The House, M.D. season finale “Moving On” is without a doubt the most controversial episodes in the series history. Some fans hated it, and others not. To take a character like House (Hugh Laurie), who really skates on the edge of likability and have him crash into the home of ex-girlfriend Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) may have been a long step too far over that edge for some fans. Other fans hate what House (the character) has done, even while understanding what drove him (as it were) to that brink, but are more than curious about how the series writers will redeem his character next season. Others still have felt that the way Season 7 ended was completely in keeping with both the character and the series and quite like where the end of the episode found him—on a beach sipping a cocktail. I’ll have more on that and my own thoughts on the episode later this weekend.
The writers are just now coming back to the studio after a brief hiatus to begin sketching out Season 8, which many believe might be the final season for the series. Russel Friend and Garrett Lerner told me last week that determining whether next season will be the last will be among the first things discussed as the creative team now gets back to work. But also high on that list, and perhaps even more important for the first part of the season, is where to take the character of House from where we last see him at the end of the season finale. Have they painted themselves into a corner, or does the Season 7 finale open new avenues to explore?
This year’s finale was written by Co-Executive Producer/Writer Peter Blake and Writer/Producer Kath Lingenfelter. Blake has been with House, M.D. since the very beginning. His first script “Maternity” (1x04) still stands as one of the series best, presenting a classic Housian ethical dilemma into the hands of the man whose ethics are often questioned. Lingenfelter is new to the House creative team, joining the show only this season. Her episode “You Must Remember This,” proved to a great entry in what has turned out to be a very controversial season. I caught up with the two writers earlier this week to talk about “Moving On,” Season 7 and where Season 8 might be headed.
Where did the idea for the “Moving On” come from?
Blake: We knew that the season had to end with House getting to a different place. We also knew that [House and Cuddy] were going to break up in the middle of the season, and then we knew that the rest of the season was going to be dealing with the after effects of the breakup. So we went back and forth a number of times about in our plotting out of the entire season, where it would end up. At one point, [House’s] car crash was going to be episode 19. Then we were going to show the fallout of that for the next few episodes. I shouldn’t talk about what that fallout was going to be because we might use some of it next year; we’re just not sure yet. But I think the network, the studio, and the writers decided that it would be better to go out on a bang. So it got moved up to the last episode about a couple months before we started filming it.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Zaze
"They need closure. They really need closure."
Why they didn't put Cuddy under the wheels of House's car? this could have been a good closure.
Ah wait they didn't know about Lisa's departure.
2 - vicpei
"But the most dangerous thing he’s done isn’t driving his car; it was his self-surgery, which almost kills him in the previous episode."
I strongly, firmly disagree. The most dangerous thing he has done is drive in this house. I don't care if the writers pretend he did not intend to harm anyone (although they add but did he?). That's their take, not what we have seen. He can be self destructive as much as he wants. He doesn't get free from being violent to each others. He has never been, despite what they say. He is now, because they twisted him.
3 - Former Loyal Fan
For what I care, David Shore owes us, viewers, an apology. With great power comes great responsibility, the convention he loves so much to defy. By refusing to admit the ultimate failure of this past season, he makes his own character irredeemable, let alone House's. I can express my disgust in only way I can - by turning off my TV. Good bye, House MD.
4 - n
All I can say is "post hoc, ergo propter hoc."
5 - Leodie
Do I or don't I ?
That is the question.
Do i watch the finale ? I haven't yet and nor have I read your (certainly wonderful as usual) review Barbara, to avoid being spoiled.
I have stopped watching the show after Bombshells for all kinds of reasons i developped on this blog, the main one being that i didn't feel it was healthy for me to be that affected in real life by what happened to a fictional character. Is it safe to watch this episode ? or if I do will i have to abandon all hope about mankind and go find a quiet place to finish it all ODing on vicodin ?
Thanks for your help with this conundrum.
6 - Zaze
vicpei : the most dangerous thing for him not for anybody else, hey this show is about House! Collateral damages are just details.
7 - Nancy
Thank you Barbara. Yep, that sums it up pretty well. Nothing more to say. Good bye, House.
8 - Simon
God I've been waiting all day for this review
9 - bens
Good bye, House MD. Thanks for a few good years.
10 - Oversimplified
Thanks for the interview Barbara, it's really interesting to hear what they have to say about the ep. I still can't quite wrap my head around the whole thing. My problem is that the writers expected us to empathise with House here much more than many of us did I think. Yes Cuddy treated him badly, but to buy the contrivance of the whole set-up for the crash with her inviting the banker over for coffee etc means we have to sort of disregard everything she's ever done for him, including the late night dash to the hospital only days earlier. No matter how hurt he is has he really forgotten what Cuddy AND Wilson have sacrificef for him? (In fact for much of the season it seems that the characters had selective amnesia about who they were, and who they were having a romantic/platonic relationship with)....
I get that the act of driving the car into Cuddy's house was impulsive, (even if I'm not buying the whole he was aiming for the house thing, which quite frankly is ridiculous), but the sense of serenity that emanates from him in that final beach scene is deeply disturbing because he's had several hours to process what he's done and still his conscience isn't pricking him. In that particular scene House feels alien to me, or perhaps more likely, OoC. I do get the impression that although they knew they were taking a risk they never expected to lose so many of the fans, which in itself is a little worrying.
11 - maria-eleni
Well, good riddance.
Why on earth did you watch House if you cannot take the tragedy of House’s life? This is just a culmination of a genius’s downward spiral.
A recommendation: do not ever watch Amadeus, it is about Mozart, a genius who self destructed.
12 - Jen
Good bye, House.
13 - karen
Good bye House MD.
14 - @yahnis14
So why they didn't stop on scene in hallway? It was beautiful scene and from there they could moving on without turn House to almost killer? What about little girl that House couldn't be sure that she isn't home?
What about Lisa edelstein playing?Isn't it worth good words like they said about guest star?
And some question most interesting:what were they about to do with Cuddy charachter if LE didn't leave?Where they were going to put this devoted friend of House after this stupid and crazy final?
If they didn't know about her leaving then what did they plan to do with her? May be that question she asked and answer was so bad that she decided to leave?Because she really didn't like her future in the show?
And they answer about Taub doctor don't knowing about condoms was just poor.They made this two women -pregnant-thing because
they wanted to fill blank places in S8 with so bored Taub private life.It's sloppy job.
And Barbara thank you for this interview it's so bad that you aren't writer of this show.I think you can make better then they, because you really understand character of House!
15 - maria-eleni
I suspect HL was driving the car.
It really was incredibly strong scene both emotionally and physically.
I am going to behave as a teenager and..HUGH LAURIE ROCKS!!!!!!!!
I pity those who will not be watching S8.
16 - missy
RIP House MD.
17 - Alex
It was a fun ride. Good bye House.
18 - HouseMDFan
Holy Shit, Barbara, the readership and commentators you have aquired by now it tiring to say the least. Thank you very much for the interview, it was incredibly insightful, I'm looking forward to S8 very much, but I'm done reading the comments here.
19 - Zaze
maria-eleni : A recommendation: do not ever watch Amadeus, it is about Mozart, a genius who self destructed.
This movie is amazing but I didn't see Mozart trying to hurt someone in it.
20 - shy reader
What a great interview, thank you so much for posting!
It's interesting that they said a possible theme in Season 8 would be "does House believe he has to redeem himself to the people that were in his life, and does he even try" - - it fits very well with the last scene of Moving On - that House chose to go to a sunny, happy, tropical island, and seems very at peace with his decision.
I think the writers of this show are incredible. Of course, I was surprised by the turn of events, but all the more reason I commend the writers - we all thought we knew House! We, the viewers, are likened to Cuddy and Wilson (as the writers said: "For those in the audience that feel like House has to redeem himself, it reflects the same position for the other people in his life.")
Like Cuddy and Wilson, we thought we knew what to expect, as if House is predictable, or easily understood - but he is anything but. And the writers did a great job of reminding the viewers of that.
Thanks for the interview. Looking forward to Season 8!!
21 - barbara barnett
Holy Shit, Barbara, the readership and commentators you have acquired by now it tiring to say the least. Thank you very much for the interview, it was incredibly insightful, I'm looking forward to S8 very much, but I'm done reading the comments here.
It's frustrating and no longer as much fun to me either. I started this column to discuss the show at a deeper lever, and although there has been great much intelligently debated discussion over the direction of the show (which is very good and healthy), I am disheartened by the continual onslaught of nastiness by some.
22 - Ana
They need to get Lisa Edelstein back at any cost. That's the only way to dig themselves out of this hole. Real life mimics fiction yet again, it's not House who is self-destructive.
23 - EnoughAlready
I hear what they are saying; I hear what the motivation and idea was behind this finale and season. It didn't come across on screen, though.
The House/Cuddy relationship focused so much on superficial issues and on make sure they were "discontent" that it din't come across as a real investment. It was obvious they were in a relationship and trying something different, but without the depth and complexity that had in the past been so prevalent, it all fell flat. The lack of intensity that the writers failed to put into the relationship, meant the crazy behavior after the break-up made no sense. In fact, it felt more like they were trying to offend the audience than actually go inside House's hurt. Then, this finale took him from self-destructive to to an agression that is a danger to others.
However they intended the scene, the crash could have resulted to death with just a simple jolt to a supporting wall. Even in another room, if the wrong beam was hit by the car, injury and death would have occurred. It was unnecessary to take House this route. And for them to say he needed to create that break because he couldn't let go on his own makes me question how open minded they are to all the possibilities of this character. They have boxed him in by their limited thought processes. House could have realeased his anger and broken all hope in a manner that didn't destroy what little light is left in him.
It's a little offensive, too to say they feel our pain, too. They obviously don't or they wouldn't have destroyed these characters. There was so much possibility to explore House's issue this season through the relationship and break-up. They chose superficiality, shock and awe. Not what has traditionally drawn the House fan into the vortex.
Now they want us to tune in for S8 because "oh, now there are possibilities to really get inside of House.". Please! There have been SO MANY possibilities. What makes next season any different? Because this time you can start with a House that has completely given in to his dark side and is ok with it? Not everyone wants to see inside a villan. There is a huge portion of fans (and critics apparently) who wanted to see inside the anit-hero. He doesn't exist now.
Maybe it is a restart: with a character many don't know, don't love and don't care to understand. It's not a reset, that's for sure. For MANY, This was never House. Resets are only required when you actually failed and misstepped along the way. How about admitting it? Then maybe there would be hope for the future because you at least acknowledge it.
24 - Paul.s
Barbara, thank you for the excellent questions you presented the writers with.
To me, their answers clarified the one thing I couldn't get a grip on. Why is everything happening to house without any cohesive visible (to the viewers) thread running through it? Reading their answers in the interview it is clear to me that the writer’s train of thought or vision if you will, and what actually manifested on the screen was a little disconnected. I kept thinking, if we had “subtitles” explaining what was going on throughout the season, the viewers wouldn’t have been so perplexed as to what unfolded. I’m not talking about the shock value of a finale, I’m just pointing out that for a lot of people, house’s behavior seemed a little erratic and sudden, instead of the slow building, emotional volcano culminating in a massive eruption the writers intended to convey. I had to go back and watch previous episodes to see if I missed anything. I have to admit that I never saw any chemistry between House and Cuddy either, so to me his reaction to the breakup was a little faked out. First, they got together, then suddenly they broke up , then he is nursing a broken hear? I hate to sound like a dick but as a guy, I always thought he just used her as a distraction from the pain of being lonely. Nothing gave me the impression that House was at such a drastic breakpoint. Some will argue that his whoring stunt and fake marriage along with a few other antics were a ‘tell’, but most of us just attributed them to House being himself, a nutjob. I’m not sure who’s to blame, but hopefully lessons will be learned.
25 - barbara barnett
shy reader: actually that second quote you mention is the one that began to help me wrap my mind around this whole thing. Cuddy and Wilson are our stand ins here. They are flabbergasted, dismayed and angry at what House turned into at the end of the season.
What will he do? Will he become a recluse? Or, will he try to redeem himself in some way (and I don't mean a quick fix). I wonder if we are meant to see the levels to which he fell after Stacy left him--the place that Wilson has always been so terrified he'd return.