Alone," for the evil guitar napping. I think that may have been RSLs best performance in the entire series. You could tell how much he relished playing Dr. Devious--but having fun. I think House, as angry as he was, appreciated it, even though he clearly dreaded (really dreaded) making calls to new fellowship applicants. The amount of trepidation House has is only clear in that one episode before he calls that first (and off-putting) candidate. He stares at that pile of resumes as if he's looking at death itself.

Who needs this relationship more? Who would be more lost without it? I think it is House. He pushes people away and only lets a privileged few into his private world. Only the ones he trusts. "Wilson is more open and inviting to people, though he may not confide in people like he does in House. If the relationship ended, Wilson would find another somebody, but House might not find another somebody the rest of his life. House does not get over failed relationships like Wilson does. House is more committed to the friendship than Wilson is. It is harder for House to be vulnerable than it is for Wilson."

Very nice article, Barbara, and some great comments on this central relationship. In regard to the above quote, I'm not positive that House is the one that needs the relationship the most, though he is the one that appears to need it the most. I think Wilson's fatal flaw is his ability to appear to be the perfect nice guy--his past shows that he is far more complicated than his surface impression indicates. He's a much darker person, with the capability to manipulate and judge people that most people never pick up on. His string of unsuccessful marriages indicates that though Wilson is very successful at maintaining the nice facade, ultimately, it leaves his relationships hollow and lacking--probably because they aren't based on his actual personality. House is his exception, and I think it's an exception because House has a much more realistic picture of Wilson, even though Wilson can still fool him--House at least knows Wilson is capable of this. I don't think House has ever manipulated Wilson more than Wilson has let him, while the reverse is not true. House does not run this relationship. I think it's a huge relief to Wilson to have someone who really sees him, flaws, dark side and all, and really loves him anyway. I don't think Wilson really acknowledges this relief, though I think this aspect of Wilson was briefly picked up on in Frozen.

House clearly needs and loves Wilson, too, but he seems, usually to his own surprise, to attract a few people who are willing to look past the antics and sarcasm and see the whole man. He's placed almost all his relationship eggs in Wilson's basket, but I see the potential for Cuddy to become even more important to him, and possibly someone like Cate.

Both men maintain facades, but I think in the end, House's is less successful than Wilson's and therefore allows more people to penetrate it. Wilson's facade is so successful that it's his worst enemy. Amber did really connect with him, and it was her qualities that she shares with House that made her such a good relationship prospect. I don't think there's too many people out there with those characteristics.

On the nature of the relationship, I'm one who has thought there was lots of potential for House and Wilson's relatinship to move into the romantic, and indeed that it was the one relationship in the show I could actually see working long term. However, to me, Wilson's Heart showed that though House may indeed feel more for Wilson than he's quite willing to acknowledge, Wilson does not love House in that way and if he doesn't now, and in the dire circumstances we saw, I don't think he will. I'm back in bromance territory, and I have to say, watching Wilson rather suspiciously in terms of what he offers to House. If he gets away with judging House for how their relationship has evolved and particularly for the events of the finale, and House accepts that, I don't really see this relationship as a healthy for House, when all is said and done.

Sorry folks, the first paragraph of my post is missing the initial quote to indicate it is a quote from Sue that the rest of the post is responding to.

You're all terrific at being boring. Feel free to delete, but honestly, it needed to be said and read.

it needed to be said and read

Why? I find sewing clubs boring, but I don't feel the need to crash their message boards and tell them that. Probably because I'm not 12...

jair--great insights. Thanks. I think you've pegged the dynamic well. It's canon that Wilson easily and often has manipulated and lied to House. And of course House is aware of this (which is why he was reluctant to have him in his "House vs. God" poker game). I agree that Wilson is the dominant in the relationship.

I also agree that House is more "lovable" than he thinks--people can (occasionally) see beyond his moats and castle walls into his heart. Cuddy can, Cameron can (but got frustrated), Cate can. And so can Wilson. Some of his patients have also seen past the extreme guardedness.

I do believe that House is capable of deep love, but is scared of that part of himself. He sees that the result (for him) has been tragic and left him in misery. He is also intensely loyal (as we've seen with both Wilson and Cuddy). I don't think Wilson feels this way about House. I really hope that Wilson does not dismiss House's sacrifice for Amber. Only time will tell.

Eli Attie has written the premiere. He wrote Games (which I really loved). I will be interviewing him (via emails), and will post his thoughts next weekend hopefully.

Why? I find sewing clubs boring, but I don't feel the need to crash their message boards and tell them that. Probably because I'm not 12...
Thanks, Jordan.

Re the "I love you" in "97 Seconds" --

Remember that in this scene, as often happens, House is carrying on two conversations simultaneously (although he usually does it with two different people, Wilson is quick enough to handle both). One is about the patient House is treating, whom Wilson has stepped in to handle, and the other is about the clinic guy with the knife whom House emulated. Included in the discussion about the knife guy is Wilson's distress that House doesn't seem to care whether he lives.

The final exchange of this scene, I think, also has two conversations going on, in the sense that the lines have dual meanings.

Wilson says, "Just looking at you hurts. I'm going to order up some extra pain meds." House responds with "I love you," and Wilson gives him an eloquently wry, pained shrug/eyeroll in acknowledgment. The two conversations are:


1) Wilson: "Just looking at you hurts."

House: "I love you" meaning "I'm sorry my quest for knowledge was self-destructive, which caused you grief." It's a little sarcastic -- House sort of parodying how a husband would apologize to his wife over a similar emotional exchange -- but not completely so.

Wilson's Shrug: meaning "Yeah, you love me, but that didn't stop you from doing something stupid!"


2) Wilson: "I'm going to order up some extra pain meds."

House: "I love you" meaning "Thank you for giving me narcotics to numb the pain without insisting I beg for them."

Wilson's Shrug: meaning "Yeah, well, that is one of the things I do for you, right? I write your pain med scrips."


It's a typically dense, layered exchange, with whole volumes of nonverbal messages going back and forth between them. I can't think of many other actors, or characters, on TV who could have pulled it off.

Great article, BB!

Something someone mentioned here gave me the idea of a nice parallel in the House-Wilson (people can come up with bromance, I came up with friend-relationship) "frielationship". The first of the two incidents is how House plays practical jokes on Wilson to help him cope and come to terms with his divorce. The parallel to this is how Wilson kidnaps and tortures House's flying V to help him get over his team leaving him and hire a new team.

I don't know if anyone else has mentioned or noted this, just struck me while reading the comments.

I love this show! lol
I have a friend who looks just like House

Great article, as usual!

This may not qualify as a true House/Wilson "together on screen" scene, but it's worth highlighting, IMO. During "TB or Not TB" when House and Wilson have been eating lunch in Coma Guy's room and watching Dr. Sebastian Charles' news conference on the TV. House notices a symptom and goes running into Charles' room, just as Dr. Charles goes into distress. Meanwhile Foreman has come into Coma Guy's room.

As House shoves his face into the TV camera and announces "it's not TB", while behind him, the flurry and confusion of treating Dr. Charles escalates - Wilson sits, calmly eating House's chips and equally calmly remarks "compelling television".

In a series full of wonderful House/Wilson moments, that remains one of my all-time favorite in the humor category. Wilson manages to convey a world of meaning in two words and a curl of his lip. I still laugh out loud whenever I think of it :-)

And who can forget "Resignation"? "I'm not on antidepressants - I'm on SPEEEEED!" RSL was brilliant - no other word for it. What a scene! I laughed until I was breathless, and then I laughed some more until the tears were rolling down :-) If for nothing else (and I do think that there's plenty more), I thought that RSL deserved an Emmy for that one alone.

I have several others that I want to include, and also an alternate interpretation for the "you have no idea why you sent her off" scene in "Need to Know". (I think it's possible that Wilson may have had more insight here than he typically gets credit for.) But I'll have to come back later, because I've got to run right now.

p.s. just wanted to quickly add that I agree 100% with your take on the "I love you" in Ugly.

Hugh Laurie said in an interview that the producers and writers are not that far ahead of the current episode regarding planning out the series. If you go by just the words and not how the actors interpret them, you would miss the nuances we deliberate over. Take the "I love you" line. We have many interpretations based on how House delivers the line. Any word could be delivered with a very different meaning than was originally planned. Doris Egan said the final outcome can be different than what she imagined it would be. The magic they capture on screen has to be taken into consideration when planning future episodes.

I was watching my DVDs yesterday. When Hugh is on the screen in Hi-Def, even if he is stock still, he is mesmerizing. He forces you to focus your attention on him. I don't find that when he is being himself. There is something about how becomes House and is House that commands you to look at him and focus on him. He comes across the camera like no other actor I have seen. I don't know if the effect is the same on conventional tvs. There is so much variety in his personas, he can be very different from second to second. I find the shots where he is not doing anything to be the most compelling. I never thought I would buy a DVD of any program or movie, because once you know the story there is no reason to have a copy to re-watch. I am so glad I have my DVDs.

Despite the intense rudeness and childishness of a smattering of the above posters, you have handled yourself with considerable grace in your responses, Barbara. Kudos to you!

I really don't have anything to add to the fantastic discussions above, but wish to congratulate you on a wonderfully written article. House's "I love you" in 97 Seconds was impulsively spoken but probably at the same time heartfelt, certainly in keeping with the 'bromance' concept. (I suppose that's the replacement term for 'buddy film'. It actually works better, doesn't it?)

I just adored "Act Your Age" for all the House/Wilson moments. Yes, they weren't very 'angsty', but they made me laugh until I almost cried. Great stuff, and one of my all-time favorites.

Thanks again for the great and timely article!

Orange--Great scenes you've mentioned! Wilson on Speed; House on anti-depressants! I'd love to know your alternate take on the Need To Know scene.

That scene in TB or Not TB was probably a favorite in a not-so-favorite episode in season 2 (although, I've re-watched it and conclude that this was really House's sense of justice being irritated, rather than his "I'm going to be a jerk" streak).

There is so much variety in his personas, he can be very different from second to second. I find the shots where he is not doing anything to be the most compelling. I never thought I would buy a DVD of any program or movie, because once you know the story there is no reason to have a copy to re-watch. sue--I so much agree. My absolute favorite moments are just Hugh and the camera watching him: think, react, brood, agonize, wait. They are fabulous moments, sometimes not even written into the script--but it's what HL brings to the role. Makes House an unforgettable and indelible character.

HL_L--thanks for your nice comments. People all have their opinons and I'm grateful for the incredible support I've gotten in the 11 months I've been writing for BC and the years before that on LiveJournal as sasmom ;)

I agree that those Act Your Age scenes are simply golden. They were humorous and they were great. I loved the scene towards the end when House tells Wilson he should go in and kiss cuddy. House's barely suppressed giggle goes down in my list of favorite House moments.

"It often appears that House is the needy one in the relationship, and Wilson the doormat (feeding on neediness) that House sucks the lifeblood from with his neediness. Why would Wilson put up with it? Is it just this need to be needed? Is that simply Wilson's "pathology?" Is he an emotional vampire, as House suggests?"

Barbara, I think you did a great job of capturing the complexities of the relationship between these two. I agree with those who've said that House probably needs Wilson more than Wilson needs House. And I have an additional answer to the question you've posed here:

House lets very few people in. Wilson knows that, and I think that in a sense, he values being one of the very few. It's not that he doesn't care deeply for House - of course he does - but I think he also knows what an accomplishment it is to have broken through the barriers that not many others have gotten past, and become the innermost of the "inner circle". It doesn't sound like a very altruistic reason for a friendship, and I have to repeat that I know there's much more to it than that, but I think there's a bit of that in it, too.

"Love Hurts: As House readies for his dreaded date with Cameron, Wilson lies on his sofa giving advice. (Condoms pre-treated with antibiotics!) To me, that scene in House's apartment really crystallizes their relationship. Wilson's tomcat bravado; House's nervous awkwardness. But Wilson's assurance to House that the corsage (as sweetly silly a gesture as it is) would be appreciated by Cameron is a great moment."

This scene has always given me the idea that Wilson may have inadvertently sunk a potential House/Cameron ship by starting House off on a train of thought that might not have entered his mind otherwise. House seems to be taking his prospective date pretty seriously while he's primping for it. He wears the shirt that Cuddy suggested, and the way he fusses over his tie definitely conveys the impression that he cares about what he looked like - always a telling sign with a guy. And of course, there's the corsage. (My husband once gave me one when we were dating - way back in the dark ages. Already back then it was a sweet and silly (and outdated) gesture - but he was taking things seriously ;-)). When House comments that the corsage is "pretty lame", and Wilson answers "I think she likes lame" - well, I've always thought that Wilson's remark triggered House's recognition that his appeal for Cameron was based on the fact that he's damaged - i.e., lame, too, even though that wasn't what Wilson meant, of course. (Btw, none of this should be construed as regret that the ship never sailed!)

"Need to Know: Unfortunately, the final scene of the episode shows Wilson as completely misunderstanding his best friend, his motives, and feelings, accusing House of enjoying his misery."

Oy. Almost no one agrees with my take on this one, which came to me like an epiphany one day. It struck me that Wilson was right when he told House "you have no idea why you sent her off", and when he said "you sent her away because you've got to be miserable". And it was a very good insight on his part!

I think it's possible that House's concern wasn't that he couldn't change in order to make Stacy happy. His fear was that his whole Weltanschaung would have to change. He'd been deeply and adversely affected by the infarction *and* by her subsequent leaving. According to Wilson, he'd been "pining for five years", and even if that wasn't 100% true, strictly speaking - he'd had a very valid to brood, to be dissatisfied with his status quo, to perceive that his "reality is always wrong".

If Stacy leaves Mark and stays with him, then he has to try for a semblance of happiness. After all, he's been working hard to get her back, and - here she is. Now what? He can't keep on brooding and pining like he's been doing until now. I think it's *that* change that he feels incapable of - he'd have to change the mindset he's been in for the past five years, and he's just not ready to do it (although towards the end of S4 - before the finale - I did think that perhaps he was getting ready to move on). I think that's what Wilson was getting at. As usual with this show, there's more going on than just that, and House's "I've been there before, I don't want to go there again" is certainly a big part of it, too. But I think Wilson had a point, even if no one else does.

Orange--I've always been so taken with that scene in Love Hurts and just how seriously House took that date--and as we find out in season two how seriously he takes relationships in general. Maybe what wilson meant in talking to Cameron was that House really, really throws himself into any relationship he allows himself to enter into. He took that reunion with Stacy much, much more seriously than she did--and misread her intentions as a result. You may be onto something. have to give it some thought :)

As far as Wilson's words at the end of Need to Know. You make an interesting point (gosh, this is so much more fun than adding pages to my synagogue website! Nothing like foregoing work to talk about House!). Not sure if I agree, because of Wilson's tone. I still think he mis-read House's real anxiety. House's eyes were red; he was clearly really upset at having ended the relationship. Wilson approached him poorly. but you've given me something to chew on ;)

I have to agree that Wilson misread House on why he let Stacy go. In the scene on the stairs with Stacy's husband, House realizes how much her husband loves her and all that he would do for her. House is terrified that he couldn't be what Stacy's husband is, and so he gives her 'back' to the person whom he feels would be best for her.
THAT is love.

Dear Barbara,Thanks to you and all ( or almost all) the other writers for their perceptive contributions, which often show me aspects of the series I have missed - even the ones I disagree with.

It's reassuring to know there are other House fanatics out there. It confirms my estimate that " House" is something unique in TV drama.
Also that I am not the only Hugh devotee!

By the time I catch up with series 5 I shall probably need to write a whole essay so look out !

Good point, Grace.

Ann UK--no problem! Can't wait for everyone's thoughts on season five! One week to go.

Wow. I really loved reading your article and all the great responses!

I just want to contribute my choice for a great House/Wilson scene. In "Fidelity" we see the whole team + Wilson in the conference room doing a DDX. House walks into his office and turns on the tv, to which Cameron says "Did he just turn on the tv?" Wilson just smiles knowingly and says "He needs to think." I've always really adored that tiny moment and the way that it illustrates how Wilson understands House in a way no one else does.

Afterwards, we see Wilson show up in House's office just as his show is ending (perfect timing!) and in the subsequent conversation House demonstrates his knowledge of Wilson at the end of the conversation about the nurse that Wilson had lunch with. "I wanted to be nice. That's all. I mean it." to which House responds, "You always do. It's part of your charm."

Plus HL's and RSL's smiles in that scene are enough to make a fangirl swoon! ;)

I like the parts where House and Wilson really let it fly with each other. There's one moment in "Half-Wit," at the very end, when Wilson knows that House has been lying to them about brain cancer all along. Wilson walks into House's office, and they look at each other -- Wilson exasperated, angry, and House with the "do we have to go through this," assessing.

But their very next sentences were about the case/patient (Dave Matthews): kind of polite, restrained, until they start at it.

And I liked Wilson's comment to House, and the acting, "Start small, House. Dinner. Pizza with a friend," then he makes a bow and gestures towards himself, as if to say, "Remember? That friend who actually likes you and would come over if you asked?"
I love the scenes between them. I read the episode scripts online, and the scripts are good, but when the actors really get into their roles, then the scene becomes brilliant.

***
I also liked that tiny scene when Wilson and Cuddy are screaming at each other in Wilson's Heart about how to go about treating Amber. House is sitting down between them, clearly with a headache, then he gets up, limps past the two of them, and says, "*Inside* voices" in a singsong voice, like a teacher, as if to say, "I know the two of you have to fight over this, I'm not angry that you have to fight, but god you're giving me a headache..."

Nice touches, all. I've never been mezmerized by such good acting before. The Brits rule.

Rachel--those two scenes you describe are surely two of my favorites!

In HW, House is in a pretty bad place (when isn't he?) and it was a nice gesture of encouragement for him to come out of his shell. It was a nice moment of understanding from Wilson. Unlike Foreman, Cam and Chase, Wilson understood that House's ploy to get into the study wasn't "to get high" but to help himself heal.

i loved that scene where WIlson and Cuddy forget for the moment that House is suffering from serious brain trauma and yell. He gets up and leaves the two of them to gain a little peace (even if it's only a few feet away).

You're so right about the acting really telling so much of the story--how much of the story is unscripted, told in silent moments.

I've never understood why people react with distaste to the mere suggestion that a relationship might be sexual. Do you consider that an insult? Are sexual relationships somehow beneath or less valuable than non-sexual ones? I think that assertion speaks to our culture's extreme puritanism and other problems with the whole issue of sexuality. We also don't see that love is simply one emotion. It doesn't come with borders. And then there's the whole matter of homophobia which is rampant in this culture.

I hear as many fans of male/female pairings bemoan the "insistence" on male/female romance as I do non-slash, "only brothers" people championing that perspective. At some point, I suppose, we will have no romantic relationships on TV.

I adore House/Wilson slash fiction. I don't for a moment think that relationship will happen on the series, primarily due to the network not wanting to challenge the audience with anything outside their comfort zone. Heaven forbid we be allowed to consider an alternate possibility.